CLAT 2025: First Merit List (Delayed), NLUs cutoff, Seat Matrix, Process

In 2022, CLAT exam was held twice, I. e. on June 19 as CLAT 2022, and on December 18, 2022 as CLAT 2023. However, from 2024 onwards, CLAT exam is to be conducted once in a year only, as confirmed by the exam officials in the latest notification. Earlier, CLAT exam was conducted in May or June, but from 2024 onwards the entrance exam will be conducted in December (of preceding year to the admission year) itself for concluding admissions on time. Therefore, CLAT counselling process will be completed by May of each academic year.

CLAT 2025 Counselling Registration is now over. Candidates could complete CLAT 2025 Counselling Registration until December 20, 2024 (10 pm). The Consortium will release the CLAT first allotment list 2025 on December 26, 2024. Candidates could register for counselling before the deadline. The consortium has also published the dates for announcement of merit list of various rounds. CLAT 2025 Counselling will be conducted in five rounds.  Know more about it here - https://www.shiksha.com/law/clat-exam-counselling.

The CLAT 2025 results has been released. The NLU Consortium released the CLAT Counselling Schedule 2024 along with the CLAT Result. CLAT Counselling Registration Process 2025 will be done and only those candidates who register will be allowed to appear in CLAT 2025 Counselling. CLAT Exam 2025 was held in offline pen-paper-based mode. CLAT 2025 exam was conducted in more than 141 exam centers in India. Candidates need to secure a good rank in CLAT Exam 2025 to get admission into top NLUs.

During CLAT counselling, candidates will be provided the option to choose from three options; i.e. freeze, float and exit. Candidates can understand all options below:

Freeze Option: In case a candidate is happy with the seat alloted to him/her then they can freeze it. With this they won't be allowed to appear in the further rounds of counselling. If a candidate freezes the seat, it means that the candidate is confirming their seat at the allotted National Law University (NLU).

Float Option: If a candidate is not happy with the seat allotted to them and wants to pariticpate in further rounds of counselling they can select the float option. This option mean that candidate is accepting the seat allotted to them but is willing to pariticpate in further rouns of counselling for a better college. Candidate must note that in case they choose the float option and is allotted a seat in the next round then the seat allotted in the previous round will be forfeited.

Exit Option: During the counselling process, if a candidate feels that they don't want to pariticipate further, then they may choose an option to exit. If they choose this option, it means that they are withdrawing from the counselling process and they will not be considered for further round of counselling. 

All those candidates who are willing to appear for the CLAT should meet the eligibility criteria as announced by the Consortium of National Law Universities. All eligible candidates must fill the CLAT application form before the last date.The consortium released the updated eligibility criteria of CLAT for admission to 5-year LLB and LLM courses on its official website. These criteria include parameters like academic qualification, minimum marks, age limit, etc. 

The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is conducted once a year. It is typically held in December for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs at the participating National Law Universities (NLUs) across India. CLAT 2025 is scheduled to be held on December 1, 2024. CLAT Exam is held in pen-and-paper mode.

More than one lakh candidates from different cities across India appear for the CLAT exam every year. The exam authority has informed that Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 registered a total increase of 24.5% in applications compared to last year (CLAT 2025). Specifically, the Consortium of National Law Universities received 34.7% more Undergraduate applications and 25.8% more Postgraduate applications this year as compared to last year (CLAT 2024). For CLAT 2023, 56,472 candidates appeared out of 60,895 registrations. In 2021, 62,106 candidates appeared for the CLAT exam.

CLAT is important because it is the only entrance exam that law aspirants can qualify and be eligible for most prominent National Law Universities in India. It is also one of the most competitive law entrance exams for admission to top law schools in India for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Therefore, with just one law entrance exam, candidates can be eligible for admission to most of the prominent law schools of India. Apart from this, many Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs) in India accept CLAT LL. M. scores for the recruitment of candidates. Moreover, private law colleges accepting admissions on the basis of CLAT scores offer various scholarships to rank holders, which turns out in benefit of candidates.

Joining a coaching institute for CLAT has become a trend. Apparently, coaching institutes are good at selling the idea that coaching is necessary to crack law entrance exams. However, that is far from the truth. Candidates without any professional coaching can also crack the CLAT exam with flying colours. However, for the same, it is important for candidates to adopt a well-planned and well-thought-out CLAT preparation strategy 2025. Apart from this, it is also extremely important for candidates to be completely dedicated and consistent with their CLAT preparation.

All those candidates who have passed the 10+2 examination or an equivalent examination from a recognised board with a minimum percentage of marks as specified by the participating universities are eligible to apper for CLAT 2025. Candidates who will be appearing for Class 12th exam are also allowed to appear for CLAT Exam 2025. In order to pursue LLM, it is important for candidates to have an LL.B. degree or should have completed an equivalent examination from a recognised university with a minimum percentage of marks as specified by the participating universities. 

