Students currently in 9th grade will not have to pass a new standardized test as a high school graduation requirement in New Jersey.

The state Education Department announced Wednesday that it's extending the exemption for another year. It's already in place for current 10th through 12th graders.

Instead of passing the exam from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, the students can use their scores on college entrance exams to prove they're ready to graduate.

The state also announced that high school juniors who take Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate English exams won't have to take the PARCC test in that subject.

PARCC was first administered last year in 11 states, including New Jersey.