AILET 2024 Topper Interview: Mantrana Agarwal (AIR 19) says speed & accuracy key to cracking law entrance exam

Mantrana secured AIR 19 in AILET Exam 2024 and domicile rank of AIR 7 in CLAT Exam. Read further to know about study plan, the books she used, how she prepared for both the entrance exam and the board exam and how she achieved the best All India Rank in both.

AILET Topper 2024 Mantrana Mahi Agarwal shared her tips and tricks to ace in not only one but two toughest law entrance exams in the country. While speaking to Shiksha, Mantrana said how change in exam pattern of CLAT 2024 and AILET worked in her favor and helped her to secure AIR 19 in AILET Exam and domicile rank of AIR 7 in CLAT. She said, ". The 150 question format was a race against time in which accuracy still played an important role. The 120-question format reduced that pressure to some extent making it possible to finish the paper or even attempt a higher number of questions. My scores had stagnated in the 150-paper question format, so when the change of format was announced, I took it as a second chance and worked even harder. It was a blessing in disguise." Read further to know all about her preparation tips, books she referred to, how she studied for the board exam along with entrance exam preparation and her strategies to secure All India Rank in both exams.

Q. Did you expect this good rank in AILET 2024 and CLAT Exam?

A. A little yes and a little no. When it came to CLAT 2024, I knew from the very beginning that to get my dream school, I needed to achieve a top rank. After reviewing several mocks along with the trend in the previous CLAT exams with my father, we concluded that a rank of 200 or less would be ideal. This year, the general quota in NLSIU only has 121 seats, so my CLAT rank 2024 was slightly disappointing. However, I’m grateful I can study in my dream school through a domicile rank of 7. AILET 2024 however, was a different story. While I had expected a good rank (given the mixed reactions of my peers after the paper), AIR 19 was a pleasant surprise in AILET Exam.

Q. Did the change in Exam Pattern 2024 hamper your preparation?
A. No, it did not. I took the change in the CLAT Exam Pattern 2024 as a positive indicator. The 150 question format was a race against time in which accuracy still played an important role. The 120-question format reduced that pressure to some extent making it possible to finish the paper or even attempt a higher number of questions. My scores had stagnated in the 150-paper question format, so when the change of format was announced, I took it as a second chance and worked even harder. It was a blessing in disguise. In AILET 2024, the feeling was more or less the same. Speed and accuracy remained a differentiating factor in both papers, so the overall strategy was not impacted.

Also Read: AILET 2024 Topper Interview: Ananya Dhandhariya (AIR 4) shares tips to score well in Logical Reasoning section

Q. Which section did you feel was more challenging? And took more time in the exam?
A. The answer for this question varies. Other than GK which remained challenging till the very end (given the vastness and unpredictability of the subject), logic gave me a hard time. Initially, legal appeared to be challenging. However when time came to increase scores, each section became challenging. To arrive at a strategy that works for you in most situations is a process that takes time and effort, yet it is integral to the exam. The time taken in the exam, depends on the exam itself- sometimes a section that appears lengthy is easy and vice versa. In the actual CLAT exam, this could be seen in GK and English. English took lesser time than usual, while GK took much more than expected. However, the section on which I spent the most time was logic.

Q. How did you manage time between the Class 12th Board Exam and Entrance Preparation?
A. It’s important to remember that both of these exams are difficult in their way, however, they also complement each other’s preparation. As a commerce student, my subjects helped me prepare for CLAT. My English teacher always took us through an in-depth text analysis, which helped me comprehend the passages. Business studies is mostly case-based. This helped me in the legal and logical sections. Economics brought a wealth of static GK that helped me score not only in the GK section but also in passages dealing with similar topics.

Accountancy offers practice in the basic mathematics operations which are essential for a speedy quant section. My teacher also provided tips that helped speed up calculations and avoid silly mistakes. Concepts like differentiation and integration in maths and maths as a whole has several patterns. Identifying these patterns helps not only to master the subject, but also helps to quickly identify hidden patters in analytical reasoning and the question paper. Moreover, I had immense support from all my teachers and my parents which helped me in some of the most rigorous months of preparation. Paying complete attention in class is essential to maintain a good balance because if you have clear concepts from the beginning, it makes it easier to practice them later on. A good time table and correct prioritisation helps as well.

