MAX Bryant has every reason to be proud of himself.

The Year 3 student from Roma State College Junior Campus got the nation's highest score in this year's ICAS English test.

Max said he thought he had done well in the test, but could not quite believe just how well he had done.

"I was really surprised,” Max said.

"My mum gave me this letter from the Australian Government, and then I opened it and read the letter and I was really, really happy.”

ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment program designed to recognise and reward student achievement.

Max and his parents found out he had achieved a High Distinction in the English test, placing him in the top oneper cent of the national results.

A little bit of investigation revealed he actually received the highest mark of all students who took part.

For Max's mum, Jo Bryant, it was an incredibly proud moment.

"I was very pleased, excited and proud of him,” Mrs Bryant said.

She said Max loved to read and enjoyed finding new books to get immersed in.

"People ask what we do with our kids, and I say we read,” Mrs Bryant said.

"Max just absorbs books.”

Max especially loves to read fiction.

"Most of the stuff in fiction is made up, so you see something that's new and exciting,” he said.

This was the first time Max had participated in standardised testing like ICAS, Mrs Bryant said.

"I think it's a test of his innate ability, I really do,” she said.

Mrs Bryant said Max's achievement was an example of what rural schools could achieve.

"I suppose it just shows it doesn't matter where you live, it's what you do,” she said.

Head of Junior Campus, Alece Woods, agreed.

"Just because you're rural or remote, it does not stop you from achieving,” she said.

Apart from his amazing result in English, Max also achieved distinctions in spelling, writing and maths, and a credit in science.

He received a medal at an awards ceremony at the Brisbane Convention Centre.