THE A-Levels inquiry has proposed sweeping changes to the exams - including "de-coupling" them from AS-Levels and reducing the number of external tests - in order to restore public confidence.

Students should apply to university after they get their results to ease pressure on the system, which could be done if schools moved to a six-term year or by delaying the start of degree courses until the end of October, it said.

Inquiry chairman Mike Tomlinson also urged greater use of graduate examiners and more investment in computer technology, including "digitising" students' written answers and online exams.

The recommendations were contained in Mr Tomlinson's second report into what went wrong with A-Levels this year.

His first, published in September, ordered a re-grade which saw nearly 2,000 students and sixth formers get better AS and A-Level results.

Exams watchdog the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has since produced an easy-to-understand statement on standards setting out what is expected at the two levels.

And it has tightened the rules governing examiners to prevent a repeat of drastic grade boundary changes made by one board this year, Oxford and Cambridge and RSA (OCR) to ensure consistency with past results.

Mr Tomlinson said these moves had dealt with his "major concern" about the implementation of Curriculum 2000, which he said was rushed in by ministers.

Further structural change to the exam system - including splitting AS and A-Levels into stand-alone qualifications - ought to be done according to a five-year timetable, although the work could start almost immediately, he said.

"Reform should not be rushed," he stressed.

The arrangements that enable students to re-take AS-Level modules in order to get better results or take their initial grades - a practice known as "cashing-in" - should be simplified, he said.

Otherwise, the complexity of the system would "continue to undermine the extent to which A-Level results are understood and trusted", he warned.

To reassure those people who believe A-Levels have been dumbed down - and say so loudly every August when results are published - the QCA should set up an independent committee to keep tabs on standards, said Mr Tomlinson.