Common Law Admission Test, CLAT, is a national-level entrance test conducted by a consortium of NLU. Candidates who dream of getting into one of the twenty-six National Law Universities can appear for CLAT.
The CLAT examination is crucial for students who want to pursue a BA LLB after their class 12th. The entrance exam is an entry point for the esteemed National Law Universities.
Early preparation is a prerequisite to completing the syllabus on time and getting a perfect score on the entrance exam. If you are sure about your dream, start preparing for CLAT in class eleventh or twelfth.
The CLAT examination is divided into five sections. There are 120 questions with one mark each and a negative marking of 0.25 for every incorrect answer.
Topics covered -
Topics covered -
Topics covered -
Topics covered -
5. Quantitative Techniques
Topics covered -
|
Sections |
Sectional Weightage (in %) |
|
English Language |
20% |
|
Current Affairs including General Knowledge |
25% |
|
Logical Reasoning |
20% |
|
Legal Reasoning |
25% |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
10% |
|
Total |
100% |
After pursuing a Law, one can choose among the various fields like -
· Criminal Lawyer
· Corporate Lawyer
· Judicial Services
· Legal Journalist/Correspondent
· Legal Analyst
· Civil Lawyer
· Legal Advisor
· Paralegal
· Business Consultant
· Intellectual property lawyer
· Government lawyer
· Legal Research and Academia
· Legal Consultancy
Law schools prepare a merit list based on the CLAT score. Candidates with a higher rank have a better chance of securing a seat in their preferred law school.
Goal setting plays a crucial role in the CLAT preparation journey as it gives direction and discipline. It also ensures judicious usage of time and ensures that the syllabus is covered properly.
A clear roadmap is essential to avoid procrastination. Have a thorough knowledge of the various sections and their weights, and allot enough preparation time for every team.
The CLAT syllabus is very vast. Preparing without a study schedule will make you overwhelmed. Create a realistic study plan covering all the subjects, allot enough time for every topic, and set achievable targets.
To balance CLAT preparation with your board examination, prepare a strict study schedule and abide by it. Summer vacations are the best time to stretch your CLAT and board syllabus. Take enough time regularly to revise the syllabus that you have covered.
English
To strengthen foundational knowledge in English, develop a habit of reading regularly. Read various themes like contemporary articles, editorials, and historically significant pieces.
Mathematics
The quantitative techniques section consists of questions testing your understanding of basic math concepts from tenth grade, so brush up on fundamental mathematical concepts like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
General Knowledge
To create your foundation for general knowledge, start reading newspapers and blogs, listening to podcasts, and watching news channels.
You can develop critical thinking and analytical skills by evaluating various types of information, participating in discussions, and reading multiple topics to expand your perspective.
CLAT is a timed examination; practicing mock tests gives an experience of the actual study. It helps improve time management skills, spots weak areas and boosts confidence.
After taking a mock test, it is an essential to analyze the results. It is natural to make mistakes in the mocks. Analyze the questions you got wrong, understand why, and avoid repeating them in the examination.
Solving previous years' papers gives an idea about the questions that will be asked in the examination. It acquaints you with the examination pattern. You also get a fair idea about the frequently asked questions, the level of difficulty, and the essential topics.
Strategies for English Language -
1. Enhance your reading skills by reading various publications like newspapers, books, magazines, and internet articles.
2. Improve your vocabulary for comprehension and vocabulary-based questions. Aim at learning a few new words every day.
3. Work on your grammar skills and solve grammar exercises and quizzes regularly.
4. Practice at least two passages daily to get a heck of it.
Strategies for Quantitative Techniques -
1. Create a strong base of topics like ratios and proportions, introductory algebra, mensuration, and statistical estimations.
2. Learn shortcut tricks to calculate squares, cubes, multiplication, division, and percentages.
3. Learn tables up to 20 and squares up to 30.
Strategies for Legal Reasoning -
1. Start reading law magazines to form a legal perspective on various issues.
Strategies for Logical Reasoning -
1. Be thorough with questions around topics like syllogisms, blood relations, directions, and seating arrangements.
2. Start solving games like sudoku, crosswords, and logic puzzles in your free time.
Strategies for Current Affairs -
1. Make it a habit to read newspapers to stay aware of current events. Prepare notes about the key facts.
2. Please use flashcards and mnemonics to remember and revise facts in your free time.
· English Language - Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin, Objective General English by RS Aggarwal, Barron's Pocket Guide to Vocabulary, The Pearson Guide to the CLAT by Pearson's, CLAT Guide by Tata McGraw-Hill
· General Knowledge and Current Affairs - Lucent's GK, Manorama Year Book, Competition Success Review, India Year Book, and Pratiyogita Darpan. Also read leading newspapers like Hindu, Indian Express, and Hindustan Times.
