"I crushed exams" ?

Hi.

Part of a dialogue between two students.
Actually this is from a movie, 21.

A : Oh, my God. What the hell is wrong with you?
B : Oh, nothing.
A : I hope nothing. You just got promoted, man. You should be happy.
B : I just gotta write this essay for the Robinson Scholarship,
and I have nothing. And the reason that I have nothing
is 'cause, well, I've done nothing.
A : Oh, give me a break, Ben.
B : What?
A : You have everything. You blow me out of the water,
and I'm a cerebral stud. Is that nothing?
B : Yeah, well, it doesn't dazzle.
A : Hey. It dazzles me, mister.
B : You know, ever since I was 16, I crushed exams.
I took on extracurriculars. I showed up early.
I even sat up at the front and I stayed late.
Man, I gave up everything.
You know, I gave up fun. I gave up sex.

I've got one thing I'd like to know the meaning of.
What is it to 'crush exams'?

Here are some definitions online dictionaries show.

1 : to squeeze or force by pressure so as to alter or destroy structure
2 : to hug, embrace She crushed her child to her breast.
3 : to reduce to particles by pounding or grinding crush rock
4 a : to suppress or overwhelm as if by pressure or weight
b : to oppress or burden grievously crushed by debt
c : to subdue completely The rebellion was crushed

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crush

Unfortunately, I can't see any connection between 'crush' and 'exams'.

Could you please help me understand what it is to 'crush exams'?
Thank you.