Time to sharpen those No. 2 pencils: After a four-year pause, Yale University is again requiring prospective students to submit standardized test scores in their admission applications.

Unlike in years past, however, the new test-flexible policy allows high schoolers a bit more flexibility. In addition to their ACT and SAT results, students can now report Advance Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) scores to satisfy the requirement.

Undergraduate admissions dean Jeremiah Quinlan told YaleNews he believes the new policy will help applicants from schools with fewer resources better demonstrate their academic abilities.

When Yale didnt require test results, he said, students with more resources had an easier time showing their academic prowess in other ways, like extracurricular activities and advanced courses.

Our research strongly suggests that requiring scores of all applicants serves to benefit and not disadvantage students from under-resourced backgrounds, said Quinlan.

The school hopes that by doubling the number of tests that fulfill its new requirements, students will have an easier time meeting them.