Greenlotus if I understand right you expected your DD10 to do better than your DD12 on the test. Is that correct? I am not sure this would be the case. Unlike WISC the EXPLORE is not an IQ test but a knowledge test. So age and maturity probably have a major role to play.
Yes, I was surprised that DD10 did not do better than DD12. While they are 14 mos. apart, DD10 has always outshone DD(just turned 12) on testing. Where I am not surprised though, is DD10 scoring higher than DD12 is on the reading section. You can just see DD10's depth in writing vs. her sister's. She also grasps reading concepts/info etc. much faster than her big sister (and BTW they are not biologically related so the old 10 points or less difference in the IQ of siblings is not valid here unless nurture is trumping nature!!). But, DD12 is definitely much more mature than DD10. Nor does she have to deal with any LD's.
