CLAT 2023 Topper, AILET 2023 Topper (AIR 1) Abhinav Somani read newspapers religiously, made notes from them
CLAT 2023 Topper, AILET 2023 Topper Abhinav Somani shares his journey, his preparation tips, and many other suggestions to crack one of the toughest LAW exams with shiksha.com. Read further to know more.
CLAT 2023 Topper, AILET 2023 Topper (AIR 1) Abhinav Somani read newspapers religiously, made notes from them
CLAT Topper 2023 Abhinav Somani who is also the AILET 2023 Topper with All India Rank 1 in an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com speaks about how he focussed more on cracking the entrance exams than the school exams. He says, "scoring poorly in school exams doesn’t really affect you as much as scoring poorly in your law entrance would." In this article, we bring forward to you all the preparation tips, books he referred to and strategies he followed to crack the two toughest law exams in the country.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Q. Congratulations! Did you expect to be the topper of CLAT 2023?
Ans. After I gave Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2023, I had an expectation that I would get a good rank since my paper went quite well. When I checked using the answer key, that expectation was further strengthened. However, AIR 1 was something utterly unexpected. I never thought that I would be the topper since no matter how much you score, you always have this nagging feeling that someone might have scored more than you. So, being AIR 1 was a pleasant surprise.
Q: What was the placement rate recorded during NLIU Bhopal BA LLB placements 2023?
The placement rate recorded during NLIU Bhopal BA LLB placements 2023 is not released. However, according to NLIU Bhopal NIRF report 2023, the placement rate recorded during NLIU Bhopal BA LLB / BSc LLB placements 2022 was 56%. Earlier, the placement rate recorded during NLIU Bhopal BA LLB / BSc LLB placements 2021 and 2020 was 54% and 42%, respectively.
Q: Will CLAT be held twice in 2025?
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.
Q: How are the placements at GNLU?
According to the NIRF report 2024 released by the University, the key highlights of GNLU placements over the past three years are presented below:
Particulars | UG 5-year Placement Statistics (2021) | UG 5-year Placement Statistics (2022) | UG 5-year Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
Median package | INR 14 LPA | INR 15.4 LPA | INR 16 LPA |
Total students | 171 | 177 | 175 |
Students placed | 103 | 116 | 163 |
Students opted for higher studies | 54 | 61 | 12 |
Particulars | PG 1-year Placement Statistics (2021) | PG 1-year Placement Statistics (2022) | PG 1-year Placement Statistics (2023) |
Median package | INR 3.6 LPA | INR 4.2 LPA | INR 6 LPA |
Total students | 64 | 64 | 63 |
Students placed | 30 | 35 | 52 |
Students opted for higher studies | 23 | 29 | 11 |
Q. What was the preparation strategy that helped you crack CLAT 2023?
Ans. The mainstay of my preparation strategy was reading the newspaper and giving mocks. I read the newspapers religiously and made notes from them. The newspaper also helps you with your vocabulary, reading speed and comprehension ability. I also gave mocks regularly. I had a study group with 4 of my friends and we used to give mocks together. We started with 1 mock a week in January 2022, bumping it up to 5-6 per week by October 2022.
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Q. How did you manage time between board exams and entrance exam prep?
Ans. Quite frankly, I really did not pay much mind to my school studies and board exams during this period. I used to study for school exams one day before the actual exam. The important thing is to get your priorities straight. You have to realize that scoring poorly in school exams doesn’t really affect you as much as scoring poorly in your law entrance would.
Q. Did you take any coaching for this exam?
Ans. Yes, I was enrolled in coaching from the beginning of my preparation.
Q. What study plan did you follow for this exam?
Ans. Each night, before sleeping, I used to plan out the next day. I never counted the hours I put in. Anyway, they varied quite a bit from day to day. I set a number of tasks that I had to complete and worked towards completing them the next day. These tasks could include, for example, Analyse Mock XYZ or Revise January’s GK.
Q: When will the CLAT 2025 exam be held?
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) conducted the CLAT 2025 on December 1, 2024. The exam authority published the admission notification for CLAT 2025 with details of syllabus, exam pattern and events on the official website.
Q: Does NLU Delhi offer good placements?
