The Classic Learning Test, or CLT test, is a standardized test that was developed by a high school English teacher named Jeremy Tate in 2015. Now accepted as a college entrance exam by over 200 schools, the CLT test is gaining traction as an alternative to tests like the ACT and SAT.
Tate was inspired to develop the CLT exam after his work as a high school English teacher left him lamenting how utilitarian many school curriculums had become. The problem, he reasoned, was that many teachers felt compelled to design lesson plans around high-stakes testing prep.
In the case of standardized testing, he decided it really was worth reinventing the wheel and began developing a new test around classic learning initiatives. In this article, we'll fill you in on everything you need to know about the CLT exam and how it compares to other standardized tests.
Who is the CLT test for?
While initially developed for 11th and 12th graders, the Classic Learning Test is now available for students in other grades as well. Its four current versions include:
- CLT Exam: Designed as an entrance exam for CLT partner colleges for 11th and 12th-grade students
- CLT 10: A college readiness exam for ninth and 10th-grade students, sort of like the PSAT
- CLT 8: A high school prep exam for students in the 7th and 8th grades
- CLT 3-6: A "diagnostic and summative exam" for students in grades three through six
What if you've already graduated? According to CLTexam.com, the exam is open to pretty much anyone as long as you fill out a student profile with your graduation year and high school GPA.
The difference between the CLT test and the ACT/SAT
While there are several differences between the CLT test and other standardized tests, there are a few that stand out the most. The first is that the CLT relies far more on classical education sources rather than Common Core standards.
As you'll see from the sample test available on the CLT website, students are tested on their comprehension and interpretation of sample readings from various sources. The cool thing is that in the CLT test, all the sample readings are from classic literature, ranging from works by Aristotle and Homer to Charlotte Brontë and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
How does your CLT test score impact college admissions?
Another big difference to be aware of is that great CLT scores may go a long way with one college board but hold no meaning at all to another. At the moment, only around 200 partner schools take CLT scores into account in their admissions process, and 100 or so schools offer CLT-based scholarships.
While many of the earliest CLT adopters are either liberal arts or faith-based private schools, it may not stay that way for long. Florida's Board of Governors recently enacted new laws that approved the Classic Learning Test as an option for the state's public universities.
Sections of the CLT test
The test questions on the CLT are all about upholding the intellectual tradition of the classics. But what does the format actually look like?
The CLT contains 120 questions that are broken down into three sections of 40 questions each. There's also an optional essay section, but more on that later.
Verbal reasoning section
The first section introduces several sample readings from different categories. For instance, the philosophy section might include a passage written by St. Teresa of Avila in the 16th century, while the literature section might include an excerpt from The Epic of Gilgamesh, which was written around the 12th century B.C.
After reading through each sample reading, you'll be asked a series of multiple-choice questions to see how well you understood it. You'll have 40 minutes to make your way through the verbal reasoning section before moving on.
Grammar/writing section
Next comes the grammar/writing section, which you'll have 35 minutes to complete. You'll once again be presented with a series of sample readings from classic texts, but this time, certain words or phrases will be underlined.
The multiple-choice questions will relate to the underlined phrases, like whether certain words should be replaced or if there should be commas in certain sentences. This section is less about writing and more about editing with correct grammar and writing practices in mind.
Quantitative reasoning section
Don't worry, the quantitative reasoning section isn't nearly as scary as it sounds. It basically presents you with a collection of math formulas and then tests your ability to use them to solve problems.
Some are word questions that ask you to solve real-world problems, while others are number problems that can be solved using the included formulas. You'll have 45 minutes to wrap this section up and no calculators are required (or allowed, for that matter).
Essay section (Optional)
Last but not least, there's the essay section - but only if you choose to write it. While the first three sections of the CLT take two hours, students who choose to compose the essay will be given 30 extra minutes.
While the essay doesn't count toward your test score, some students choose to write it anyway for their college applications. It's important to note that the essay option is not available on remotely proctored tests, which we'll talk more about next.
When and where is the CLT test taken?
Before we delve into when the CLT test can be taken, it's important to understand the two different ways it can be taken. If your school reached out to CLT to arrange the test, then your teachers will let you know where to go and when.
But if you want to sign up on your own, you'll likely take a remotely proctored test from your computer at home. Remote proctoring means that someone will be remotely monitoring you (and the other test takers) via your computer camera and microphone.
Just be aware that you'll need to be alone in the room when taking your test and make sure your camera and mic are working. If you choose the remote testing option, you can pick your own test date from a number of options on the CLT registration page.
How is the CLT test scored?
As you may know, different standardized tests have different scoring systems. For example, SAT scores range from 400-1600, while ACT scores range from 1-36.
At first glance, the CLT's system sounds about as straightforward as it gets. "Raw scores" range from 0-120 and are calculated by simply adding up how many of the 120 questions you got correct.
But your final score or "scaled score" is adjusted slightly to reflect the difficulty of certain test forms and to show how you ranked in comparison to other test takers. CLT score interpretation is a bit of an art in itself, but the organization developed this handy guide to help you translate your results.
What's a good CLT score?
Sometimes, the easiest way to understand your score is to compare it to the equivalent score of another test. Luckily, CLT test scores come with score comparisons for the SAT, ACT, and PSAT, all of which are also available on the CLT exam website.
But the CLT's test analysis methods don't stop there. Your results will be fairly in-depth to give you a solid idea of your strengths and weaknesses in many different areas.
How to prepare for the CLT Test
Another perk of the CLT exam is that there are plenty of great resources to help you study. When you sign up for a free account on CLTexam.com, you'll get your own dashboard with access to several free, in-depth practice tests.
Taking a practice exam is not only a great way to get familiar with the structure of the test but to figure out which areas you should focus on improving. Simply reviewing the practice questions you missed can be a helpful way to prepare for the actual exam.
If you want to go all out, you can even order the official CLT Student Guide, which costs $45 and should ship to you within 3-7 business days. The 60-page guide is packed with three different full-length practice tests, detailed answer guides, and more great info.
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