15 September 2026A study on global inequalities suggests that air pollution may account for up to 25% of the gap in exam performance between students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and those from more privileged backgrounds.
An article by Stéphane Mandard, published in Le Monde, reports on the findings of a study conducted by Simon Briole and Camille Salesse*, researchers at the Montpellier Centre for Environmental Economics.
Simon and Camille analysed administrative data from nearly 5 million secondary school students, combining it with air pollution measurements, and then compared their results across two major examinations: the Diplôme National du Brevet (lower-secondary school certificate) and the Baccalauréat (French upper-secondary school leaving examination).
The study is distinctive in that it focuses not on the already documented effects of chronic exposure to air pollution, but rather on the effects of short-term pollution peaks occurring during examinations, when results can have a decisive impact on students’ subsequent educational and professional trajectories.
The authors identify two possible avenues for action: reducing air pollution (by introducing low-emission zones around schools or installing air purification systems in examination rooms) and disseminating teaching practices that help students become more resilient to examination conditions.
Read the article >>> (in french)