As pupils throughout Britain await the arrival of their GCSE results, one Hammersmith man has revealed he has almost 90 school exams to his name.
Francis Thomason of Berestede Road, has 70 O-levels under his belt and has also passed 16 A-levels and one S-level. The retired railway instructor is modest about his achievement, which has been recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.
"It was a cheap academic trick, really," said the 59-year-old. "I did not do them all at once. It was like a hobby, like trying to do crosswords or playing bridge."
Mr Thomason admits there are some more common O-levels he has not got, including French, chemistry and woodwork. He also said he failed art twice, adding: "I thought I was going to be doing script writing, but the exam was about lino cutting."
The exam collector filled in his last papers at Henry Compton School in Kingswood Road, Fulham, in the mid 80s. His final passes were energy resources, book-keeping, additional English and industrial studies.
An increase in entry fees and more course work meant it was too expensive and impractical for Mr Thomason to continue his studies.
The super student has also taken exams at Godolphin and Latymer School, Iffley Road, Hammersmith.
He added: "Some people enjoy marathons and others pay good money to go bungee jumping. I would pay money not to do a bungee jump, it is just a matter of what you enjoy."
Mr Thomason says it is difficult to tell if exams are getting easier.
"GCSEs are designed for 16 or 17-year-olds," he said. "Somebody taking them with the expertise accumulated over a lifetime of working damn well ought to do better than current pupils. On the other hand, you have to immerse yourself in the technique of taking exams all over again."
Mr Thomason said he did not get stressed taking the exams, because the results were not important to him.
"If you hate exams, maybe the answer is to find what you do enjoy and do that," he added. "Everybody has a talent for something."
GCSEs replaced O-levels in 1986.
