Teenagers could gain the equivalent of an AS-level by putting on a puppet show, according to plans from the Government's exams authority.

Ministers have promised to introduce an "extended project" for sixth-form studies by 2008 as part of reforms to make A levels more stretching.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said the project could be a dissertation, field study, creating an artefact or giving a performance, the Times Educational Supplement reported.

In a presentation on the plans, David Mackay, the QCA's 14-19 programme leader, hailed the example of a puppet show developed by citizenship students in Warwickshire.

The students used puppets to demonstrate to primary school children the importance of eating healthy food.

The QCA said the puppet project involved students researching "the nutrition and health needs" of the primary school children.

They then had to present the results of their research in a way that the audience could engage with.

The students also had to write an evaluation as part of the assessment.

Projects such as these aim to help students develop the kind of presentation skills and team-working abilities that employers need, according to officials.

Although plans have not yet been finalised, extended projects could be worth the equivalent of an AS-level when they are introduced, the TES reported.