Story perspectives

Classic Learning Test Gains Popularity Amid Controversy

4/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is gaining traction in the U.S., backed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican-led states.
It has been endorsed by military academies and several state legislatures.
Critics, including academics, say there is insufficient evidence the CLT predicts college success.
The test allows remote testing, raising security concerns, while about 183,000 took it last year.
By comparison, SAT and ACT combined exceeded 3.4 million test-takers.

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Story summary

The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is gaining traction in the U.S., backed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican-led states.
It has been endorsed by military academies and several state legislatures.
Critics, including academics, say there is insufficient evidence the CLT predicts college success.
The test allows remote testing, raising security concerns, while about 183,000 took it last year.
By comparison, SAT and ACT combined exceeded 3.4 million test-takers.