Classic Learning Test
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is a standardized college admissions exam for 11th and 12th graders, developed in 2015 by Jeremy Tate as an alternative to the SAT and ACT.[1] It evaluates verbal reasoning, grammar and writing, and quantitative reasoning through passages from classical texts by authors such as Aristotle, Shakespeare, and Flannery O'Connor, emphasizing critical thinking, aptitude, and exposure to ideas of truth, goodness, and beauty rather than alignment with modern curricula like Common Core.[1][2] The two-hour online test, which can be taken remotely with proctoring, produces scores within ten days and includes an optional essay for certain formats.[2] Founded amid concerns over utilitarian trends in American education, the CLT aims to restore assessments that form the whole person—intellectually, emotionally, and ethically—by drawing on the Western intellectual tradition and prioritizing virtue alongside knowledge.[1] Tate, a former teacher and test preparation entrepreneur, launched it through Classic Learning Initiatives to offer a meaningful option for students in classical, homeschool, or independent schools seeking to demonstrate proficiency in timeless skills without extensive test-specific preparation.[1] Unlike the SAT and ACT, which have faced criticism for content reflecting particular educational standards, the CLT focuses on innate intellectual capacity and problem-solving, with concordances established to equate scores for admissions purposes.[2][3] As of 2025, over 300 colleges and universities, including the entire State University System of Florida and institutions like Hillsdale College and Grove City College, accept CLT scores as a full substitute for traditional exams, often tying them to scholarships exceeding $100 million annually.[4][5] The test has achieved policy victories in multiple states for public school use and is expanding into lower grades with assessments like the CLT10 for 10th graders, positioning it as a growing challenger to established testing monopolies through its emphasis on substantive content over rote metrics.[6][7]History
Founding and Early Development
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) was established in 2015 by Jeremy Tate, an evening high school English teacher and founder of Classic Learning Initiatives, as an alternative standardized assessment for college admissions.[1] Tate, who had previously worked as a college counselor and operated an SAT preparation company, sought to address perceived shortcomings in dominant tests like the SAT and ACT, which he viewed as promoting a utilitarian focus that marginalized transcendent moral, ethical, and classical content in education.[8][9] Tate's vision crystallized during his 2013 teaching of 11th-grade students using Flannery O'Connor's short stories, where he observed students' enthusiasm for substantive literature contrasted with the rote, test-driven narrowing of curricula under high-stakes accountability systems.[1] This experience prompted the development of the CLT to reconnect knowledge with virtue through assessments drawing on great books and timeless thinkers, emphasizing critical thinking, logic, and deep comprehension over isolated skills or contemporary passages.[10][1] The test officially launched in December 2015, initially offered online or in-school with a two-hour format covering verbal reasoning, grammar, and mathematics based on classical sources spanning Plato, Aristotle, and influential Western authors.[11] Early iterations prioritized rapid scoring within ten days and accessibility for students in classical or homeschool settings, with initial adoption targeted at institutions valuing rigorous, content-rich evaluation amid growing dissatisfaction with mainstream exams' evolution toward equity-focused redesigns.[11][10] By design, the CLT avoided the procedural complexities and extended preparation demands of competitors, aiming instead to inspire intellectual engagement from the outset.[8]Launch and Initial Adoption
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) was developed and launched in 2015 by Classic Learning Initiatives, a nonprofit founded by educator Jeremy Tate to provide a standardized college admissions exam aligned with classical education principles, emphasizing reading from foundational Western texts, grammar, and mathematics rooted in logical reasoning rather than skills-heavy preparation.[8][12] The test emerged in response to perceived shortcomings in the SAT and ACT, which Tate argued favored rote test-taking over substantive knowledge of history, literature, and philosophy drawn from authors like Plato, Shakespeare, and Tocqueville.[9] Initial administrations were online, allowing flexibility for homeschooled and private school students, with the first full testing cycle occurring shortly after its creation.[13] In its debut year of operation, approximately 2016, the CLT attracted just over 1,000 test-takers, primarily from classical Christian academies and homeschool networks seeking an alternative assessment that rewarded familiarity with the great books tradition over standardized multiple-choice drills.