The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a highly competitive exam for students seeking admission to top law schools in India. With the CLAT exam fast approaching, it's essential for aspiring law students to start preparing as early as possible. 

This blog will discuss the top 10 preparation tips to help you qualify for CLAT and secure a place in your dream law school. From understanding the exam pattern to practising mock tests, we'll cover all the essential strategies to help you achieve your goal of becoming a successful law student.

Read Best Colleges to study in Law.

What is CLAT?

CLAT stands for Common Law Admission Test. It is a national-level law entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs at 22 NLUs and other private schools and universities that accept CLAT Scores.

What is CLAT Consortium?

Exam format of CLAT

CLAT is a 2-hour exam with 150 multiple-choice questions. Each question carries 1 mark, with a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. The exam is divided into five sections:

• General Knowledge (GK): This includes questions on current affairs, history, geography, polity, and general science.
• Legal Reasoning (LR): This section includes legal concepts, reasoning, and analysis questions.
• Logical Reasoning (LR): This section consists of questions on puzzles, analogies, and other logical reasoning problems.
• English Language (EL): This section consists of questions on grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and usage.
• Mathematics (MT): This section consists of questions on basic mathematics, including algebra, geometry, and statistics.

Syllabus for CLAT

The syllabus for CLAT is divided into five sections:

1. General Knowledge (GK): This section includes questions on current affairs, history, geography, polity, and general science.
2. Legal Reasoning (LR): This section includes legal concepts, reasoning, and analysis questions.
3. Logical Reasoning (LR): This section consists of questions on puzzles, analogies, and other logical reasoning problems.
4. English Language (EL): This section consists of questions on grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and usage.
5. Mathematics (MT): This section consists of questions on basic mathematics, including algebra, geometry, and statistics.

The following topics are covered in each section:

General Knowledge

• Current Affairs: This includes events and issues that have taken place in India and around the world recently.
• History: This includes the history of India and the world, from ancient times to the present.
• Geography: This includes the physical and human geography of India and the world.
• Polity: This includes the political system of India and the world.
• General Science: This includes biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science.

Legal Reasoning

• Legal Concepts: This includes the rule of law, the Constitution of India, and the legal system.
• Reasoning: This includes questions on logical, deductive, and inductive reasoning.
• Analysis: This includes questions on critical thinking and problem-solving.

Logical Reasoning

• Puzzles: This includes questions on puzzles, riddles, and other logic problems.
• Analogies: This includes questions on analogies, similarities, and differences.
• Other Logical Reasoning Problems: This includes questions on different logical reasoning problems, such as series completion and pattern recognition.

English Language

• Grammar: This includes parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation.
• Vocabulary: This includes the meaning of words and their usage.
• Comprehension: This includes questions on reading comprehension and inference.
• Usage: This includes questions on correctly using words and phrases.

Mathematics

• Basic Mathematics includes algebra, geometry, and statistics.

How to register for the CLAT exam?

Here are the steps to register for the CLAT exam:

1. Go to the official website of CLAT, consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
2. Click the "Register" tab.
3. Fill out the registration form.
4. Pay the registration fee.
5. Upload your photograph and signature.
6. Submit the form.

• The registration fee for CLAT is Rs. 4,000 for general category candidates and Rs. 3,500 for SC, ST and BPL candidates.
• The last date to register for CLAT is usually in the first week of May.
• Once registered for CLAT, you can download your admit card from the official website. Your admit card will contain all the essential information about your exam, such as the date, time, and venue.

Need more advice for preparation for CLAT? Click Here!!

Preparation Tips for Qualifying CLAT 

Here are the top 10 preparation tips for qualifying for CLAT:

1. Begin early: The earlier you begin your preparation, the more time you will have to cover the curriculum and practice problems.
2. Make a study plan: A well-organized study plan can help you remain on track and make the most of your time.
3. Set reasonable goals: Avoid cramming everything into the final two weeks before the exam. Set realistic goals and progressively increase your workload as the exam date approaches.
4. Find a study buddy or group: Having a study group might help you stay motivated and on track.
5. Join a coaching program: An excellent institute can give you the necessary resources and assistance to succeed.
6. Mock examinations can help you become acquainted with the exam structure and discover your areas of weakness.
7. Solve past year's question papers to get a sense of the types of questions that will be asked in the test.
8. Read newspapers and magazines: Current events must be kept up to date to pass the general knowledge component of the test.
9. Improve your English abilities by doing the following: The English language component of the exam is relatively complex. Thus, it is critical to practice your English abilities regularly.
10. Stay healthy and fit: Taking care of your physical and mental health is critical for exam performance.

Preparation Tips from CLAT Toppers

FAQs

What is the CLAT exam?

CLAT is a national-level entrance exam for undergraduate and postgraduate law program admission at various national law universities in India.

What are the eligibility criteria for CLAT?

A candidate must have completed the 10+2 or equivalent examination with a minimum of 45% (40% for SC/ST applicants) to be eligible for CLAT.

100,000+ students achieved their study abroad dreams with us.  Start your journey today.   Talk to an Expert

What is the exam pattern for CLAT?

CLAT is a two-hour online test with multiple-choice questions from five sections: English Language, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.

What are some valuable tips for CLAT preparation?

Some helpful tips for CLAT preparation include understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, creating a study plan, practising mock tests, and solving previous year's question papers.

How can I improve my English language skills for CLAT?

To improve your English language skills for CLAT, you can read newspapers and magazines, practice grammar exercises, and take online courses.

What are some recommended books for CLAT preparation?

Some recommended books for CLAT preparation include Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by A.P. Bhardwaj, The Pearson Guide to CLAT by Pearson, and Universal's CLAT Guide by Manish Arora.

Is coaching necessary for CLAT preparation?

While coaching can be helpful for CLAT preparation, it is not necessary. With the right study materials and a disciplined study approach, you can prepare for CLAT independently.