Yes, appearing for CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is necessary for admission to most National Law Universities (NLUs) in India for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs. However, some other law colleges may have their own entrance exams or may admit students based on different criteria, such as marks obtained in the qualifying examination (like the 12th grade for UG programs). Therefore, it's essential to check the specific admission requirements of the law colleges you are interested in, as not all colleges require CLAT scores.

CLAT Exam is conducted to fill 3,213 seats in undergraduate courses and 1,217 in PG courses. These number doesn't include sponsored, supernumerary, NRI, and extra seats. The admission to 24 NLUs is done on the basis of the CLAT score and the cutoff. Candidates must note that the admission to any of the NLUs will not be done without CLAT score.

Aspirants who are preparing for the CLAT Exam should have a clear idea about a good CLAT score. CLAT is a very competitive exam and candidates need to score high to clear the cutoff. All those candidates who are appearing for the CLAT are advised to check out the previous year's CLAT cutoff scores and get a fair idea of the trends that are being followed by the NLUs in the country.  A score above 100 is definitely considered as a good score for CLAT Exam. Candidates must note that the expected CLAT cutoff score for NLUSIU Bangalore is 100 plus, whereas, for NLU Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur and NLU Bhopal, the expected score is between 94 to 98. Candidates who wish to take admission into NALSAR Hyderabad they need to score between 98 to 100. 

CLAT is one of the highly competitive law exams and is considered to be one of the toughest exams to clear. However, aspirants should not worry, as with the right preparation and attitude you can definitely ace in the CLAT exam. The toppers of CLAT have suggested that aspirants should trust NCERT books and a habit to read newspaper daily to crack the exam. The difficulty level of CLAT paper is usually moderate. For complete insights on CLAT paper difficulty level, check analysis for current and previous years above. 

The Common Law Admission Test CLAT is an important entrance exam for law aspirants in India. CLAT is the gateway to several prestigious law universities and institutes across the country. Here are some ways in which CLAT can help you pursue law as a career: Access to top law schools: CLAT provides access to several top law schools and universities in India. These law schools offer high-quality education, excellent faculty, and exposure to a diverse range of legal fields. Getting into a top law school through CLAT can boost your chances of a successful law career. Specialisation options: CLAT offers specialisation options in various areas of law such as corporate law, intellectual property law, international law, and criminal law. You can choose a specialisation that aligns with your interests and career goals. Networking opportunities: CLAT offers networking opportunities with other law aspirants and legal professionals. It provides a platform to interact with people from the legal field, participate in legal competitions and conferences, and build a network that can be beneficial in your law career. Internship opportunities: CLAT helps you get access to internship opportunities with reputed law firms, corporate legal departments, and government organizations. These internships provide practical experience, exposure to different areas of law, and help you build a network of contacts. Career opportunities: CLAT opens up several career opportunities in the legal field. You can work as a lawyer, legal advisory, legal analyst, legal consultant, or legal researcher. You can also choose to work in areas such as corporate law, litigation, human rights, intellectual property law, and criminal law. CLAT is an important entrance exam for law aspirants in India. It offers access to top law schools, specialisation options, networking opportunities, internship opportunities, and career opportunities. Preparing for and clearing CLAT can help you pursue law as a career and achieve success in the legal field.

If you are a dropper, you know that it is not just the knowledge that is tested in the CLAT exam; it tests your intellect. If you are a dropper, you have plenty of time to practice mock tests because your basics are clear. So try to attempt one mock test daily and slowly increase it to two mock tests. After taking the test it is important to analyze your test and evaluate your performance regularly. While practising, you can also explore your choices. Try attempting different sections first, and know your strong area to start in the exam. After practising a lot of tests, you will have an idea about which section to attempt first and how much time to allot to each section. Once you build this master plan before the exam, nobody can stop you from cracking it. A dropper can devote more time to CLAT preparation as compared to the school students. This can be your plus point and a motivation factor to crack the exam this year. If you get frustrated thinking about your year dropped, just think, You Can And You Will. If this method does not work, talk to your mentors and your friends, and keep yourself motivated. Make your own strategy and work on it rather than seeing other students. Always make sure to satisfy yourself with the preparation you do. Some tips for the droppers- You may sometimes feel that your class fellows are joining the best colleges and having all the fun. But joining a college of your choice is better to keep away from future regrets. Never think that you are wasting your time. Take it as an opportunity to crack your dream law school. Don't self doubt. Mock test marks are not your original CLAT score. They are just the parameters to guide you in your journey. Scores will keep changing if you put more efforts in improving your weaknesses. Let failure not bother you. Fearing results will lead to stress and stop you from giving your best. Understand that your hard work needs a little bit of intelligence to produce good results. All the Best. Good luck.

