CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Key Differences in exam Pattern, Syllabus and Other Important Details
Common Law Admission Test 2025 ( CLAT )
Counselling - To be notified
The CLAT Exam Date 2026 for both UG and PG courses will be same. Conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities, CLAT UG and CLAT PG are among the most competitive law exams in India. For more information on the exam pattern, syllabus, difficulty level, and essential tips to excel, read on.
CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Key differences in Exam pattern, syllabus, marks, and other important points
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) will conduct the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for undergraduate and postgraduate courses tentatively in first week of December 2025. CLAT is one of the toughest exams in the country, with an acceptance rate of less than 3 percent. The consortium will conduct the CLAT UG Exam and CLAT PG 2026 on the same day. The consortium will announce the CLAT 2026 Exam Date in its official website. The CLAT 2026 Exam will be held in offline, pen-and-paper mode.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Candidates who clear the CLAT Exam 2026 will be eligible for admission to the 5-year integrated LLB and LLM courses offered by the participating national law universities. The Consortium will release the CLAT Result after publishing the CLAT 2026 Answer Key. Candidates should note that the CLAT Answer Key is released in two phases: the Provisional CLAT Answer Key 2026 and the CLAT Final Answer Key 2026. Now the question arises: do you want to clear CLAT UG 2026 on your first attempt or crack CLAT PG 2026 to complete your LLM and secure PSU jobs? This article highlights the key differences between these two exams to help you choose your path to legal success.
Q: How many questions will be asked in CLAT 2026?
Q: What is the new CLAT 2025 Exam pattern?
The consortium of NLUs has not come up with changes in the exam pattern of CLAT 2025 as of now. However, the consortium brought changes in the exam pattern for CLAT 2024. The total number of questions was reduced from 150 to 120. However, no changes were made to CLAT 2025 syllabus or the number of sections in the CLAT 2025 exam. The 120 questions were divided into the existing five sections; English Language, Current Affairs Including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
Q: What is the Exam Pattern of CLAT 2026?
The CLAT exam pattern for UG courses will include key features like type of questions, marking scheme, subjects, Section-wise weightage and other details. CLAT 2026 exam will be held in an offline I. e. Pen-Paper based test mode. The question paper of CLAT 2026 will be of 120 marks for a total of 120 multiple choices based question. Candidates will get two hours to attempt CLAT 2026 question paper. The subjects from which questions will be asked in the exam are English Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques. The question paper language will be English only. The subject-wise weightage for each section of CLAT UG paper will be as under:
English Language - 28-32 questions
Current Affairs including General Knowledge - 35-39 questions
Logical Reasoning - 28-32 questions
Legal Reasoning - 35-39 question
Quantitative Techniques - 13-17 questions
Also Read: CLAT 2026 Courses: Check complete list, subject-wise eligibility criteria and other details
What is CLAT UG?
The Common Law Admission Test, also known as CLAT, is a national-level law entrance exam that is conducted for admission to 24 national law universities (NLUs) and 61 affiliated colleges in the country. Candidates who score above the CLAT Cutoff will qualify for admission to a 5-year law undergraduate course such as BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB etc.
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What is CLAT PG?
The Common Law Admission Test for Postgraduate 2025 (CLAT PG) is conducted for admission to one-year LLM courses. The scores of CLAT LLM 2026 will be accepted by 19 NLUs in the country. The exam authorities have added one more campus of Gujarat National Law University, Silvassa to the list of CLAT participating institutes.
Difference between CLAT UG and CLAT PG Exam Pattern
The major differences and similarities in key features of AILET and CLAT exam pattern are as under:
| Subject |
Features of CLAT UG 2026 |
Features of CLAT PG 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Exam mode | CLAT UG is conducted in a paper-based test mode. | CLAT PG is also conducted in a paper-based test mode. |
| Exam timings | 2:00-4:00 PM. | 2:00-4.00 PM |
| Test duration |
120 minutes |
120 minutes |
| Type of questions |
Objective-type of question-based on Reading Comprehension passages of about 300-450 words. |
The questions are comprehension-based from various legal subjects of graduation level |
| Total questions |
120 | There are 120 MCQs in total. |
| Negative Marking |
+1 for a correct answer |
+1 for a correct answer |
Q: What changes have been made in CLAT exam pattern?
CLAT Consortium made few changes in CLAT 2024 exam pattern. Hence, the consortium did not bring any changes in exam pattern of CLAT 2025. As per the revised pattern, there were 120 questions for CLAT UG question paper. This means, 30 questions were reduced from CLAT UG 2025 question paper. Earlier, there were 150 questions in CLAT UG question paper. Moreover, the question paper were on similar lines as previous series i.e. passage-based objective-types questions of 1 mark each, and 0.25 marks to be deducted for incorrect attempts.
