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.

What is CLAT syllabus for English?

CLAT syllabus for English carries the following important topics: Correcting Incorrect Grammar Sentences Synonyms & Antonyms Tenses Fill in the Blanks Spotting Grammatical Errors Active & Passive Voice Through CLAT English section, the consortium tested following skills: Comprehension and language skills. Ability to read and comprehend the arguments and viewpoints discussed in the passage. The capacity to draw inferences and conclusions The ability to summarise a passage. The ability to compare and contrast various arguments or viewpoints Comprehension of words and phrases.

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 2025 exam will be held in an offline I. e. Pen-Paper based test mode. The question paper of CLAT 2025 is expected to be of 120 marks for a total of 120 multiple choices based question, if the exam pattern remains the same. Candidates will get two hours to attempt CLAT 2025 question paper. The subjects from which questions were asked in the exam were English Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques. The question paper language was English only. The subject-wise weightage for each section of CLAT UG paper was revised, but earlier it was 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 Similarly, the exam pattern of CLAT PG is based on 120 questions of 1 mark each. The questions will be based on the following subjects: Constitutional Law Other areas of law such as Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, and Labour & Industrial Law Know more about CLAT UG exam pattern - https://www.shiksha.com/law/clat-exam-pattern Know more about CLAT PG pattern here - https://www.shiksha.com/law/clat-exam-pattern/llm-418.

Is AILET tougher than CLAT?

Yes, the difficulty level of AILET is usually higher than CLAT as the competition is five times more for the limited seats of B.A. LL.B. And LL. M. courses available at NLU Delhi. Moreover, the exam pattern of AILET is also different than CLAT exam pattern. The cutoff marks are also higher for AILET conducted by NLU Delhi. CLAT cutoff marks vary every year but are moderate as there are 23 participating National Law Universities. Therefore, candidates can assume that AILET is tougher than CLAT exam.

Please explain a proper strategy for CLAT for pure droppers, with proper schedule.

If you are a dropper, you know that it is not just the knowledge that is tested in the CLAT exam; it tests your intellect. If you are a dropper, you have plenty of time to practice mock tests because your basics are clear. So try to attempt one mock test daily and slowly increase it to two mock tests. After taking the test it is important to analyze your test and evaluate your performance regularly. While practising, you can also explore your choices. Try attempting different sections first, and know your strong area to start in the exam. After practising a lot of tests, you will have an idea about which section to attempt first and how much time to allot to each section. Once you build this master plan before the exam, nobody can stop you from cracking it. A dropper can devote more time to CLAT preparation as compared to the school students. This can be your plus point and a motivation factor to crack the exam this year. If you get frustrated thinking about your year dropped, just think, You Can And You Will. If this method does not work, talk to your mentors and your friends, and keep yourself motivated. Make your own strategy and work on it rather than seeing other students. Always make sure to satisfy yourself with the preparation you do. Some tips for the droppers- You may sometimes feel that your class fellows are joining the best colleges and having all the fun. But joining a college of your choice is better to keep away from future regrets. Never think that you are wasting your time. Take it as an opportunity to crack your dream law school. Don't self doubt. Mock test marks are not your original CLAT score. They are just the parameters to guide you in your journey. Scores will keep changing if you put more efforts in improving your weaknesses. Let failure not bother you. Fearing results will lead to stress and stop you from giving your best. Understand that your hard work needs a little bit of intelligence to produce good results. All the Best. Good luck.

Will there be any break in between CLAT 2026 exam duration?

No, the candidates were not allowed to take breaks or exit the exam centre while they are attempting CLAT exam. Candidates were allowed to drink water, eat or use the washroom only before or after the exam timings. Therefore, on the day of examination candidates should prepare themselves to sit for two hours straight without any breaks. They should use washroom right before entering the examination hall. They were allowed to carry a transparent water bottle for themselves. However, they should limit the amount of water intake to avoid taking break in between. No request to leave examination hall will be allowed by the centre officials to avoid cheating or any other activities. If you have any medical condition that requires you to take a break, it will be allowed only at prior notification and permission by the exam authority.

Which is the most difficult section of the CLAT 2026?

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.

What is the syllabus for CLAT logical reasoning section?

Candidates can check the detailed syllabus for CLAT logical reasoning section below: Particulars Details Number of questions asked 28-32 Weightage 18.66 - 21.33 % Type of questions asked Passage-based questions. Length - Each passage will be around 300 words. Questions - Each passage will be followed by a series of questions Skills tested Recognize an argument, its premises, and conclusions; Read and identify the arguments set out in the passage; Critically analyze patterns of reasoning, and assess how conclusions may depend on particular premises or evidence; Infer what follows from the passage and apply these inferences to new situations; Draw relationships and analogies, identify contradictions and equivalence and assess the effectiveness of arguments. Question areas Sources include opinion and editorial pieces from newspapers and magazines, and essays on moral philosophy available online and in various books. Some passages will be created specifically for the exam. Examples of source material include: Ethics in the real world - 82 brief essays on Things That Matter by Peter Singer Articles and Editorials taken from The Economist, a leading international newspaper History for Health published by the Telegraph Where I am - An editorial published in the Indian Express.