Candidates must note that in order to secure seat in top 3 NLUs they should have a cut-off between 100 and 105, as expected in the CLAT Cutoff 2025. To get admission in one of the top 5 NLUs, the CLAT cut off 2025 is expected to be around 95 and 100.  

Candidates can check the CLAT Cutoff 2025 by following simple steps given below:

1. Click on the merit list link by visiting the official website
2. A log-in window will open
3. Fill in the following details:
   1. CLAT 2025 application number / Admit card number
   2. Date of birth 
4. On successful login, the merit list would be displayed on the screen
5. Download and take a printout of the CLAT 2025 Cutoff List

CLAT Consortium will publish the CLAT merit list for UG and PG courses separately. The CLAT merit list will be prepared based on the total marks scored by candidates in the exam. This means that a student scoring higher marks will be given a higher rank in the merit list.

The merit list will include information like All India Ranks (AIRs), roll numbers, and total marks. All candidates whose names have appeared in the merit list are eligible to participate in CLAT 2025 counseling for seat allotment procedure at the National Law Universities (NLUs). 

Only those aspirants who have been included in the CLAT 2025 invite list will be allowed to appear for CLAT 2025 Counselling. The counselling procedure of CLAT 2025 is conducted through an online centralised system. The counselling is conducted separetly for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The entire process is conducted as per the CLAT 2025 counselling dates that is released by consortium. After every round, the consortium will announce the seat allotment for national law universities (NLUs) that are pariticipating in the admission process.

Candidates must note that CLAT cutoff is released online on the official website. The Consortium does not release any cutoff offline. Candidates appearing for CLAT Counselling must register for the CLAT Counselling process on or before the last date. 

The CLAT 2025 results has been released. The NLU Consortium released the CLAT Counselling Schedule 2024 along with the CLAT Result. CLAT Counselling Registration Process 2025 will be done and only those candidates who register will be allowed to appear in CLAT 2025 Counselling. CLAT Exam 2025 was held in offline pen-paper-based mode. CLAT 2025 exam was conducted in more than 141 exam centers in India. Candidates need to secure a good rank in CLAT Exam 2025 to get admission into top NLUs.

Candidates can download the CLAT result 2025 following the steps mentioned below:

• Go to the official website of CLAT 2025; i.e. consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
• Click on the result link given
• A log-in window will open
• Fill in the following details: CLAT 2025 application number / Admit card number, Date of birth
• On successful login, the results would be displayed on the screen
• Download and take a printout of the CLAT 2025 scorecard

Candidates must take the printout of CLAT 2025 scorecard for future reference. 

No, the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) will not send the CLAT result by post. Candidates will need to check and download their results online through the official website of the Consortium, i.e. consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The results will be available in the form of a scorecard that candidates can access by logging in using their registered credentials.

Yes, you will need your login ID and password to access the CLAT result. These login credentials are the same ones you used during the registration process. Once the results are announced, you can log in to the official CLAT Consortium website to view and download your result or scorecard. The CLAT official website is consortiumofnlus.ac.in.

In 2022, CLAT exam was held twice, I. e. on June 19 as CLAT 2022, and on December 18, 2022 as CLAT 2023. However, from 2024 onwards, CLAT exam is to be conducted once in a year only, as confirmed by the exam officials in the latest notification. Earlier, CLAT exam was conducted in May or June, but from 2024 onwards the entrance exam will be conducted in December (of preceding year to the admission year) itself for concluding admissions on time. Therefore, CLAT counselling process will be completed by May of each academic year.

No. CLAT 2025 admit card will not be sent by post to any candidate. The hall ticket have to be downloaded online from the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in.. Candidates have to login and enter registration ID, password to download the admit card for CLAT 2025. Candidates are advised to download the admit card and check all details carefully. In case of any error, candidates are advised to contact the exam conducting body immediately to get the error rectified.

Candidates could download CLAT 2025 Admit Card by following the simple steps given below: Visit official website of CLAT consortium - consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Click on CLAT 2025, Login using your mobile number and password, the admit card link will be given on the dashboard. Download the CLAT admit card PDF and take a printout for your reference.

Candidates were not allowed to appear in the CLAT Exam without the CLAT Admit Card 2025. 

The CLAT Exam 2025 was scheduled to be held on December 1, 2024. CLAT 2025 admit card was released by the Consortium on November 15, 2024. Before releasing the admit card, the exam authority allowed candidates to make one last edition in their application details. Candidates were able to download the CLAT admit card by entering their login details on the official website. Know here all about CLAT admit card - https://www.shiksha.com/law/clat-exam-admit-card.

