I received this question recently from a parent:

My son is in 10th grade and his school is offering the PSAT 10. Should he take it? What about the PreACT or CLT 10?

Great question! With so many practice test options available, it can be confusing to know which ones are worth your time and energy. Let me break down your options and help you decide what makes sense for your situation.

What is the PSAT 10?

The PSAT 10 (Preliminary SAT) is a practice version of the SAT exam that's typically offered to 10th (PSAT 10) and 11th (PSAT) grade students. It's designed to give students a preview of what the actual SAT will be like. The PSAT 10 and PSAT are identical, with the PSAT 10 being offered as an option for sophomores to take to prepare for the PSAT, which when taken in their junior year enters students into the National Merit Scholarship competition (which sounds great, but less than the top 1% of students go on to earn scholarships).

The test covers Reading, Writing & Language, and M...

If you're tired of hearing about the SAT and ACT, let me introduce you to a third option that's gaining serious traction: the CLT, or Classic Learning Test. I've been watching this test grow in popularity for years, especially among homeschool families and students who love literature and philosophy. But is it right for you?

The CLT is fundamentally different from the SAT and ACT. Instead of testing your ability to analyze random passages about tree frogs or geometry theorems, it focuses on classic literature, historical documents, and philosophical texts. Think Shakespeare, the Declaration of Independence, and Aristotle rather than modern science articles and data interpretation.

Here's what makes the CLT unique: it assumes you've been exposed to great books and a more classic/liberal arts education. The reading passages come from authors like Jane Austen, Frederick Douglass, and Plato. The grammar section tests your understanding of rhetoric and style, not just punctuation rules. T...