CLT Scoring Breakdown
Last updated: Aug 12, 2026
In this article, you'll learn the basics of CLT scores, how to check if your score aligns with your goals, how CLT Scores compare with ACT and SAT scores, and how to improve your CLT score.
The CLT is scored on a 0–120 scale: one point per correct answer across 120 questions, with no penalty for wrong answers. Each of the three sections – Verbal Reasoning, Grammar/Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning – is scored 0-40. CLT publishes an official conversion chart to SAT scores, though its accuracy has been disputed by the College Board.
This page covers how CLT scoring works, the official conversion chart, the debate over that chart’s accuracy, and a percentile-based way to compare scores across all three tests.
How is the CLT scored?
Per the 2026 CLT Technical Report, your total score closely approximates your number of correct answers. When a test form runs slightly easier or harder than usual, CLT applies statistical equating so scores are comparable across test dates. There is no penalty for guessing, so never leave a question blank.
Your score report includes:
- Total score (0–120) and three section scores (0–40 each)
- Concorded SAT and ACT scores – CLT’s projection of your equivalent score on the other tests
- National percentile – comparing your projected score to a nationally representative group
- CLT user percentile – the percentage of CLT test takers at or below your score
- Domain and subdomain analytics showing strengths and areas for improvement
When you send scores to colleges (free, to as many as you choose), colleges receive your CLT score plus the projected SAT and ACT scores from CLT’s concordance chart.
The CLT’s official conversion chart
The chart below is CLT’s own official concordance from its April 2023 study linking scores of 4,375 students who took both the CLT and SAT. The SAT percentile shown is the College Board’s nationally representative percentile – an important detail we return to below.
| CLT | SAT | SAT percentile | CLT | SAT | SAT percentile | CLT | SAT | SAT percentile | ||
| 120 | 1600 | 99+ | 92 | 1300 | 91 | 64 | 1040 | 56 | ||
| 118 | 1590 | 99+ | 90 | 1270 | 88 | 62 | 1020 | 52 | ||
| 116 | 1580 | 99+ | 88 | 1250 | 86 | 60 | 1000 | 48 | ||
| 114 | 1560 | 99+ | 86 | 1230 | 84 | 58 | 990 | 46 | ||
| 112 | 1540 | 99+ | 84 | 1210 | 82 | 56 | 970 | 42 | ||
| 110 | 1520 | 99+ | 82 | 1190 | 80 | 54 | 950 | 38 | ||
| 108 | 1490 | 99 | 80 | 1170 | 77 | 52 | 940 | 36 | ||
| 106 | 1470 | 99 | 78 | 1150 | 74 | 50 | 920 | 33 | ||
| 104 | 1440 | 98 | 76 | 1140 | 73 | 48 | 900 | 29 | ||
| 102 | 1420 | 98 | 74 | 1120 | 70 | 46 | 880 | 26 | ||
| 100 | 1390 | 97 | 72 | 1100 | 67 | 44 | 860 | 23 | ||
| 98 | 1370 | 96 | 70 | 1080 | 63 | 42 | 840 | 20 | ||
| 96 | 1340 | 94 | 68 | 1070 | 61 | 40 | 830 | 18 | ||
| 94 | 1320 | 93 | 66 | 1050 | 58 | 38 | 810 | 16 |
(Full chart runs from 120 to 0; odd scores fall between the values shown. Section-level concordances — Verbal + Grammar to SAT EBRW, Quantitative to SAT Math — appear in Tables 11.2–11.3 of the technical report.
CLT does not publish a direct CLT-to-ACT concordance study; ACT projections on score reports are derived through the SAT link. As rough anchors: CLT 70 ≈ ACT 21, CLT 120 ≈ ACT 36.
A percentile-based comparison for all three
Here’s how the three tests line up when you simply match percentiles among students who actually take each test, using the official 2025–26 tables – College Board’s SAT user percentiles (based on the past three graduating classes) and ACT’s national ranks (graduates of 2023–2025; mean composite 19.2):
| Standing among test takers | SAT | ACT | CLT |
| Top 1% (99th) | 1530+ | 34–35 | 111+ |
| Top 10% (90th) | 1350 | 27–28 | ~96 |
| Top quarter (75th) | 1190 | 23 | ~82 |
| Median (50th) | 1010 | 18 | ~61 |
Two caveats, in fairness to every test: the three tests draw different populations (ACT skews toward states with mandatory testing; CLT toward classical and homeschool students), so equal percentiles don’t mean identical populations. And the CLT column still depends on CLT’s own concordance, because no independent CLT-to-SAT linkage exists, as the College Board and ACT have not conducted one. Until one exists, percentile matching is the most conservative comparison available.
What’s a good CLT score?
This depends on what you’re trying to achieve. See our full post on the subject.
Using CLT’s own chart: 90+ (≈1270+ SAT) is quite competitive at selective CLT-partner colleges; 100+ (≈1390+) is a top-3% performance; Florida students need specific CLT scores for Bright Futures awards (Florida Academic Scholars at 95+, Florida Medallion Scholars at 82+ for 2026–27 graduates).