The number of Carroll County students taking Advanced Placement tests has soared in recent years, but the number of those passing the test has continued to drop.

Last year, 2,324 students took an AP exam, nearly three and a half times the amount that took one during the 2002-03 school year. Meanwhile, the number of students enrolled in an AP course nearly doubled to 3,676. However, 62 percent of the exam takers scored a 3 or better, down from 71 percent four years ago.