The official website to check the CLAT answer key is consortiumofnlus.ac.in. After the CLAT exam, the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) published the provisional and final answer keys on this website. Candidates must note that CLAT Answer Key is released online only.

CLAT 2025 Final Answer Key OUT. The Consortium released the CLAT Provisional Answer Key 2025 first and now the CLAT Final Answer Key 2025. CLAT 2025 Objection Window was closed on December 3, 2024.The CLAT 2025 exam was held on December 1, 2024. The CLAT 2025 exam was conducted in offline mode from 2 pm to 4 pm. The CLAT Provisional answer key 2025 has been published on the official website; i.e. consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Candidates can refer to the answer key to compare their responses. 

CLAT 2025 provisional answer key PDF has been released on the official website of the law entrance exam. If a candidate wants to download the official CLAT 2025 Provisional answer key they can follow the simple steps mentioned below.

How to Download CLAT Answer Key 2025? 

Candidates can download the CLAT 2025 answer key by following the steps below:

Step 1: Visit the official website of CLAT Consortium - consortiumofnlus.ac.in 

Step 2: Click on CLAT answer key link present on the official website.

Step 3: View, download and save CLAT 2025 answer key and question paper PDF.

The answer key for CLAT 2025 has been published on the official website; i.e. consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The answer key of CLAT 2025 will be released in two steps - first a provisional answer key, and then a final answer key. Candidates can refer to the answer key to compare their responses. CLAT Final Answer Key 2025 has been released too.

The Consortium of Law Universities (NLUs) conducts national-level law entrance exam called as CLAT. The full form of CLAT is Common Law Admission Test. CLAT is conducted for admission to 5-year integrated LLB (UG) and one-year LLM (PG) courses. The exam is conducted for admission to 24 NLUs for UG courses and 21 NLUs for PG courses. Apart from the NLUs in India,   there are 61 other private affiliated colleges that considers CLAT Scores and several PSUs that accept it for recruitment.

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) conducted the CLAT BA LLB 2025 and CLAT LLM 2025 Exam on December 1, 2024 in pen-paper test mode. The CLAT Exam 2025 was held for duration of two hours; i.e. from 2 pm to 4 pm. Candidates had to answer 120 questions in the given time frame. The scores of CLAT LLM will be accepted by 24 NLUs in the country.

Yes, the CLAT exam has negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong attempt. Unanswered questions have no negative marking. Candidates must select questions to solve very carefully in the CLAT exam. They should solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately.

• For every correct answer, candidates are awarded one mark

• For every wrong attempt, 0.25 marks are deducted from their total score 

• No marks are awarded or deducted for questions not left un-attempted

CLAT Marking Parameters	Marks Awarded
Correct answer	+1 marks
Incorrect answer	-0.25 marks
Un-attempted question	0 marks

If you go through the pattern of CLAT exam, you will see that it is mostly general and does not involve any difficult subject. If you have basic understanding of English and have some interest in reading news and Current Affairs you are ready for two sections. The most challenging part, for most students, is Mathematics. However, it is of elementary standard and does not require special knowledge. If you did well in Math in class X, you have an edge. Only section that needs special preparation is legal aptitude. Most class XII students do not have idea about law. If you start in time and join coaching classes for help, you can get a hold of the basics in no time. 
So, we can say that CLAT is easy if you have basic knowledge of topics involved and you are prepared for some hard work to hone your skills further.

The difficulty level of CLAT is generally moderate while the AILET paper is usually difficult, as per students' feedback and experts' views. Note that around 3000 UG and 1000 PG seats offered by the NLUs will be filled through CLAT. However, NLU Delhi conducts the AILET exam for filling around 120 UG seats and 80 PG seats offered by the university. Given fewer seats, competition in AILET is higher.

CLAT Consortium made few changes in CLAT 2024 exam pattern. Hence, the consortium did not bring any changes in exam pattern of CLAT 2025. As per the revised pattern, there were 120 questions for CLAT UG question paper. This means, 30 questions were reduced from CLAT UG 2025 question paper. Earlier, there were 150 questions in CLAT UG question paper. Moreover, the question paper were on similar lines as previous series i.e. passage-based objective-types questions of 1 mark each, and 0.25 marks to be deducted for incorrect attempts.

No change in the question paper of CLAT PG was made, and it was held as per the previous exam pattern i.e. 120 Objective Type Questions based on core law subjects.

In 2021, the Consortium had removed the descriptive section from the CLAT LL. M. exam pattern. All LL. M. candidates had to attempt 120 multiple-choice questions of 120 marks in a duration of two hours.

