It's Michigan Merit Exam Week Again, So How Did Last Year's UCS Juniors Do?

In case the drained look on their faces didn't give it away, this was Michigan Merit Exam week for high school juniors in Utica Community Schools.

Each year, juniors across the state spend three days taking the MME, which tests them in math, reading, science, writing and social studies. A portion of the test also includes the ACT – a mandatory exam for admission to most U.S. colleges and universities.

Last year, despite a more demanding scoring system, Utica and Eisenhower high schools saw the percentage of students to receive a passing, or "proficient" score exceed state averages in every exam subject. Their ACT averages topped the state's, too.

• Use this chart to see how Utica students compared to state averages on the 2011 and 2012 tests.

And while juniors who were tested this week represent the fourth class to have completed the new, more rigorous Michigan high school graduation requirements, they are also one of the last who will take the test in its present form.

Starting in 2014-15, students will be tested online using the Smarter Balanced exam, the product of a state-led effort to provide consistent and comparable standards, aligned to the Common Core State Standards, in English language arts, literacy and mathematics.

Whereas students must currently wait until June for their MME results, one of the benefits of Smarter Balanced's online form is expected to be the availability of results within 48 hours of taking the test.

However, one of the disadvantages may be that students who take the test later have an advantage, as the test could take up to 12 weeks to administer for all students.

• See what other advantages and disadvantages the new test presents