An Important Part of the College Application Process
As you prepare to apply to college – and learn more about the admission requirements for your top choices – you've likely thought about the test scores you'll need to include with your application. Standardized tests, including the SAT and ACT, can help colleges and universities evaluate whether you are ready for the rigor of higher-level academics. They also provide admissions stakeholders with an overarching view of each applicant's overall capabilities in mathematics, reading, and language.
While you have probably been bombarded with information about the SAT and ACT, there are some alternative standardized tests for college admissions. They include the Classical Learning Test (CLT), an entrance exam that bases its questions on a “classical education.” This is a language-focused, liberal arts educational approach that uses ancient history, classical literature, and philosophical texts to teach logic, reasoning, and reading skills.
You can take this college entrance exam in 11th or 12th grade – or even after you've graduated from high school. There are no official prerequisites to take this exam, but it is expected that you have completed the bulk of your high school requirements, so you are adequately prepared to answer high school-level questions in reading and math.
Why Take the CLT?
The CLT is a relatively new standardized college entrance exam. While the CLT is not as popular or well-known as the SAT or ACT, approximately 200 smaller religious colleges, mostly in the Midwestern and Southern United States, accept the test – and some of those schools even prefer it to the other college entrance exams.
The CLT is specifically designed to highlight the strengths of students who have been taught in a homeschool, private religious school, or charter school setting – or those who have been learning in a classical educational style classroom. The questions are more likely to cover topics seen in curricula at private Christian schools than in the Common Core curriculum, which is used primarily by public schools across the country.
It is also important to note that the CLT is used for a variety of different scholarship offerings, too. Many students who may take a different college entrance exam for their college application may also take the CLT to become eligible for specific scholarships awarded to students who score well on the exam. Your college may also ask for CLT scores for you to be considered for merit-based scholarships once you've been accepted to the school.
Where Can I Take the CLT?
Unlike the more popular standardized college entrance exams, most high schools do not offer a free testing day for students – nor are there many testing centers for the CLT. There are some designated CLT Partner Schools, which offer in-person exams, but with limited dates each year.
That means, for most students, CLT exams are offered online and remotely proctored. Once you register for the test and schedule a date, you will take the test on a web browser using your own laptop or desktop computer from the comfort of your own home. When you register for the CLT, you can select the date you'd like to take the test and get further instructions about how to set up for remote proctoring from there. Be sure to read those instructions carefully: not following them could invalidate your results.
What's On the CLT?
Like other standardized college entrance exams, the CLT evaluates students' abilities in verbal reasoning, grammar and writing, and quantitative reasoning. There is also an essay portion for the exam – but it is optional and does not affect your overall numerical score. All CLT tests are given online – but if you are taking the test at a CLT center, you will not be remotely proctored as there will be a testing official at the exam to keep watch.
As noted above, the CLT takes a classical approach – which means that most of the questions in the verbal reasoning and grammar, and writing sections will use classical texts from the likes of Plato or C.S. Lewis. Because of that focus, you'll find the questions are a bit different than those found on other college entrance exams.
The CLT is also scored differently than the ACT or SAT. The highest score you can receive on the exam is 120, with the average score somewhere around 73 points. CLT officials suggest that a score of 114 is equivalent to so-called “perfect” scores on other tests: 1600 on the SAT and 36 on the ACT.
Yet, the tests do cover similar subject matter. During the test, students can expect to answer questions in three timed sections:
- Verbal Reasoning: This section looks at reading comprehension, using classical texts, as well as analytical skills (40 questions/40 minutes).
- Grammar and Writing: This section evaluates grammar and textual editing for improvement (40 questions/35 minutes).
- Quantitative Reasoning: This is the math portion of the exam and includes questions about mathematics as well as logic (40 questions/45 minutes).
- Essay: This portion of the exam is optional – but here, students write an essay based on a provided prompt (30 minutes).
You may notice that the CLT is significantly shorter than some of the other college entrance exams. You will complete the test in 2 hours, instead of the 3+ hours the other exams take. But the test must be taken in one sitting. You cannot take one section, pause for a while, and then continue. Even though you are most likely taking the test at home, you must follow the testing procedures to have your scores validated.
One of the other nice things about the CLT exam is that official scores are released quickly. Once you complete the test, students can expect to receive their scores the Tuesday after the exam if taken in person. If you took it at home, remotely proctored, the exam results are released the second Tuesday after the test date. Students can then send those scores to the colleges they are applying to at no extra cost to them.
