While the 15-year-old Columba College pupil is kicking herself about the error, she is delighted to have won an ICAS medal for gaining the top year 10 mark in New Zealand.
It is the second time she has won an ICAS medal. The first time was in 2011 when she gained the top mark in the year 6 science exam.
She said the latest ICAS medal came about because she had developed a taste for gold.
''After winning the first one, I decided I would quite like another one.''
So since then, she had practised for the annual exams by studying previous exam papers and she had been in the top 1% of New Zealand for the English exam for the past five years.
So will she do it again next year?
Kate said she would be starting NCEA level 1 then, so it would only happen if time permitted.
''I don't know. You just really give it a go on the day and see what happens.
''I just do it for fun. It's not something I have to stress out about.''
Kate was among three Otago secondary school pupils and three Southland primary school pupils to win ICAS medals in the latest round of examinations.
John McGlashan College pupil Boen Deng won one for gaining the top New Zealand mark in the year 10 digital technologies examination, and St Hilda's Collegiate School pupil Caroline Burchell got hers for gaining the highest New Zealand mark in the year 12 English exam.
Winton School pupils Riley Chapman and Kendrick Dela Cruz won ICAS medals for gaining the top marks in year 3 English and year 5 spelling respectively; and Limehills School pupil Lucas Gill gained the top mark in year 3 science.
All six will receive their awards at a ceremony at the University of Auckland Business School tomorrow.