[14] Adoption grew rapidly in the subsequent year, surpassing 10,000 participants, as word spread among educators dissatisfied with the dominant exams' alignment to progressive curricula influences.[14] Early partnering colleges, numbering over 80 by late 2017, included liberal arts institutions like Hillsdale College and Grove City College, which valued the CLT's focus on verbal reasoning from primary sources as a better predictor of success in humanities-oriented programs.[15] Initial school-level adoption centered on K-12 institutions emphasizing trivium-based learning, where the CLT served as both an end-of-course benchmark and college prep tool, with feedback loops enabling curriculum adjustments toward classical texts over contemporary policy debates.[16] This grassroots uptake, driven by networks of independent and faith-based schools, contrasted with slower mainstream integration, as public systems remained tethered to SAT/ACT concordance, though the CLT's percentile-based scoring facilitated early comparisons showing competitive validity for selective admissions.[17] By 2018, acceptance had expanded to around 140 colleges, signaling viability among institutions prioritizing intellectual heritage over broad-market test prep economies.[18]Expansion and Policy Milestones
The Classic Learning Test experienced steady growth in college acceptances following its initial rollout, primarily among classical Christian institutions and smaller private colleges emphasizing liberal arts curricula. By early 2023, over 200 colleges and universities nationwide recognized CLT scores as a valid alternative to the SAT or ACT for admissions purposes.[19] This expansion reflected the test's appeal to schools prioritizing assessments rooted in great books and logical reasoning over broader standardized metrics. A pivotal policy milestone occurred in March 2023, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation authorizing the CLT for admissions to the state's public universities, marking the first statewide endorsement by a public higher education system.[19] In September 2023, Florida's Board of Governors formally approved the test for all 12 public universities in the State University System, enabling its use alongside the SAT and ACT.[12] This development spurred a tenfold increase in test-takers since 2022 and positioned the CLT as a competitive option in public education policy.[20] Subsequent expansions accelerated in 2025 with legislative victories in multiple states. Texas and Oklahoma enacted policies recognizing the CLT for public university admissions and state-funded testing, broadening access for public high school students.[21] Arkansas passed ACT 724, permitting public schools to administer the CLT (including its grade 10 variant, CLT10) as a state-funded option alongside the ACT and SAT.[22] By mid-2025, over 300 colleges and universities accepted CLT scores, with many linking scholarships to high performance.[4] In September 2025, U.S. service academies—including West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy—announced acceptance of CLT scores starting with the 2027 admissions cycle, expanding the test's reach into federal military education.[23] These policy advancements underscored the CLT's integration into mainstream admissions frameworks, particularly in Republican-led states seeking alternatives to dominant testing providers.[24]Test Format and Content
Overall Structure and Administration
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) comprises three mandatory sections—Verbal Reasoning, Grammar/Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning—each consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions that evaluate reading comprehension, language skills, and mathematical aptitude, respectively.[25] [26] An optional essay prompts students to analyze a provided text, available primarily for in-school administrations.[2] The test emphasizes content drawn from classic literature and historical texts in its Verbal Reasoning section to assess critical thinking rather than rote memorization.[27] Overall, the exam format prioritizes intellectual capacity and problem-solving over speeded recall, with a total of approximately 120 questions across the core sections yielding a composite score on a 0-120 scale.[17] [26] Administered as an online assessment for high school juniors and seniors, the CLT can be taken remotely from home or in a supervised school environment on designated test dates scheduled multiple times per year.[2] [28] Remote proctoring requires a laptop or desktop computer equipped with stable internet, a webcam, and the CLT's LockDown Browser software, which locks down the testing interface; sessions are recorded via an additional device for post-exam review by CLT staff to ensure integrity.[29] [30] In-school testing follows similar online protocols under on-site proctor supervision, with no mobile phones or unauthorized devices permitted during the approximately two-hour duration.[29] [17] Accommodations for disabilities must be pre-approved by CLT at least four weeks in advance via a formal request process.[31] Scores are typically released within ten days, enabling prompt submission to accepting colleges.[32]Verbal Reasoning and Grammar
