Fewer Iowa high-school students took an Advanced Placement Exam in 2009 than students nationwide and scored lower than their American peers, according to the group’s sixth-annual report to the nation released Wednesday.

Roughly 13 percent of the 2009 graduating class in Iowa public schools took at least one Advanced Placement Exam in their high-school years, compared with 26.5 percent of the nation’s high-school graduates.

The most popular subject area for 2009 graduates was social sciences. The most popular test was the English literature exam.

Slightly more than 8 percent of the 2009 graduating class earned a 3 or higher on at least one Advanced Placement Exam during high school, compared with the nation’s 15.9 percent.

— by Meaghan Rohan