Classic Learning Test

Last updated

CLT
TypeComputer based standardized test
Skills tested English, math, and critical reasoning skills
PurposeUndergraduate admissions (mostly US and Canadian colleges and universities)
Score rangeComposite score: 0 to 120
Languages English
FeeUS$69 (CLT), $49 (CLT10), $39 (CLT3-8)
Used byColleges or universities offering undergraduate programs, or used by teachers and parents for student evaluation
Website cltexam.com

The Classic Learning Test (or CLT) is a standardized test developed by Classic Learning Initiatives in 2015. The company is based in Annapolis, Maryland, and its CEO is Jeremy Tate. [1] Designed as an alternative to other standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT, [2] the test assesses reading, grammar, writing, and mathematics. One of the distinctive elements of the CLT is its use of classic literature and historical texts [3] for the majority of reading passages on the exam.

Contents

The exam can be taken online or in-school, takes approximately two hours to complete, and issues test scores within ten days; scores are calculated out of 120. Classic Learning Initiatives also offers other assessments for third through twelfth-grade students: the CLT10, designed for high school freshmen and sophomores, and CLT3-8, for third through eighth-grade students. [4] CLT scores have been indexed to SAT and ACT scores, as well as CLT10 scores to PSAT scores. [5]

Reception

In September 2023, the New York Times reported the test emphasizes Christian thought and uses passages authored by religious figures, like Saint Teresa of Ávila, for reading comprehension. [6]

Schools accepting CLT scores

Over 250 colleges and Universities in both the United States and abroad accept the CLT for various purposes related to admissions and course placement. These schools tend to be private, liberal arts or faith-based colleges. Many are evangelical and Catholic schools. [7] [8]

In September 2023, Florida's Board of Governors voted to approve the CLT as an accepted admissions test at all public universities in the state. [9]

A partial list of test-optional colleges that do not require any standardized test for admission, but allow the option to send in a CLT score include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ACT (test)</span> American standardized test used for college admissions

The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. It is administered by ACT, Inc., a for-profit organization of the same name. The ACT test covers four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and scientific reasoning. It also offers an optional direct writing test. It is accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States as well as more than 225 universities outside of the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in the United States</span>

In the United States, education is provided in public and private schools and by individuals through homeschooling. State governments set overall educational standards, often mandate standardized tests for K–12 public school systems and supervise, usually through a board of regents, state colleges, and universities. The bulk of the $1.3 trillion in funding comes from state and local governments, with federal funding accounting for about $260 billion in 2021 compared to around $200 billion in past years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAT</span> Standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States

The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and scoring have changed several times. For much of its history, it was called the Scholastic Aptitude Test and had two components, Verbal and Mathematical, each of which was scored on a range from 200 to 800. Later it was called the Scholastic Assessment Test, then the SAT I: Reasoning Test, then the SAT Reasoning Test, then simply the SAT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standardized test</span> Test administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner

A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graduate Record Examinations</span> Standardized tests

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is part of the admissions process for many graduate schools in the United States and Canada and a few other countries. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The test was established in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law School Admission Test</span> US and Canadian standardized test

The Law School Admission Test is a standardized test administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for prospective law school candidates. It is designed to assess reading comprehension and logical reasoning. The test is an integral part of the law school admission process in the United States, Canada, the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a growing number of other countries.

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test administered by the College Board and cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in the United States. In the 2018–2019 school year, 2.27 million high school sophomores and 1.74 million high school juniors took the PSAT. It is expected that in 2024, 3.5 million students will take this exam, according to National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Board</span> US educational nonprofit testing organization

The College Board, styled as CollegeBoard, is an American not-for-profit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an association of colleges, it runs a membership association of institutions, including over 6,000 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Merit Scholarship Program</span> American academic scholarship competition

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a United States academic scholarship competition for recognition and university scholarships. The program is managed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a privately funded not-for-profit organization based in Evanston, Illinois. The program began in 1955.

University admission or college admission is the process through which students enter tertiary education at universities and colleges. Systems vary widely from country to country, and sometimes from institution to institution.

College application is the process by which individuals apply to gain entry into a college or university. Although specific details vary by country and institution, applications generally require basic background information of the applicant, such as family background, and academic or qualifying exam details such as grade point average in secondary school and standardized testing scores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College admissions in the United States</span> Aspect of education

College admissions in the United States refers to the process of applying for entrance to institutions of higher education for undergraduate study at one of the nation's colleges or universities. For those who intend to attend college immediately after high school, the college search usually begins in the eleventh grade with most activity taking place during the twelfth grade. Applications to many schools are due in October or November of senior year for Early Decision or Early Action, or in December or January of their senior year for Regular Decision, though the timeline may vary depending on the universities, some having an earlier deadline due to the fact that the admissions process may weigh in more on transcripts. Students at top high schools may often begin the process during their tenth grade or earlier. There are considerable numbers of students who transfer from one college to another, as well as adults older than high school age who apply to college.

