Florida Schools Turn to CLT Exam as SAT Alternative Faces Scrutiny

A growing number of Florida students are taking the Classic Learning Test in place of the SAT to satisfy graduation and college admissions requirements, according to state education data.

A federally promoted alternative

The exam was hailed by a senior federal official as the nation's new 'gold standard' for college entrance testing, promising to open doors to elite institutions, according to officials familiar with the endorsement.

However, some educators and testing experts have raised questions about the exam's content and difficulty level, with critics noting sections that some students found unexpectedly challenging.

• The Classic Learning Test is being used as an SAT alternative in several states
• Florida has seen increased uptake among students seeking graduation pathways
• Independent reviewers have raised questions about the exam's predictive validity

Expanding beyond Florida

Texas has also moved to expand use of the exam in public university admissions, even as an independent review found less evidence linking its scores to college performance compared with the SAT, according to state officials.

Supporters argue the exam offers a values-aligned alternative for families seeking different content emphasis than traditional standardized tests.

Education officials said further review of the exam's rollout would continue as more states consider similar policies for the upcoming academic year.