What is CLAT syllabus for English?

CLAT syllabus for English carries the following important topics: Correcting Incorrect Grammar Sentences Synonyms & Antonyms Tenses Fill in the Blanks Spotting Grammatical Errors Active & Passive Voice Through CLAT English section, the consortium tested following skills: Comprehension and language skills. Ability to read and comprehend the arguments and viewpoints discussed in the passage. The capacity to draw inferences and conclusions The ability to summarise a passage. The ability to compare and contrast various arguments or viewpoints Comprehension of words and phrases.

Which are the best books for CLAT 2026?

Among all the books of CLAT 2026 in the world, first, go for the NCERT books. You must complete all the NCERT books first before moving to other reference books available in the market. After completing the NCERT books, you can go for the following books to boost up your practice and concepts: Universal’s LLB Entrance Guide, Lexis Nexis, Objective Arithmetic, GK Today, India Year Book and Analytical, Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal, Word Power Made Easy, Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal, Manorama Year Book and Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey.

Which are the best books for English to crack CLAT 2026?

English sections of CLAT will test the reading, comprehension and basic grammar skills of the aspirants. Aspirants must focus on improving their reading skills while preparing for CLAT English section. Candidates should concentrate on grammar and vocabulary too. Candidates can check CLAT 2026 best books for English Language including comprehension here: English is Easy by Chetananand Singh, Barron’s Pocket Guide to Vocabulary, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, Objective General English by RS Aggarwal, High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin.

Which books are there for CLAT exam?

For general knowledge, one can refer to the Lucent GK. The Current Affairs for CLAT 2026 can be prepared by reading daily newspapers and monthly magazines. The CLAT legal aptitude will have questions on topics such as Constitutional law, Law of Torts, Personal laws, Law of Contract, Jurisprudence, legal Current Affairs etc. There are various study materials available in online mode, including online coaching. The e-paper, articles, journals, and YouTube videos on CLAT preparation are important resources. Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey Bare Acts of Indian Constitution LexisNexis Butterworths Legal Awareness and Legal Aptitude by Andhra Pradesh Bhardwaj Universals CLAT Guide

When will the CLAT 2026 exam be held?

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) will conduct the CLAT 2026 on December 7, 2025 tentatively. The exam authority will first publish the admission notification for CLAT 2026 with details of syllabus, exam pattern and events on the official website.

What is the level of questions to be asked in CLAT 2026 question paper?

The level of questions for CLAT 2026 paper defines the difficulty level of the question paper. Therefore, the level of the questions asked in CLAT UG exam is of Class 12 or above except for Quantitative Techniques questions. The difficulty level of Quantitative Techniques section is of Class 10 or basic level. Candidates should note that the level of questions asked in General Knowledge and Current Affairs is not defined, and it can be asked from any where including newspapers and past one year Current Affairs.

What type of questions are asked in CLAT exam?

The CLAT Exam 2026 will carry 120 questions. UG CLAT syllabus 2026 consist of five sections - English language, General knowledge and current affairs, legal aptitude, logical reasoning and quantitative abilities. The CLAT LLM syllabus consist of topics from common law subjects of LLB programmes.

How many questions will be asked in CLAT 2026?

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

I have not cleared the CLAT exam. Can I appear for the exam again?

Yes, you can definitely appear for the CLAT exam again if you did not clear it in the first attempt. The CLAT exam is conducted once a year by the Consortium for enrolling students in various law courses offered at 24 NLUs in the country. There is no limit on the number of attempts that you can make for the CLAT exam. However, you have to fulfill the eligibility criteria to appear in the exam. All those candidates who are willing to appear for the CLAT 206 should meet the eligibility criteria as announced by the Consortium of National Law Universities. All eligible candidates must fill the CLAT 2026 application form before the last date.The consortium released the updated eligibility criteria of CLAT 2026 for admission to 5-year LLB and LLM courses on its official website. These criteria include parameters like academic qualification, minimum marks, age limit, etc.

Will CLAT be conducted in regional languages?

CLAT 2026 is expected to be held in regional language. The Bar Council of India is planning to include vernacular languages as medium of paper in the coming years. Till CLAT exam 2024, it was held in the English language only like in previous years. CLAT 2025 PG Exam is also expected to be conducted in English only.

Is 'Legal Aptitude' section removed from the CLAT question paper?

As per the CLAT exam pattern released by the NLU Consortium, Legal Reasoning remained a part of the question paper along with Quantitative Techniques, English Current Affairs including General Knowledge and Logical Reasoning. If the exam authority decides to remove any of the sections of CLAT UG question paper in 2026, then it will inform the candidates in admission notification itself, so that candidates can prepare for the exam accordingly.However, no such announcement has been made so far. The Legal Reasoning section has been removed from AILET question paper only.

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

What kind of questions are included in CLAT question paper?

The CLAT question paper for UG courses had objective-type questions from subjects such as Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning Quantitative Techniques, English and Current Affairs including General Knowledge. The CLAT paper for the LLM. course had both objective questions from law subjects such as Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, etc. Generally, the questions are designed as passage followed by series of questions of one mark each. Candidates had to attempt the questions by reading and interpreting the passages only.

