Congratulations on completing the Achievable CLT Course! You’ve put in the hard work, practiced your skills, and engaged with some of the most profound and enduring ideas in history. Completing this course is no small feat, and you should feel proud of all you’ve achieved. You’ve built a strong foundation in critical thinking, reading comprehension, and mathematical reasoning, all of which will serve you well both on the Classic Learning Test and beyond.
When you’re ready, be sure to register for the CLT exam by visiting the registration page. And remember, there’s no limit to the number of times you can take the test. If you don’t reach your target score on the first try, you can always take it again! Each attempt is an opportunity to improve and show just how much you’ve learned.
Your test day will be fixed but you’ll be able to choose the time of day that you take the test. Plan ahead! Pick a time at which you feel you’ll be most alert and ready. When you take your practice tests in advance, take those at the same time of the day; that will help you simulate what will happen on test day. Registration typically stays open until about a week before each test date, but to be safe and ensure your “seat”, we recommend you register 4-6 weeks in advance.
Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing to take the official CLT exam:
The exam is given both in-school and online. If you choose to take the exam online, your exam will be proctored. If your school doesn’t offer the CLT, nor does a nearby school that welcomes all local students, you’ll need to register for one of the online administrations. Good news: they are offered every month of the year! Here is a helpful video showing you how to register for the CLT.
The test costs $69. Keep this in mind if you plan to take the CLT multiple times. You can take the CLT as many times as you want, and there is no waiting period to retake. The only stipulation is that you can only take the CLT one time per test date.
The CLT is scored out of 120. A score of 70 or higher is considered above average, while a score of 90 or higher, especially 100 or above, is a strong score for competitive college applications. We recommend that you refer to the official CLT Score Interpretation Guide to help better understand your score.
You will be given a formula sheet that you can use for the math portion of the CLT. The CLT does not allow calculators. Do not let this scare you - the Quantitative Reasoning section is designed to test for logical reasoning abilities, rather than the performance of complex calculations, so calculators are not necessary.
As you approach test day, we recommend the following to make sure you perform at the highest possible level:
Do not study the day before the exam.
Do something you enjoy on this day, but make sure to be home by 6 p.m. and winding down by 9 p.m. Your mind and body need a full eight hours of rest to recuperate from the day’s work, and you’ll need them operating at full capacity on test day.
Wake up early on test day and get that heart pumping.
Try to wake up at least two hours before you’ll start the test (or before you’ll leave for the school where you’re taking the CLT). The first thing you should do is get your heart rate up for at least 5-10 minutes. A quick jog, jumping jacks, or a similar exercise should do the trick. Exercise will release endorphins and kickstart your brain into work mode.
Eat a protein-rich breakfast.
After exercise, shower and get something to eat. The ideal breakfast has protein, probiotics, and antioxidants. Eggs, yogurt, and blueberries are one such example.
Mentally prepare yourself.
After you have eaten, you need to spend about 5-10 minutes reflecting and calming yourself. Use this time to really put yourself at peace; prayer or another spiritual discipline are certainly fitting! Focus on the fact that you have worked really hard up to this point and are ready to take this test. You ARE going to perform well on the exam. Repeat that to yourself. Once you feel at ease, you are ready to gather your supplies and head to your testing area.
Arrive early.
Whether it’s to the room in your house or to the school where you’re testing, you should plan to arrive 20 minutes early. Arriving early will allow you to feel comfortable and on top of your game. You don’t want to rush, stress out, and perform poorly because you couldn’t get back in the right mindset.
As always, refer to the official CLT website for further information.
The CLT Technical Report provides information on test development, scaling, scoring, reliability, and validity. It is a great guide for detailed information regarding all aspects of the CLT.
Check out the Achievable Blog for more study tips and best practices.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We wish you the very best on the CLT and in all your future endeavors. Best wishes, and go forward with confidence—you’ve got this!