The 14-year-old from Yass attends St Francis Xavier College in Florey, Canberra.

He was awarded Best in State (ACT) for Year 8 in the 2018 Australian Mathematics Competition on Tuesday.

That places Mitchell in the top 0.3 per cent of hundreds of thousands of students who entered the competition.

His parents Jane and Matthew and sister Elsie were thrilled to see Mitchell win the award.

Mrs McNamara said Mitchell, in Year 8, was studying Year 10 extension mathematics and Year 10 chemistry.

“Mitch has high-functioning autism, so we are particularly proud of his achievements,” she said.

“Even more importantly, he is very proud of himself and was so excited about the awards evening.

“We couldn’t get the grin off his face.”

To enter the competition, Mitchell had to sit a maths exam. Mrs McNamara said he didn’t need to study for the exam, with his love of maths getting him through.

“It’s a gift he has from the Asperger syndrome that he nourishes and challenges,” Mrs McNamara said.

Mitchell is on a fast track to achieve great things with his unique talent. “He wants to be a quantum physicist,” Mrs McNamara said. “When I asked him what he wants for Christmas, he said he’s read all of the quantum books and now he wants to understand the maths behind it!”

Mitchell received a trophy, certificate and $70 book voucher as part of the award.