FELICITACIONES to mum and daughter brainboxes Cara and Tina Malarkey.

They both sat their Spanish GCSEs this summer and they both passed.

It is the fate of every parent to be overtaken by their offspring, and 11-year-old Cara came out on top, scoring the higher grade. This result will also surprise older cynics who are convinced their generation would sail through modern exams.

Now Cara can sing along to her favourite star, Jennifer Lopez, in Spanish, while her mum relaxes with a hard earned vaso de vino.

Updated: 10:34 Thursday, September 12, 2002