The CLAT Exam Date 2025 for both UG and PG courses is set for December 1, 2024. 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 on December 1, 2024. 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 2024 on the same day. The consortium announced the CLAT 2025 Exam Date on its official website. The CLAT 2025 Exam will be held in offline, pen-and-paper mode.
Explore colleges based on CLAT
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Candidates who clear the CLAT Exam 2025 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 2025 Answer Key. Candidates should note that the CLAT Answer Key is released in two phases: the Provisional CLAT Answer Key 2025 and the CLAT Final Answer Key 2025. With just a few months left for the CLAT 2025 Exam, the question arises: do you want to clear CLAT UG 2025 on your first attempt or crack CLAT PG 2025 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 2025?
As per the CLAT exam pattern, there will be 120 questions in CLAT 2025. 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 2025 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
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 2024 syllabus or the number of sections in the CLAT 2024 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: 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.
Also Read: CLAT 2025 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.
Explore more Law exams with upcoming dates
23 Dec '24 - 26 Dec '24
SLAT
27 Dec '24
5 Aug '24 - 1 Jan '25
1 Jan '25 - 14 Jan '25
15 Jan '25 - 20 Feb '25
21 Feb '25
4 Apr '25
1 Dec '24 - 22 Jan '25
13 Mar '25 - 8 Apr '25
Also Read: How to Prepare for CLAT along with Class 12 Board?
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 2025 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.
The CLAT PG Application Process is over. Candidates could fill out the CLAT LLM Application Form 2025 until October 22, 2024.
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:
Q: What is the Exam Pattern of CLAT 2025?
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 2025 exam will be held in an offline I. e. Pen-Paper based test mode. The question paper of CLAT 2025 will be of 120 marks for a total of 120 multiple choices based question. Candidates will get two hours to attempt CLAT 2025 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
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: Has the CLAT 2025 seat intake changed?
The CLAT 2025 Seat Intake has not been changed, however, CLAT 2025 reservation criteria has been revised for Gandhinagar National Law University (GNLU), Silvassa. CLAT has 2522 seats for undergraduate courses. These seats have been divided as per the candidate's category.
As per the revised GNLU reservation criteria, the Domicile Reservation Category has been included for candidates residing in the Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Union territories. All those candidates who are looking forward to appearing for UG and PG courses must go to official website of CLAT 2025 portal and update the reservation category accordingly.
Q: What type of GK is asked in CLAT?
The GK section carries a total 25 per cent weightage in the CLAT exam. Read below the best practices to follow to score well in GK section:
- You must be aware of the Daily Current Affairs in the area of the Economy, the Indian Constitution, Awards, sports, etc.
- Inculcate habit of reading the newspaper on a daily basis
- Static GK is also a part of the syllabus, but most of the questions are asked on the basis of the current affairs
- Try and read about various legal events and issues of the past
- Prepare your own notes. This will help you during your revision time
- Do not cram events. Try and understand why something happened and idea behind it
- Refer to as many Magazines, Newspapers, E-Newspapers, Blogs, etc., possible to be more aware of all the happenings worldwide
- Must watch news channels for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour per day
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 |
| Subject |
Features of CLAT UG 2025 |
Features of CLAT PG 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 2025
Take a look at the syllabus for CLAT UG as mentioned in the table below:
| Subjects |
Topics |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLAT LLM 2025 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 2025
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 2024 to get admission into top NLUs.
Important FAQs on CLAT UG and CLAT PG
Can I get admission in NLU without appearing for CLAT?
No, you won't be able to apply or enroll in any of the NLUs in the country without appearing for CLAT. For admission in UG-level courses (such as BA/BBA LLB) and PG-level courses (such as LLM) offered at NLUs, it is mandatory for candidates to appear for CLAT UG/ CLAT PG.
Is the syllabus and exam pattern for CLAT UG and CLAT PG different?
Yes, the syllabus is different for both. The exam pattern for CLAT UG 2025 was changed for CLAT 2024, however, it remained same for CLAT PG. As per the revised exam pattern, CLAT UG 2024 had 120 questions. Earlier, candidates had to solve 150 questions. The number of questions however remained same in CLAT PG; i.e. 120. It is unlikely that the Consortium will bring any changes to the CLAT Syllabus 2025 or Exam Pattern.
