That's stupid.
Firstly, Exeter is in the top ten for quite a few subjects and asks for AAA on many subjects. So it's hardly like you dont have to be intelligent to get in. For example, I could have gone to Warwick which is definitely a "top" uni, but instead Im going to Exeter as it is better for my course. Top unis vary hugely depending on what you want to do.
Secondly, you don't have to be academically successful to be a nerd anyway! Gamers, Larpers, people with an odd amount of love literature, all types of nerds, none of which requiring academic success.