But the 21-year-old is also studying maths and will sit his final exams at Cardiff University next year.
The new certificate would replace the dozens of existing vocational qualifications with a single "gold standard" exam, which would also include maths and English.
Performance tables will judge schools not just on the number of pupils achieving five good GCSEs in English and maths, but also science, foreign languages and a humanities subject, Mr Gove said.
The prime minister also said reading, writing and maths classes would be set up to help the unemployed seek jobs.
The tests are the same for both primary and secondary school teacher trainees, who must also have achieved a grade C or above in GCSE maths and English.
As well as core subjects such as maths and languages, students can also do work experience and voluntary placements.
Two more immediate snags may also trip it up: fuzzy maths and petty partisanship.
The core focus is on engineering with pupils, aged 14 to 19, also studying maths, English, science and German.
The tests, which have monitored school standards in core subjects such as maths, reading and science since 1969, also found considerable gaps between black and white pupils across the range of ages and subjects.
The government cash was also to be used for language teachers in primary schools and science and maths teachers in secondary schools.
BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | City teachers could get more cash
But before passing a diploma, students would also have to show "functional" skills in English, maths and information technology.
It also raised concerns about introducing English Baccalaureate certificates in English, maths and science while still running "discredited" GCSEs for other subjects.
He also said there was a serious problem in recruiting teachers in key subjects such as maths and physics.
Maths teacher Brendan Scanlon explained that devising questionnaires helped student back up facts with statistics and also encouraged them to focus on a few particular angles.
There will also be new teaching and research facilities for the university's engineering, business and economics, maths, and computer science departments as well as student residential accommodation.
The data also shows that in 570 or 4% of schools, all pupils reach the expected levels in English and maths.
BBC: Slow starting pupils don't catch up, league tables show
It is also easier to abandon gender stereotypes: girls in all-girl schools are more likely to study maths and science, boys in all-boy schools become more involved in theatre.
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