A 12-year-old girl has scored higher in an IQ test than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

The so-called genius benchmark is set at 140 and Rajgauri Pawar gained a score of 162. This is two points higher than acclaimed theoretical physicist Einstein and well-loved cosmologist Hawking.

Ms Pawar, from Cheshire county but of Indian origin, took the British Mensa IQ test in Manchester last month and is among the one per cent of the people who sit the test and gain the maximum mark. She also scored the highest possible IQ for someone who is younger than 18.

According to Mensa, the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world, she is one of only 20,000 people to achieve the score worldwide.

"I was a little nervous before the test but it was fine and I'm really pleased to have done so well," Ms Pawar told the Times of India.

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"This wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of her teachers and the support which my daughter enjoys every day at school,” her father, Dr Surajkumar Pawar, added.

Ms Pawar's school, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, also expressed their happiness at her accomplishment.

Andrew Barry, her Maths teacher, said: "Everybody is delighted. She is a very well-liked student and we all expect great things from her”.

Ms Pawar has joined the British Mensa IQ Society as a member after her astonishing score.