CLAT Prep: Topper tips from 2015 ranker Aman Deep Borthakur – AIR 5

Aman Deep Borthakur, a student of Apeejay School, Nerul Navi Mumbai scored 134.5 in CLAT 2015 and thus, secured All India Rank (AIR) 5 in the exam. In order to crack CLAT, Aman started preparing for the law entrance exam in Class XI.

On being asked when a student should start preparing for any law entrance exam, Aman shared that the sooner one starts preparing the better it would be. He also shared that students should pay attention to the GK section in their CLAT exam because it amounts to one-fourth of the total score.

Shiksha.com got talking to Aman who offered many helpful tips for CLAT 2016 aspirants. Read the full interview with CLAT 2015 AIR 5 holder for more details.

1. How did you prepare for the exam?

I started preparing for the exam in class XI. I used to study in phases to divide time between boards and entrance exam preparation. I would solve the material which my coaching class used to provide me. Then I would solve other books to hone my skills further. I took plenty of mock tests on the computer to get the hang of the online format of the examination. Each mock test would be followed by a detailed analysis where I would identify my strengths and weaknesses and go back to my reading material to practise and improve further.

2. Which coaching institute/classes did you join?

I joined the two year LST Span Program of Career Launcher.

3. When should one start preparing for the exam?

Since CLAT is an exam that tests aptitude more than knowledge (except perhaps the GK section) there is no definite time required for preparation. But the exam has typically been known to throw a few surprises each time, which is why no level of preparation is ever enough. There is no fixed standard and there is always room for improvement. So, the best time to start is - As soon as possible!

4. How long did you prepare for the exam and how many hours did you study in a day?

I prepared for the exam for two years- XI and XII. In Class eleventh, I used to find time between my studies regularly for some CLAT preparation. In class XII, I studied for CLAT more regularly, but when school exams approached I switched to the school curriculum. When the board exams got over, I spent about 9-10 hours daily on CLAT preparation. The last month must ideally be spent revising the class material, GK notes and taking lots of mock tests.

5. List important books you referred to for covering the syllabus?

For maths, I solved the coaching class modules and took mocks. Through practice I could increase my speed and familiarity with the kinds of questions that could come in the exam.

I used Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis to enhance my vocabulary. The book explains the meanings of difficult words by splitting them into their roots which makes them easy to remember.
Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal has got excellent questions which can help build clarity on the typical statement assumption, conclusion, reasoning-assertion questions that are asked in CLAT every year. I used Edgar Thorpe’s book on reasoning (published by Tata- Mcgraw Hill) for numerical reasoning.

For legal knowledge and legal reasoning, I used Universal’s CLAT Guide which also contains information on current legal issues of interest which might appear in the exam (For instance, there was a question on the National Judicial Appointments Commission this year).

I read the Hindu and made notes daily to keep abreast of daily happenings and remember them. For static GK, I used the Pearson’s GK Manual which contains a huge set of questions on various topics like history, geography and economics.

6. Are there any important topics to score well?

Maths is a section where one can be sure when one has arrived at the right answer and one must aim to score full marks in it. Other scoring portions according to me are English grammar and current affairs.

7. Any study tips for aspirants?

First, take lots and lots of mock tests on your desktop to get your timing right. Use various combinations to figure out the way and means of time allocation that works best for you. Second, keep practising topics like maths, reading comprehension, logical and legal reasoning daily to become better at them and noticeably improve your speed.

8. What as per you are the mistakes one should avoid while preparing for the exam?

One avoidable mistake is pilling stuff on till the end. This creates considerable stress in the last month and just before the exams when one should be in a calm and composed state of mind.

9. How did you prepare for different sections of the exam?

Maths, logical reasoning and English, all come with continuous practice. Static GK and legal knowledge are not built overnight and come with long-term extensive reading. Newspapers and online compendiums should cover the current affairs part well enough.

10. When did you start revising the syllabus?

I started revising the syllabus in the month of April, right after the Boards.

11. How did you manage time while giving the exam?

Personally I divided my time as 20 minutes for English, 10 minutes for GK, 20 minutes for Maths, 35 minutes for Legal Reasoning and 35 minutes for Logical Reasoning. The trick is to divide your time accordingly, put all effort during that time period and move on if you do not know the answer. If it is GK and you are confused between two choices, make an educated guess and move on.

12. What mistakes should one avoid while giving the exam in order to score well?

Avoid careless mistakes like getting a sum wrong as negative marking can bring your score down considerably. And in an exam as competitive as CLAT, even a difference of one mark can cause ranks to differ by a huge margin.

13. Which as per you was the most difficult section in the exam?

I thought that this year logical reasoning was the most difficult section as some questions were unexpected. In such a case, one must think carefully, not panic and come up with the best possible solution.  

14. Is there any section that plays the “deciding factor” for securing good ranks in the exam?

The General Knowledge section constitutes 50 marks, which is one- fourth of the total marks. While static GK is unpredictable, if one looks at past years’ question papers ad studies all expected topics, one can score well here, which can make all the difference.

15. How can one overcome their weaknesses during their preparation time?

By solving exercises and mocks regularly, one can build on one’s weaknesses and convert them to strengths.

16. Any advice for aspirants who will be taking the exam this year?

My advice to future aspirants is- Spread out your syllabus over a definite time period and practise regularly according to a schedule. In the examination, remain cool and steady and give your best.

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