I AM writing to protest at the comments made by Helen Mead (May 24). I am tired of people criticising exams for "being easy".

My daughter and her school friends sat ten GCSEs last year and I know they worked hard for them, sitting up late, studying, writing notes and worrying.

This year they are doing AS's - more hard work and late-night revising, and then next year they have A Levels to sit if they wish to go to university.

Yes, some students may not work and try to find easy ways to get results, but the majority, such as my daughter and her friends, are hard workers.

They get fed up of people trying to put them down all the time.

A lot of bad press is given to teenagers. There are some who like to be troublemakers, but most of them - given the chance - are decent kids who want to do their best and give back to the community.

Mrs J Wilson,

Manor Park Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

Updated: 08:47 Monday, May 30, 2005