(Updated January 2025)

Juniors and seniors are panicking across our nation with the announcement of the spring college entrance exams being cancelled. The test makers for the SAT and ACT have had to adapt to social distancing like the rest of us. But, take heart, this is temporary and there is an option that you may not even know about that can be the differentiator for you during these unprecedented times.

Hope is coming from the CLT. (Classic Learning Test) It is an online alternative to the two big guys and has been around for over four years. Before the COVID pandemic, it was already accepted for entrance and scholarships in about 200 colleges. Even Harvard started considering it for their applicants. The registrations increased 500% the first week of April.

According to Jeremy Tate, the brainchild behind the CLT, “[Many if not] all colleges are now accepting the CLT in lieu of the cancelled SAT and ACTs”. Their enrollment skyrocketed 300% just this week alone. They didn’t have to adjust much for the transition since the test was already administered online.

Students can now take the test on April 25th from home using their own device such as a laptop or tablet. It will be remotely proctored by the CLT company. The students will also be glad to know that the test is only two hours long compared to the three hours for the SAT and ACT. They will also receive same-day results. There will also be another test announced soon for June 20.

For a special bonus, families can register for the test and use the Partner ID code: “CPG18” and the cost of the test will be cut in half. These great folks also noted, “During this time of uncertainty, many families are experiencing financial difficulties. CLT is happy to offer scholarships to take the exam, including full fee waivers. Please contact us to learn more.” info@cltexam.com or (844) 925-8392

There are about a dozen colleges that have waived the entrance exam (SAT/ACT) for the year, but remember most have not and to receive scholarships, a test must be submitted. The need for students to ace standardized tests will always be around so take advantage of this opportunity to learn to beat these tests since 85% of colleges admit and give money simply based on a test score. Colleges receive their national rankings based on these scores, so the higher the score—the more money you get!

Hopefully, these unprecedented times will soon pass, and all will get back to normal. Testing companies, like everyone else, will have to adjust but the need for students to ace standardized tests is here to stay. Students can use this extra time as a grace period to practice and see their scores soar. 

How to Ace These Tests

Here’s a guideline for a Study Plan with the College Prep Genius online eCourse on acing standardized tests like the SAT/ACT/CLT…If you don’t own it, purchase it here. 

• Take Test #1 for a baseline.
• Follow the daily homework guide, approximately one hour a day.
• Do the quizzes
• Follow the Checklist for Success.
• Take as many full length timed-tests as possible

Important College Prep Test Updates and Resources

• SAT Updates
• ACT Updates
• CLT Updates: Now is the time to consider the CLT (Classic Learning Test) Given that the CLT primarily offers exams that are online and can be taken at home, they have needed to adjust very little to keep operations running smoothly. This test is a great alternative and could be the differentiator for college entrance and scholarships.

Use Partner ID: CPG25 for twenty-five percent off registration at cltexam.com. College Prep Genius is the only test prep company recommended by CLT and our CLT test prep program is available as a virtual class.