Test Day Requirements
Many students take the CLT online, with remote proctoring. That means your video, audio, screen, and keystrokes will be recorded while you take the test and then reviewed by CLT administration officials once you complete it. It's important that they do not see you violating any of the test day rules – otherwise, your scores may be thrown out, and you will have to retest. Don't worry though – the CLT administrators will not hold on to this data. They will
To make sure your test scores are not invalidated, it is important to follow the test day requirements to the letter. The CLT will provide specific instructions about device set-up so they can monitor you as you take the test. But, to take the test online from home, you must have the following:
- A laptop or desktop computer with a functioning camera and microphone. Tablets are not compatible with remote proctoring.
- A stable Internet connection. If your connection goes, your test does, too.
- The right web browser. CLT recommends Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for remote proctoring.
Students taking the test at a CLT center may be able to use tablets, and the Apple Safari web browser, as remote proctoring is unnecessary.
There are also additional requirements for those taking the test at home. CLT asks that you are alone in a closed, well-lit room, work from a desk or table, and sit on a standard chair or stool. You are prohibited from using a calculator, earphones, watch, phone or mobile device, additional monitor, television, books, or other educational/reference materials. You must not use keyboard shortcuts – and the testing officials also ask you to skip snacks or any items, including hats or earrings, which cover your ears.
Not following these guidelines can result in your test results being invalidated.
Can I Get Testing Accommodations for the CLT?
Like other standardized college entrance exams, you can apply for testing accommodations if needed – for example, if you need extra time due to a learning disability or the ability to eat snacks during the test if you have Type 1 diabetes.
These adaptations are permitted to help ensure that the test is measuring what it is supposed to – your reading, analytical, and mathematical abilities – without negative effects from a medical condition or other disability.
If you need testing accommodations for the CLT, you must apply to them directly through a form on their website and also provide evidence that such accommodations are necessary. The CLT testing administrators will then review each request on a case-by-case basis. They will determine if the evidence you've provided shows that your issue rises to the level of a disability – and how accommodations can help improve any functional limitations. They clearly state that just because you have a medical condition or disability does not necessarily mean you will be given testing accommodations.
Can I Retest If Necessary?
Like the SAT or ACT, you can take the CLT multiple times. If you think you can achieve a higher score, you can always retake the test, thanks to the CLT's open retake policy.
If you had difficulty with your Internet connection during testing – or were found to violate remote testing guidelines during the test – you can also retake the test. But you may have to pay to re-register and pay the testing fee again. You will have to contact CLT administrators to work out your next steps.
If there is an allegation of cheating or improper test-taking, you can also retake the test. Luckily, that information will not be passed on to the schools you are applying to. But if the allegation was without merit, it will unnecessarily set you back as you work to apply to the colleges of your choice.
If You Have Issues with the CLT
Applying to college can be extremely stressful. When you add the additional stress of taking a standardized test, it can be easy to overlook things you need to do – especially when the onus is on you to prepare for a remotely proctored exam like the CLT.
If you have issues with the CLT, including issues with remote proctoring or being denied reasonable testing accommodations, you do not have to suffer in silence. You may be frustrated – or even angry. After all, you are trying to do the work to achieve your dream of college acceptance. You do not want an issue with the CLT to interfere with your path forward.
Fortunately, you do not have to deal with CLT administrators on your own. If you do face unexpected hurdles with your CLT test, you can retain a top education lawyer to help you clear through the red tape – and resolve any problems you may be encountering. Having an attorney-advisor like Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Student Defense Team in your corner can make all the difference. They understand the ins and outs of the CLT test – and the processes involved to get the accommodations you need as you work to achieve this fundamental part of the college application process.
You've worked hard to get to this point. You've scheduled your exam. You've taken practice exam after practice exam. Maybe you've even worked with a CLT tutor or taken a test prep course. You should not be penalized for things that are beyond your control. You should be able to easily work with CLT to ensure your scores are validated and available for your college applications. When you retain attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Student Defense Team, you have a champion in your corner that can advocate on your behalf. He and his team will help you deal with CLT administrators to get the outcome you need – and deserve. They will help you find a successful path forward so you can achieve what you've always wanted to achieve: acceptance to the college of your choice. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation your consultation online.
