I WAS furious at the biased opinion of Helen Mead. I have just finished a degree at the university of Liverpool in physiology.

Previous to that I studied three A levels and an AS, and spent a year studying the old system of A levels before moving schools. So I can directly compare both old and new A-level systems.

I worked very hard all the way through and for months before my exams I worked every morning, afternoon, evening and weekend.

For all that work I only gained B B C in biology, chemistry and mathematics and an A grade AS level in business studies.

I also kept up a wide variety of extra curricular activities to produce a good application for medical school.

I have since spent three years at uni to get another chance to start medical school on condition of gaining a 2.1 with which I have battled through depression for the last three years.

In my final year I spend 35-40 hours a week working in the labs to get results and research for my dissertation. I spent at least ten hours a week reading the journals and attending lectures for a data handling module and doing communication skills assignments and data handling assignments.

As well as working to support myself through university, revising for exams and returning home every weekend to see my family, I work six or seven days a week most weeks throughout the summer.

So I take great offence at being told exams have become much easier now that in previous years.

Catherine Hornsey,

Manor Farm,

Shiptonthorpe, York.

Updated: 08:46 Monday, May 30, 2005