As per the CLAT exam pattern released by the NLU Consortium, Legal Reasoning remained a part of the question paper along with Quantitative Techniques, English Current Affairs including General Knowledge and Logical Reasoning. If the exam authority decides to remove any of the sections of CLAT UG question paper in 2026, then it will inform the candidates in admission notification itself, so that candidates can prepare for the exam accordingly.However, no such announcement has been made so far. The Legal Reasoning section has been removed from AILET question paper only.

The CLAT question paper for UG course admissions carried 120 multiple-choice questions for a total of 120 marks like previous year. Candidates can check the section-wise questions weightage for each section as under:

Sections	MCQs per section	Maximum Marks	Approximate Weightage (in %)
Quantitative Language	28-32	28-32	18.66 - 21.33
Current Affairs including General Knowledge	35-39	35-39	23.33 - 26
Logical Reasoning	28-32	28-32	18.66 - 21.33
Legal Reasoning	35-39	35-39	23.33 - 26
Quantitative Techniques  (Elementry Mathematics up to Class 10)	13-17	13-17	8.66 - 11.33
Total	120	120	100%

More than one lakh candidates from different cities across India appear for the CLAT exam every year. The exam authority has informed that Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 registered a total increase of 24.5% in applications compared to last year (CLAT 2025). Specifically, the Consortium of National Law Universities received 34.7% more Undergraduate applications and 25.8% more Postgraduate applications this year as compared to last year (CLAT 2024). For CLAT 2023, 56,472 candidates appeared out of 60,895 registrations. In 2021, 62,106 candidates appeared for the CLAT exam.

Among all the books of CLAT 2025 in the world, candidates were advised to first go for the NCERT books. Candidates must complete all the NCERT books first before moving to other reference books available in the market. After completing the NCERT books, they could refer to the following books to boost up their practice and concepts: Universal’s LLB Entrance Guide, Lexis Nexis, Objective Arithmetic, GK Today, India Year Book and Analytical, Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal,  Word Power Made Easy,  Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal,  Manorama Year Book and Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey.

The CLAT exam was conducted in a single slot on a specific date. CLAT was an offline, pen-and-paper-based exam that is held once a year. The exam was conducted simultaneously across various cities in India on the same day and time, ensuring uniformity.  For CLAT 2025, the same format was followed. It must be noted that CLAT UG and PG Exam was conducted on the same day. 

Yes, you had to submit a caste certificate while filling out the CLAT 2025 application form if you are applying under any reserved category (such as SC, ST, or OBC). This certificate is needed to claim reservation benefits. The caste certificate must be uploaded in the appropriate format at the time of registration to verify your eligibility for the reserved category seats. Make sure that the certificate is valid and issued by a competent authority, as it will be cross-verified during the admission process.

The CLAT question paper for UG courses had objective-type questions from subjects such as Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning Quantitative Techniques, English and Current Affairs including General Knowledge. The CLAT paper for the LLM. course had both objective questions from law subjects such as Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, etc. Generally, the questions are designed as passage followed by series of questions of one mark each. Candidates had to attempt the questions by reading and interpreting the passages only. 

Dear Sir, I do not recommend this at all. I have seen with so many bright students dropping a year just to prepare well and appear for the next years CLAT or NEET or JEE etc. To prepare well in Entrance you need to sincerely study atleast 3-4 hrs daily for 2 months before Exam date. So dropping a year will not help you - trust me. In case you could not get through this years CLAT prepare again and appear next year. But continue your education. If you are going to sit for CLAT exam then it is very much important to know about the CLAT Exam pattern, syllabus, questions type. There are five important Topics which you need to focus on CLAT exams. These five topics are English comprehension, Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, Legal Aptitude, General Knowledge and Current Affairs. Depth knowledge and good practice can only give you the success. You can get in touch with any good law entrance coaching, they will help you to clear your CLAT exam. There are a number of top law colleges in India that you can apply for, but you should know the admission process. Most of the colleges or universities that offer courses in law have their own entrance examinations. One of the most recognised examinations is CLAT which stands for the Common Law Entrance Test. The test score of CLAT is accepted by major universities as well as law colleges in India. There are multiple universities from where you can do 5-year LL.B. Like IILM University Gurugram offers BBA LL.B. & B.A. LL.B. & LL. M. with Moot Court Internship, Seminar, Workshops, Experiential Learning along with Inter-Disciplinary Curriculum. For more details check their website https://iilm.edu.in.

Preparing for CLAT in just one month is a challenging task, but it's not impossible with a well-structured plan. Here are some key strategies to help you maximise your preparation:

• Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus  
     - CLAT consists of five sections: English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs, and Quantitative Techniques.
     - Familiarise yourself with the types of questions asked in each section.
• Focus on Important Topics

   - English: Work on comprehension passages, vocabulary, and grammar.
   - Legal Reasoning: Prioritise legal principles and case laws.
   - Logical Reasoning: Practice puzzles, critical reasoning, and analytical reasoning questions.
   - Current Affairs: Focus on the last 6 months of events, especially important news related to law.
   - Quantitative Techniques: Revise basic math up to class 10th, focusing on percentages, ratios, and basic statistics.

