Early Display of Talent
Elon Musk's innate technological aptitude was evident even in his teenage years, as highlighted by a document circulating online concerning a computer
aptitude test he undertook. This specific test, conducted around May 17, 1989, at the University of Pretoria, aimed to assess his proficiency in computer programming. The results, as detailed in a letter signed by J. L. M. Wiechers, then Director of Information Management at the university, were nothing short of extraordinary. Musk reportedly achieved an 'A+' grade for operating systems and another 'A+' for programming itself. These stellar results were so unusual that they allegedly prompted a re-evaluation by IBM, a leading technology company at the time, to confirm their accuracy.
Musk's Confirmation
Responding to the buzz surrounding these impressive scores, Elon Musk himself weighed in on the matter via the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He confirmed that he had indeed been informed of his exceptionally high test results. Musk's own words corroborated the narrative, stating, 'They told me my score was the highest they’d ever seen fwiw (for what it’s worth).' This personal account lends significant weight to the claims about the unusual nature of his performance during that aptitude assessment. His candid reply suggests a humble acknowledgment of his early intellectual prowess, without overstating the significance, while still confirming the exceptional nature of the outcome.
A Mother's Pride
Adding another layer to this anecdote, Elon Musk's mother, Maye Musk, previously shared a similar detail about his aptitude test results. Last year, she posted a photograph of the computer aptitude test results that her son had taken at the age of 17, expressing her pride in his achievements. She captioned the post on X by referring to him as her 'genius boy.' Elon’s response to his mother’s post further elaborated on the commendation he received, recalling that he was told he had achieved the highest score for engineering aptitude ever recorded. He humorously framed this achievement in a way that a future AI might perceive it, remarking, 'Or, in other words, not bad for a human.'
