The Quantitative Reasoning section is the third and last section of the Classic Learning Test, and it is the one most students ask about because it works differently from a typical college-entrance math test. This article collects what the CLT itself has published: its FAQ, its test pages, the CLT Journal, and its 2018 Technical Report. For the whole test, see What to Expect on the CLT.
What the section is meant to measure
The CLT describes the section as logic and mathematics. Its technical report says the section tests students' ability to think logically, to use and manipulate symbols, and to understand shapes. Its FAQ says the section is designed to test logical reasoning ability rather than the performance of complex calculations. In practice that means the math itself is usually modest, and the work is in seeing how a problem is put together.
Questions, time, and the three domains
The CLT's test page says each section consists of 40 questions. Per the CLT FAQ, the Quantitative Reasoning section is given 45 minutes on the CLT and CLT10, and 50 minutes on the paper CLT7 and CLT8. If you are preparing for a different version, confirm the time for yours.
The technical report divides the section into three domains, each with subdomains:
- Algebra: Arithmetic and Operations, and Algebraic Expressions and Equations.
- Geometry: Coordinate Geometry, Properties of Shapes, and Trigonometry.
- Mathematical Reasoning: Logic, and Word Problems.
The report counts 10 Algebra questions, 14 Geometry questions, and 16 Mathematical Reasoning questions, as of 2018. It also says there are five figures in each Quantitative Reasoning section. That report is several years old, so treat the split as a guide to proportions, not a current promise. The takeaway holds anyway: Mathematical Reasoning, the logic and word-problem domain, is the largest single piece, and geometry is larger than algebra.
No calculator, with formulas provided
The CLT does not allow calculators, including on this section. The technical report says questions are designed to be solvable without one, and gives two reasons: the test is meant to measure logical reasoning rather than the ability to make complicated calculations, and a blanket rule avoids having to specify and monitor which calculator models are permitted. The CLT Journal confirms the section was designed for use without a calculator.
The CLT Journal also says formulas are available in a side panel labeled "f(x)" during the test. Look at that panel in a practice session so that you know what is given and do not spend time memorizing items you can look up. Math notation on the test is displayed on screen, and the technical report notes that it appears correctly in any browser.
Difficulty rises as you go
The technical report rates every question from 1 to 5 and says each section holds an equal number at each level, 20 percent per level. It states that on Quantitative Reasoning, questions increase in difficulty as they progress. Level 1 questions need straightforward reasoning, basic logic, and few steps; level 5 questions need more complex reasoning and the ability to synthesize difficult concepts. The CLT Journal draws the practical conclusion: the section runs from easiest to hardest, so a question you find hard late in the section may not be hard for everyone, and you should skip what holds you up and come back to it.
Scoring
Per the FAQ, scores are based on the number of correct answers, and there is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question. On the CLT and CLT10, Quantitative Reasoning is reported as a section score on a 1 to 40 scale. On the CLT3 through CLT8, it is reported on a 150 to 300 scale and contributes to the composite.
How to prepare from this outline
- Practice arithmetic and algebra by hand, without a calculator, until common operations are quick.
- Review the properties of shapes, coordinate geometry, and basic trigonometry, since geometry is the second-largest domain.
- Work on logic and word problems deliberately. They make up the largest domain, and a careful reading of what is asked is most of the skill.
- Use the CLT's own sample tests to see how the section is laid out and timed.
- Pace yourself across 40 questions and leave time for the harder ones at the end.
Practice CLT questions with explanations and timed practice tests.