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CLAT
Common Law Admission Test
📝 Law Entrance Examination Offline (Pen and Paper based) ⏱ Valid: 1 Year Since 2008 ⚡ High
🕐 Last updated: June 18, 2026
📝 Register Now 🌐 Official Site
›
Score Range
0 to 120
Exam Fee
$48
Duration
120 minutes
Questions
120
Score Valid
1 Year
Frequency
Annual
Accepted By
24 National Law Universities and over 60 private law schools across India.
Pass Rate
Approximately 3% of total test-takers secure admission into the top 5 National Law Universities.
Difficulty
High
📝 Register for CLAT 🌐 Official Website ✍️ Need application help? →
Quick Summary

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a law entrance examination conducted by Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs). Scores range from 0 to 120, valid for 1 Year, with a total duration of 120 minutes. Accepted by 24 National Law Universities and over 60 private law schools across India., the exam fee is $48, with high difficulty level.

📋 Exam Overview
🎯
Score Range
0 to 120
⏱
Duration
120 minutes
💳
Fee
$48
📅
Valid For
1 Year
🖥
Mode
Offline (Pen and Paper based)
🌍
Accepted By
24 National Law Universities and over 60 private law schools across India.
🗓
Frequency
Annual
🏛
Conducted By
Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs)
❓
Total Qs
120
📑
Sections
English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques
⚡
Difficulty
High
📊
Pass Rate
Approximately 3% of total test-takers secure admission into the top 5 National Law Universities.
Gateway to the National Law Universities of India
👤 Who Should Take This Exam?
Aspiring law students seeking admission into five-year integrated LL.B. programs or one-year LL.M. programs at India's premier National Law Universities. It is also taken by candidates aiming for legal roles in various Public Sector Undertakings.
🎓 Education Level
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
🌍 Accepted In
India
📝 Exam Structure & Format
Question Types
The exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that are predominantly based on reading comprehension passages for all sections.
Language / Medium
English
Total Duration
120 minutes
Retake Policy
Candidates can appear for the exam once every year. There is no restriction on the total number of attempts an individual can make throughout their lifetime.
Total Questions
120
Sections
English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques
⚙️ More format details (timing, marking, equipment)See all ▾
Time Per Section
Varies; there is no sectional time limit imposed by the conducting body, allowing candidates to manage their own time.
Negative Marking
Yes
Calculator Allowed
No
Scratch Paper
Yes
Breaks Allowed
No
Home Edition
No
Digital vs Paper
As a paper-based exam, CLAT requires physical OMR shading which is irreversible, unlike digital exams where answers can be changed easily. It also requires candidates to physically flip through pages to manage their time across passages.
📑 Section Details
The English section comprises 22-26 questions; Current Affairs has 28-32 questions; Legal Reasoning has 28-32 questions; Logical Reasoning has 22-26 questions; and Quantitative Techniques contains 10-14 questions.
🎯 Scoring System
Score Range
0 to 120
Good / Passing Score
There is no fixed passing score for CLAT as admissions are based on merit ranks and the specific cutoff scores determined by participating National Law Universities each year.
How Scoring Works
Candidates receive 1 mark for every correct answer. A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for every incorrect response, while unattempted questions receive no marks.
🏆 Minimum Scores for Top Universities
The Consortium does not mandate a minimum score for general candidates, but SC/ST candidates often have different eligibility thresholds for the counseling process.
📊 Section / sub-scoresSee all ▾
Writing
Not applicable
Speaking
Not applicable
Listening
Not applicable
Reading
Varies
Grammar
Varies
Vocabulary
Varies
Analytical
Varies
Quantitative
Varies
Verbal
Varies
Subject
Varies
All Sub-Scores
Individual scores for each of the five sections are provided on the final scorecard.
📈 Avg First Attempt
65 to 75
🔼 Score Improvement
15-20% improvement is common through consistent mock test analysis and focused current affairs revision.
