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| Updated: 9/24/2012 2:47 pm |
Published: 9/24/2012 10:19 am |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - More Arkansas public school students took Advanced Placement exams in 2012 and the scores improved, according to a College Board report released Monday by the state Department of Education.
"This is great news and evidence that Arkansas students are embracing the rigorous coursework and what it means to be ready for college and careers," Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell said.
The report shows 22,857 students took AP exams in 2012, an increase of 7.4 percent from 2011, while students scoring 3, 4 or 5 on the 1-5 scoring scale rose 11.8 percent to 12,241.
The College Board also said that both the number of students taking the SAT Reasoning Test, which is used in the college admissions process, and the average scores on those tests declined in 2012.
A total of 994 students, about 4 percent of the graduation class, took the SAT with the average score in critical reading dropping by three points to 565, the score in math down six points to 567 and the writing score falling by six points to 547.
The Education Department said the average SAT scores where above the national average in each category.
Most Arkansas students take ACT, rather than the SAT, for college admissions.
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