• Take Mock Tests 
     - Dedicate at least 3–4 mock tests per week. This helps simulate exam conditions and improve time management.
     - Analyse your performance after every test to identify weak areas.
• Revise and Practice Previous Year Papers  

   - Solving past CLAT papers will give you an understanding of the exam pattern and commonly asked questions.

• Time Management
     - Divide your day into focused study slots. Allocate time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
     - Use your mornings for current affairs and legal reasoning, afternoons for logical reasoning and quantitative techniques, and evenings for English and mock tests.
• Focus on Speed and Accuracy  
     - Since CLAT is a time-sensitive exam, speed and accuracy are crucial. Keep practicing under timed conditions to improve.
• Stay Calm and Focused
     - It's essential to remain calm during your preparation. Stress can affect performance, so include short breaks and relaxation in your routine.

By following these steps, you can maximise your performance in the CLAT exam, even with limited time.

The question paper of CLAT exam is released alongwith the answer key after the exam is over. Candidates can obtain it from the official website, however, the exam authority removes it when the admission notification for next session is announced. Therefore, Shiksha keeps a bank of CLAT question papers from the past years that candidate can download from the links provided here. Candidates should also note that they will be able to obtain past 5 years question papers for CLAT exam when they fill and submit the application form of upcoming session. They will have to purchase the question paper with additional fee - INR 500.

Solving CLAT sample papers/question papers is beneficial as it gives the look and feel of the actual exam and develops the aptitude for solving questions in a given format and time duration. CLAT previous year papers also give you exposure to all types of questions asked in various sections of the exam. Moreover, the biggest benefit of solving CLAT question paper is that it prepares you for all levels of questions – difficult, easy, lengthy, or tricky.

It is recommended to solve previous year CLAT papers of at least 3 years. Given below are some of the benefits of solving CLAT question papers/sample papers:

• Understand paper pattern well: It helps in understanding the pattern, syllabus and marking scheme for CLAT exam
• Check difficulty level: It helps in understanding the difficulty level of the questions asked in the exam
• Know important topics: It helps you identify the important topics in the exam. Also Read: Important topics to study from CLAT 2025 syllabus
• Improve speed and accuracy: It helps in improving the speed and accuracy of taking the tests  
• Identify strong and weak areas: It helps you figure out your strong and weak areas for the exam
• Boost confidence: It helps you boost confidence and keeps the exam stress away

You should start attempting CLAT mock tests after you have a basic understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern, ideally 2–3 months before the actual exam. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

• Initial Phase (2–3 months before the exam):

Start with topic-wise or sectional mock tests to assess your strengths and weaknesses in different sections (English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, etc.).
Focus on learning the concepts and solving questions without worrying too much about time.

• Intermediate Phase (1–2 months before the exam):

Begin full-length mock tests at least once a week.
Analyse your performance, review mistakes, and focus on time management.

• Final Phase (Last month before the exam):

Increase the frequency to 3–4 full-length mocks per week.
Practice under strict time conditions to improve speed and accuracy.
Review each mock thoroughly to fine-tune your strategy.
By following this strategy, you can effectively use mock tests to improve your performance and readiness for CLAT.

To start preparing for CLAT 2026 there is no right time. However, as per experts, one should have began their CLAT preparation at least five or six months before the exam. If they began CLAT preparation early, then they will have sufficient bandwidth to complete the CLAT syllabus and also to attempt the previous year’s CLAT Question Paper. This will help them to know their strengths and weaknesses and also where they are committing the mistakes. Given below are some steps to help you start your preparation:

• Make a monthly and weekly timetable
• Keep your syllabus handy
• Ensure you cover all topics and concepts
• Revise it at regular intervals
• Attempt mock tests and previous years’ sample papers frequently
• Follow the proper marking scheme as there are negative marks for each incorrect answer in the actual CLAT 2025 Exam. This practice will help you to know your actual score and your weak points

Candidates could check important preparation strategies of CLAT 2026 below:

• Prepare a monthly and weekly timetable and have the syllabus handy
• Make sure to cover all the topics and concepts right on time and revise them at frequent intervals
• Write mock tests and practice tests frequently and analyze the tests taken to recognize the weak areas, and work towards improving them
• Do not make assumptions while attempting the questions in actual CLAT as for every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted

CLAT Consortium released the list of CLAT 2025 exam centres along with admission notification. The Consortium also inform about new addition in the list of CLAT 2025 test centre, if any. The exam was held in more than 139 cities listed as CLAT 2025 test centres across the country.

