Thanks for your comment.

He's 11 and they were basic science questions with the answers spelled out in the text - no room for insight really. He just doesn't think that way so he added his insight.

If she was just scanning for the standard answers she might have just marked him down.

Just sad that he (accurately) felt he did well and was a bit blindsided. Also at the age where holding your emotions together is important but still hard. frown