We've just been reviewing my son's (Year 10) mock science exams. There are a few questions where he's put down correct answers but not been given the marks because he's put down more points than the question asked for (i.e. give one reason, and he's written down two - both correct as per the mark scheme suggested answers). These aren't a matter of him randomly putting down several different answers and hoping some may be right. The answers are all fundamentally correct and, to me anyway, show a good understanding. Will the real examiners be so strict in the real GCSEs next year or are his teachers being too strict? Yes, I know he should read the question properly, and perhaps the teachers are trying to "punish" him to get that message across, but it just seems a bit unfair to penalise obviously correct answers on that kind of technicality.