The Consortium’s official website posts an official notification with details on the CLAT exam, including the CLAT exam duration, the CLAT eligibility requirements, and other information. But the official announcement is yet to be released. However, we can foresee the exam format and syllabus by examining the previous year’s exams. To learn more about the CLAT exam pattern and begin their preparations, students do not have to wait for the official notification. This article can give candidates a good overview of the CLAT exam format and other crucial information.
Overview CLAT exam
| S.No. | Particulars | Details |
| Name of the Examination | Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) | |
| Conducting Body | The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) | |
| Exam Level | National Level | |
| Purpose | Admission to undergraduate courses in law.Admission to postgraduate courses in law.PSUs recruitments. | |
| Exam Date | December 2023 | |
| Medium | English | |
| Frequency | Once a Year | |
| Duration | 120 Minutes, i.e. 2 Hours | |
| Mode | Pen and Paper | |
| Total no. of questions | CLAT UG- 150 QuestionsCLAT PG- 120 Questions | |
| Maximum Marks | CLAT UG- 150 MarksCLAT PG- 120 Marks | |
| Question Type | MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) | |
| Number of Seats | 3000 for UG Program1000 for PG Program | |
| Total Sections | 5 Sections (English Language, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques, Legal Reasoning, and Current Affairs including General Knowledge.) | |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 Marks for every wrong answer. | |
| Participating Institutions | 22 NLUs and other affiliated institutions |
Why should we know the CLAT Exam Pattern?
Knowing the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) exam pattern is crucial for several reasons:
- Preparation Strategy: Understanding the CLAT exam pattern helps you formulate an effective preparation strategy. It allows you to allocate your time and resources wisely based on the sections, number of questions, and time duration of the exam. This helps you cover all the necessary topics and practice accordingly.
- Time Management: The CLAT exam is time-bound, and knowing the exam pattern helps you develop time management skills. By familiarizing yourself with the number of sections and questions, you can plan how much time to allocate to each section, ensuring you complete the exam within the given time limit.
- Sectional Strengths and Weaknesses: The exam pattern helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses in different sections. By knowing the weightage of each section, you can prioritize your preparation and focus more on the areas where you need improvement. This helps you maximize your overall score.
- Mock Test Performance: Understanding the exam pattern allows you to practice mock tests that closely resemble the actual CLAT exam. This helps you simulate the exam environment and get accustomed to the pattern, increasing your comfort level and confidence on the day of the exam.
- Question Types and Marking Scheme: The exam pattern provides insights into the types of questions asked in each section and the marking scheme. This knowledge enables you to understand the expectations of the examiners and answer accordingly, improving your accuracy and minimizing negative marking.
- Resource Selection: By knowing the CLAT exam pattern, you can select appropriate study materials, reference books, and online resources that align with the specific sections and topics covered in the exam. This ensures that you are using the right resources to enhance your preparation.
Understanding the CLAT exam pattern gives you a clear roadmap for your preparation, helps you manage your time effectively, and enables you to focus on the areas that require more attention. It enhances your chances of performing well in the exam and securing admission to your desired law program.
CLAT Exam Pattern: Undergraduate
| S.No. | Subjects | Questions(approx.) | CLAT total marks | Weightage |
| 1 | English including Comprehension | 28-32 | 28-32 | 20% |
| 2 | General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 35-39 | 32-35 | 25% |
| 3 | Legal Reasoning | 35-39 | 35-39 | 25% |
| 4 | Logical Reasoning | 28-32 | 28-32 | 20% |
| 5 | Quantitative Techniques | 13-17 | 13-17 | 10% |
| TOTAL | 150 | 150 | 100% |
CLAT Exam Pattern: Postgraduate
| S.No. | Subjects | Questions(approx.) | CLAT total marks | Weightage |
| Constitutional Law | 60 | 60 | 50% | |
| Other Laws such as Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Property Law, Company Law, Environmental Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, and Labour & Industrial Law | 60 | 60 | 50% | |
| TOTAL | 120 | 120 | 100% |
CLAT Exam Pattern UG: Tie-Breaking Mechanism
If two or more candidates receive equal CLAT UG scores, the tie is resolved as follows:
- The candidate who earned the most points in the legal aptitude section will be admitted.
- The applicants’ age must be considered if the first condition is ineffective. The oldest one gets admission.
- The computer-based lottery mechanism is the last line of defence to break ties. A computerised lottery mechanism randomly selects candidates, and the winner will be admitted to the programme.
CLATExam Pattern PG: Tie-Breaking Mechanism
When it comes to PG programmes, ties in CLAT scores are resolved in the following ways:
- The first criterion is based on age. In the event of a tie, the older candidate is admitted.
- A computerised lottery mechanism is employed as a last option if age criteria are ineffective. The lottery winner selected by a machine is taken into consideration for admission.
