Classic Learning Test Gains Momentum as SAT and ACT Alternative
A new college entrance examination, the Classic Learning Test (CLT), is rapidly expanding its presence across the United States, challenging the long-standing dominance of the SAT and ACT. With backing from the Trump administration and Republican-led state legislatures, this exam is now formally recognized or approved by a growing number of public institutions, including military academies and flagship university campuses.
Conservative Backing and Institutional Adoption
The CLT, founded in 2015 by Jeremy Tate through his Maryland-based company Classic Learning Initiatives, has recently secured a series of high-profile endorsements. The Pentagon has authorized the exam for use in U.S. military service academies and associated scholarships, while state legislatures in Indiana and Arkansas have enacted laws requiring public universities to consider CLT scores. Additionally, the North Carolina university system has agreed to accept the test at its campuses, including the flagship University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"We view this as a lever that shapes education," Tate stated in a recent interview, highlighting the test's growing influence. The exam has been widely embraced by the homeschooling community and Christian private schools, with supporters like Jonathan Butcher of the Heritage Foundation arguing it provides more "rigorous content" than established tests.
Content Focus and Philosophical Approach
Unlike the SAT and ACT, which have increasingly incorporated contemporary excerpts and shorter reading passages, the CLT draws two-thirds of its verbal content from a bank of more than 160 foundational writers. This includes ancient philosophers like Plato, religious figures such as St. Augustine, literary giants like Dante and Shakespeare, and modern thinkers including Martin Luther King Jr. The test also prohibits calculator use in its math section, emphasizing traditional problem-solving skills.
Tate maintains that the test is not exclusively religious, noting the author bank includes diverse thinkers from Adam Smith and Karl Marx to Confucius. However, more than two dozen authors are Christian theologians or saints, reflecting a focus on Western classical education. "I don't think anyone in the West can be considered seriously educated without some knowledge of the Christian intellectual tradition, including the Bible," Tate has said.
Academic Scrutiny and Security Concerns
The rapid expansion of the CLT has sparked debate among academics regarding its reliability and validity. Audrey Amrein-Beardsley, a professor at Arizona State University, noted that researchers are currently "lacking evidence" on how well the test predicts college success. A 2024 review by the Iowa Board of Regents found no peer-reviewed studies demonstrating this predictive validity, leading Iowa's public university system to continue using only the ACT or SAT for automatic admissions.
Questions have also been raised regarding the security of the exam's remote testing option. While the SAT and ACT require students to visit testing centers to prevent cheating, the CLT allows students to take the exam at home. ACT spokesman Juan Elizondo emphasized that "trust is of the utmost importance" regarding the risk of leaks, explaining why his organization does not offer remote testing. In response, Classic Learning executives said they use high-standard security measures, including mandatory web cameras and software that prevents students from opening other browser windows.
Market Position and Future Ambitions
Despite significant growth—reaching nearly 183,000 test-takers last year compared to fewer than 300 a decade ago—the CLT remains a small player compared to its rivals. More than 2 million students in the class of 2025 took the SAT, while 1.4 million took the ACT. Much of the CLT's recent momentum comes from new state-level approvals, such as in Florida where it was approved in 2023 for university admissions and state scholarships.
Republican State Senator Gary Byrne, who authored the Indiana CLT legislation, argued that his goal was to provide parents with another choice and encourage a return to classic works. However, critics like Curtis Dozier, a Vassar College professor, warn about the ideological implications of the shift, expressing concern that "students won't learn the truth about history."
Undeterred by criticism or market dominance, Tate remains optimistic about the CLT's future. A sign in his company's headquarters predicts that by 2040, the CLT will surpass both the SAT and ACT to become the top entrance exam globally. "We're tracking a little bit ahead of what we need to get to the 2040 goal," Tate added, signaling ambitious plans for continued expansion.
