NASHVILLE (AP) - State education officials say Tennessee public high school students improved on the ACT for the third straight year.

Officials announced Wednesday that the average composite increased from 19.3 last year to 19.4 this year, adding to what they say has been a three-year pattern of growth for the state.

Tennessee is one of 13 states nationwide that require all students to take the ACT.

This year, the state has new tests in math and English for students in grades three through 11.

A survey of nearly 37,000 Tennessee teachers released earlier this week shows 60 percent say they spend too much time helping students prepare for statewide exams, and seven out of ten believe their students spend too much time taking exams.