The amount of exams high school students in the Halifax region will have to write will be affected by the H1N1 virus.

High school principals in the area agreed to get rid of the exam exemption policy that rewards good attendance.

Previously, high school students could choose to be exempt from an exam if they missed no more than six days of school, and completed all their assignments.

However, school board spokesperson Doug Hadley says it led to students coming to school sick.

"They wanted to make sure they protected that exemption when they were ill so when we're trying to tell people to stay home when they're sick that seemed to at cross purposes.

Students at Citadel High School don't seem to see it that way. Most are unhappy with the change including Sheila.

"They shouldn't take the exemptions because it's like hanging candy in front of a child and then taking it away."

She says the exemptions should be based on grades not attendance.

Citadel, Auburn Drive, Duncan MacMillan, and Sir John A Macdonald  have reported above normal absentee rates over the past two weeks.