Conservative-pushed Classic Learning Test is now replacing the SAT and ACT in some states

From the Pentagon’s military academies to flagship campuses in North Carolina, a growing number of public institutions have formally recognized or approved the Classic Learning Test as an alternative to the SAT and ACT - (AFP via Getty Images)

A new college entrance exam focused on ancient Western civilization is gaining ground across the United States, with backing from the Trump administration and Republican-led states as a challenger to the long-dominant SAT and ACT.

The Classic Learning Test, founded in 2015, has recently picked up a string of high-profile endorsements, The Washington Post reported.