A radical shake-up of the controversial new AS-Level exam was to be announced today.

Education Secretary Estelle Morris was expected to introduce longer but fewer tests, reducing the risk of clashes with other subjects.

Ms Morris ordered a review of the exams - taken in sixth form and equivalent to half an A-Level - after parents, pupils and teachers dubbed them a "shambles".

Pupils are expected to take four or five AS-Levels in the lower sixth, before choosing two or three A-Levels, now known as A2s.

But the amount of papers meant frequent clashes in the curriculum while some pupils were sitting 11 hours of exams in one day.

Ms Morris ordered the review, by David Hargreaves, chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, after becoming Education Secretary.

Updated: 11.55, Wednesday, July 11.