Illinois grabs a top ACT test distinction

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois State Board of Education says the state's average ACT score ranks highest nationally for states that test more than 90 percent of their students.

Seven other states have more than 90 percent of their students taking the test.

ISBE said in a news release Wednesday that Illinois' 2010 composite score on the ACT is 20.7. That's slightly lower than the 2009 score of 20.8.

But ISBE says Illinois student scores have improved over the past five years on the standardized test. The exam is given to high school students who plan to attend college.

The national average of 21.1 has stayed about the same since 2006.

Nearly 150,000 students took the test in Illinois for 2010.

Illinois requires all 11th graders to take the test.