CLAT 2024 Topper Jai Kumar Bohara shares his journey, his preparation tips, and many other suggestions to crack one of the toughest law exams; Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) with shiksha.com. Read further to know more.
CLAT 2024 Topper AIR 1 Jai Bohara says 'Good score in Boards doesn't guarantee good college'
CLAT 2024 Topper Jai Kumar Bohara in an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com speaks about how he focussed more on cracking the toughest law entrance exams; i.e. CLAT than the school exams. He says, "Good score in Board exams doesn't guarantee you a good college." In this article, we bring forward to you all the preparation tips, books he referred to, and strategies he followed to secure All India Rank 1.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Q. Congratulations! Did you expect to secure AIR 1 in CLAT 2024?
Ans. No, I did not expect AIR 1 in CLAT 2024. However, when I appeared for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2024, I had this strong feeling that I would secure a single-digit rank. However, AIR 1 was something I had not expected.
Q: When should I start preparing for CLAT 2025?
The ideal time to start preparing for the CLAT exam varies from person to person and depends on several factors such as your familiarity with the subject, the level of understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus, and the amount of time and effort you can devote to the preparation. However, as a general guideline, it is recommended that you start preparing for the exam at least 6-8 months before the exam date. This will give you sufficient time to cover the entire syllabus, revise the important topics, solve mock tests and previous year papers, and identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you are already familiar with the subject and have a good understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus, you can start preparing for the exam 3-4 months before the exam date. However, if you are new to the subject or need to improve your understanding of the topics, you may need to start preparing earlier. It is important to note that the CLAT exam is a highly competitive exam, and the level of competition is increasing every year. Therefore, it is important to start preparing early and stay consistent with your preparation. With a focused approach and consistent effort, you can increase your chances of qualifying for the CLAT exam.
Q: Which is the No. 1 university in CLAT?
Since 2018, the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru has maintained its position as the top-ranked law college in India according to the NIRF rankings.
Q: Is 4000 a good rank in CLAT?
A CLAT rank of 4000 is not considered as a good rank to get admission to one of the top NLUs. However, candidates who belong the reserved category still have chance to secure admission to NLUs with a CLAT Rank of AIR 4000.With the exam pattern for CLAT changing, candidates must aim to score above 100 to secure admission to one of the best NLUs in the country. Before starting the CLAT Preparation 2025 candidates need to understand how the marks are divided in each section.
Q. Did the change in CLAT Exam Pattern 2024 hamper your preparation?
A. Fortunately, No. However, it turned out to be in my favor. Initially, when I was preparing and the number of questions was reduced I was happy. My speed in solving the paper was good and with several questions reduced it was quite relieving for me. With time I started focusing on accuracy, time management, and all the other factors.
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However, I felt that the Consortium’s decision to change CLAT Exam Pattern 2024 to reduce the number of questions was to make the exam more accessible. So, I made my study plan more general and I didn’t go by deep into topics. I studied a wider variety of topics and approached them generally. So, the exam pattern decision by the consortium was good as I could make a study plan and strategy as per the 120 questions.
Q. Which section did you feel was more challenging? And took more time in the exam?
A. On CLAT Exam day, I started my question paper with the CR section and it was ok for me. Other than that all other sections were quite easy for me. This year, the CR section was much harder as compared to previous years.
Q: How can I prepare for CLAT 2025?
To start preparing for CLAT 2025 there is no right time. However, as per experts, one should begin CLAT preparation at least one year or six months before the exam. If you will begin your CLAT preparation early, then you will have sufficient bandwidth to complete the CLAT syllabus and also to attempt the previous year’s CLAT Question Paper. This will help you to know your strengths and weaknesses and also where you 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
Q: What is a good rank for CLAT?
Students who wish to be admitted to this university should strive for a score of roughly 70% (80-84 marks) or above under the revised pattern. Because the CLAT cut-off marks are lower for reserved categories, a rank of about 4000 would be suitable for admission. According to CLAT 2024 analysis, candidates from the general category should aim for a score of 90 or more in order to be admitted to one of the top three NLUs. In CLAT 2024, 60–70 points are considered a decent score for SC/ST categories. The Consortium of NLUs will release the closing rank of candidates for each round at the time of CLAT counselling.
Q: Which is the most difficult section of the CLAT 2025?
Q: What is a good CLAT score?
Aspirants who appeared for the CLAT 2025 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 appeared for the CLAT 2025 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 2025. 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.
Q: Is CLAT a tough exam?
Q. How did you manage time between the Class 12th Board Exam and CLAT Preparation?
A. I always had two priorities in mind. One was to prepare for CLAT, as it was in December, and it is more important than boards. And second priority was to maintain attendance in School. So, I had to go to school to maintain attendance but I didn’t study for boards apart from school. For the Board exams, I will start my preparation now. Because board marks will not fetch you a good college. It’s the entrance that will finally help you secure a good college.
