Student from Kakaramea School scores top science mark in New Zealand in University of Canterbury exam

Ben Honeyfield shows off his letter and voucher with Kakaramea School principal Shannon O'Brien and teacher Colleen Hurley. Photo / Supplied

A Kakaramea School student could be the next big standout in the field of science.

Ben Honeyfield, 10, recently sat the University of Canterbury's CEM exams and his results left Kakaramea School principal Shannon O'Brien gobsmacked.

"He achieved the top Year 6 score across the whole country in science," O'Brien said.

"He deserves it, he works really hard and the best thing about Ben is, when he doesn't know something, he will really work hard and use his pathways of learning to find it out."

There were 400 students that sat the exams nationwide. Honeyfield achieved excellence in science and English and merit in maths.

The humble Honeyfield said he didn't expect to finish on top.

"One of the things I said after I found out is that it's not amazing that I got the highest mark, it actually feels about 1000 times better than that.

"Usually I don't do well when there's time pressure, I get a little stressed out sometimes, but this time I found the questions quite easy."

For his efforts, Honeyfield received a congratulatory letter of confirmation from the university and a $100 voucher to spend at The Warehouse.

"I thought my prize was pretty amazing," Honeyfield said.

"I don't have a lot of money in my wallet and a $100 Warehouse voucher will get me quite ahead in buying the Lego sets that I really want."

Honeyfield also completed the exams as a Year 5, achieving two marks of excellence and a merit on that occasion as well.

This year, he sat them at Kakaramea School with 11 fellow students, some of whom also scored top marks.

In Year 5 English, Jonty Gibbs, Katie Schrider and Sophie Zhang achieved with excellence, in Year 6 English, Tuck Kahukuranui and Jake Gibb achieved with excellence and Ashley Roxburgh achieved with merit.

Honeyfield said science was one of his favourite subjects.

"I keep getting confused about things that I've read, so I get help from my teachers or whenever I don't know an answer, I ask my Mum or Dad at home.

"That way when I go to school or go for an exam, I have a lot of knowledge."

Evidently, he absolutely does.