The cost of living and falling house prices, school tests, knife crime and pictures from the Chinese earthquake feature in Tuesday’s headlines. 

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Abolish Tests for Pupils at 11 and 14, Urge MPs

MPs who say pupils are being drilled to pass exams to inflate schools’ positions in league tables rather than being encouraged to learn, are calling for some tests to be scrapped, the paper says. Story here

DAILY EXPRESS: 415 pounds Jump in Energy Bills

The paper continues to say the cost of living is on the rise, this time pointing out that families face an increase in energy bills of 46 percent. Story here

DAILY MIRROR: Saint Jimmy

The paper quotes the mother of Jimmy Mizen, killed in an unprovoked attack in a London bakers, about how she believes her son will go to heaven. Story here

THE GUARDIAN: Thousands Die in China Quake

The paper describes how rescuers struggled to reach victims of the devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people in central China and trapped thousands more in the rubble of collapsed schools, factories, hospitals and homes. Story here

THE TIMES: Elite Police Abandon Hunt for Crime Lords

The special police squad set up to take on the barons of organised crime has gone back to the drawing board after prosecuting only a handful of the 130 figures it aimed to bring to book, the paper says. Story here

THE SUN: Licence to Kill

The paper runs with a dramatic headline and picture of a bloodied knife left on a street after a man was stabbed to death in Oxford Street. The paper says it came hours after courts were told to let knife yobs off with a slap on the wrist. Story here

THE INDEPENDENT: Housing Market Worst for 30 Years

Confidence in Britain’s housing market has sunk to its lowest level for more than 30 years, as property prices continue to fall and mortgage lenders restrict home loan finance, the paper says. Story here

FINANCIAL TIMES: Mounting Signs of Economic Slowdown

Poor economic figures revealed inflationary pressures are rising to levels not seen in nearly 20 years and new data due are expected to show important parts of the economy are stagnating. Story here 

DAILY MAIL: Now a Tax to Pay for Old Age

Every working family could face paying an “ageing tax” to provide care for the elderly, the prime minister proposed, the paper says. Story here