The average student usually sits eight Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate subjects at the end of fifth form.

But Manchester High School student Khalil Walker isn’t average; he sat 11 subjects and passed each with straight ‘A’ profiles.

Walker scored grade one in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, geography, Spanish, French, technical drawing, additional mathematics, English Language, and English Literature.

It comes as no surprise to his teachers, parents and peers, who describe the 17-year-old as a consistent high achiever who finished at the top of his class each year. For him, however, the fear of disappointing them had him worried.

“People would think that I wouldn’t be worried because I am seen as outrageously smart, but to be honest, I was probably more worried than everyone else because I had to live up to the expectations,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Friday.

An avid basketball player, Walker was at a camp for the sport and spoke with the Observer by phone.

“I was quite anxious, but getting my results; actually getting them in hand was a relief because I didn’t want to let down any of my teachers because all of them expected one in every subject that I did,” he added.

Walker’s parents, Radcliff and Dawn, said they expected their son to perform well, but they didn’t see the straight ‘A’ profiles coming.

“He has been consistent from first form. Straight up, he has always had a 90-plus average. So, basically we were expecting it,” Dawn said, adding that since she received the results last week she’s been on cloud nine.

Radcliff, meanwhile, said his son’s impressive performance was to be attributed in large part to his wife’s continuous support.

The younger Walker, who plans to become a medical doctor or a chemical engineer, describes himself as an audio-visual learner and explained his method for achieving academic success.

“I would say my process is taking notes in class and making sure that I always read them over when I get home as much as is possible to better understand what I got. I read them over, explained them to myself to see if I really did understand and if there is something that I don’t get, I revisit it or ask for help.

“When it comes to studying, of course, you can’t wait until right before exams. You have to start months before,” Walker said.

Walker added that he also incorporated videos and social media technology into his study routines.

“I retain stuff better through visuals and hearing. I would use videos on YouTube. Even explaining to myself would help me. Talking aloud to myself, describing [processes], and coming up with analogies makes things so much easier to retain for me, and perhaps drawing diagrams… I also try not to swot. Everything that I remember is something I completely understand,“ he stressed.

The teenager told Career & Education that he’s anticipating sixth form.

“I expect to learn a lot of new stuff that I can hopefully use in the future. I will be doing six subjects and I would want to get six grade ones in CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination). I will be doing biology, chemistry, physics, pure mathematics, building mechanical engineering drawing, and communication studies,” he reported.

Walker topped his graduating class back in June.