Introduction
Welcome to the Achievable CLT Course! We’re thrilled to have you here as you embark on a journey through classical texts, rigorous reasoning, and timeless wisdom. The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is more than just an exam; it’s a gateway to some of the most influential ideas and authors in history. This course is designed to strengthen your skills, deepen your understanding, and, ultimately, prepare you to tackle the CLT with confidence and clarity. Whether you’re taking the CLT for college admissions or to gain a specific target score tied to a scholarship award, this course is here to support you every step of the way.
This course is designed to be your guide through every aspect of the CLT. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific question type that you’ll find on the exam, with step-by-step explanations and examples to illustrate the skills and strategies you’ll need. You’ll also find a wealth of practice questions that mirror the structure and content of the actual test. By working through these sections, you’ll get hands-on experience with the types of questions you’ll face and learn tips for approaching each one strategically. Our goal is to equip you with the tools to think deeply, read critically, and reason effectively.
The CLT exam is designed for high school students applying for college, around 16-18 years of age, but it is open to students of all ages and available to every student, regardless of their educational background.
The Classic Learning Test assesses your reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and mathematical reasoning using material rooted in the Great Books and classical education. Unlike many standardized tests, the CLT emphasizes the importance of moral and intellectual virtue, drawing content from works of literature, philosophy, theology, and history. You’ll encounter passages from authors such as Aristotle, Frederick Douglass, Jane Austen, and St. Augustine. Alongside these, the CLT also includes questions that will challenge your mathematical skills, asking you to think critically about numbers, equations, and patterns. By engaging with these texts and questions, you’re not only preparing for a test but also immersing yourself in ideas that have shaped civilizations.
The exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions. You have 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete the exam. There is also an optional essay that provides you an additional 30 minutes if you take the test in person. The essay is an optional section, not scored, that allows students to showcase their writing skills to colleges. It is important to note that you do not have the option to take the essay portion if you choose to test remotely.
Verbal Reasoning will be 4 passages that are taken from classic literature. Each passage is connected to ten questions, which are designed to assess your understanding and ability to analyze the text. There will be 40 questions in this section and you will be given 40 minutes to complete it.
Grammar and Writing will also have 4 passages. There will be follow up questions after each passage that will assess your ability to edit and improve text, focusing on grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, style, and word choice. There will be 40 questions in this section and you will be given 35 minutes to complete it.
Quantitative Reasoning will assess your ability to solve mathematical problems and reason logically. You will be provided with a formula sheet that you can use during your exam. There will be 40 questions in this section and you will be given 45 minutes to complete it. It is sectioned by the following:
Do the work. Make sure you read through the material, click ‘Complete’ at the end of a chapter, and consistently do your assigned reviews (click here to learn more on how to use our program properly). Achievable is built to be “on the go” and easy to use on your phone. Check out this page to learn how to easily turn this program into an app. The more accessible the program is, the more likely it is you’ll do the work.
Humans are creatures of habit. Think about it - how difficult is it to start a new diet or routine? The key to success is taking small, “bite-sized” steps. If you can allocate 20-30 minutes every day to studying, it will soon be a built habit. As you get closer to your exam, allocate more time to your studies. It is also key to quickly realize any repeated mistakes and identify what you struggle with the most so that you can pinpoint specific studying needs and build an early foundation for success.
The textbook’s wrapping-up portion contains more details about taking the CLT exam, including how to register, exam cost, and test-taking options.
Feel free to explore this course at your own pace. Be sure to work through the course as prompted, starting with the textbook and continuing to practice problems and exams. Following the prompts with consistent, daily investment of time will yield great results! Remember, practice is key! With each question you tackle and each text you analyze, you’re building skills that go beyond the test and will serve you well in both your academic and personal life. We’re here to help you succeed, and we’re excited to see all that you’ll achieve. Welcome again to the Achievable CLT Online Course!