Yes, NLU Delhi has a decent placement rate, with students from almost all the courses getting placement assistance. During the 2023 placement session, 69 students were placed from the BA LLB (Hons) courses and 50 students were placed from the LLM course. Further, the median package offered during NLU Delhi LLM placements 2023 was INR 12 LPA. The key highlights of NLU Delhi placements for the Class of 2022 and 2023 are tabulated below:
Particulars | Placement Statistics (2022) | Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|
Median package (BA LLB) | INR 19 LPA | INR 14 LPA |
Median package (LLM) | INR 10 LPA | INR 12 LPA |
Total students (BA LLB) | 85 | 83 |
Total students placed (BA LLB) | 59 | 69 |
Total students (LLM) | 70 | 75 |
Total students placed (LLM) | 43 | 50 |
Note: The above-mentioned data are gathered from the National Law University Delhi NIRF report 2024.
Q: Is there Maths in CLAT 2025?
Yes, there is math in CLAT exam. The section carries 10 per cent weight. Scoring well in maths can give candidates big boost over competition. The CLAT syllabus for Quantitative Techniques includes the following important highlights:
- The section includes 13-17 questions in the exam
- Unlike other sections, the Quantitative Techniques section includes short sets of facts, propositions, graphs or other textual, pictorial, diagrammatic representation of numerical information
- Majority of the questions in the section are created specifically for the exam, however, few graphs and histograms are also derived from public sources such as the official website of Reserve Bank of India
- The difficulty level of questions in the exam is of Class 10 level, however, the questions are more logic-based rather than formulae-based
- Important topics on which Maths questions are based in the exam include:
CLAT Syllabus for Quantitative Techniques | |
|---|---|
Number Theory & Basic Arithmetic | Averages & Percentages |
Ratio & Proportion | Mixtures & Allegations |
Time & Work | Time, Distance & Speed |
Fractions & Equations | Monetary Evaluations |
Probability | Permutations & Combinations |
Data Interpretation to analyse Charts, Tables, Histograms & other Graphical Information | |
Q: How are the LLM placements at NLU Jodhpur?
National Law University, Jodhpur is well known for its LLM course. The duration of the course is one year. When it comes to placements, NLU Jodhpur offers decent placements annually. The placement details of the LLM batch 2024 are yet to be released on the official website. Once it is released, it will be updated here. Meanwhile, check out the overall NLU Jodhpur placement details for the batch 2024 in the table below:
Particulars | Placement Statistics (2024) |
|---|---|
Total job offers | 43 |
International offers | 2 |
Students received PPOs | 16 |
Students accepted offers on day zero | 27 |
Q: What is the average package of BA LLB in NLSIU Bangalore?
The NLSIU Bangalore average package 2022 has not been released yet. The course-wise median package offered during NLSIU Bangalore placements is presented below:
Course | Median Package (2021) |
|---|---|
BA LLB (Hons) | INR 15 LPA |
Note: The above-mentioned data is gathered from NLSIU Bangalore NIRF report 2022.
Q. Which books did you read to prepare for the exam?
Ans. I only read the material provided by my coachings for preparation. I did not refer to any other books.
Q. How did you deal with your strengths and weaknesses while preparing for the exam?
Ans. I’ve always been good at English. Since CLAT is majorly a comprehension-based exam, I used my reading speed and vocabulary to the fullest. I’ve never been that great at Mathematics. So, at first, I was quite afraid of the Quantitative Techniques section in CLAT. However, I realized that I did not have to love Mathematics. I just had to practice it for the next one-and-a-half years. So, I bit my tongue and started working on it. Before I knew it, I was good enough at it! This definitely gave me an edge as most aspirants are scared of Maths and many don’t even attempt the section.
Q. What other law entrance exams did you take or are planning to take?
Ans. I took the AILET Exam conducted by NLU Delhi in which also I secured AIR 1, apart from CLAT. I’m not planning to take any other examination.
Q. Was law always your first preference?
Ans. After Class 10th, I was quite unsure about the Profession I wished to take up. I knew I was not cut out for Science as I had neither the requisite interest nor aptitude for it. I was deeply interested in the Humanities as I’ve always loved Literature, History and Political Science. It was my father who suggested that I can take up law as a profession. He enrolled me in coaching, to see if I developed an interest in Law. And sure enough, I took to it like a duck to water.
Q. Any tips for students who are planning to take the exam next year?
Ans. I would recommend that you do not blindly follow someone else’s preparation strategy. Rather, try out multiple strategies and find one that works perfectly for you. Better still, devise your own strategy, that makes optimal use of your strengths and weaknesses.
Q. What are your future plans?
Ans. Right now, I am focussing on my Board examinations. College will start in the first week of July.
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