The National Center for Fair & Open Testing, also known as FairTest, is an American educational policy organization that opposes standardized testing and their use in university admission.

Delaware Valley Classical School is a private, K-12 classical Christian school located in New Castle, Delaware. For the 2023–24 academic year, enrollment was approximately 190 students, with approximately 30 faculty and staff.

The SAT Subject Test in Literature was a one-hour multiple choice test given on English literature by The College Board. A student chose whether to take the test depending upon college entrance requirements for the schools in which the student is planning to apply. Until 1994, the SAT Subject Tests were known as Achievement Tests; and from 1995 until January 2005, they were known as SAT IIs. Of all SAT subject tests, Literature was taken the third most, with 119,180 administrations in 2008. On January 19 2021, the College Board discontinued all SAT Subject tests, including the SAT Subject Test in Literature. This was effective immediately in the United States, and the tests were to be phased out by the following summer for international students. This was done as a response to changes in college admissions due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAT Subject Tests</span> Multiple-choice standardized tests

SAT Subject Tests were a set of multiple-choice standardized tests given by The College Board on individual topics, typically taken to improve a student's credentials for college admissions in the United States. For most of their existence, from their introduction in 1937 until 1994, the SAT Subject Tests were known as Achievement Tests, and until January 2005, they were known as SAT II: Subject Tests. They are still commonly known by these names. Unlike the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) that the College Board offers, which are intended to measure general aptitude for academic studies, the Achievement Tests are intended to measure the level of knowledge and understanding in a variety of specific subjects. Like the SAT, the scores for an Achievement Test range from 200 (lowest) to 800 (highest).

ACT, Inc. is an American for-profit company primarily known for the ACT, a standardized test designed to assess high school students' academic achievement and college readiness. It was announced in April 2024 that the company, previously a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, had been purchased by the private equity firm Nexus Capital, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

The SAT Subject Test in Spanish was a standardized test given by the College Board that assessed fluency in Spanish among high school students. It was typically taken after three to four years of studying the language, once the student had reached a significant level of understanding and competence in it. The test also partially emphasized preparation for AP Spanish and/or Spanish as a course in College. Passage selections were drawn from prose fiction, historical works, and newspaper and magazine articles, as well as advertisements, flyers and letters.

The SAT is a standardized test commonly used for the purpose of admission to colleges and universities in the United States. The test, owned by the College Board and originally developed by Carl Brigham, was first administered on June 23, 1926, to about 8,000 students. The test was introduced as a supplement to the College Board essay exams already in use for college admissions, but ease of administration of the SAT and other factors led to the discontinuation of the essay exams during World War II. The SAT has since gone through numerous changes in content, duration, scoring, and name; the test was taken by more than 1.9 million students in the graduating high school class of 2023.

References

  1. Redemer, Colin (June 20, 2023). "Debating the Classic Learning Test | Colin Redemer". American Reformer. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  2. "Student Publishes Comparison of ACT and Classic Learning Test". The Heartland Institute. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  3. "Author Bank for Classic Learning Test (CLT)". CLT. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  4. "CLT Tests". www.cltexam.com. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  5. "CLT and CLT10 Comparisons". cltexam.com. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  6. "Here's What It's Like to Take the Classic Learning Test". The New York Times . Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  7. Ceballos, Ana; Brugal, Sommer (February 17, 2023). "Florida is considering a 'classical and Christian' alternative to the SAT" . Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  8. "Over 200 Colleges & Universities Accept CLT Scores". cltexam.com. CLT. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  9. Goldstein, Dana (September 8, 2023). "Florida Approves Classic Learning Test for Use in College Admissions". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  10. "Apply to Benedictine". August 31, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  11. "Admissions Process - Bob Jones University" . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  12. "Classic Learning Test Accepted at Cedarville". Cedarville University. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  13. "How to Apply" . Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  14. "Liberty University's Admission Requirements" . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  15. "Undergraduate Admissions" . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  16. "Freshman Admissions". Palm Beach Atlantic University. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  17. "Undergraduate Students - Saint Vincent College" . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  18. "Test Optional - St Olaf College" . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  19. College, Wheaton. "Submit Test Scores". Wheaton College. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  20. BA FAQs
  21. "Apply". New College Franklin. Retrieved September 11, 2023.