Nicholas Ensor, who studied at Girton Grammar School before becoming a school captain at Wesley College in Melbourne, achieved a perfect score of 45. This equates to the top ATAR of 99.95.

Hundreds of Victorian IB diploma students received their results on Saturday.

The diploma is offered at 16 schools in Victoria with students required to study a range of subjects, including a second language, science, humanities, maths and arts.

Nicholas said he was “extremely surprised” and happy to have achieved the top mark.

“I was hoping to do well but it was not expected…it was a huge shock to me and the whole family,” he said.

Nicholas has wanted to study medicine since he was in year 9 and he’s hoping his score will get him into his dream course - medicine at Monash.

Nicholas said he chose to study the IB diploma because he wanted a well-rounded education, and the IB appealed with its inclusion of CAS – Creativity, Action and Service.

“It’s not just academic - it also stresses the importance of creativity, music and sport and community service,” he said.

He said he had fond memories of Bendigo and his primary school years at Girton Grammar, which had helped him and his family find their feet after moving from South Africa when he was four.

“Girton was fantastic,” he said. “It gave me a great grounding and encouragement to get into sport and music.”

He was also junior school captain and dux at Girton.

Bendigo family friend Chris deAraugo said Nicholas had always stood out and his IB diploma score was a wonderful achievement.

“He’s always been a remarkable young boy with a wonderful personality and great commitment to whatever it is he’s doing,” Mr DeAraugo said.

“It’s a credit to him and a testimony to how hard he’s worked.”

Mr DeAraugo said Nicholas was not only gifted academically but was also a talented athlete and musician.

Even rarer, he said, was Nicholas’ well-rounded personality and ability to connect with others.

“He’s a remarkably well-rounded young man.”