While it’s something of a national pastime in the UK to slam educational standards and moan about exams getting easier, lawyers in Brazil have taken a blow to their self-esteem after an eight-year-old boy passed his law school entrance exam with flying colours.

Joao Victor Portellinha – who was described by his parents as “a regular boy” despite his dream of becoming a federal judge – said the exam was “easy” seeing as he had “studied [for] a week before the test”.