What is CLAT?
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs offered by National Law Universities (NLUs) and other premier law institutions in India. CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) on a rotational basis. The exam tests the candidate’s aptitude and knowledge in various subjects such as English, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Based on the score obtained in the CLAT, candidates can get admission to undergraduate (LLB) and postgraduate (LLM) law programs offered by the participating NLUs and other law institutions.
CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2024
- To be eligible for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2024, candidates must have completed or be in the process of completing their Higher Secondary (10+2) education with a minimum of 45% marks (40% for reserved category candidates).
- The CLAT – Law Entrance Exam does not have any age restriction. The Bar Council of India has eliminated the maximum and lower age restrictions for admission to law programmes.
- For CLAT PG, the candidate should have passed the LLB or equivalent exam from a reputed university. Candidates who fall under the general/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI category should have obtained at least 55% of the possible marks, while SC/ST candidates should have obtained at least 50%.
Exam Pattern & Syllabus for CLAT
The exam pattern and syllabus for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2024 may vary slightly from year to year. Candidates should review the syllabus and exam pattern to become familiar with the exam pattern and the kinds of questions that will be asked before beginning their CLAT preparation. Candidates can learn more about the sectional distribution of marks by consulting the CLAT 2024 curriculum. The details of the syllabus and the pattern are provided below for candidates to review.
- According to the exam pattern, there will be multiple-choice questions on comprehension passages in the CLAT 2024.
- In CLAT 2024, each question carries one mark. Incorrect answers will also result in a penalty of 0.25 mark for each question. Unattempted questions will not receive any negative marking.
- The duration of the examination will be 120 minutes (two hours).
- The CLAT 2024 exam will be conducted in offline mode using pen and paper.
CLAT UG 2024
| Maximum Marks | 150 |
| Duration of CLAT 2023 Exam | 120 Minutes (02:00 Hours) |
| Multiple-Choice Questions | 150 questions of one mark each |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 Mark for each wrong answer |
| Subject Areas with weightage: | (approximate number of questions) |
| English Language | 28-32 questions, approx. 20% of the paper |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 35-39 questions, approx. 25% of the paper |
| Legal Reasoning | 35-39 questions, approx. 25% of the paper |
| Logical Reasoning | 28-32 questions, approx. 20% of the paper |
| Quantitative Techniques | 13-17 questions, approx. 10% of the paper |
English: Candidates must answer questions about the paragraph. Candidates will be given comprehension passages from recent or influential fiction and non-fiction works, each around 450 words long.
Quantitative Techniques: A sequence of questions will be asked after a brief set of facts or propositions, a graph, or another written, visual, or diagrammatic representation of numerical data.
Logical Reasoning: This part will consist of several brief paragraphs, each of about 300 words. Candidates will need to recognize patterns, logics, and arguments, then respond appropriately.
Legal Reasoning: Candidates must read passages that average 450 words each for this test. The texts may be based on actual events or hypothetical situations concerning law, politics, or moral philosophy.
Current Affairs including General Knowledge: Candidates must answer questions about passages of up to 450 words each. The passages will be taken from non-fiction writing, journalism, and news sources.
CLAT PG 2024
| Maximum Marks | 120 |
| Duration of exam | 120 Minutes (02:00 Hours) |
| Multiple-Choice Questions | 120 questions of one mark each |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 Mark will be deducted for each wrong answer |
| Syllabus |
|
Important Dates of CLAT 2024
| Event | Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2024 application form | First week of August 2023 |
| Last date to apply | Second week of November 2023 |
| Release of CLAT 2024 admit card | First week of December 2023 |
| CLAT 2024 exam date | December 2023 |
| Release of answer key | December 2023 |
| Declaration of CLAT results | December 2023 or January 2024 |
| Commencement of counseling | January 2024 |
Preparation Tips for CLAT
Candidates who are planning to appear in the CLAT 2024 should aim to allow themselves six to seven months to prepare. Results would be better if they dedicated more time to CLAT preparation. Applicants will find some of the important CLAT preparatory suggestions provided here beneficial.
Create a study schedule
As they prepare for the CLAT, candidates should have a well-organized study schedule. Since they need to finish the extensive syllabus in a short period of time, they should study for six to seven hours per day. Candidates should make an effort to finish the CLAT material about two months before the exam date. The final two months should be dedicated to reviewing the crucial topics and practicing with sample papers and mock exams.
Create handwritten notes, then review them
Candidates should read basic books or newspapers and make handwritten notes. If key points were noted and flow charts or diagrams were made, the preparation would be easier. When you need to briefly review a lot of books in the later stages of preparation, the CLAT notes will be useful.
Boost Your Reading Skills
Many candidates who took the CLAT last year reported that it was a long paper with challenging portions. It was difficult for them to complete the CLAT in the given two hours, despite the fact that they knew the answers to many of the questions. As a result, candidates for CLAT 2024 can improve their reading skills and learn from their errors. Understanding the material while reading rapidly is one of the most important aspects of CLAT preparation.
Making reading a habit can help you prepare for CLAT 2024. Candidates should read English national daily newspapers like The Hindu or The Indian Express. Reading editorials, legal documents, and journals can be very beneficial for developing reading abilities and acquainting applicants with legal terminology.
Attempt CLAT practice tests and sample papers
As many practise examinations as possible should be taken by candidates. In addition to all of the previous year’s CLAT question papers, candidates are typically advised to finish 30 to 40 practise papers. The CLAT practice exams will aid applicants in understanding the level of difficulty, question patterns, and numerous other crucial elements of the examination. Most importantly, by completing these papers, applicants will develop the habit of finishing CLAT paper questions within the allotted time.
CLAT 2024 Exam Day Tips and Tricks: How to Attempt the Question Paper
Candidates should plan their approach to the exam. Most often, applicants can refine their approach when taking CLAT practice exams and finishing practice papers. Below are some crucial suggestions for answering CLAT test questions.
- Within the first five minutes, attentively read the CLAT instructions.
- To save time for the challenging areas, attempt the simpler question first.
- While answering the questions in the exam, candidates should also mark their responses on the OMR sheet.
- Don’t spend too much time reading comprehension passages.
- Candidates should not overthink their responses to comprehension-based questions; instead, they should consider the context of the passages before responding.
- Candidates should make an effort to finish the exam about 20 minutes early.
- Candidates should review the whole question bank and attempt the doubtful questions during the final 20 minutes of the exam. In general, candidates should attempt 110 to 120 questions.
FAQs
- What exam is CLAT for?Except for NLU DELHI, which accepts applications via the AILET exam in India, the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a centralized national-level entrance test for admission to 23 National Law Universities (NLU).
- When will CLAT 2024 be conducted?The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has declared December 2023 as the CLAT 2024 exam date. There will be more than 130 exam centers nationwide where CLAT 2024 will be administered in an offline, pen-and-paper mode. The exam format and CLAT 2024 syllabus will primarily not change.
- How to prepare for CLAT 2024?Practice as many of the questions from last year’s exams as you can. Each day, take at least one CLAT Mock Test and simultaneously review the material. This will assist in assessing how well-prepared you are. On topics where you are weak, try improvising.
- When should I start preparing for CLAT 2024?As a result, it is recommended that you begin your CLAT preparation at least six to twelve months before the exam. Starting early will give you plenty of time to finish the curriculum and do a comprehensive revision.
- What will be the registration fees for CLAT 2024 exam form?According to official updates, the cost of CLAT Registration 2024 is ₹4000/- for candidates in the general category and ₹3500/- for those in the reserved category.
