Classic Learning Test - The Role of Assessment in Reviving Great Education

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Eden

Classic Learning Test (CLT) outlines a college entrance exam created to renew education by anchoring assessment in enduring ideas and primary texts. It trains students in language arts and mathematics while emphasizing perennial questions about human nature, the physical world, history, and logical reasoning. CLT uses primary sources for verbal reasoning and grammar/writing, while quantitative reasoning evaluates mathematical understanding, analytical logic, and problem-solving without calculators. The paper also describes who takes CLT, acceptance by colleges, and core sections and standards.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Classic Learning Test

Purpose and Educational Approach

Who Takes the CLT?

Which Colleges Accept the CLT?

CLT Content & Standards

What Makes the CLT Different?

CLASSIC LEARNING TEST The Role of Assessment in Reviving Great Education Anchored. Passionate . Humane . “We hope that by offering a new standard that puts students in front of the thinkers and questions that have most meaningfully shaped our culture for the past two millennia, we can be a catalyst for renewal in education nationwide.” Jeremy Tate, President of CLT T he Classic Learning Test (CLT) is a college entrance exam that launched in 2016 in the context of a national movement to renew the foundations of education. Since then CLT has expanded our suite of assessments to include the CLT10 for 9th and 10th graders and the CLT8 for 7th and 8th graders. CLT will also be launching assessments intended for Grades 3-6 in the 2023-2024 academic year. By “classic,”we mean an assessment anchored in ideas and texts which have withstood the test of time, proving their value, influence, and appeal to generation after generation. CLT is based on the humane education model, which trains students in language arts and mathematics as the fundamentals of all other knowledge. Whereas other standardized tests rely largely on current trends in American culture and legislation, the CLT focuses on perennial questions about human nature, the physical world, lessons from history, and logical reasoning—questions that do not merely prompt students to regurgitate facts, but have the power to awaken a passion for learning. The CLT generally employs primary sources for its Verbal Reasoning and Grammar passages, encouraging students to engage with material from the greatest philosophical, scientific, historical, religious, and literary minds of our civilization; moreover, the CLT Quantitative Reasoning section is designed not only to assess a student’s mathematical knowledge, but also to engage their analytical, logical, and problem-solving skills. Who Takes the CLT? A True Education Inspires. A Test Should be No Different. CLT assessments are taken by 7th to 12th grade students allover the country. The majority of CLT test-takers are either homeschool or private school students, though many public and charter school students have also taken the test. Graphic 1 provides the distribution of the types of schools which CLT test takers attend. Given that the CLT is a college admissions test, most of the students who take it are 11th and 12th graders. 1 Distribution of School Types NOT PROVIDED (5%) CHARTER (7%) PUBLIC (9%) OTHER (2%) PRIVATE (40%) HOMESCHOOL (37%) Graphic 1 1The CLT suite of assessments also includes the CLT¹⁰ and CLT⁸. The CLT¹⁰ is a preparatory exam for the CLT, designed for 9th and 10th grade students (analogous to the PSAT). The CLT⁸ is a summative assessment for 7th and 8th grade students that can also be used for formative assessment purposes to monitor progress. Which Colleges Accept the CLT? The CLT is recognized by colleges and universities across the nation. Currently approximately two hundred colleges accept CLT scores, and of these, more than one hundred provide scholarships based on test performance. CLT submits the scores of a student once the student decides to share them with a college; all submissions are free of charge. Abilene Christian University Anderson University (South Carolina) Ave Maria University Baylor University Belmont Abbey College Benedictine College Biola University-Torrey Honors College Cedarville University Christendom College Christopher Newport University Colorado Christian University Covenant College Dallas Baptist University Franciscan University Grove City College Hillsdale College Hope College King's College (NY) Palm Beach Atlantic Patrick Henry College Thomas Aquinas College University of Dallas University of Navarra (Spain) Wheaton College Wyoming Catholic College Zaytuna College The list above is comprised of the most popular partner colleges among our students, ranked according to the number of student scores shared with them. To view a compr

FAQs

What is the Classic Learning Test (CLT) and when did it launch?

CLT is a college entrance exam that launched in 2016 as part of a national effort to renew the foundations of education.

How does CLT choose reading and writing materials for its Verbal Reasoning and Grammar/Writing sections?

It primarily uses selections from the Author Bank, featuring time-tested thinkers in history, literature, science, and philosophy.

What does the Quantitative Reasoning section evaluate, and are calculators allowed?

It assesses mathematical reasoning, analytical logic, and problem-solving capacity rather than mechanical formula use; calculators are not permitted.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Eden