The Verbal Reasoning section of the Classic Learning Test (CLT) assesses textual comprehension and analysis through 40 multiple-choice questions based on four reading passages, administered in 40 minutes.[33][34] Passages are selected from the Western intellectual tradition and categorized into philosophy/religion, literature, science (accompanied by graphics such as charts or tables), and historical/American Founding documents (featuring dual passages for comparison).[33] Each passage includes 10 questions not ordered by difficulty, testing skills including identification of main ideas and authorial tone, understanding of word or phrase meanings in context, analysis of passage structure and motives, evaluation of evidence (verbal or quantitative), and recognition of analogies or relationships between passage elements.[33] Question types encompass synthesizing the passage as a whole, recalling key details or facts, interpreting relationships among parts, making inferences about perspectives, and assessing evidence validity.[33] The Grammar and Writing section evaluates language usage, sentence structure, and rhetorical effectiveness via 40 multiple-choice questions drawn from four passages, completed in 35 minutes.[33][34] These passages derive from sources in the Western intellectual tradition, spanning philosophy/religion, science, historical profiles, and modern influential thinkers or issues.[33] For each of the 10 questions per passage, test-takers identify and correct errors or select improvements in diction, punctuation, syntax, logical flow, subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, or overall rhetorical strength, with an option to select "NO CHANGE" if the original is optimal.[33] This format emphasizes enhancing passage coherence and precision without altering substantive content, focusing on conventional grammar rules and stylistic clarity rooted in classical language standards.[33][35] Both sections prioritize content from enduring works over contemporary materials, aligning with the CLT's emphasis on classical education, though questions remain uncalibrated for difficulty progression within passages.[33] Performance in these areas contributes to the overall verbal score, which correlates with college readiness in reading and writing as validated through independent studies.[7]Mathematics
The Quantitative Reasoning section of the Classic Learning Test, serving as its mathematics component, comprises 40 multiple-choice questions administered over 45 minutes, with no calculator permitted to emphasize logical problem-solving and mental computation.[11][34] This format tests foundational mathematical abilities aligned with classical education principles, focusing on reasoning rather than advanced computation.[11] The section divides into three domains: Algebra (10 questions), Geometry (14 questions), and Mathematical Reasoning (16 questions).[11] The Algebra domain addresses arithmetic operations, patterns, basic probability, algebraic expressions, equations, and inequalities, requiring students to simplify expressions, solve linear and quadratic equations, and handle systems of equations up to Algebra II level.[36][33] Geometry questions cover plane geometry topics, including two-dimensional shapes, the coordinate plane, properties of triangles and circles, and trigonometry elements such as ratios, identities, functions, and graphs.[36][33] Mathematical Reasoning integrates concepts from algebra and geometry into logic-based problems and real-world word problems, demanding inference from given data, application of principles to novel scenarios, and critical evaluation without reliance on formulas alone.[36][11] Raw scores derive from correct answers only, with no penalty for guessing, contributing to the overall CLT score on a 0-120 scale (40 points maximum for this section) and reflecting skills suitable for students completing Algebra II and introductory geometry.[11] Reliability coefficients for this section range from 0.85 to 0.89 across test forms, indicating consistent measurement of quantitative aptitude.[11]Optional Writing Section
The optional writing section of the Classic Learning Test (CLT), introduced in fall 2018, consists of an unscored essay intended to furnish colleges with a timed writing sample from test-takers.[11] This section does not contribute to the numerical CLT score, which is derived solely from the verbal reasoning, grammar/writing, and quantitative reasoning components.[13] Students opting for the essay receive an additional 30 minutes beyond the standard two-hour test duration.[37] Available exclusively to in-school testers, the essay is not offered in remotely proctored administrations, limiting its use to supervised group settings at approved high schools or testing centers.[37] The essay response is generated in response to a specific prompt supplied by CLT administrators, which typically requires critical analysis of a provided text passage, evaluating the student's ability to engage thoughtfully with ideas under time constraints.