CLT scores, explained: the scale, the SAT and ACT conversion, and what is "good"
Your CLT score is the number of questions you got right, out of 120. Here is what that number means next to the SAT and the ACT, from the official tables.
Updated October 29, 2026
How the CLT is scored
- Three sections, each scored out of 40: Verbal Reasoning, Grammar/Writing, Quantitative Reasoning.
- Your total is the sum, out of 120. It counts correct answers only: there is no penalty for wrong answers.
- The optional essay (in-school testing only) does not change your number score.
- You can take the CLT as many times as you like, one test per date. Florida's Bright Futures program accepts superscored CLT results.
- Scores from an at-home test come out on the third Wednesday after the test.
CLT to SAT and ACT converter
From the official CLT concordance tables. The ACT figures are derived by Classic Learning Initiatives from its SAT table and the 2018 College Board and ACT concordance. Some colleges use their own tables.
What is a good CLT score?
Classic Learning Initiatives does not publish an average or percentiles, so the honest yardsticks are the SAT conversion and the scholarship cut-offs colleges publish:
- 1170 SAT is about a CLT 80; 1270 is a 90; 1390 is a 100; 1520 is a 110.
- Scholarship examples colleges list on the CLT's scholarship page: Faulkner University awards $11,000 at 79 and $13,000 at 98; Taylor University $18,000 at 85 and $20,000 at 98 (with GPA requirements); Liberty University $1,000 a year at 81+ and full tuition at 112+; Dallas International University 15% off tuition at 72, 25% at 86, 50% at 104.
- So a score in the high 70s to mid 80s starts to earn merit aid at many CLT colleges, and the high 90s and up open the largest awards. Always check the college's own current page.
The full chart
Show every score, 120 down to 38
| CLT | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | 1600 | 36 |
| 119 | 1600 | 36 |
| 118 | 1590 | 36 |
| 117 | 1580 | 36 |
| 116 | 1580 | 36 |
| 115 | 1570 | 36 |
| 114 | 1560 | 35 |
| 113 | 1550 | 35 |
| 112 | 1540 | 35 |
| 111 | 1530 | 35 |
| 110 | 1520 | 34 |
| 109 | 1500 | 34 |
| 108 | 1490 | 34 |
| 107 | 1480 | 33 |
| 106 | 1470 | 33 |
| 105 | 1460 | 33 |
| 104 | 1440 | 32 |
| 103 | 1430 | 32 |
| 102 | 1420 | 32 |
| 101 | 1410 | 31 |
| 100 | 1390 | 31 |
| 99 | 1380 | 30 |
| 98 | 1370 | 30 |
| 97 | 1360 | 30 |
| 96 | 1340 | 29 |
| 95 | 1330 | 29 |
| 94 | 1320 | 28 |
| 93 | 1310 | 28 |
| 92 | 1300 | 28 |
| 91 | 1290 | 27 |
| 90 | 1270 | 27 |
| 89 | 1260 | 27 |
| 88 | 1250 | 26 |
| 87 | 1240 | 26 |
| 86 | 1230 | 26 |
| 85 | 1220 | 25 |
| 84 | 1210 | 25 |
| 83 | 1200 | 25 |
| 82 | 1190 | 24 |
| 81 | 1180 | 24 |
| 80 | 1170 | 24 |
| 79 | 1160 | 24 |
| 78 | 1150 | 23 |
| 77 | 1140 | 23 |
| 76 | 1140 | 23 |
| 75 | 1130 | 23 |
| 74 | 1120 | 22 |
| 73 | 1110 | 22 |
| 72 | 1100 | 22 |
| 71 | 1090 | 21 |
| 70 | 1080 | 21 |
| 69 | 1080 | 21 |
| 68 | 1070 | 21 |
| 67 | 1060 | 21 |
| 66 | 1050 | 20 |
| 65 | 1040 | 20 |
| 64 | 1040 | 20 |
| 63 | 1030 | 20 |
| 62 | 1020 | 19 |
| 61 | 1010 | 19 |
| 60 | 1000 | 19 |
| 59 | 1000 | 19 |
| 58 | 990 | 19 |
| 57 | 980 | 18 |
| 56 | 970 | 18 |
| 55 | 960 | 18 |
| 54 | 950 | 17 |
| 53 | 940 | 17 |
| 52 | 940 | 17 |
| 51 | 930 | 17 |
| 50 | 920 | 17 |
| 49 | 910 | 16 |
| 48 | 900 | 16 |
| 47 | 890 | 16 |
| 46 | 880 | 16 |
| 45 | 870 | 15 |
| 44 | 860 | 15 |
| 43 | 850 | 15 |
| 42 | 840 | 15 |
| 41 | 840 | 15 |
| 40 | 830 | 15 |
| 39 | 820 | 14 |
| 38 | 810 | 14 |
Questions people ask
What is a perfect CLT score?
120: all 40 questions right in each of the three sections. On the official table it matches a 1600 on the SAT and a 36 on the ACT.
What is a bad CLT score?
There is no official cut-off. Below about 60 (an SAT 1000 on the official table) most CLT scholarship thresholds are out of reach, but a first score is a starting point: it tells you which sections to work on.
How do I convert a CLT score to the SAT?
Use the official CLT to SAT concordance table above. For example, a CLT 90 corresponds to an SAT 1270, and a CLT 100 to an SAT 1390.
Does the CLT have a guessing penalty?
No. Only correct answers count.
How many colleges accept the CLT?
Classic Learning Initiatives says over 350 colleges and universities accept CLT scores. Check its official list for any college you are considering.
When do CLT scores come out?
For at-home tests, on the third Wednesday after the test date. The next dates and their score days are on our CLT test dates page.
Keep reading
Sources
Read on October 29, 2026 from the test makers' own pages. If something here is out of date, write to hello@owltestprep.com and we will fix it.
- Classic Learning Initiatives: FAQs (scoring, retakes, accommodations, fee assistance)
- Classic Learning Initiatives: CLT vs SAT (concordance table)
- Classic Learning Initiatives: CLT vs ACT (concordance table)
- Classic Learning Initiatives: scholarships
- Classic Learning Initiatives: colleges that accept the CLT
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