How to score like a topper or at least get a good rank in CLAT 2026? This article shares some tips to prepare like a top ranker for the upcoming law entrance exam.
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) will be conducting the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 in December 2025. Now, the candidates (including the law aspirants who could not secure a seat in CLAT 2025) can apply for the upcoming CLAT exam before deadline. However, the CLAT 2026 application process is the first step towards admissions to NLUs, to be able to secure a seat in these law colleges, candidates need to qualify and secure a good rank in the CLAT exam. Moreover, a good rank in the CLAT exam ensures good scholarships from private law colleges offering admissions on the basis of CLAT scores.
Explore colleges based on CLAT
When we discuss preparation tips with CLAT toppers, it is observed that they all follow a strategy, which is similar to the strategy followed by all other aspirants. However, below-mentioned preparation methods helped them stand out and score a top rank in CLAT exam:
Self-study plan
Q: What is a good rank for CLAT?
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: When should I start preparing for CLAT 2026?
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.
You may be enrolled with a coaching institute for CLAT 2026 preparation, however, you will succeed with 90 per cent efforts from your end. Yes, all the candidates who secured top 10 ranks in CLAT exam in the past, shared that they put extra hours in self-studies along with coaching classes. Moreover, all the subjects of CLAT exam can only be prepared thoroughly with self-preparation. The coaching will help you in learning tricks and tips to attempt different types of questions in each section. If you decide to prepare for CLAT by yourself, then you can learn these tricks with online study material or preparation videos available on various platforms. Apart from this, you can make an effective self-study plan for CLAT 2026 as under:
- Scheduling - Subject-wise time table for conceptualisation, practice and evaluation.
- Performance and goal setting - Set monthly, weekly, as well as, daily goals for CLAT 2026 preparation with respect to time remaining till the exam day.
- Prioritization - Along with CLAT 2026, you must be planning to appear in upcoming exams like class 12 board exams, or entrance exams. Therefore, if your exclusive goal is to secure a good rank in CLAT 2026, and secure a seat in top NLUs then, you will have to prioritize your preparation goals accordingly. Many toppers applied for other entrance exams, as well as, appeared for Class 12 board examinations, but their priority was always to secure top rank in CLAT exam. They were able to achieve their goal favourably.
Effective methods of note making
Preparation for CLAT begins with planning and note making, so when a candidate starts taking classes, he/she should devise/ learn note-taking methods, which will be helpful during revision. Some of the highly effective methods for note taking that you can explore are:
- Mapping method
- Charting method
- Outlining method
- Cornell method
- Boxing method
You can either pick one method that you are most comfortable with or pick multiple to prepare different subjects for the CLAT question paper. The final goal is to score well in the CLAT exam, whichever (Fair) way. It is helpful to learn these methods even before you begin conceptualisation, as note-taking will begin thereafter.
Performance/ Preparation Evaluation
Q: Is CLAT LLM exam tough or easy?
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: 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: Can a person clear CLAT without coaching?
Joining a coaching institute for CLAT has become a trend. Apparently, coaching institutes are good at selling the idea that coaching is necessary to crack law entrance exams. However, that is far from the truth. Candidates without any professional coaching can also crack the CLAT exam with flying colours. However, for the same, it is important for candidates to adopt a well-planned and well-thought-out CLAT preparation strategy . Apart from this, it is also extremely important for candidates to be completely dedicated and consistent with their CLAT preparation.
Q: How to crack CLAT in first attempt?
To crack CLAT on your first attempt, understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly. Create a structured study plan, allocating time to all sections: English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs, and Quantitative Techniques. Focus on improving reading comprehension by reading newspapers like The Hindu daily. Practice mock tests regularly to build speed, accuracy, and time management. Use quality study materials, solve previous years' papers, and revise important topics often. Stay consistent, set realistic milestones, and analyze your performance after each mock. Lastly, take care of your health, remain confident, and approach the exam with a calm and focused mindset.
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.
Without knowing where you stand, you cannot aim for a higher rank in CLAT 2026. It would be helpful to know the actual picture well in advance, as the exam is only a couple of months away. Many toppers shared that they did not expect a top rank in CLAT exam, rather they aimed for a certain score, which was accepted by their preferred NLU. This provided them with an additional boost and they leveled-up their preparation for the exam. Setting a high benchmark may not ensure you a good rank, rather knowing what you want and your preparation level will. Therefore, it is essential to know the CLAT cutoff for each institute, and aim for a rank accepted by your preferred NLU. Thereafter, prepare and regularly evaluate your performance as per the real-time exam.
Mock-test practice
CLAT consortium will be sharing mock-test practice papers in the next three months so that candidates can prepare for the exam day. You can include mock test practice papers as well as, analyse previous years' question papers into your self-study plan. Also, refer to the preparation books for CLAT that are exam pattern specific only.
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Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
Dear Armandeep Kaur,
JEE Advanced mein aapki All India Rank (AIR) aur SC Category Rank dono important hote hain. Generally, seat allotment ke liye aapki SC Category Rank ko consider kiya jata hai, kyunki yeh aapke category ke andar seats ke liye eligibility decide karta hai.
Agar aapki AIR aapki cate
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered Yesterday
Yes, students without a valid CLAT score are also eligible to apply for BBA LLB (Hons) at Sharda School of Law. The law school offers admission based on SUAT and CUET scores as well. Besides, the aspirants must meet the course-specific eligibility requirements as well. Students who are Class 12 or e
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days 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 2 days 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 2 days 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 2 days 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 2 days 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 2 days 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 2 days 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 4 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
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.