No change in the question paper of CLAT PG was made, and it was held as per the previous exam pattern i.e. 120 Objective Type Questions based on core law subjects.
In 2021, the Consortium had removed the descriptive section from the CLAT LL. M. exam pattern. All LL. M. candidates had to attempt 120 multiple-choice questions of 120 marks in a duration of two hours.
Q: Is there negative marking in CLAT Exam?
Yes, the CLAT exam has negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong attempt. Unanswered questions have no negative marking. Candidates must select questions to solve very carefully in the CLAT exam. They should solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately.
For every correct answer, candidates are awarded one mark
For every wrong attempt, 0.25 marks are deducted from their total score
No marks are awarded or deducted for questions not left un-attempted
| CLAT Marking Parameters | Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| Correct answer | +1 marks |
| Incorrect answer | -0.25 marks |
| Un-attempted question | 0 marks |
Q: Is CLAT exam pattern 2026 revised?
The CLAT Exam Pattern 2026 has not been officially revised as of now. The exam structure typically remains consistent, but changes are announced by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) if required. Candidates should regularly check the official website for updates regarding any modifications. Traditionally, the CLAT exam includes:
For Undergraduate (UG) Program:
Total Questions: 120
Sections: English Language, Current Affairs (including General Knowledge), Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques
Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
For Postgraduate (PG) Program:
Total Questions: 120
Focus Areas: Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, and other legal subjects
Any changes for CLAT 2026 will be notified in the official notification or brochure released by the consortium.
Q: Which is the toughest section in CLAT Exam?
The toughest section in the CLAT exam often varies depending on individual strengths and weaknesses, but many candidates find the following sections challenging:
Legal Reasoning: This section requires a deep understanding of legal principles, logical application, and critical thinking. Candidates need to grasp complex legal concepts and apply them to hypothetical situations, which can be time-consuming and tricky.
Logical Reasoning: This section tests analytical skills and problem-solving abilities, with puzzles and complex reasoning tasks. Many candidates find it challenging to solve quickly and accurately within the time limit.
With consistent practice, these sections become more manageable.
Q: Is there negative marking in CLAT PG?
The CLAT exam's marking scheme is based on the idea of negative grading. This indicates that 0.25 points is subtracted from the candidate's final score for each wrong response. One mark is given for each accurate response, and 0.25 marks is subtracted for each erroneous response. Hence, candidates have to be very carefull while marking their answers. Since, CLAT PG 2025 will have negative marking, students are advised to avoid guesswork and only answer the questions they are confident about.
CLAT UG vs CLAT PG Syllabus
Before starting your preparation, the first thing you should do is go through the CLAT syllabus carefully.
UG CLAT Syllabus 2026
Take a look at the syllabus for CLAT UG as mentioned in the table below:
| Subjects |
Topics |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLAT LLM 2026 Syllabus
Check the table below for more details on LLM syllabus for CLAT:
| CLAT LLM Sections |
Main Topics |
|---|---|
| Sec A – Constitutional Law |
|
| Sec B - Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence |
|
| Sec C – Law topics and Contemporary issues |
|
CLAT UG vs CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates can check the section-wise weightage of Questions and marks below:
| Subjects |
Question and Marks for CLAT UG |
Question and Marks for CLAT PG |
|---|---|---|
| English including Comprehension |
28-32 questions of 1 mark each |
22-26 questions of 1 mark each |
| General Knowledge including Current Affairs |
35-39 questions of 1 mark each | 28-32 questions of 1 mark each |
| Quantitative Techniques |
13-17 questions of 1 mark each |
10-14 questions of 1 mark each |
| Legal Aptitude/ Reasoning |
35-39 questions of 1 mark each |
28-32 questions of 1 mark each |
| Logical Reasoning |
28-32 questions of 1 mark each |
22-26 questions of 1 mark each |
| Total |
120 questions and marks |
120 questions and marks |
The difference in CLAT UG and CLAT PG Application Fees
There is no difference in the CLAT application fees of CLAT UG and CLAT PG and it can be understood from the table below:
| Categories | CLAT UG Application fees | CLAT PG Application fees |
|---|---|---|
| General/Other Backward Class (OBC)/ Persons with Disability (PwD)/ Non-Resident Indians (NRI)/ Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)/ Overseas citizens (OCI)/ Kashmiri Migrant | INR 4,000 | INR 4,000 |
| Scheduled Class (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) | INR 3,500 | INR 3,500 |
| BPL candidates from SC and ST categories | INR 3,500 | INR 3,500 |
Which is tougher – CLAT UG or CLAT PG?
