CLAT 2021 Topper Interview: Garima Banka, AIR 9, says take mocks most seriously
Common Law Admission Test 2025 ( CLAT )
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Garima Banka, a native of Bihar, topped CLAT 2021 with AIR 9. Read below to know how she prepared for the exam and what tips she provides for the CLAT aspirants.
Garima Banka, a student of St. Josephs School, Bhagalpur, Bihar, scored 113.25 in CLAT 2021 and bagged AIR 9 in the examination. She is currently pursuing BA LLB from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. She comes from a business background and aspires to be a social worker.
Shiksha got in touch with Garima to know how she prepared for the exam and what are her future plans. Here are the excerpts of Shiksha’s interview with Garima Banka.
Q. Congratulations! Did you expect to be the topper of CLAT 2021?
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.A. Securing 9th position in All India Rank (AIR) was way beyond my imagination as I was scoring very low ranks in my coaching mocks till the very end. However, somehow, the question paper seemed to me within my comfort zone during the exam and I was able to make it.
Q. What was your preparation strategy that helped you crack CLAT 2021?
A. Taking a lot of mocks towards the end and analyzing each mock thoroughly helped me gain command over the paper. I also studied all the current affairs topics in detail and revised them umpteen times as current affairs form a major part of the CLAT exam and is a scoring section.
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Q. Did you take any coaching for the exam?
A. I was enrolled in Legal Edge's one-year classroom program. Apart from it, I took test series of one other coaching institute.
Q. What study plan did you follow for the exam?
A. I initially went slow with everything. I devoted a lot of time in the initial months reading novels and taking my time to understand the editorials to hone my reading skills. Even while solving English, Critical Reasoning and Legal passages, I went very slow and focused on strengthening the concepts. Then towards the end, I spent the majority of time practicing the questions through mocks and other materials and gained speed.
Q. Which books did you read to prepare for the CLAT exam? Mention the names of the books.
A. I primarily used the Legaledge RSMs to study and practice. I also referred to the GMAT official guide for CR (Critical Reasoning) and RS Aggarwal’s Quantitative Aptitude book for Maths.
Q. How did you deal with your strengths and weaknesses while preparing for the exam?
A. I played with my strengths in mocks by attempting more questions from my strong section. While practicing, I devoted a greater part of my day to my weaker sections.
Q. Tell us about your family background.
A. I hail from a small town in Bihar. My family has a business background. My mother is a housewife and I have two younger siblings.
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. I like reading fiction novels, especially ones belonging to the suspense thriller genre. I also like binging on Netflix and listening to songs.
Q. What other law entrance exams did you take or are planning to take?
A. I was planning to take ALIET, MHCET Law and BLAT (BHU UET Law) apart from CLAT. I also appeared for SLAT 2021.
Q. Was law always your first preference?
A. I initially thought to pursue English Honours from Delhi University but then I decided to pursue law finding it a more lucrative profession.
Q. Any tips for students who are planning to take these exams in future?
A. I would advise all the law aspirants to keep their options open and not completely restrict themselves to CLAT. In addition, my biggest advice is to take mocks most seriously and use them as a tool to learn from your mistakes. Don’t get disheartened by low scores and keep believing in yourselves no matter what.
Q. What are your future plans?
A. I aspire to go to the judiciary, as I want to be a social worker. However, I am yet to discover my actual interests and I am looking forward to the 5 years of my law school to help me discover myself.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
CLAT is not manadatoey for every law college. The score is accepted by NLU and other top law colleges for admissions.
You can explore about -
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Scholar-Level 16
Answered 3 days ago
You will know your CLAT exam center by downloading your admit card, which is released a few weeks before the exam. The admit card contains all the important details, including the exam center's name, address, and instructions for the exam day. To download the admit card, visit the official CLAT webs
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Beginner-Level 4
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If you forget to carry your CLAT admit card 2026 on the exam day, you may not be allowed to sit for the exam. However, you should immediately contact the exam center authorities and inform them about the situation. In some cases, they may provide you with a temporary solution if you have other valid
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 days ago
No, you cannot edit your CLAT exam center after submitting the CLAT application form. Once the application form is submitted, the exam center preferences are considered final. However, if you realize a mistake or need to make changes, you should immediately contact the CLAT helpdesk for assistance.
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Beginner-Level 4
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To download your CLAT admit card, you need the following details:
Registered Email ID: The email address used during the CLAT registration process.
Password: The unique password you created during registration.
Visit the official CLAT website (consortiumofnlus.ac.in), log in using your email ID and pas
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Beginner-Level 4
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If you have forgotten your CLAT roll number, you can retrieve it by following these steps:
- Visit the official CLAT website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Log in to your account using your registered email ID and password.
- Once logged in, go to the admit card or application form section. Your roll number will
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 days ago
The CLAT exam centers list is released along with the official notification for the exam, which is typically published several months before the exam date. The notification provides the complete list of cities where the exam will be conducted, allowing candidates to select their preferred centers du
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 days ago
You can check your CLAT exam center details on your admit card, which is released by the CLAT Consortium a few weeks before the exam. To access it, visit the official website (consortiumofnlus.ac.in) and log in using your registered credentials. Once logged in, download the admit card, which contain
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The CLAT exam center is allocated based on the preferences provided by the candidate during the application process. While filling out the form, candidates can select up to three preferred cities for their exam center. The allocation is done on a first-come, first-serve basis, considering availabili
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 days ago
Choosing the CLAT exam center requires careful consideration to ensure convenience and a stress-free exam day. Select a center close to your residence to minimize travel time and avoid last-minute delays. While filling out the application form, review the list of available centers and choose based o
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