ATLANTA — The federal government is reporting that eighth-graders in the U.S. are doing better in science than two years ago, but seven out of 10 still are not considered proficient.

What’s more, just 2 percent have the advanced skills that could lead to careers in the field. That’s from the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, released today. The average score was 152, up from 150 in 2009.

The exam tests knowledge and understanding of physical, life, Earth and space sciences. Students were asked to identify chemically similar elements on the periodic table, name a function of the human organ system and explain the effects of human land use on wildlife.

The test was given to more than 120,000 eighth-graders from 7,300 schools in 47 states.