The number of Texas public school students taking the AP exams reached 55,176 last year, a new record level for the state and a 17.9 percent increase over 1998-99 participation levels. Texas students also outpaced the nation in the percentage increase in the number of students earning a score of three, four or five on the exam.
Possible scores range from one to five.
Most higher education institutions will award course credit or advanced placement when a student earns a score of three or higher. In the past five years, the number of Texas students taking AP tests has risen 95 percent while the number of exams taken has increased 112 percent, figures from the College Board show. In 1996, Texas students took 46,237 exams. By 2000, the number of exams taken had risen to 97,965. These last five years have represented phenomenal growth in this program in Texas.