Candidates were given the option to select CLAT exam centres 2025 from the list of test cities while filling up the form only. The details of the allotted CLAT 2025 exam centre, including the name and location was mentioned on the admit card itself. On the day of the CLAT 2025 exam, a candidate had to report to the exam centre as per the scheduled time mentioned on the admit card. Since, the exam centre authority did not allow entry to candidates who are late. 

To check your CLAT Exam Centre 2025, follow these steps:

• Visit the Official Website: Go to the official CLAT website; i.e. consortiumofnlus.ac.in
• Log in to your Account: Use the login credentials (mobile number and password) you created during the registration process.
• Download the Admit Card: After logging in, find the link to download your CLAT 2025 Admit Card. The exam center details, including the address, will be mentioned on the admit card.
• Verify the Exam Centre: Check the exam center details, such as the address and the city, mentioned on the admit card to ensure accuracy.
• Print the Admit Card:  It is recommended to print multiple copies of the admit card for future reference, as you will need it on the exam day.

Make sure to check the location of your exam center beforehand to avoid last-minute confusion.

No, candidates are not allowed to make any changes in the application form of CLAT 2025 after the CLAT Application Correction Window 2025 is closed. Candidates must note that while filling the CLAT Application Form 2025 they will be given three choices to choose from while selecting the CLAT Test Centres 2025.  

No, it is mandatory for candidates to carry and show only the printout of CLAT admit card at the allotted test centre. The consortium of NLUs will release the CLAT 2025 Admit Card atleat ten days before the exam. Candidates will be able to download CLAT 2025 admit card from the official website - consortiumofnlus.ac.in. until 1.30 pm of December 1. To download the CLAT 2025 admit card, candidates have to enter their registration number/ application number and date of birth. Candidates are not allowed to appear for CLAT Exam 2025 without a valid admit card. 

The working hours of the CLAT Consortium help desk are typically from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday, excluding public holidays. You can reach them through the contact details provided on the CLAT Consortium's official website or CLAT page of shiksha.com.

No, the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) application form is typically only available in online mode. Candidates are required to complete the application process through the official CLAT website.

Steps to Fill the CLAT Application Form Online:

• Go to the CLAT official site.
• Create an account by providing the necessary details.
• Complete the application form with all required information.
• Upload any necessary documents, such as photographs and signatures.
• Pay the application fee online through the available payment options.
• Review your application and submit it.

The response time for email inquiries to the CLAT exam office can vary depending on the time of year and the volume of inquiries. During peak periods, such as registration deadlines or right before and after the exam, responses may take longer due to high traffic. Generally, candidates can expect a response within 2 to 7 working days.

If you don't receive a response within this timeframe, it's advisable to follow up with another email or try contacting them through alternative methods such as their helpline or social media platforms. Keep in mind that weekends and holidays may further delay the response.

If you encounter technical problems on the CLAT exam's official website, here’s what you can do:

• Check your internet connection: Ensure that you have a stable internet connection, as slow or intermittent connectivity can cause issues with loading the website or submitting forms.
• Clear browser cache and cookies: Cached data or cookies can interfere with the website's functionality. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, and try accessing the site again.
• Try a different browser or device: Sometimes, technical issues can be browser-specific. If you're having trouble, switch to another browser (such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) or try accessing the site from a different device.
• Use incognito mode: Accessing the website through incognito or private browsing mode can help if there are issues related to browser extensions or settings.
• Check for downtime: The official CLAT website may experience downtime or technical maintenance. You can verify this by checking the official social media handles or online tools like "DownDetector" to see if the website is down for everyone.
• Contact CLAT helpdesk: If the issue persists, contact the CLAT Consortium helpdesk via phone or email. The contact details can be found on the official CLAT website. Be sure to describe the problem clearly and provide screenshots if possible.
• Try during off-peak hours: The website may experience heavy traffic, especially during deadlines, which can lead to slow loading or errors. Try accessing the site during non-peak hours.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve most technical issues. If the issue remains unresolved, keep trying while contacting the helpdesk for support.

In order to be eligible for CLAT 2026, aspirants must have passed Class 12 exams or an equivalent examination from any recognised board or institution in the country. All those candidates who will be appearing in the Class 12 exam in April/ May 2026 are also eligible to appear for the CLAT 2026 Exam. However, such aspirants will have to produce the certificate of qualifying examination at the time of admission failing which their admission will be cancelled by the competent authority. Candidates are advised to carefully check the CLAT eligibility criteria 2026 before applying for the CLAT 2026 entrance exam. 

