FOR a Liskeard 6th Form student the new AS level examinations which began a few weeks ago, turned into a nightmare when she looked at her exam schedule.

She was expecting to sit ten papers covering the five subjects she had chosen - maths, English, history, psychology and media studies - but not five of them on the same day!

In fact 19 year old Marion Ovonlen from Liskeard, who entered the 6th Form after studying for GNVQs the previous year, couldn't believe her eyes when she saw that she had been scheduled to undertake seven gruelling hours of exams on Monday last.

'As soon as I saw what was happening I contacted the examiners to tell them I would not be able to cope with such a heavy load' said Marion. 'It was agreed I could take three exams on the Monday, and my English and history exams were shifted to the next day, Tuesday.'

However, because Marion's friends were doing the same exams the day before she was allowed no contact with them. She was not even allowed to go home. Her mother, Mrs Agnes Jones, had to bring her toothbrush and overnight clothes into the College on Monday afternoon, and Marion spent the evening and night at the home of head of 6th Form, Mr John Batey, and his wife Gwyneth.

Marion says she found herself getting 'stressed out' over the AS levels overall. 'There was too much pressure and too many modules to cope with in a short space of time' she said. 'I found myself having sleepless nights and sometimes revising into the early hours.'.

l Have your say – see page8

Thieves steal

Liskeard bus

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a Liskeard and district omnibus was stolen at night, and then returned - but not until after it had been involved in a crash. A police spokesman said people, who could be joyriders stole the bus from Clemo Road, Liskeard, on Wednesday at l.30am. It had been returned by 4.30am, but while being driven around it had been involved in a collision, possibly with another bus. It was discovered by staff, parked slightly differently from where it had been left, and damaged. Police at Liskeard can be contacted by dialling 08705 777 444.