· Quantitative Techniques - Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal, Class 10th NCERT Textbook, Data interpretation by R.S Aggarwal, Elementary Mathematics with Numerical Ability by Prateek Jain, Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M Tyra, Legal Aptitude (CLAT) by Samiksha Gupta and R.K Gupta, First Track Objective Arithmetic by Arihant
· Legal Aptitude - Universal's CLAT Guide, Bare Acts of Indian Constitution, Legal Awareness and Legal Aptitude by AP Bhardwaj, LexisNexis Butterworths, Objective Legal Aptitude by R.S Aggarwal, Important Judgement That Transformed India by Alex Andrews George
· Logical Reasoning - Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey, Analytical and Logical Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal, A New Approach to Verbal and Analytical Reasoning by Arihant, 501 challenging Logical Reasoning Practice book, Quantitative Aptitude ebook (ALL Parts Solved) by RS Aggarwal
Speed and accuracy are as important as being thorough with the syllabus. Practice timed mock tests to improve your speed. Choose to skip challenging questions at first and come back to them later. Acquire time-saving skills like skimming through reading comprehension, logical reasoning shortcuts, and speed math techniques to cut back on time.
Mentors and coaching are essential to getting suitable study material and the proper approach. The presence of mentors ensures that the doubts that arise get solved instantly.
Joining online forums and discussion groups will help you to engage with fellow CLAT aspirants. Interacting with like-minded students will enhance your knowledge as you will learn from each other.
Self-preparation needs more structural preparation and concept clarity. Sections like legal aptitude require the help of experienced CLAT tutors who can provide clarity and comfort to students.
Maintaining your health and well-being is an essential for effective preparation. Skipping meals, not getting adequate sleep, and sitting excessively long hours can hamper productivity. Make sure not to refrain from following these habits to concentrate better.
Stress and pressure arise due to self-doubts and comparisons with others. Do not compare yourself with others; appreciate your progress and work harder. Indulge in meditation for at least 15 minutes daily. Take time every day for physical activity like walking, yoga, etc.
Breaks and relaxation between your study hours are essential for long-term success. Maintain a study routine and take enough breaks to recharge your energy. Do not procrastinate, as it can lead to last-minute stress and burnout.
Revision is very essential to ace the examination after completing your syllabus. Revisiting the topics is necessary to remember the content, especially for subjects like legal reasoning and current affairs.
Using flashcards and prepared revision notes helps to memorize the syllabus actively. Schedule quality revision sessions and fully engage with the composed material.
1. Review the mistakes you made while taking mock tests and practising the previous year's papers.
2. Refrain from trying to learn a new topic, which can lead to confusion.
3. Do not attempt mock tests at the last moment, as if you do not score well, it will lead to anxiety.
4. Revise essential topics like the Constitution of India and the Indian Penal Code from your notes.
5. Revise the grammar rules and concepts only once.
6. Go through the shortcut formulae you used while preparing for the quants section.
Do’s
1. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep before the exam to wake up fresh.
2. Reach the exam centre early to avoid the last-minute hassle.
3. Keep the necessary documents ready in a proper folder beforehand.
4. Read the guidelines of the examination carefully before starting.
Don'ts
1. Do not try to learn about new topics at the last moment.
2. Do not spend a lot of time on a single question. Skip it and move on to the next question.
3. Do not compare your preparation with others. Be confident.
4. Review all the questions before submitting the paper to look for errors and omissions.
1. Although no sectional time limits exist, you should allot time to each section depending on your strengths.
2. Spend at most a minute on every question.
3. If you are not able to solve a particular question, skip it.
To perform well in the examination, stay calm and not take stress. Get enough sleep the night before and eat well. Do not panic after seeing one difficult question. Keep solving the questions calmly.
CLAT is a competitive entrance examination that requires thorough preparation and proper strategy. Building fundamentals is necessary, followed by constant testing and mentor feedback. The right time to start preparing for CLAT is while you are in class twelve. You will have approximately ten months to prepare for both boards and CLAT. Choose the right mentor, get your concepts clear, practice diligently, and have confidence in yourself.
It is recommended that you start preparing for CLAT in 12th grade.
The key subjects covered in CLAT are English language, quantitative techniques, logical reasoning, legal reasoning, and general knowledge. You should assess your weak areas and start with the most difficult section.
Mock tests simulate the exam environment and provide a platform to judge the preparation, improve time management, and gain confidence. It is recommended to attempt mock tests twice a week.
The CLAT syllabus is very vast. The guidance of mentors will provide a proper roadmap for preparation, and they will clear your doubts quickly.
English Language - Word Power Made Easy, Norman Lewis
Current Affairs - Lucent's GK, Manorama Year Book, Newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express
Legal Reasoning - Important Judgement That Transformed India by Alex Andrews George
Logical Reasoning - Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S Aggarwal
Quantitative Techniques - Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations, RS Aggarwal
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