I think that passing too many exams especially in childhood is useless.We should stop for a moment and decide what's more important:learning to pass exams or maybe to become wiser.On the other hand I see that probably in our crazy world no one would ask you about your interests but "how many points"

Kinga, Katowice, Poland

I went to an amazing school which didn't do GCSE's. Encouraging people to love learning,not to quantify it.I would say it is unecessary, until your 16-18 if at all.I sat my A Levels at 6thform last year and got A's. It dispels the myth that early testing means children get used to exams & do better.

Grace, Bristol,

I'm 12, Introducing tests young is a good thing, it reduces the fear of them and supports that learning things, although it can be fun, interesting and positive, does have a serious side like most things children are likely to face in later life and work.

Kerri-Anne, Hertfordshire,

I am 11, and I think that children should be tested at the end of each Key Stage from Key Stage 1 - Key Stage 3 (SATs). That is Y2, Y6 and Y9. GSCEs and A-levels should be taken, of course, but all other tests, whether for information or not, should be abolished.

Eden, Stafford, UK

Stop testing children and let them discover the joy in learning and discovering things from hopefully passionate and inspiring teachers. I want my children to have positive feelings about schools - there is enough pressure with the social side of school without making children jump through hoops.

Emily Cornell, Colchester, UK

The exams that students sit in primary schools are only used so that the government can test individual school performances meaning t that the results achieved by students do not actually reflect their true academic ability, and there is pressure placed on the children un-necessarily.

Sophie Dowson, Hartlepool, UK

I agree with the view of no mandatory testing until secondary school. When I attended school in the US (years ago) we had "achievement tests", but they were for information only. My son had to pass standardized tests to advance to second grade and now for my grandson they are teaching the test.

Deborah Jones, Dalton, GA, USA

I don't think there should be any exams until the child is at least in secondary school. Like Meera said, its unnecessary pressure on children who should be enjoying school, not stressing over exams. Especially at the age of seven.

Hazel, Slough,

I don't see the point of having SATS. They put unnecessary pressure onto 7 and 11 year olds and have no use whatsoever. What can you do with SATS other than brag about your 3 Level 5s at secondary school? I think SATS should be scrapped and kids should be allowed to enjoy their childhood. Meera, 17

Meera, Reading, UK

Children should only be 'officially' tested during year 6, and for their GCSE's. Our government should let the teachers do their job and educate our children as individuals, instead of constantly preparing them to reach the 'government set targets' , which are of no real educational value at all.

Les, Southport, England

In the UK, the system is over-reliant on formal examinations. Children only need to sit formal examinations in the last 2-3 years of school to get used to exam techniques. Teachers are trained professionals able to assess the children they teach accurately. Let them do their jobs.

Zeba Clarke, Brussels, Belgium