Strategy for NLSAT

NLS Bangalore started its own 3-year LLB programme in 2022. The top law school in India offers one of the most sought-after LLB programs, which requires passing the NLSAT (National Law School Admission Test).

As with any competitive exam, students typically have several questions about the NLSAT, such as:

1. Average preparation time
2. Pattern
3. Time limit
4. Effective Strategy
5. And perhaps most importantly, the level of difficulty.

AFTER ALL, IT'S NLS BANGALORE, RIGHT? There must be something different about this exam compared to others.

This exam distinguishes itself by demanding more accurate and precise answers than any other exam.

The exam also includes a negative marking of 0.25 for each incorrect or unattempted question, underscoring the importance of accuracy for qualification. The competition and cut-off for the exam are relatively high, and the seats are comparatively fewer, so to qualify for it and get your seat reserved, you need to be very accurate in your answers.

Though the competition is challenging, success is achievable with a well-defined strategy focusing on critical topics and effective time management.

It's essential to become familiar with the exam pattern, structure, and question types to understand it.

NLS Bangalore releases its sample papers on the university website, familiarising you with the exam pattern and what you can expect. Look through the last one- or two-year question papers to gain insights on the type and pattern of questions.

Therefore, the ideal strategy is

1. Familiarize yourself with the syllabus
2. Create a structured study plan
3. Use reliable reference materials (books and online sources)
4. Make detailed notes
5. Revision sessions (Weekly & Monthly)
6. Practice with mock tests

Ideal Preparation time

1. 6-7 months is the perfect preparation time for any student who wants to secure a seat in the programme.
2. The timeline allows a student to devise and work on his strategy correctly.
3. It gives time for an ideal cycle of preparation, revision and practice. Although old-fashioned, some things work best when approached with a well-planned structure.
4. The extended preparation time will also help you address weaker areas in your skillset.

For example- you may excel in English comprehension but need help with Critical Reasoning. The time frame will help you practice and devote your time to the scoring topics essential for the exam.

Duration of the exam – 150 min, i.e. 2 ½ hours

Marks – 150 marks in total (Part A – 75 marks, Part B – 75 marks)

Marking scheme

• Part A – Objective type (+1 mark: correct answer, -0.25: incorrect answer & unanswered question).
• Part B – Subjective type (no negative marking) (6 questions- 10 marks each, 1 question – 15 marks)

• Candidates must qualify for Part A to have Part B evaluated. Additionally, the required percentile varies.

1. General Category / EWS – more than 75 percentile
2. SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/ PWD- more than 40 percentile

Exam Pattern and Structure

Regarding exam structure, NLS follows a unique structure with objective and subjective question formats. The question paper is divided into two parts.

1. Part A – 75 marks      {Objective type(Passage - MCQ based)}
2. Part B – 75 marks      {Subjective type- includes  essay writing}

• Part A of the exam is more manageable in its attempt as it requires reading passages and marking the correct answer.
• Part B requires practice in its approach. It requires a structured answer written by the candidate highlighting its introduction, issues, analysis, and conclusion.

Part B requires the practice of answer writing within a defined word limit.

Now, talking about both parts of the exam and their relevant topics and syllabus,

Part A

Part A consists of passage-based combined questions with MCQs from

1. English Comprehension (25 questions - 25 marks)
2. Current Affairs (25 questions – 25 marks)
3. Critical reasoning (25 questions – 25 marks)

• Passages consisting of 450-500 words and MCQs based on the passage.
• Ideal time to be given during the exam on Part A – 60-70 min (1hr, 1hr 10 min).
• Marking - +1 mark for correct answer, -0.25 mark for incorrect, unanswered question.

1. English Comprehension (25 questions – 25 marks)

The English Comprehension part consists of questions from

1. Reading comprehension passages
2. English Grammar
3. Sentence correction
4. Word Meanings
5. Vocabulary (Synonyms/ Antonyms)
6. Phrases, idioms
7. Proverbs 

• To excel in this part of the exam and practice questions, you can refer to basic English books like

1. Objective General English by RS Aggarwal
2. Objective General English by SP Bakshi
3. English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin

which consists of practice questions and all the information about English grammar.

• Books like these will serve as a very guided and targeted preparation for the English section of the exam. It is a relatively more accessible scoring section, so prepare ideally.
• Refer to the previous year's question papers to get an idea about the types of questions that can be asked in the English section. For example, in last year's exams, questions in Part A were asked about the author and current news related to him. We can see a mix of Current ---GK and English in Part A.
• Practice sentence correction and mock tests on comprehension.

