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Anupama Mehra
Assistant Manager – Content
Updated on Jan 3, 2025 16:11 IST

The CLAT 2026 exam dates is not out yet. CLAT Exam 2026 is expected to be held in December 2025. Candidates planning to appear in the CLAT 2026 Exam, must avoid common mistakes that may ruin their exam day. Read further to know more. 

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) date has not been announced yet. Candidates who are looking forward to appearing in the exam have to remain careful about the important elements related to the exam day planning. Candidates planning to appear for the CLAT 2026 exam have to be mindful of crucial exam day elements to ensure a smooth and successful experience. Proper planning can significantly impact performance.

Also Read: Idioms and Proverbs for CLAT 2026 With Meaning

This article serves as a reminder for CLAT 2026 test-takers to avoid common mistakes on exam day. Candidates can refer to this guide to prevent unnecessary blunders and ensure they were well-prepared. The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) will release detailed CLAT Exam Day Instructions 2026, covering reporting and bell timings, required documents, and prohibited items. It will be essential for CLAT aspirants to read these instructions carefully before the exam.

CLAT 2026 Common Mistakes 

Some of the common mistakes candidates taking CLAT 2026 might make are: 

Application for CLAT 2026: One common mistake candidates can make by not properly completing the CLAT application process. The exam authority will not confirm the candidature of those who will not correctly fill out the CLAT 2026 application form. Therefore, candidates are advised to ensure all information is accurate and complete. To help with this process, candidates can refer to the instructional video below for guidance on filling out the CLAT 2026 application form correctly.

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Preparation for CLAT 2026: Another common mistake before appearing for CLAT 2026, especially in the last few weeks, is not preparing consistently. Candidates haveve to prepare the syllabus of CLAT 2026 completely to score well in all sections (and ultimately overall). Candidates should keep practising for CLAT 2026 with mock tests, sample papers/question papers, and learning current affairs up to the date of the exam.

Some of the tips to prepare for CLAT have been explained in the video below:

CLAT 2026 Exam Day Mistakes 

Exam day preparation is also an important factor in the performance of candidates in CLAT 2026. Here is a common mistakes that CLAT 2026 test-takers have to avoid on the exam day:

Q:   Which is the most difficult section of the CLAT 2026?

A:
As per the exam analysis of CLAT exam held in previous years, the difficulty level of all the sections are as under: English Language - Generally the questions asked in this section are considered easy. However, candidates can find them lengthy and time-taking as the questions are based on passages only. Current Affairs including General Knowledge - The questions in this section are of Easy to Moderate difficulty level depending on the events and technicality. Logical Reasoning - The questions asked in this section of CLAR paper are of easy to moderately difficult level due to facts and data interpretation. Legal Reasoning This section of CLAT paper is of easy to moderate difficult level as the questions are mostly asked from Legal domain, trending events, lex maxims, and current landmark judgements. Quantitative Techniques - Although the weightage of this section is lesser than the rest, the questions asked around Mathematics subject can be tricky/ twisted, which makes it moderate to difficult level. Know all about CLAT question paper analysis here - https://www.shiksha.com/law/clat-exam-analysis.

Q:   What is a good rank for CLAT?

A:

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:   Is CLAT a tough exam?

A:
Dear Student, A competitive entrance exam tests your aptitude for the subject. Be it law or fashion or design, be it CLAT NIFT, or NID. With so many aspirants vying for limited seats in the premier institutes of the country, you have to display a very high level of aptitude for the chosen field. If you are good in your basics then CLAT exam is not a tough journey to cross. It depends on your level of knowledge, dedication and your preparation. In the initial level it is not easy but a regular practice can make it easy for you to pass the CLAT Exam. 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. If you want to kick start a successful career in law, it is important to get admission into a good law college. 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.

Reaching the test center late – The CLAT exam authority will soon share the exam schedule for CLAT 2026. Based on instructions from previous years, reporting begins at 1 pm. Candidates are advised to arrive at the exam center by 12:30 pm to avoid any last-minute hassles.

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Not carrying supporting documents – Candidates need to carry the CLAT admit card and a supporting ID proof (with photograph). Therefore, test-takers must not forget to carry the supporting ID proof and certificates (e.g., Scribe approval for PWD candidates).