Before appearing for the law entrance exams, the aspirants want to know which one is difficult to crack. If you compare the number of applicants per seat then definitely CLAT PG is a tougher exam as compared to CLAT UG. It can be confirmed as under:
- More than 60,000 candidates appear in CLAT UG admission to 2,644 UG seats
- Approximately 19,000 candidates appear in CLAT PG admission to 1,217 LLM seats
Thus, in CLAT UG approximately 20 candidates compete for a seat at CLAT participating NLUs, whereas in CLAT PG there are around 100 candidates competing for a seat at NLUs.
The difficulty level of the CLAT UG question paper and CLAT PG questions paper can be understood by the fact that the latter exam has tougher questions in Legal Aptitude which are based on core law topics. Moreover, now the CLAT Consortium has modified the test paper by increasing the comprehensive type of questions, to make it easier for candidates. Candidates need to secure a good rank in CLAT Exam 2026 to get admission into top NLUs.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 16 hours ago
With an EWS rank of 1,700 and an All India Rank (AIR) of 19,202 in the CLAT, it could be difficult to get accepted to Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna. In prior years, the general category closing ranks for CNLU's BA LLB programme were about 1,285.
State reservation policies, however,
S
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 20 hours ago
1. GITAM Admission Test (GAT): Since your CLAT rank may not fall within the typical scholarship brackets, you can consider appearing for the GAT, which serves as an alternative admission pathway for candidates without CLAT or LSAT scores.
2. Application Process:
Eligibility: Ensure you meet the basi
P
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 20 hours ago
Based on your All India OBC category rank of 3,100 in CLAT 2025, securing admission to Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) under the OBC Home State quota may be challenging. Historically, the closing ranks for the OBC category at GNLU have been significantly lower. For instance:
CLAT 2024: The cl
P
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 21 hours ago
To change your CLAT rank, the only way is to improve your score on the CLAT exam by retaking it as your rank is directly determined by your overall score in the exam; you cannot directly modify your rank after the results are declared, but you can potentially improve your position by choosing a more
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 23 hours ago
With a CLAT rank of 22316, getting admission to a top-tier NLU is highly unlikely, but you might have a chance at lower-ranked NLUs, especially if you belong to a reserved category or are applying for a specific state-based NLU with domicile reservation; it is recommended to check the cut-offs for d
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 23 hours ago
It depends on the cut-off rank for the EWS category in the year you take the exam. You can use a CLAT rank predictor tool to estimate your rank.
Explanation
The cut-off marks for CLAT can vary by a few percent year to year.
The expected cut-off rank for EWS in the 2025 CLAT exam at NLSIU Bangalore wa
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 23 hours ago
With an EWS rank of 1600 and an AIR of 15000 in CLAT, you can expect to get admission into mid-tier National Law Universities (NLUs) like NLU Patna, NLU Lucknow, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Odisha, NLU Assam, MNLU Mumbai, and MPDNLU Jabalpur, depending on the specific cut-offs for the EWS category in each inst
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
After scoring the such great rank, you should visit the official website of CLAT, there when the admission portal opens, login using your I'd and password to your dashboard.
The portal will display the availability of NLU (NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY) and option available for filling preference.
There ac
A
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 3 days ago
101 marks is a very good in AILET score. Generally 70-100 marks are considered good score to be considered. With this marks you'll rank good enough.
While, 5095 rank is bit higher, it is seen and consider rank around 3.5k is a good rank to be considered. Try to came more closer near 3k, for better.
A
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 3 days ago
Based on your OBC category rank of 1,721 in the CLAT 2025 examination and your domicile status in Uttar Pradesh, your chances of securing admission to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) in Lucknow appear favorable.
Historically, RMLNLU has admitted OBC candidates with UP domicil
S
Beginner-Level 5
CLAT Notifications
As per the CLAT exam pattern, there will be 120 questions in CLAT 2026. Candidates must note that it is not mandatory to solve all the questions. Candidates should solve only those questions which they can solve correctly as there is negative marking in CLAT. During the exam preparation, focus on the chapters from which majority of the questions are added. This will help them in achieving the sectional and overall cut offs are required. The consortium has released the marking scheme for CLAT 2026 Exam too. Aspirants can refer to the marking scheme for UG courses below:
For every correct answer, candidates are awarded one mark
For every wrong attempt, 0.25 marks are deducted from their total score
No marks are awarded or deducted for questions not left un-attempted