Close to half of school students in Auckland, Northland and parts of Waikato aren't turning up for their NCEA exams.
They are making the most of a new rule that means they will get an unexpected-event grade for any exams they miss, no questions asked.
In the first four days of exams average attendance in the three regions was 55% and this week some schools are reporting rates as low as 15%
Our education correspondent John Gerritsen has been talking to principals about what's going on.
