Teachers are being consulted over plans to overhaul English tests for 14-year-olds which earlier this year stood accused of "dumbing down" Shakespeare.

English teachers threatened to boycott the tests - which were new in 2003 - as it emerged that well over half of the Shakespeare tests could be passed without ever having read any Shakespeare.

Across the country 600,000 pupils sat the English Sats, which is made up of a third writing, a third reading and a third on the Bard. The Shakespeare section contains 18 marks worth of reading but 38 marks for personal writing. Shakespeare was described as a "springboard" for pupils' own writing, but teachers thought there ought to be more critical theory.

Today the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which designs the tests, launched a consultation of English teachers and subject experts over how best to change the tests.

The questionnaire asks teachers to chose between the current system and a reshuffle of the three papers whereby the writing element on the Shakespeare paper would be moved to the dedicated writing paper leaving the Shakespeare paper dedicated wholly to reading of the Bard.

A spokesperson confirmed that the proposed change would not affect the amount of time spent in the exam, studying Shakespeare or the number of points awarded. "It's about redistributing what's already there. You're playing with the length of papers, but you're pretty much keeping the status quo," he said.

Ken Boston, chief executive of QCA, said: "We are asking for views on these issues because many of those we have already consulted say changes will improve the assessment of English. We are now giving everyone an opportunity to have their say."

The consultation will run until 3 November, and the spokesperson confirmed that next year's Sats will remain unchanged with reform coming in 2005 at the earliest.