Texas higher education officials are moving to expand use of the Classical Learning Test (CLT) as an alternative college entrance exam, even as new research questions whether CLT scores predict college success as reliably as the SAT or ACT.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has signaled that universities can adopt the CLT for admissions decisions. The exam has gained traction among conservative-leaning institutions and policymakers who view it as an alternative to what they perceive as ideologically driven standardized tests.
The CLT emphasizes classical literature, philosophy, and historical texts. Supporters argue it measures reasoning and analytical skills differently than competitors. Backers often frame the test as aligned with traditional educational values.
However, a recent analysis found CLT scores correlate less strongly with college completion rates and first-year GPA than SAT and ACT scores. Researchers studying predictive validity, the measure of whether a test actually forecasts college performance, found the CLT lagged behind established tests in this metric.
This disconnect creates a policy tension. Texas education leaders appear committed to expanding CLT options regardless of the predictive data. Their push reflects broader political divisions over standardized testing, with conservatives questioning whether dominant tests reflect liberal institutional bias.
Universities weighing the CLT face competing pressures. Adopting it signals alignment with state leadership priorities, particularly in Texas where the coordinating board wields influence over funding and policy direction. Yet accepting a test with weaker predictive power could complicate efforts to identify students most likely to succeed and graduate.
Students and families also confront trade-offs. Taking the CLT instead of the SAT or ACT may limit college options since fewer institutions accept it. Conversely, test-optional policies at many universities have weakened the role all standardized exams play in admissions.
The expansion reflects Texas's conservative political trajectory on education policy. State leaders have pushed