1. Overview
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Definition |
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a centralized national-level entrance exam for law admissions in India. |
|
Purpose |
Used for admission to 5-year integrated Undergraduate (UG) and 1-year Postgraduate (PG) law programs. |
|
Participating Institutions |
Conducted for 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) and recognized by over 60+ private law colleges. |
|
Governing Body |
Managed by the Consortium of National Law Universities. |
|
Frequency |
The exam is held once a year, typically in December. |
2. Examination Mode
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Format |
Offline (Pen-and-Paper based) |
|
Medium |
English language only |
|
Question Type |
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) based on comprehension passages |
|
Duration |
2 hours (120 minutes) |
|
Answer Marking |
Candidates use a black/blue ballpoint pen to fill bubbles on an OMR sheet. |
3. Exam Pattern Details
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Total Questions |
120 |
|
Total Marks |
120 |
|
Marking Scheme |
+1 mark for every correct answer |
|
Negative Marking |
-0.25 marks for every incorrect answer |
|
Legal Reasoning |
~25% (28-32 questions) |
|
Current Affairs & GK |
~25% (28-32 questions) |
|
English Language |
~20% (22-26 questions) |
|
Logical Reasoning |
~20% (22-26 questions) |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
~10% (10-14 questions) |
4. Eligibility Criteria
|
Program Type |
Requirements |
|
UG (Undergraduate) |
• Passed 10+2 or equivalent • Minimum 45% marks (General/OBC/NRI/PIO/OCI) • Minimum 40% marks (SC/ST) • Students appearing for board exams are eligible |
|
PG (Postgraduate) |
• LL.B. degree or equivalent • Minimum 50% marks (General/OBC/NRI/PIO/OCI) • Minimum 45% marks (SC/ST) |
|
Age Limit |
No upper age limit for either UG or PG programs |
5. Preparation Strategy
|
Strategy Area |
Recommendation |
|
Reading Speed |
Read daily editorials from The Hindu or The Indian Express to handle the passage-heavy format |
|
Current Affairs |
Focus on the last 12 months of news, specifically legal news, landmark judgments, and constitutional amendments |
|
Critical Reasoning |
Focus on identifying arguments, conclusions, and logic within complex texts |
|
Previous Papers |
Download and solve Official Previous Year Papers to understand the difficulty level |
|
Mock Tests |
Aim for at least one full-length mock test per week and analyze mistakes thoroughly |
|
Mathematics |
Brush up on 10th-standard topics like ratios, percentages, and data interpretation |