Advanced Placement scores increase by 9 percent in Texas

More Texas students took Advanced Placement tests in 2011-2012 than the previous year and the students' scores also improved.

The Texas Education Agency reported this week that the number of students who took the exams increased by 4 percent in 2011-2012. Last year, 194,391 students took 350,766 AP exams in various subjects, TEA announced, citing College Board data.

On the tests, graded on a one to five scale, the Texas students earned scores of 3, 4 or 5 on 162,959 exams. Students can usually get college credit if their scores are three or higher.

Student scores overall increased by 9.1 percent in 2011-2012. The change was greater for African American students, who improved scores by 12 percent and for Hispanic students, whose scores increased by 13.9 percent.

Michael L. Williams, the new Texas Education Commissioner, gave a statement.

“More Texas students are choosing to take the academically rigorous AP classes, and increasingly they are meeting the challenge," Williams said. “Students who are succeeding in AP classes and on AP exams in our high schools are positioning themselves for future success in college.”

Here are the AP exams most frequently taken by Texas students:

1. English language and composition
2. United States history
3. World history
4. English literature and composition
5. Spanish language

Jessamy Brown