Apart from that, I attended coaching classes, solved mock tests and kept a few hours for doubt clearing. Since, in the beginning, I was scoring very low in General Knowledge, I started devoting four hours to GK and the rest of the time to covering up any other gaps I noticed while solving mock tests. On average, I dedicated 12 hours of rigorous study every day without consulting any books.
Q. Do you feel coaching plays a very important part in clearing CLAT Exam?
A. I feel it's not like you can’t do without coaching. However, with coaching, you get good guidance. Coaching helps you to be consistent and motivated. With coaching you can do it more effectively.
Q. What was your study plan for CLAT?
A. I did not study any extra books. I studied only the material I was given by the coaching center. I ensure I solve mock tests and practice papers. I tried to maintain a consistent score while solving the mock tests. This helped me to approach both the easy and difficult sections of the entrance exam. If I am not solving mock, I am doing some practice questions in Quantitative Technique or CR. Limiting the study material while preparing for the CLAT Exam was a key. As there is no dirt of material available for CLAT Preparation.
Q. Do you think NCERT books are sufficient for CLAT Preparation?
A. I don’t think NCERT books have any relevance because exam pattern has changed a lot now. There is no connection with NCERT books.
Q. How did you deal with your strengths and weaknesses while preparing for CLAT Exam?
A. My strength was always QT from the start. I always tried to maintain the edge. I prepared in a way that I scored the best in QT. My weakness was GK initially. I used to score 2 to 3 marks out of 28 when I started. I devoted more time to GK then. I did not remember a lot of facts but I tried to understand the facts. Which in turn helped me to score well in the exam. I scored 26.25 out of 28 in CLAT Exam 2024. This happened because I analyzed the paper well. I realized the GK asked in any other exams and in CLAT Exam is far more different.
Q. Was Law always your choice as a career?
A. I started preparing for CLAT when I came in Class 12th. In Class 11th I decided to pursue my career in Law.
Q. Any tips for students who are planning to take the exam next year?
A. Keep a broad perspective every time you solve a mock. Every year the CLAT paper is different. Try solving as many mock tests as possible. Try and analyse previous years’ question papers and mock papers. Try to analyse the paper. Don’t just rely on your mock score. The more you analyse the question paper the more confident you will be to appear for CLAT Exam 2025. Do analyse your weaknesses and strengths from time to time.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
No domicile certificate is required to be produced while filling up the application form for CLAT. It is mandatory only while counseling if you are opting for the domicile based reservations by producing certificates. It is normal for most NLUs to reserve 10%-50% of the number of seats for the state
K
Contributor-Level 9
Answered Yesterday
Yes, Kirit P Mehta School of Law accepts admissions through CLAT apart from NMIMS-LAT. Candidates applying through CLAT need to meet the cut-off requirements as well as follow the admission process of the institution.
a
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Hello greetings!
Yes, the registration for CLAT 2025 has already started! The application process opened on July 15, 2024, and the last date to submit applications was October 15, 2024. The admit cards were released on November 15, 2024.
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is respons
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
The CLAT cutoff for OBC category candidates has ranged from around 90-160 marks in recent years, depending on the NLIU, the exam's difficulty, and the availability of seats. For top NLUs, the OBC cutoff is typically in the range of 120-160 marks, whereas mid-tier and lower-tier NLUs have a slightly
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The CLAT cutoff for OBC candidates generally falls in the range of 100-170 marks depending on the NLU and the year's exam difficulty. For top NLUs, you will likely need to score between 120 and 160 marks, whereas for other mid-tier NLUs, the cutoff could be slightly lower, ranging from 100 to 130 ma
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
No, CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is not required to secure a job in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) unless the specific PSU job you're interested in requires a law degree (such as legal positions or management roles where legal knowledge is important).
- For general PSU jobs (engineering, finan
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
Yes you can get admission into the BBA LL.B (Hons) course at Gujarat National Law University Silvassa without giving CLAT exam through the Management Quota but the fees will be higher for those Management quota seats .
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
UGC-approved colleges in West Bengal accepting CLAT include WBNUJS, Kolkata, for integrated 5-year law programs. Private institutions like Amity University, Kolkata, also consider CLAT scores for some law courses.
A
Beginner-Level 3
Answered a week ago
Banaras Hindu University, popularly known as BHU, does not honor CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) scores for admission into its undergraduate law programs, for instance, BA LLB. Admissions into these programs are achieved through an individual entrance test conducted by BHU called the BHU UET (Under
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
N
Contributor-Level 10
Do I need to submit domicile certificate for CLAT while filling up the application form or after allotment of NLUs?