Candidates must note that they need not have to attain any prescribed CLAT 2026 age limit to take part in CLAT Exam 2026. As per the official eligibility criteria of the CLAT 2026, there is no age-limit criteria for candidates to appear in CLAT UG 2026 or CLAT PG 2026 exam. However, it is mandatory for candidates to fulfill other basic educational requirements, to take part in the CLAT Exam 2026.

For the CLAT 2025 exam, there have been some important updates regarding the eligibility criteria:

• Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for candidates appearing for the undergraduate programme through CLAT 2025.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have completed their 10+2 or equivalent examination. The minimum marks required are:

45% for general candidates,
40% for candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwD categories

Candidates who are appearing for their qualifying examination in March/April 2025 are also eligible to apply, but they must provide proof of passing the examination at the time of admission.

Documentation Requirement: Candidates need to present their mark sheets and certificates proving they meet the minimum score requirements during the admission process. Failure to do so will result in ineligibility for admission.

For more details on the eligibility criteria and the application process, you can refer to the official CLAT website.

Candidates could follow the simple steps given below to register for CLAT 2025:

• Go to the CLAT 2025 official website - consortiumofnlus.ac.in
• Open the CLAT 2025 portal and click on the new registration
• Fill CLAT registration form by entering your contact number, email ID and name and submit
• Enter the OTP that you have received on your mobile number and email ID to complete registration.

The application fee for CLAT exam was different as per the category of a candidate. For General/OBC/PWD/PIO/OCI/NRI, the application fee was INR 4,000 and for SC/ST/BPL category, the application fee was INR 3,500. Extra charges of INR 500 were applicable if candidates wanted to obtain previous years' CLAT question papers from the exam authority. Apart from CLAT application fee and cost of question paper bundle, candidates had to pay any other charges.

No, you cannot appear for the CLAT exam if you fail to meet the eligibility criteria. The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) strictly enforces the eligibility requirements, which include:

Educational Qualification: For the undergraduate program, you must have passed your 10+2 or equivalent exam with at least 45% marks (40% for SC/ST candidates). Failure to meet this qualification makes you ineligible to appear for CLAT.
  
Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for CLAT, however, it is mandatory for candidates to meet the academic qualifications

If a candidate applies for CLAT but is later found to have not met the eligibility requirements, their application will be canceled, and they will not be allowed to appear in the exam. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria before applying.

The syllabus of CLAT 2026 is vast, which means it is not limited to certain topics from each section. Moreover, the exam authority, Consortium of National Law Universities has not defined the syllabus of CLAT question paper for undergraduate or postgraduate paper. Candidates can check below important topics from each section as asked in the previous years: English - The key topics from this section includes Reading comprehension, Sentence completion and correction. Spelling errors, Proverbs and adverbs, Synonyms and antonyms, Idioms and phrases, Vocabulary and word meanings. Current Affairs including GK - National and international Current Affairs (from April 2021 to October 2024) Contemporary events of significance from India and the world, General knowledge about world leaders, industrialists, lawyers, Arts and culture of India and world, Historical events of continuing significance. Legal Reasoning The section is based on Facts, situations or outlines of legal matters, public policy or moral philosophical enquiries, General awareness of contemporary legal and moral issues, Legal terms and meanings. Logical Reasoning - Relationships, Analogies, Arguments and conclusions, and Logical sequences are the key topics in this section. Quantitative Techniques - Ratios and proportions, Basic Algebra Mensuration Statistics Profit and loss Mensuration, and Time and work. Know in detail about CLAT syllabus - https://www.shiksha.com/law/clat-exam-syllabus.

No, its not at all necessary to give CLAT to become a lawyer. Candidates can enroll in law courses offered by various universities and colleges to pursue UG and PG law courses. However, those who wish to take admission in one of NLUs except NLU Delhi will have to appear for Common National Admission Test (CLAT).  Many private university conducts their own entrance exam having exam pattern similar to CLAT but with less difficulty level. 

The CLAT 2025 registration process was conducted online. Candidates were able to fill out the application form through the official website of the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs). Here are the steps for the online registration process:

• Visit the official CLAT website: The registration link will be available on the Consortium's official website
• Create a new account: Provide your personal details like email, phone number, and password.
• Fill out the application form: Enter academic details, personal details, and other necessary information.
• Upload documents: Scanned copies of your photo, signature, and required documents should be uploaded.
• Pay the registration fee: The application fee can be paid online via credit/debit card or net banking.

Once the registration was complete, the candidate received a confirmation email or message. Make sure to check all the details before submitting the form to avoid any errors.

The application edit window for CLAT Exam 2025 has been closed. Using the application edit window, the candidate were able to edit details. Before the CLAT Application Correction Window 2025 was closed, candidates were able to make following changes:

Details
Candidate's Name	Email Address	Father's Name
Mother's Name	Exam Centre	Date of Birth
Mobile Number	Photograph	Signature