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.

Will CLAT be held twice in 2026?

In 2022, CLAT exam was held twice, I. e. on June 19 as CLAT 2022, and on December 18, 2022 as CLAT 2023. However, from 2024 onwards, CLAT exam is to be conducted once in a year only, as confirmed by the exam officials in the latest notification. Earlier, CLAT exam was conducted in May or June, but from 2024 onwards the entrance exam will be conducted in December (of preceding year to the admission year) itself for concluding admissions on time. Therefore, CLAT counselling process will be completed by May of each academic year.

What kind of questions are included in CLAT question paper?

The CLAT question paper for UG courses had objective-type questions from subjects such as Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning Quantitative Techniques, English and Current Affairs including General Knowledge. The CLAT paper for the LLM. course had both objective questions from law subjects such as Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, etc. Generally, the questions are designed as passage followed by series of questions of one mark each. Candidates had to attempt the questions by reading and interpreting the passages only.

CLAT PG Pattern 2025: Exam Mode, Marking Scheme, Negative Marking & Exam Duration

3K Students Q&A

Counselling - To be notified

CLAT 2025 Result Petition Hearing on Jan 30, Delhi HC To Decide CLAT Result To B

This exam is conducted for courses given below:

BA LLB, BCom LLB, BSc LLB, BBA ...LLM

Updated on Nov 12, 2024 11:28 IST

By Anupama Mehra, Assistant Manager – Content

CLAT 2025 exam pattern for LLM courses will be released by NLU Consortium. The CLAT LLM paper will carry both objective- and subjective-type questions. The Consortium dropped the subjective section from the CLAT PG Exam 2024. As per the revised CLAT Exam Pattern 2025, candidates have to attempt a total 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in 120 minutes duration. Given below is the detailed CLAT pattern for LLM.

Candidates are advised to thoroughly go through the CLAT exam pattern 2025 for LLM courses to know important test details such as the number of questions, type of questions, maximum marks, minimum cutoff criteria, exam subjects and marking scheme.

Table of content

CLAT Exam Pattern 2025: Highlights
CLAT LLM Pattern 2025: Section-Wise & Weightage
CLAT 2025 Marking Scheme for LLM
CLAT 2025 Minimum Cutoff Criteria
Important Points regarding CLAT LLM 2025 Exam Pattern

CLAT Exam Pattern 2025: Highlights

The key features of CLAT LLM question paper are mentioned below:

Particulars	CLAT Exam Pattern for LLM
Exam mode	Offline
Exam duration	120 minutes (2 hours)
Test language	English
Type of questions	Objective
Exam subjects	Various law subjects divided into two sections
Total questions	120
Total marks	120
Marking scheme	+1 for every correct answer -0.25 for every incorrect answer

Registration

Exam Date

Results

Cutoff

Counselling

CLAT LLM Pattern 2025: Section-Wise & Weightage

CLAT question paper 2025 for LLM contains objective-type questions. There will be 120 MCQs that candidates have to attempt in a duration of two hours. Check the complete CLAT LLM exam pattern for each for reference below.

CLAT LLM Sections	MCQs per section	Marks per section
Sec A – Constitutional Law	120	120
Sec B - Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence.
Sec C – Law topics and Contemporary issues

If you are appearing for CLAT UG 2025, then take a look at the following articles:

CLAT Exam Pattern for UG Courses

CLAT Syllabus for UG Courses

CLAT 2025 Marking Scheme for LLM

As per the CLAT Marking Scheme 2025,

Candidates will be awarded one mark for every correct answer
There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer
No marks will be awarded or deducted for questions left un-attempted

CLAT Marking Parameters	Marks Awarded for Objective Questions
Correct answer	+1
Incorrect answer	-0.25
Un-attempted question	0

Also Read: CLAT Questions for Practice with Solutions: Free PDF Download

CLAT 2025 Minimum Cutoff Criteria

As per the CLAT minimum cutoff criteria, only candidates who score a minimum 40 per cent aggregate (35 per cent for SC/ST/PwD) in the objective section of the exam will qualify for evaluation of their answers in the descriptive section.

Candidates appearing for CLAT 2025 can check CLAT Cutoff for UG Courses here

Important Points regarding CLAT LLM 2025 Exam Pattern

Some of the important points that candidates must keep in mind regarding the CLAT test pattern for LLM courses include:

The CLAT PG 2025 exam will focus on the comprehension capabilities of candidates
The CLAT PG paper will contain extracts from primary legal materials followed by a series of questions. Candidates will need to answer those questions while demonstrating their reading and comprehension ability, awareness of issues discussed in the passage and knowledge application ability.
The paper will be based on all the mandatory subjects of UG-level law course of candidates and as per the CLAT 2025 LLM Syllabus shared by Consortium
In the descriptive section of the exam, candidates' answers should not exceed 800 words
While writing descriptive essays, candidates should be able to demonstrate their awareness of legal, factual and philosophical issues. Candidates should also be able to structure their answers well.

Check complete CLAT syllabus for LLM.