The strain of studying for up to twenty exams in the sixth form is leaving some students with the feeling that they're reaching breaking point with little or no time for relaxation.

We've received lots of emails from you on this subject - and Breakfast's Jane O'Brien has been to meet a brother and sister who are feeling the strain as they prepare for their GCSE and A Level exams.

Click here to watch our report and discussion on Exam stress.

Breakfast also talked to mum Julie Dale and daughter Stacey who will be sitting no fewer than fourteen AS exam papers this summer.

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Stacey Dale is 17 years old.

"The volume of work means I won't have the depth of knowledge."

She got 10 GCSE's (8 grade A's) last year, and is now studying for 4 A'levels (Maths, Physics, Biology and Chemistry).

This summer she is sitting her AS levels, and is taking 13 exams in 4 weeks.

She says she is studying constantly and doesn't have time for anything else.

Her only extra-curricular activity is membership of a Maths Club - but even that is to help her through her A'level maths.

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"My role seems to be that of a counsellor."

Julie Dale thinks her daughter and friends are taking too many unnecessary exams.

Her main point is that youngsters are only learning for 2 terms a year, and the final term is taken up with revision for exams.

She thinks this is too much, i.e. that 2 terms is too short a time to learn material and that youngsters haven't really had the time to learn the material before they're examined on it.

Julie also thinks AS level exams are just an unnecessary strain on teachers and pupils.

The stain of exams leads to cramming lessons, which she feels is wasting valuable time when pupils could be learning.

She says the strain of exams is leading to alot of stress in the home, depression and lots of tears.