In what mode CLAT UG/PG Exam is conducted?
CLAT UG and CLAT PG are held in pen-and-paper mode.
What is the duration of CLAT Exam?
The CLAT Exam for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses is two hours.
"The pen is mightier than the sword". Anupama totally believes in this and respects what she conveys through it. She is a vivid writer, who loves to write about education, lifestyle, and governance. She is a hardcor... Read Full Bio
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
27 Dec '24 | AILET First Provisional Merit ... |
10 Jan '25 | AILET Second Provisional Merit... |
Aug '24 | LSAT India 2025 January Sessio... |
Dec '24 | LSAT India 2025 January System... |
15 Jan '25 - 15 Mar '25 | ULSAT 2025 Application for LLM |
15 Jan '25 - 15 Mar '25 | ULSAT 2025 Applications (3-yea... |
21 May '25 - 10 Jun '25 | RULET 2025 application process |
12 Jun '25 | RULET 2025 correction window |
11 Jan '25 - 2 Feb '25 | MH CET Law 2025 Application (f... |
18 Jan '25 - 10 Apr '25 | MH CET Law 2025 Application (f... |
Jul '23 | LFAT 2023 Declaration of Resul... |
1 Jun '23 - 7 Jun '23 | LFAT 2023 Reserved Exam Dates |
2 Jul '24 | ACLAT Exam 2024 |
1 Jul '24 | ACLAT Admit Card 2024 |
Mar '25 | PU UGLAW 2025 online registrat... |
Apr '25 | PU UGLAW 2025 last date of fee... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
Chances of getting RGNLU Patiala can be made.
Scholar-Level 18
Answered 2 days ago
Chances of getting NLU Vishakhapatnam, NUSRL Ranchi, DNLU Jabalpur can be made.
Scholar-Level 18
Answered 2 days ago
NLUs are not possible on this rank. Please try some private colleges.
Scholar-Level 18
Answered 3 days ago
The National Law University (NLU) admission prospects are slim in view of a CLAT rank of 7616 and an EWS rank of 640. Most of the NLU cut-off ranks tend to be exceptionally lower as compared to general category and EWS candidates, even in some of the most sought-after courses like BA LLB.
Factors inf
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
With 62.25 marks in the CLAT exam, your rank will likely vary depending on the difficulty level of the exam that year and the overall performance of other candidates. However, based on previous trends, a score of around 62.25 can typically place you in the range of 3000-5000 in the CLAT rankings.
As
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
The mode of National Law School of India University course admissions is online. Admission to various courses is based on merit and entrance exam scores. The accepted entrance exams are CLAT and others. Candidates applying through CLAT must first register for the CLAT exam. Then appear for the CLAT
R
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 5 days ago
Shiksha college predictor link
You can use the link to predict your college based on your rank.
You can try for top 5 law colleges in WB.
Also you can explore about -
NIRF law ranking
Judicary as a career
Affordable law colleges
Road map for next 5 years of Law
Scholar-Level 16
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, you can get into the LLB programme offered at Ajeenkya DY Patil University without appearing for the CLAT exam. The university accepts students on the basis of their entrance exam (ACET for Law) conducted by the university. Those who clear then entrance exam are then called for personal intervi
U
Beginner-Level 5
Answered a week ago
Yes, candidates seeking admission to the Vel Tech BA LLB (H) programme can do so without appearing for CLAT. As per the official website, the university also offers direct admissions. However, students must note that students with a minimum of 45% in aggregate and above in CLAT are given prefrence o
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
With a CLAT score of 8314 AIR and an OBC rank of 1188, one can consider going for any of the Delhi government law colleges located at Delhi, which accept CLAT scores, including Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, and Law Centre II-those are all part of the University of Delhi.
All these factors may su
U
Contributor-Level 10
My AIR is 19202 and my EWS rank is 1775 in CLAT. I am a female candidate from Bihar. Can I get admission to any tier-2 NLUs?