MINNEAPOLIS — A new report by the College Board shows 17,842 Minnesota students who graduated from high school last year took the Advance Placement Exam during their high school years.

That’s more than 31 percent of all graduates in the class of 2013. It’s also a big jump from 10 years ago, when over 15 percent of 2003 graduates took the test.

The AP Report to the Nation also shows 20.3 percent of Minnesota students scored a 3 or higher on the test. That’s in line with the national average of 20.1 percent.

Research shows students who score 3 or higher typically earn higher grade-point averages in college.

In Minnesota, 2.3 percent of Latino, 2.2 percent of African-American and 0.3 percent of American Indian students taking the test scored 3 or higher.