CLAT is amongst the most competitive law entrance exams in the country. So, if you want to ace the exam, you need to be at the top of your game. Here we bring you some reliable tips on how to prepare for the CLAT 2026 exam.
How to Prepare for CLAT 2026 – The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) conducted the CLAT 2025 exam on December 1, 2024.
So, you need to now start preparation for the next edition of the exam – CLAT 2026.
Given the difficulty and competition level of the CLAT exam, it is recommended that you START your preparation early. With enough time at your disposal, you can plan and execute better, and don’t have to rush through.
As part of the CLAT 2026 exam preparation strategy, you must follow a study time table, complete the syllabus, take notes, and solve sample papers, In the last few days leading up to the exam, the focus should be more on revision and taking mocks.
Here we bring you tips to prepare for the CLAT exam. Keep reading.
Table of Contents
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
Before delving into how to prepare for CLAT, the candidate first needs to be familiar with the CLAT 2026 exam pattern.
This is because the exam pattern will provide insights into the types of questions asked, sections, test duration, marking scheme, weightage, etc. Without these inputs, it will be very difficult to make any progress in CLAT exam preparation 2025.
CLAT Exam Pattern 2026 – Highlight
- Exam mode – Pen-paper-based test
- Exam duration – 120 minutes
- Total questions – 120 questions
- Total marks – 120 marks
- Marking Scheme – +1 will be awarded for a correct answer; –0.25 for every incorrect attempt.
CLAT Exam Pattern 2026 – Subject-wise No. of Questions and Weightage
| Subject | Number of Questions | Weightage |
| English Language | 22-26 questions | 20% |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 28-32 questions | 25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 28-32 questions | 25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 22-26 questions | 20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10-14 questions | 10% |
CLAT Syllabus 2026
Questions in the CLAT 2026 exam will be asked from the official syllabus released by the CLAT Consortium.
The CLAT 2026 exam syllabus will include the section-wise topics that candidates need to prepare for the entrance exam.
It is important to highlight here that the CLAT exam is designed to evaluate whether you have the mental aptitude, analytical skills, and critical thinking abilities required for a successful career in the legal profession.
For instance, good communication skills will allow you to strongly and eloquently elucidate your ideas, while being succinct and persuasive at the same time.
Also note that legal knowledge is not a prerequisite to appear and do well in the CLAT 2026.
| Sections | Topics |
| English | Comprehension passages from news articles, non-fiction literature, etc. Grammar Word meanings Summarize passages, Compare and contrast Draw inferences |
| Quantitative Techniques | Derive, infer, and manipulate numerical information set out a given passage Ratios and proportions, basic algebra, mensuration and statistical estimation. |
| Current Affairs Including General Knowledge | Contemporary events of significance from India and the world; Arts and culture; International affairs; and Historical events of continuing significance. Questions will be based on given passages of up to 450 words each. The passages will be derived from news, journalistic sources and other non-fiction writing. |
| Logical Reasoning | Logical and Analytical reasoning skills |
| Legal Reasoning | Identify and infer the rules and principles set out in the passage; Apply such rules and principles to various fact situations; and Understand how changes to the rules or principles may alter their application to various fact situations. Questions will be based on passages of around 450 words each. The passages may relate to fact situations or scenarios involving legal matters, public policy questions or moral philosophical enquiries. You don’t require any prior knowledge of law to attempt the questions in this section. |
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TIPS to prepare for CLAT 2026
Here are a few tips that you can follow to master CLAT 2026 syllabus and ace the law entrance exam.
Don’t join a coaching institute just for the sake of it – If you really want to really crack CLAT 2026, better not to join a coaching institute. This is especially true if you are an average student. Truth be told, the coaching institute will focus most of their attention on the top students in a batch so that they crack CLAT, bring some fame for the institute and they can market it for more students.
What you need to do instead is make a study plan. Also, start in advance, like give yourself around SIX months.
If you are dedicated and follow the remaining tips here, you are sure to get a good score in CLAT and get admission to your dream institute.
START your preparation early – One major mistake many candidates make is to keep postponing their exam preparation. But it is not at all recommended.
If you are an average student, you will need enough time to prepare.
I will recommend you give yourself at least six months preparation time. This way you will have enough bandwidth to cover the CLAT syllabus 2026, solve mock tests and sample papers.
Get familiar with the exam pattern and syllabus – The exam pattern will tell you how you need to prepare for the exam. Meanwhile, the syllabus has the topics that you need to prepare for.
You can divide the topics into various categories depending on their difficulty level. Pay close attention to the ones that carry more weightage or are difficult.
Make a time table and follow it rigorously – If you make a study timetable, you need to stick to it. If you don’t, there is no point having one in the first place!
Success comes with discipline and determination.
So, you need to get your life in order, if it is not already, and follow a certain routine. Yes, it can get boring at times, but guess what it is when you chug along even when things are not looking all rosy that you are priming yourself for success.
Read newspapers regularly – Go through the editorials, opinion pieces, and other important segments of the newspaper.
Also, when you are reading, make it a point to note the words, phrases, and idioms that are being used. Like the context, presentation, etc.
Once you are done reading the topic, try to derive inferences, understand the concept and how to be persuasive and persistent.
Solve sample papers – There is no better tool to check your progress than sample papers. For instance, if you are able to solve an entire mock test within the given time, it is an indication that you are on track.
Solve as many mocks as you can.
It is important that the mock papers don’t have the same and repetitive questions, but cover a diverse set of questions that covers the entirety of the CLAT syllabus.
You can start solving sample papers very early in your exam preparation.
Take mock tests – These tests are taken closer to the exam to give the final touches to one’s preparation.
Mocks will help to orient your body clock with exam timings if you take them at the same time of the day. Further, you will learn the navigation process and how to attempt the paper.
This will help you keep a cool head on the day of the CLAT 2025 exam.
Can I prepare for CLAT 2026 in one month?
If you are an average student, you are going to face an uphill battle to crack the exam with barely one month to prepare.
The point is the CLAT syllabus is quite vast and needs some time.
That being said, if you put an all out effort and luck is with you, who knows, you might just manage to do the impossible!
Don’t change your study plan too much in the last few days.
In these last few days leading up to the CLAT 2026 exam, it is important for the candidate to stick to their original study timetable and not make too many changes.