This Definitive Guide has everything you need to know about the CLT vs. SAT in 2024.

In this comprehensive guide we discuss:

▹Test Format

▹Reading and Grammar

▹Mathematics

▹Taking the Test

▹Which is Harder: SAT or CLT?

▹Score Comparisons

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Intro to CLT vs. SAT

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a college entrance exam owned by College Board. College Board also administers Pre-SATs for students from 8th grade through junior year of high school, known as the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT.

The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is also a college entrance exam. CLT has exams for students in 3rd-12th grade. Classic Learning Test is owned by a company called Classic Learning Initiatives.

The SAT measures the reading, writing, and numeracy of test takers. CLT measures their grammar, logic, rhetoric, quantitative, and critical-thinking skills.

In other words, the tests measure similar skills. Reading. Writing. Math.

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Test Format

SAT vs. CLT

Today, both tests are primarily taken online. However, the test formats are very different.

The Digital SAT has two sections: “Reading and Writing” and “Math.” Questions are presented one at a time - students complete a question, click next, and repeat until they are finished. Students can return to a question until they complete a section.

The CLT has three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Grammar / Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning. Each section has 40 questions, and students do not need to click "next" until they are finished with an entire section on the CLT.

The Digital SAT has 98 total questions and takes about 2 hours to complete.

The CLT has 120 total questions and also takes about 2 hours to complete.

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Reading and Grammar

SAT vs. CLT

The SAT’s Reading and Writing section has a total of 54 questions - divided into two 32 minute sections. There is a separate, short reading passage (typically 2-4 sentences long) for each question on the Reading and Writing section.

The test measures Reading Comprehension, Grammar skills like using commas, and Writing skills like word choice. The short excerpts are often taking from modern journals, novels, or poems, but some older passages are included.

The main difference between the SAT Reading section and CLT Verbal Reasoning and Grammar / Writing sections: the length of reading passages and the sources these passages come from.

The CLT’s Verbal Reasoning section has four passages, with 10 multiple choice questions per passage. Passages are typically between 500-650 words, and come from a designated list of authors including Plato, Shakespeare, and Ben Franklin.

Verbal Reasoning measures a student’s ability to comprehend details in the passage, analyze the main idea of the passage, and recognize important connections between concepts in the passage.

For sample CLT Verbal Reasoning questions, Read Here.

CLT has a separate Grammar / Writing section which measures similar skills that the SAT's Writing questions measure: like using commas, semi-colons, and proper writing style. Like the Verbal Reasoning section, there are four passages with 10 multiple choice questions.

For sample CLT Grammar / Writing questions, Read Here.

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Mathematics

SAT vs. CLT

SAT Math includes Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Advanced Math (like systems of equations and non-linear equations), and Problem Solving and Data Analysis (like Percentages, Data Models and Scatter Plots, and Margin of Error).

There are 44 Math questions on the SAT. Most are multiple choice, but there are some questions that require students to enter their own response.

The CLT Quantitative Reasoning section tests Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Mathematical Reasoning. All 40 questions are multiple choice.

What’s Mathematical Reasoning? It’s kind of like a logic game for high schoolers. For some sample Mathematical Reasoning questions: Read Here.

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Taking the Test

SAT vs. CLT

Both tests are normally taken on a computer.

But the CLT has a paper option for in-school test takers.

You can also take the CLT on your computer from your own home. It’s recorded by the CLT and reviewed for Testing Security and Fairness (aka: making sure you don’t cheat).

The Digital SAT is administered in school, on computers.

Both tests take about 2 hours to complete – the Digital SAT is slightly longer, normally by about 15 minutes.

How much do they cost?

$69 and $68.

For most Test Dates, you can take the CLT for free if you apply to the College that is sponsoring that test date.

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Which is Harder: SAT or CLT?

Neither test is harder than the other. Some students will be better at the SAT, others will be better at the CLT.

For every score on the CLT or SAT, there’s a correlating score on the other test.

This means a 70 on the CLT is roughly the same as a 1080 on the SAT, a perfect 120 on the CLT is equivalent to a perfect 1600 on the SAT, and so on.

Neither test is harder than the other, but one test might be better suited to your skillset!

If you have taken one of the tests and didn’t enjoy it, didn’t think it made sense, or didn’t think your score was an accurate representation of your skills, try the other and see if it’s right for you!

Otherwise, we recommend you try both. See which you enjoy more and see which you do better on (with the chart below).

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