Q. Do you feel coaching plays a very important part in clearing law entrance Exam?
A. I feel coaching plays an integral part because of many reasons. Good teachers with years of experience , guidance and mentoring are all important aspects of any competitive exam and this is precisely what coaching provides. I had immense help from both my online and offline coaching centres in terms of strategy, tips, tricks and doubt-solving. Good practice material and likeminded peers (who are as passionate and hardworking as you are) also push you to achieve your best.
Aside from these, giving mocks in an exam like environment, especially offline in the coaching centres is also paramount. There’s a stark contrast between giving mocks online and in person. Only giving mocks in coaching can come close to fully recreating the pressure environment of the actual exam.

Q. What was your study plan?
A. I didn’t have a rigid study plan as such. It changed after every few mocks depending on which section needed the most work. In eleventh grade, I took time to get comfortable with the sections and question stems and it was only in twelfth grade that I worked on filling the gaps. Rather than spending a large amount of time on GK in the beginning, I focused more on concepts and attempted mocks from a good variety of institutes to get an all-round preparation as a
majority of the paper was skill based and not memory based. It was only in the last four months that I switched gears and spent 75% of the time on GK and 25% on the other sections. Quizzing and reading the newspaper regularly became a permanent part of my routine from the very beginning. When it came to school, I tried to pay full attention in classes and finish a majority of my homework within school hours itself.

Q. Do you think NCERT books are sufficient for law entrance exam Preparation?
A. I don’t think I can answer this question. I didn’t use NCERT books throughout the course of my preparation.

Q. How did you deal with your strengths and weaknesses while preparing for entrance Exam?
A. When it comes to this, I consider my father’s strategy ideal. He said your strengths are like a perfectly sharp pencil. Once sharpened, it can write well for a long time and only needs occasional and little sharpening to return to the same “perfect” form. However, your weakness is a blunt pencil which you have to first make sharp and then sharper. It would be ideal to work the hardest on the weak points by reviewing concepts or solving more questions.

However, regular practice of a strong section is important as well to maintain command over the subject. In a nutshell, regular practice of both strengths and weaknesses is necessary, but the amount on time to be spent is what varies. Also, one should not get alarmed by fluctuating scores or higher-than-usual mistakes in a self-claimed ‘strength’ section. There’s always an opportunity to learn something new and learning from mistakes is what truly builds your core.

Q. Was Law always your choice as a career?

A. No it wasn’t. I wanted to pursue fashion design during my childhood days. However, as I grew older and began reading more books, it came to my attention that my favourite books were always about lawyers or figures who dispensed justice and ensured order. Over time, as I explored the field, law and administration is what stood out to me. Even today, I’m unsure if I would want to pursue law as a career as I’m equally intrigued by international relations and the the civil services- but something is fascinating about knowing the law of the land and having the authority to ensure peace and justice or even standing up for what is right.
Furthermore, even the other alternatives I’ve considered so far benefit from it. With this belief, I decided to make the study of law as the foundation of my career.

Q.  Any tips for students who are planning to take the exam next year?
A. CLAT is a journey that has both high and low tides. Some days are stressful and others are relaxed in comparison. There are days on which you would feel like you’re on top of the world and there are days when you feel like you’ve done nothing at all, but it’s all part of the process. Despite being a competitive exam, CLAT or AILET are all about YOU. It’s about how well you handle the pressure in those two hours more than anything else. The paper may be full of
surprises, but it’s how you deal with those surprises and navigate the paper that truly matters. Also, being stressed all the time is not ideal. The fatigue intense preparation can cause is equally damaging. It’s important to relax and take time off as well, especially when there’s only a week to go for the exam.

The day before the exam is not the time to revise as much as you can, it’s the time to cool yourself and your mind down, so that you can do your best in the paper. You need to trust yourself and your preparation irrespective of how little it may seem in comparison to someone else’s. What works for you may not work for them and vice versa. Staying positive, engaging in yoga and meditation also helps. In the end, it’s a battle that you have to fight (even
against yourself at times ) so that you can do your best.

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