TEENAGERS across the region are being encouraged to try to boost their national test scores in a Government drive targeted at 14-year-olds.

The days are long gone when the average pupil had to face only one set of national exams when they reached their final year of secondary school.

Now there are national tests at seven, 11 and 14 before they sit their GCSEs at 16.

The Government says that children who do well in their national tests at 14, in maths, English and science, are more likely to do well in their GCSEs.

Schools across the region have been given cash to run after-school or lunchtime "booster" classes, to help 14-year-olds do better in the tests, which take place on May 7, 8 and 10.

At Canon Lee School, in York, which ran booster classes as part of a pilot scheme last year, we visited an English booster class being held after school on a Friday afternoon.

Letters had been sent out to parents of children who were seen as borderline between Level Four and Level Five - Level Five is the Government target level for 14-year-olds to achieve.

A lot of the work involved looking at past papers, with pupils reminded how to analyse passages from Shakespeare plays and newspaper accounts. They were told how to read questions properly and to work out how much time to devote to different questions according to the number of marks at stake.

Kim Hibbert, 14, said she appreciated the chance to attend the class. "It's a bit tiring to stay another hour after school, but it's worth it though," she said.

Others also seemed to accept the idea of working late on a Friday afternoon. Wayne Turner, 14, said: "I didn't realise what to do when I was revising, but I do now."

Teacher Krystina Marwood said: "We've had massive demand - we've not been able to fulfil demand for these classes. A lot of it is about how to be calm. We try to help them improve their exam technique. We're preparing them all the time, so by the time they get to their GCSEs it won't be such a shock to the system. We see children who are very conscientious who can get very anxious. Booster classes go a long way to help the preparation of children to increase their confidence and realise it's achievable."

Tips for parents of 14-year-olds have also been issued by the Government. Here are a few:

- Try to take an interest in your child's homework. Help them to do it thoroughly and check that they have finished it properly

- Find out where they make mistakes and help them to watch out for them

- Make sure you child knows what equipment is needed for each test

- For English - rent the film of the Shakespeare play

- For maths - show enthusiasm for maths as well as pointing out its importance

- For science - read through their folder/exercise book and get them to talk about the science they have done.

Updated: 15:34 Wednesday, April 17, 2002