The Classic Learning Test (CLT) Explained

Earlier this fall, the federal government announced that U.S. service academies will begin accepting scores from the Classic Learning Test (CLT) beginning with the 2027 admissions cycle. While the five U.S. service academies will still accept SAT or ACT scores for their testing requirement as well, this shift marks one of the biggest gains for the newest standardized test on the market.

The Classic Learning Test was founded by educator Jeremy Tate in 2015, as an alternative to the duopoly of the SAT and ACT, as well as a response to what he observed to be a declining quality and rigor in both major testing options. The main difference between the CLT and its predecessor competitors is that the CLT intentionally uses highly regarded classical and historical texts from (mostly) Western literature and philosophy for its reading excerpts. Additionally, students are not allowed to use a calculator for the mathematics section, which focuses mostly on foundational math skills and logical reasoning (and notably does not include statistics).

What do students and families need to know about this newest standardized test? How widespread is the adoption of the CLT right now, and how does it really stack up against the SAT and ACT? We’ll get into all of this below.

What is the CLT, and why do we need another standardized test?

First, a bit of context. The two major college entrance exams, the SAT (introduced in 1926) and the ACT (introduced in 1959), have become a standard requirement for admissions to the majority of colleges and universities in the United States. Standardized test scores have historically been understood to be a more objective measure of “college readiness” than high school coursework alone, since schooling varies widely across the country. Especially after the majority of schools went test-optional in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been renewed interest in this issue, and studies have come out both in support of and against standardized testing as a predictor of academic readiness or success in college.

The Classic Learning Test, which has “come of age” in the midst of this turbulent time for standardized testing, aims to present an intellectual alternative. As their mission statement reads, the CLT “exists to reconnect knowledge and virtue by providing meaningful assessments and connections to seekers of truth, goodness, and beauty.” That’s certainly a lofty goal for the makers of what is, essentially, a one-time entrance exam. But this mission is a reflection of a larger dynamic in the educational landscape: that required tests—for better or for worse—end up shaping the curriculum that precedes them.

David Coleman, the current CEO of College Board (which administers the SAT), previously served as a lead developer of Common Core, a set of national educational standards and expectations, currently in use by 41 states. In a 2011 keynote address, a year before taking over at College Board, he said: “Teachers will teach towards the test. There is no force on this earth strong enough to prevent that… Tests exert an enormous effect on instructional practice, direct and indirect.”

For Tate, this was a key motivation in developing the CLT. Not only to provide students with an alternative testing option, but with the hopes that it might reverberate back into the curriculum that educators, administrators, and families are choosing for their students. Tate, who is also a strong proponent of school choice initiatives—which streamline and incentivize students and families to choose educational options other than traditional public schools—sees “testing choice” as a critical component of that overall goal.

This focus is reflected in the colleges, high schools, and students who have been early adopters of the Classic Learning Test. Until recently, the CLT was mostly known and utilized within private, Christian, and/or homeschool circles. But this is starting to shift.

Which schools currently accept the CLT?

Earlier this year, a variety of new assessment choice legislation related to the CLT were passed in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas. As of this admissions season, all public universities in Arkansas will be required to accept the CLT as a test option for admissions. In Oklahoma and Wyoming, CLT scores can now be used to qualify for certain state-funded scholarships. And in Texas, the SAT and ACT are no longer encoded in state law as requirements for admissions, which opens the door to the CLT as a competing option.

In addition to the recent adoption by the U.S. service academies, the other biggest name in CLT acceptance has been the State University of Florida System. As of 2023, Florida’s public universities now accept CLT scores in their admissions applications, as well as in consideration for the state’s Bright Futures Scholarship. This move was taken as part of a larger effort to promote “classical education” in Florida, a pet issue for Governor Ron DeSantis. This idea of “classical education” emphasizes Western, and often conservative, teachings on math, science, civics, ancient history, and philosophy.

In conversations about the CLT as a piece of this larger move towards so-called “classical education,” these descriptors of “classic,” “classical,” “traditional,” and “traditionally-minded” are often used interchangeably. Their definitions are broad enough to encompass both a general sense of “tried and true” teachings, as well as the more targeted focus on exclusively Western and largely Christian bodies of thought. This ambiguity seems to be by design. The CLT appears, on its face, to be aligned with an intellectually rigorous liberal arts education, but there are also indications that its founder and proponents are aligned with Christian nationalism. A look at the list of CLT’s partner colleges brings this into clearer focus: of the over 300 schools that now accept CLT scores, the large majority of them are small, private, conservative, Christian colleges.

What is the outlook for the CLT?

Taking into consideration the limited number of schools that currently accept the CLT, students may be wondering if there is any demonstrable difference between submitting CLT, SAT, or ACT scores with their college applications. Is one test better than another in showcasing academic rigor, intellectual engagement, or college readiness? There is some debate.

In an internally conducted concordance study, CLT’s parent company, Classic Learning Initiatives, found that students’ test scores on the CLT and the SAT had a correlation of 0.89, which they say demonstrates that the CLT is a comparable indicator of college readiness. In line with their mission, they also argue that their testing approach, by design, evaluates and demonstrates a higher level of intellectual engagement.

The College Board, which did not directly contribute to the report, released their own statement about the report’s findings, pointing out methodological issues and highlighting what it sees as differences in academic rigor, particularly regarding the math sections. Because of the relative newness of the CLT as well as its limited reach, the truth of the matter is that there is just not yet enough data to determine a reasonable comparison between it and the other two major tests. As more schools begin to accept CLT scores in the coming admissions cycles, we will get a better sense of how CLT-submitters fare in admissions, scholarships, college success, and other factors.

Final Thoughts

No matter what, the Classic Learning Test is likely to play an increasingly prominent role in the college admissions landscape. The adoption of CLT as a testing option by multiple state university systems, as well as the U.S. service academies, is a good indicator of this shift. Additionally, the federal government has stated its support for the CLT—and standardized testing requirements in general—in the administration’s recently proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. But while many colleges and universities are now returning to pre-COVID testing requirements, still others are sticking to a test-optional or test-free policy—so it is possible that any impact the CLT will have will be siloed into certain sectors of higher education.

While the future of the CLT is yet to be determined, signs point towards it becoming a more widespread and mainstream option for college applicants. If the CLT wants to disrupt the current duopoly that the SAT and ACT hold over the college testing arena, they certainly have the right. Ideally, the outcome will be decided by that freer market.