PROVO, Utah (AP) - For the second year in row, Utah students taking advanced placement tests ranked third in the nation with 20.8 percent of high school seniors scoring 3 or better on at least one test, data from the College Board shows.

"We love to see more of our high school students challenging themselves by taking advanced courses," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington. "We also love to see them doing so well on these tests. The results speak well of Utah's schools."

Test score data was released Feb. 6.

In 2006, 15,483 Utah students took advanced placement test. On average, 65.5 percent of students passed the tests. Students must score 3 or better on an exam to earn college credits.

Provo City School District students recorded a 75.1 percent pass rate - the highest in the state, district spokesman Greg Hudnall said.

College Board data showed Hispanics make up 12 percent of Utah's student population, but only 4.5 percent of advanced placement test-takers. However, the number of Hispanic students taking the test in 2006 - 655 - has more than doubled since 2001.

Some 3,615 Utah students took the U.S. History exam, more than any other subject. That was followed by English Literature and Composition (3,205), Calculus (2,196), English Language and Composition (1,850), and Psychology (1,576), the Utah State Office of Education records show.