[37] [32] Completed essays are forwarded directly to colleges alongside the CLT score report upon student request, allowing admissions offices to assess writing proficiency independently of standardized metrics.[37] Preparation resources, such as the official CLT Student Guide, include sample essay prompts drawn from classical or intellectually rigorous sources to align with the test's emphasis on great books and substantive reasoning, though exact prompts vary by administration to prevent predictability.[38] This design prioritizes authentic expression over formulaic responses, contrasting with essay formats in tests like the SAT, where prompts often favor personal narratives.[11] Adoption of the optional essay remains modest, as not all accepting institutions require or heavily weigh it, but it serves as a differentiator for applicants from classical education backgrounds seeking to demonstrate analytical depth.[13]Scoring and Validity
Scoring Mechanics
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) for high school students (CLT10+) comprises 120 multiple-choice questions divided equally among three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Grammar/Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning, with 40 questions per section.[39] Raw scores represent the total number of correct answers across all sections, with no deduction for incorrect or unanswered questions, thereby encouraging informed guessing without penalty.[39] These raw scores undergo statistical equating to produce scaled scores, which adjust for minor variations in difficulty between test forms to ensure comparability.[39] Each section yields a scaled score ranging from 0 to 40, while the overall composite score ranges from 0 to 120, calculated as the sum of the three section scores.[39] Scaled scores are not simple percentages of correct answers but are designed to reflect absolute achievement levels on a consistent metric.[39] Score reports provide additional interpretive layers, including national percentiles (comparing performance to a representative U.S. sample) and CLT user percentiles (relative to other test-takers), as well as projected concordance scores for the SAT and ACT based on empirical alignments.[39] Results are typically released within two weeks of testing, with remotely proctored exams available the third Wednesday post-administration and in-school exams the following Wednesday.[40] The optional writing section, if taken, receives a separate holistic score evaluated by trained readers on criteria such as argument strength and clarity, but it does not factor into the composite score.[31]Predictive Validity and Concordance Studies
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) has conducted concordance studies to equate its scores with those of the SAT and ACT, primarily using data from students who took multiple exams between 2016 and 2023. In a 2023 report, CLT analyzed 4,375 paired scores, reporting Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.89 for total scores, 0.90 for verbal reasoning and grammar/writing sections compared to SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and 0.87 for quantitative reasoning compared to SAT Math.[41] Equipercentile linking with loglinear smoothing was applied to generate conversion tables, assuming similar underlying constructs, though the sample skewed toward higher-ability test-takers and included self-reported SAT scores for 58% of cases.[41] The College Board, in a May 2024 brief, criticized CLT's concordance methodology as falling short of professional standards established by the American Educational Research Association, citing a non-representative sample of approximately 5,000 students lacking demographic details, reliance on unverified self-reported SAT scores (with 20% mismatches), absence of controls for testing intervals, and no demonstration of content alignment.[3] Similarly, a 2024 review by the Iowa Board of Regents deemed the tables invalid for admissions due to methodological flaws and insufficient sample representativeness compared to larger-scale SAT-ACT concordances involving over 589,000 participants.[42] These critiques highlight risks in using CLT concordances for high-stakes decisions without further validation. Regarding predictive validity, CLT's 2018 technical report emphasizes internal validity through factor analyses supporting a three-factor structure (verbal reasoning/grammar, quantitative reasoning) with strong model fit (e.g., CFI=1.000, RMSEA<0.001 for analyzed forms) and reliability coefficients of 0.91–0.96 for total scores across diverse subgroups, based on samples of 276–780 students per form.[11] However, it provides no direct evidence of external predictive power, such as correlations with college GPA, retention, or graduation rates. Independent assessments, including the College Board and Iowa Regents, note the absence of peer-reviewed studies linking CLT scores to postsecondary outcomes, attributing this to the test's recency (launched 2015, ~25,000 test-takers by 2023) and focus on non-traditional student populations like homeschoolers, limiting generalizability to broader applicant pools.[3][42] CLT infers comparability via high correlations with SAT/ACT totals, but without outcome data, its utility for forecasting academic success remains unestablished relative to established exams.[11]Comparisons to SAT and ACT
