Table 1-9
Students who took mathematics and science Advanced Placement tests, and percent who had passing scores, by subject: 1990, 1997, and 2004
 
  Students taking test (number)   Students who passed (%)
Subject 1990 1997 2004 1990 1997 2004
Mathematics              
Calculus AB 62,676 108,437 170,330 71.7 59.3 59.0
Calculus BC 13,096 22,349 49,332 81.9 78.9 79.5
Statistics NA 7,551 65,063 NA 62.1 59.8
Science
Biology 32,643 69,468 108,888 61.5 67.3 60.8
Chemistry 19,289 40,803 69,032 64.1 58.1 56.4
Computer science A NA 6,992 13,872 NA 47.0 57.2
Computer science AB NA 4,367 5,919 NA 71.7 63.3
Physics B 8,826 20,610 41,844 60.9 59.8 57.0
Physics C: electricity and magnetism 3,351 5,717 10,503 67.6 65.9 64.9
Physics C: mechanics 5,499 11,740 21,541   74.3 70.8 69.6
 

NA = not available

NOTE: Most U.S. colleges and universities grant college credit or advanced placement for scores of 3, 4, or 5 on Advanced Placement tests (on a scale of 1–5).

SOURCES: Advanced Placement Program National Summary Reports, 1997 and 2004. Copyright 1997, 2004 by the College Board. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. www.collegeboard.com.

 
Science and Engineering Indicators 2006