By Diana Othman

UNLIKE most primary school pupils, Amirudin Ja'far spent most of his home hours preparing for his leaving exams on his own.

Struggling to make ends meet, his parents both work long hours; his mother is a stall assistant and his father juggles two jobs.

So, the soft-spoken 12-year-old spent two hours every night, on his own, practising Maths problems and boning up on English.

Yesterday his effort paid off.

Amirudin scored 115 for his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) which made him the top EM3 pupil this year.

He scored Grade 1 in all his subjects, Basic Malay, Foundation English and Foundation Mathematics.

'I am so shocked, happy and excited,' said Amirudin, who went to Yumin Primary School.

'I never gave up and always tried my best.' He also attributed his success to his teachers who helped him along the way.

Amirudin, who lives in Tampines, said he studied conscientiously because he wanted to make his parents proud.

The results will give him a choice of several secondary schools, though he has not decided which one to attend.

The showing pleased and surprised his parents, who were very grateful for the support he received from his school.

Amirudin, who has two sisters, received financial aid that covered everyday expenses and enrichment programmes.

Said his form teacher, Madam Noriyanti Yunos, 34: 'I never had problems getting homework back from him. He is a quiet, reserved person but very independent with a never-give-up spirit.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 21 Nov, 2008.