A Comprehensive Guide to the CLAT Exam Pattern
The CLAT or Common Law Admission Test is one of the most important examinations for aspiring law students. It is a national-level entrance examination conducted yearly by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs.
The CLAT exam pattern is highly competitive and requires a lot of preparation and dedication to crack it. The exam consists of multiple-choice, essay writing, and legal aptitude questions. Learn all about the CLAT exam structure and how to prepare for it from this in-depth guide.
We will provide a detailed explanation of the topics covered and the best resources for your preparation. With this guide’s help, you can develop a study plan and approach the exam confidently.
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Table of contents |
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CLAT Exam Structure
The CLAT or Common Law Admission Test, is a centralized test for admission to 21 CLAT institute in India. The test is conducted yearly by one of the participating National Law Universities on a rotational basis.
The exam is held in offline mode and consists of multiple-choice questions. The exam is taken in two different levels for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
For undergraduates, CLAT is a two-hour long exam comprising 150 questions from five sections: English Language, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
For postgraduates, CLAT will be an objective exam comprising 120 questions. The Post Graduate syllabus of CLAT 2023 has been revised to include topics of the undergraduate program and other subjects such as Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, International Law, Legal Language, etc.
Exam Pattern
Undergraduates
The CLAT Exam UG Marking Scheme has been designed to provide a fair and consistent assessment of candidates’ abilities across various skills. The scheme is based on a weighting system that considers the number of questions answered correctly, the level of difficulty of the questions, and the time taken to answer the questions.
The undergraduate exam is divided into 5 parts:
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Sections/Topics |
Maximum Marks |
Approximate Weightage (in %) |
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English Language |
28-32 |
20 |
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Current Affairs including General Knowledge |
35-39 |
25 |
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Logical Reasoning |
28-32 |
25 |
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Legal Reasoning |
35-39 |
20 |
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Quantitative Techniques |
13-17 |
10 |
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Total |
150 |
100% |
The exam consists of a total of 150 questions, with each question containing 1 mark.
The cut-off score for this exam is decided by the Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLU) and is announced after the CLAT UG Exam results declaration. The cut-off score for the year 2021 was about 80.
Postgraduates
The CLAT PG Exam Marking Scheme has been designed to evaluate students’ understanding of the course material and their ability to apply it in a practical setting. There will be two portions in the test, each worth 50% of the overall score.
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Subjects |
Marks |
Weightage (in %) |
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Constitutional Law |
60 |
50 |
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Other Law Subjects such as Contract, Criminal Law, IPR, and Jurisprudence |
60 |
50 |
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Total |
120 |
100% |
The exam here contains 120 questions, each containing 1 mark.
The cut-off score for the exam varies from year to year. It is generally based on the difficulty level of the exam and the number of seats available. The cut-off score in 2022 was about 50+.
Marking Scheme
The CLAT Exam Marking Scheme is designed to provide a fair and transparent assessment of a candidate’s performance in the exam. The marking Scheme is as follows:
- Negative marking is used; 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong attempt.
- No marks for unattempted questions
- 1 mark for every correct answer
CLAT Exam Syllabus
The exam aims to test a candidate’s ability to think critically and analytically, as well as their knowledge of the law. The CLAT exam syllabus covers a wide range of topics from English to Legal Aptitude to Logical Reasoning. Here are some of the critical topics for each section:
Undergraduate
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Sections |
Important Topics |
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English Language |
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General Knowledge |
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Legal Aptitude |
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Logical Reasoning |
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Quantitative Techniques |
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Postgraduate
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Sections |
Important Topics |
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Constitutional Law |
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Other Law Subjects |
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CLAT Exam Preparation
To prepare for the CLAT exam, it is essential to revise the concepts and topics covered regularly. When preparing for the postgraduate law program, regularly revising all the topics covered in the syllabus is essential.
It is also important to build a habit of regular reading and studying law-related content. If you are preparing for the undergraduate law program, you should focus on the following areas: –
Improve your reading and reasoning skills
The English comprehension section is a crucial part of the exam. Reading and studying law-related content is essential. This will help improve your reading and reasoning skills and prepare you for the exam’s essay section. The CLAT Reading Comprehension section aims to evaluate candidates’ language proficiency. Questions based on passages might be on various topics, and candidates must read the passage thoroughly to answer Reading Comprehension For CLAT questions correctly and promptly. Understanding a passage’s meaning and the concepts the author is trying to express, both literally and figuratively, is the key to effective reading skills.
Revise topics covered in the syllabus
If you are preparing for the postgraduate law program, revising all the topics covered regularly is crucial. In the CLAT course, more than half of the marks in the postgraduate law program are awarded for the second-year law exam. The CLAT syllabus is lengthy, so making the extra effort to identify the essential areas might help you stand out from the competition. Candidates can identify the key topics by examining the previous year’s question papers and exam analysis for the CLAT.
Focus on your strengths
It takes a lot of commitment and planning to prepare for law entrance examinations like CLAT to get better outcomes. One might take the CLAT exam next year but needs to be more precise about the ideal time to begin studying. Keep in mind that everyone has a different grasping and comprehension capacity. As a result, it is recommended that you start your CLAT preparation at least a year before the exam. One can complete all of the topics on the curriculum in this manner and still have time for revision.
Stay motivated
Maintaining motivation is crucial, particularly if you’re studying for a difficult like the CLAT Exam. You risk wasting time, money, and previous efforts you have put into anything if you lose enthusiasm and succumb to the procrastinating habit, which you may come to regret. Thus, it is crucial to maintain motivation while preparing. It is essential to stay motivated and focused on your goal. Make sure you regularly practice topics in which you are strong and periodically review those in which you are weak. Try to formulate a list of anything you have completed when you feel nervous about everything you haven’t studied yet. As a result of seeing how much of the curriculum you have already covered in your preparation, you will be able to relax and feel more confident.
Conclusion
The CLAT exam is a critical examination for aspiring law students. It is a national-level entrance examination conducted yearly by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs. The CLAT exam pattern is highly competitive and requires a lot of preparation and dedication to crack it. This article provides all the information about the CLAT exam pattern and how to prepare for it. With this help, you should be able to develop a study plan and approach the Law exam confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Ques1.When is the CLAT exam conducted?
Ans- The CLAT exam is conducted every year in May.
Ques2.Who is eligible to appear for the CLAT exam?
Ans- To qualify for the CLAT exam, candidates must have completed their Higher Secondary Education (10+2) or equivalent from a recognized Board. Candidates must also have secured a minimum of 45% marks in their qualifying examination.
Ques3.How can I apply for the CLAT exam?
Ans-The application form for the CLAT exam is available on the official CLAT website of the Consortium of National Law Universities. The form has to be submitted online along with the prescribed application fee.
Ques4.When will the results of the CLAT exam be announced?
Ans- The results of the CLAT exam will be announced on the official website of the Consortium of National Law Universities in June.