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) differs from the SAT and ACT in format, emphasizing brevity and digital administration. The CLT consists of 120 multiple-choice questions administered entirely online in 2 hours, with no calculator permitted and sections including 40 verbal reasoning, 40 grammar/writing, and 40 quantitative reasoning questions.[43] In contrast, the digital SAT features 98 questions over 134 minutes, allowing calculators for the entire math section, while the ACT comprises 215 questions over approximately 175 minutes without writing, with calculator use permitted on math.[44] These structural variances position the CLT as a shorter, less logistically demanding option, potentially reducing test-day fatigue compared to the longer ACT.[45] Content-wise, the CLT prioritizes classical and historical texts in its verbal reasoning section, drawing passages from authors such as Aristotle, Jane Austen, and Frederick Douglass to assess comprehension, inference, and logical analysis, alongside grammar focused on classical elements like sentence structure and rhetoric.[19] The SAT and ACT verbal components, by comparison, incorporate more contemporary and diverse source materials, with the SAT emphasizing evidence-based reading and the ACT including science reasoning alongside English and reading.[17] Mathematically, the CLT covers algebra, geometry, and basic trigonometry without statistics or advanced calculator-dependent problems, mirroring core SAT/ACT math but omitting topics like data analysis prevalent in both competitors.[17] This classical orientation aims to reward foundational reasoning over modern interdisciplinary skills, though critics argue it may undervalue quantitative breadth tested in SAT/ACT statistics modules.[46] Scoring on the CLT yields a total scale from 0 to 120, with separate verbal and quantitative subscores from 0 to 60, lacking an optional essay in its standard form unlike the ACT's writing section or the SAT's discontinued essay.[27] Concordance studies equate CLT scores to SAT and ACT equivalents; for instance, a CLT total of 107 corresponds to an SAT of 1350 or ACT of 28, derived from equipercentile methods using limited datasets.[41] However, the College Board has cautioned that such tables rely on non-representative CLT samples, potentially inflating equivalencies absent broader validation against SAT's established norms.[3] Regarding predictive validity, the SAT and ACT demonstrate robust correlations with first-year college GPA (typically r ≈ 0.5), backed by decades of longitudinal data across diverse populations.[3] CLT proponents cite internal analyses showing comparable predictive power for college success in accepting institutions, but empirical studies remain preliminary due to smaller test-taker pools and fewer outcomes tracked, limiting direct comparability.[47] Independent reviews, such as those from state education boards, highlight the SAT/ACT's superior empirical foundation from millions of scores, questioning CLT's unproven scalability for mainstream admissions.[42]| Aspect | CLT | SAT (Digital) | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours 14 minutes | 2 hours 55 minutes (no writing) |
| Questions | 120 | 98 | 215 |
| Sections | Verbal (40), Grammar (40), Quant (40) | Reading/Writing (54), Math (44) | English (75), Math (60), Reading (40), Science (40) |
| Calculator | Not permitted | Permitted (entire math) | Permitted (math) |
| Score Range | 0-120 (total) | 400-1600 | 1-36 |
Adoption and Impact
Colleges and Universities Accepting CLT
As of 2025, more than 300 colleges and universities in the United States and select international institutions accept CLT scores as a valid alternative to the SAT or ACT for admissions evaluations.[4] These partners span public and private sectors, including flagship state universities such as the University of Florida and Christopher Newport University, alongside liberal arts colleges like Hillsdale College and Christendom College. Adoption has expanded since the test's launch, with many institutions recruiting high-scoring CLT test-takers and integrating scores into holistic admissions processes.[4] Over 60 partner colleges tie merit scholarships directly to CLT performance, collectively offering more than $100 million in annual awards.[48] Scholarships typically scale with scores, which range from 0 to 120, and often combine with GPA considerations. Examples include:| College | Scholarship Amount (Annual) | CLT Score Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Benedictine College | Up to full tuition | 120 (Premier Scholarship) |
| Boyce College | Up to full tuition | 86 (Academic Excellence) |
| Christendom College | $6,000–$15,000 | Qualifying scores (automatic award) |
| Hillsdale College | $1,000–full tuition | Score-dependent tiers |
| Liberty University | $1,000–full tuition | 81+ ($1,000); 112+ (full tuition) |