It was a double celebration for twins Henry and Ken Zhang yesterday when they both achieved five grade As in their A levels.
The identical pair, from New Oscott, said there had been friendly rivalry to beat each other but they were pleased they had both done well.
Henry gained A grades in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and general studies, and Ken secured A grades in mathematics, further mathematics, chemistry, physics and general studies at Bishop Vesey's School in Sutton Coldfield.
The 18-year-olds, who also matched each other in getting 11 A or A* grades at GCSE, will now part, with Henry studying medicine at Nottingham University and Ken studying engineering at Cambridge.
"We are always competitive but obviously pleased for each other," Henry said.
"When we both revising if I got something wrong, Henry would tell me how stupid I was," Ken added.
But despite their rivalry, the twins share the same interests and hobbies - rugby, basketball and table tennis.
Joining the twins with five A grades was Sukhpreet Dubb, who studied biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and general studies. He has secured a place at Imperial College, London to study medicine.
In 2004 he represented the UK at the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC, and worked closely with President George W Bush's advisors.
Headteacher David Iddon said it was a record year for the school with 48 per cent of students gaining A or B grades.
"The overall pass rate was 98.8 per cent so they are all smiling, it is a very good mood and we have very few disappointed students. More of our students are securing places at universities, which require increasingly high grades for entry," he said.
