In a move that could shift how students plan for college admissions from coast to coast, the University of North Carolina system - including UNC Chapel Hill - will accept the Classic Learning Test (CLT), as an alternative to the SAT/ACT for students applying in future admissions cycles.
For decades, SAT and ACT scores have been primary methods to demonstrate academic-readiness for college. Indeed, the long-standing College Board (SAT) and ACT.org duopoly has had a veritable stranglehold on the admissions marketplace. While many colleges shifted to 'Test-Optional Policies' in lieu of COVID, Yale University and other top institutions have reinstated standardized test requirements. Learn more about The Return of the SAT & ACT Requirements.
So, what is the CLT, and why is it such a big deal?
- Much like the SAT and ACT, it includes sections on Verbal Reasoning, Grammar & Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning (Math).
- It's scored on a composite scale from 0-120.
- Uniquely, its reading passages include classic literature, historical texts, and traditional writings.
- Calculators? Forbidden.
Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature students know these text types quite well. Thus, the CLT appeals to students with strengths in reasoning and written analysis, including those in a classical education, liberal arts programs, or homeschool settings.
In this sense, the CLT holds a quill, while the SAT & ACT hold a mechanical pencil. Think Beowulf and The Odyssey, Aristotle and Plato.
What This Means for High School Students
According to Education Week, only 24,000 students took the CLT between 2016 - 2023. However, this number has ballooned to 500,000 in 2025 - particularly amongst more conservative communities who value "the texts and authors who have shaped history and culture." In comparison, more than 2 Million students took the SAT, and 1.3 Million students took the ACT in 2025; however, these numbers are dropping. In 2023, Forbes noted that students' scores continue to decline, perspicaciously foreseeing a demand for testing alternatives "that can meet the diverse needs of students and ensure their preparedness for the demands of higher education."
Before UNC's announcement, the CLT was accepted by 300+ colleges and universities, both public and private, many of which were Christian institutions. UNC joining this group is especially notable because flagship public universities have traditionally relied on SAT or ACT scores - or test-optional approaches - rather than alternative tests.
Politico reported that US Service Academies, e.g. Navy, Army, etc., will also accept the CLT. Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas have passed legislation to include the CLT in allotment of state-funded scholarships and financial aid. The assumption is more states will follow suit.
- More Admissions Test Options Means More Opportunity to Excel
- Another Pathway to Scholarship Money Will Open in the Mainstream
The Bottom Line
UNC accepting the CLT alongside the SAT & ACT marks a significant evolution in college admissions testing. It signals broader acceptance of diverse academic measures and expands doors for students who might shine in non-traditional standardized test formats but - ironically - does so in a very traditional sense, bucking socio-educational trends of the last twenty years or so.
Whether students are strong readers, thinkers, classical learners, or simply looking for a new way to demonstrate college-readiness, the CLT now offers a credible path - even to flagship universities.
If you're interested in learning more about PSAT, SAT, ACT, or CLT Test Prep, Schedule a Free Consultation Call with Our Team.