Carrying bags, mobile phones, and booksCLAT exam centre officials do not provide facilities for depositing personal belongings such as handbags, mobile phones, headphones, and books. If candidates bring these items to the examination center, the officials will not be responsible for their security. As stated in the exam instructions, "Candidates are NOT permitted to carry cell phones or any other electronic gadgets (including calculators, digital watches, and headphones of all types). Such gadgets must be left outside the Examination Hall, and the staff on duty at the test center will not be responsible for any loss of property/gadgets of the candidates."

Q:   What is a good CLAT score?

A:

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:   When should I start preparing for CLAT 2026?

A:

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:   Is CLAT LLM exam tough or easy?

A:

CLAT is one of the highly competitive law exam 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 BA LLB books and a habit to read newspaper daily to crack the CLAT PG 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. 

Q:   I got 82 marks in CLAT. What should I do?

A:
Hi Rohan, You've not mentioned your CLAT rank so its tough to suggest. I think with this score you can't get govt law colleges but you can get admission in good private colleges. Check out UPES College of Legal Studies, SRM University Chennai, Nirma University – Institute of Law & Alliance college of law Banglore. These are pretty known for law courses and accept admissions through CLAT score. More details you can see on website of these institutes. All the best!

Q:   What is the best strategy to crack CLAT in first attempt? Which section should I concentrate more on?

A:
Hi, Cracking CLAT is not very difficult provided you are disciplined enough. Step1- have faith in yourself, plan out your study, mark your weaknesses, have a leisure time as well. Step2-Read more and practice more. Reading is a must. Newspaper, Law, English and then read more. Step3 -Practice maths and reasoning. step 4- Go through past year's papers and mock tests. Step 5- Revise whatever you read. Make a schedule of revising whatever you read throughout the week. Step 6 -Sit back and relax. Step 7- Cover the topics and then revise and 10 days prior to exam just revise. Step 8- The d day, be confident, attempt more, take risks and don't be overconfident.

Forgetting to carry test-taking material – Candidates need to carry their exam-taking material, such as Blue/Black Ball Point Pens. They should not ask the exam center officials to provide these items for taking CLAT 2025.

Not carrying water bottles – Candidates should carry their water bottles on the exam day. The exam authority will allow transparent water bottles (without labels) that candidates can take with them inside the examination hall. Therefore, candidates must keep the same with them as the exam is being held from 2 pm to 4 pm, when the temperature outside the examination hall will be unbearable, and the chances of falling sick would be high as well.

Candidates appearing for CLAT 2026 must note these common mistakes to avoid and do well in the examination.

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Answered Yesterday

Yes, you can still appear for CLAT 2026 even if you fail to clear CLAT 2025. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) has no limit on the number of attempts for eligible candidates. As long as you meet the eligibility criteria for the exam in 2026 (such as age and educational qualifications), you can reappe

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Manisha Gard

Beginner-Level 4

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NCERT books can be a good starting point for CLAT preparation, particularly for subjects like English and Mathematics, as they cover basic concepts and fundamentals. NCERT books for Classes 8 to 10 are helpful for brushing up on elementary mathematics and grammar. For General Knowledge, NCERT books

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Nitesh Srivastava

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Mohit Dhawan

Beginner-Level 4

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Akanksha

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Here are some of the best books to prepare for the Logical Reasoning section of the CLAT exam:

1. A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
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Includes practice exercises with detailed solutions.
2. Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey
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Mohit Dhawan

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The Legal Reasoning section in the CLAT exam assesses your ability to apply legal principles and reasoning to given situations. Key topics to focus on include:

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Strict and Absolute Liability
Vicarious Liability
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Offer and Acceptance
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Divya Surbhi

Beginner-Level 4

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The CLAT Exam includes a section on Quantitative Techniques, which focuses on basic mathematical concepts up to Class 10 level. This section tests your analytical and problem-solving skills through questions involving numerical data.

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Akanksha Kumari

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As per official sources, the CLAT PG 2025 results have been announced by the NLU Consortium on 7 Dec, 2025. Students willing to take admission to the JLU Bhopal LLM course via CLAT must have secured a minimum of 50 marks. Those who do not meet the cutoff can appear for the JLUET exam.

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Shailja Rawat

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

For the CLAT Exam, you need to study the following subjects:

For Undergraduate (UG) Program:
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Anupama Mehra

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