Children who take hay fever medication can expect to see a drop in their grades as ingredients in the medicines can effect concentration.
The study conducted by the Education for Health charity, is the first to analyse the impact the condition has on exam performance has found that the medication will effect almost three quarters of users even those who don't take any remedies will face a 40% chance of a drop in grades due to their condition.
Hay fever affects around 15 million people here in the UK this is three times more that the number of sufferers 20 years ago. It also affects 30-40 % of children.
Education for Health hopes that the results of this study, based on the exam performance of 1834 15 to 17 year olds, will highlight that hay fever is not a trivial ailment and suggest that education authorities should seriously consider moving the examination period to a time when there's a lower pollen count.
Samantha Walker, the charity's director of research said: "Hay fever peaks between the ages of 14 and 24. This is precisely the time when many people re doing life changing exams and we need to take it seriously.
Those studnts who feel that their hay fever has/or may interfere with their exam results can apply to the Joint Council for Qualifications to have their condition to be taken in account.