DHAKA: Six-year-old Ayan Qureshi has become the world’s youngest-ever certified computer specialist after passing a Microsoft exam.

The Coventry, England, youngster – who was actually five years and 11 months at the time – was almost turned away by examiners at Birmingham City University when he arrived with his father to take the test.

A phone call to Microsoft soon cleared things up and Ayan took his place alongside the usual adult candidates for an exam normally taken by aspiring IT technicians just before or after they start university, reports siliconrepublic.com on Friday.

Having passed the online exam in the allotted two hours, Ayan can now boast a certificate that states he can use operating systems created by consumer tech giant Microsoft, the report added.

“From a very early age he used to watch me on the computer,” his dad Asim told The Coventry Telegraph. “He used to sit beside me and watch very carefully.”

Qureshi built a computer lab in the family home to encourage his young son’s interest and daily after school Ayan spends some time learning various software, hardware and networking systems. He also studies additionally through distance education lessons from London-based computer training company IT Bolts.

Ayan, who hopes to enjoy a career that involves his favourite subjects of maths and computing, has beaten a record previous held by Mehroz Yawar from Pakistan, who passed the Microsoft Certified Professional exam at age six and a half.

Ayan’s family moved to England from Pakistan in 2009.

BDST: 1346 HRS, NOV 15, 2014