2. Current Affairs (25 questions – 25 marks)

The Current Affairs consists of questions from:

1. Current Affairs (international & national events)
2. Political Science, History
3. Economy
4. Sports
5. Business
6. Environment
7. Authors& Nominations
8. Arts& Culture
1. Legal Sphere

• The part can be marked as less time-consuming and more scoring in nature.
• You are required to spend at most 5-10 minutes on this. Either you know the answer, or you don't.
• Refer to the previous year's question papers to identify the recurring pattern of questions.
• You can refer to various online sources to prepare for your current affairs.

Tip- Remember to make notes because they will help you in your last-minute revision.

The sources can be

1. Monthly magazines like Pratiyogita Darpan, Competition Success Review
2. Monthly compendiums
3. Daily MCQ-based questions from GK Today (5 questions are posted every day)
4. Newspapers (editorials for English) – The Hindu, Indian Express
5. Critical reasoning (25 questions – 25 marks)

For critical reasoning, the significant aspects which need to be covered are

1. Logical Puzzles
2. Numerical Reasoning
3. Legal Maxims
4. Legal concepts
5. Assumptions and conclusions
6. Seating arrangements
7. Landmark case laws

The part primarily involves critical analysis of a situation and marking the correct answer accordingly.

For a targeted preparation of Critical reasoning, after getting familiar with the syllabus part and pattern, you can refer to books like

1. Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey
2. How to crack test of Reasoning in all Competitive Exam by Arihant
3. Master Critical Thinking by William Henderson

• Practice the questions to be more familiar with their pattern.
• Solve puzzles regularly.
• Practice reasoning questions.

           Part B

            Part B is a subjective section consisting of questions from :

1. Legal reasoning & Aptitude (60 marks-:6 questions, 10 marks each)
2. Analytical ability (15 marks – 1 question)

1. Legal Reasoning & Aptitude (60 marks- 6 questions of 10 marks each)

Type of questions - Problem-based questions.

Requirements - The candidate is required to write a defined answer of 300-350 short words.

No prior knowledge of law is expected; however, for a law exam, the candidate should at least be aware of the basic provisions and concepts, such as the Constitution, Criminal law, Civil law etc.

Pattern of the questions

1. Legal Proposition
2. Legal Maxims
3. Constitution
4. Landmark Case Laws

This section tests your legal reasoning. As a future legal practitioner, you need to represent parties in a case, and those parties can either be the victim or the accused.

Representation plays a vital role in the Indian Legal system.

• You should present a “balanced” approach in your response to stand out.

• Representing both sides while giving a balanced opinion will help you score better than the other candidates.

When writing an answer, follow this structure:

1. Introduction
2. Facts
3. Issues
4. References/ Relevant Provisions
5. Analysis
6. Conclusion

            Reference for Legal Reasoning

• Previous year's question papers
• Refer to monthly digests of case laws from websites like Live Law, SCC Online etc. to avoid backlogs.
• Write your answers with precision and clarity, and structure them properly.
• Legal maxims require practice and revision, so revise them accordingly.
• Refer to YouTube videos or bare acts to learn basic criminal, civil and constitutional law concepts.

2. Analytical ability (15 marks- 1 question with internal choice)

Type of question – A Legal/ Current Affair Topic (Any relevant socio-political and economic topic)

Requirement – Essay

Word Limit – 500 words

The candidates here are tested on their knowledge of the issue, their ability to make written arguments, and their ability to write a well-structured essay.

This question demands practice in its approach. It requires a structured answer written by the candidate highlighting its introduction, issues, analysis, and conclusion.

What you can do is understand how answer writing works for exams. There are several online sources, and if you want, you can subscribe to a particular source which teaches you how to write answers for exams. Practising answer writing helps not only for NLSAT but also for other exams that demand structured answers. However, if we talk about the basics of answer writing, the basic structure, which is applicable everywhere, is:

1. Introduction
2. Facts
3. Issues
4. References/ Relevant Provisions - legal
5. Arguments (from both sides preferably)
6. Analysis
7. Conclusion

Tip: Set Time Limit – You can also set a time limit and write answers in that stipulated time to manage your writing speed and time with the pace of the exam.

Conclusion

Success in the NLSAT requires a focused approach, accuracy, and strategic preparation. Stay disciplined, invest time in critical areas, and maintain precision in your responses. With proper preparation, admission to NLS Bangalore's LLB program is well within reach. Good luck!