A recent national survey shows that nearly 1 in 5 U.S. drivers – about 36.9 million – fail to meet the basic requirements to earn a driver’s license.

The results of the 7th Annual GMAC National Drivers Test, which surveyed 5,130 drivers nation-wide, show that that the national average score on the 20 question, multiple-choice driving exam was 77.9 percent – a 2 percent increase from last year, according to a news release from GMAC Insurance.

The test consists of questions taken from state driving exams used to grant driver’s permits or licenses.

In Colorado, the average score was 82 percent. Compared to last year’s scoared, Colorado improved the most, climbing from 24th place to third place. Alaska dropped from 10th place in 2010 to 40th in 2011 with an average score of of 76 percent.

Kansas reported the highest average score – 82.9 percent – and Washington, D.C.’s average score was the lowest at 71.8 percent.

In D.C. and New York, 1 out of 3 drivers failed the exam, compared to Wyoming where 1 out of 20 drivers failed the test.

More than twice as many women failed the exam compared to men. On average, women scored 6.1 percent lower than men.

Older drivers scored better than younger drivers – drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 were more likely to fail the exam than any other age group.