💳 Registration & Fees
Fee (USD)
$48
See all ▾
48
Fee (INR)
₹4000
See all ▾
4000
Other
INR 3500 for SC/ST/BPL candidates; additional charges of INR 500 apply if candidates opt for previous years' question papers.
📝 Register Now →
📋 Policies (rescheduling, cancellation, verification, waivers)See all ▾
⏰ Register in Advance
3 to 4 months
🔄 Rescheduling Policy
The exam date is fixed and cannot be rescheduled by individual candidates; however, the Consortium provides a limited window for correcting application details.
❌ Cancellation Policy
Registration fees are non-refundable, and once an application is submitted, it cannot be cancelled for a refund.
🔍 Score Verification
Yes
📋 Score Audit
Yes
↩ Reinstatement Policy
Not specified
🎁 Fee Waiver Criteria
Not specified
📅 Exam Dates & Schedule
📆 Available Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
🔁 Frequency
Annual
📊 Results Declared
Results are typically announced within 10 to 15 days following the conduct of the examination.
🔄 Retake Policy
Candidates can appear for the exam once every year. There is no restriction on the total number of attempts an individual can make throughout their lifetime.
⏰ Register By
3 to 4 months
✅ Eligibility & Access
🎂 Age Limit
There is no upper age limit for appearing in CLAT UG or PG programs.
🎓 Education Required
For UG, candidates must have completed 10+2 with a minimum of 45% marks. For PG, an LL.B. degree with a minimum of 50% marks is required.
🛂 Citizenship
Indian Nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and Foreign Nationals are eligible to apply.
📍 Test Centers
Approximately 130 cities across India.
More on accommodations, ID, and special versionsSee all ▾
🪪 ID Required
Yes
♿ Accessibility
Provisions for scribes and additional time of 40 minutes are provided for candidates with benchmark disabilities upon submission of valid documentation.
🔀 Special Versions
Not specified
📐 Subject Variants
CLAT Undergraduate (UG) for 5-year LLB and CLAT Postgraduate (PG) for LLM programs.
🤝 Disability Accommodations
Compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour and the assistance of a scribe are provided to eligible candidates with disabilities.
🗓 Exam Day Guide
✅ What to Bring
Admit card, a valid original photo ID (like Aadhar or Passport), a blue/black ballpoint pen, and a transparent water bottle.
🚫 Prohibited Items
Mobile phones, calculators, digital watches, study materials, and any kind of electronic gadgets are strictly forbidden.
📋 Exam Day Rules
Candidates must arrive at the test center at least 60 minutes before the start time. Use of blue/black ballpoint pens for OMR bubbling is mandatory.
After the exam: score reporting and deliverySee all ▾
⏱ Score Reporting
10 to 15 days
📤 Score Sending
Scores are shared automatically through the centralized merit list with all participating universities during the counseling process.
🎓 Score Recipients
24 National Law Universities and several affiliated private law colleges and Public Sector Undertakings.
📚 Preparation Guide
📅 Recommended Prep Time
6 to 12 months
🗓 Avg Prep Months
9 months
Preparation focuses on developing high reading speed, critical thinking, and current affairs awareness. Candidates are expected to analyze complex legal and logical passages within tight time constraints.
💡 Top Tips & Tricks
Develop a habit of reading quality editorials from newspapers like The Hindu daily to improve comprehension and vocabulary. Focus on legal principles rather than legal facts, as the test evaluates reasoning ability over rote memorization.
Full study plan, resources, and common mistakesSee all ▾
📅 Study Plan
The first phase should involve understanding the syllabus and practicing sectional tests to identify strengths. The final phase must involve taking full-length mock exams in an environment that simulates the actual test day to master time management.
📖 Recommended Books
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, Pearson's Guide to the CLAT, and Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by A.P. Bhardwaj.
🏫 Popular Prep Courses
Career Launcher (LST), LegalEdge, and IMS India.
📱 Popular Prep Apps
Unacademy, BYJU'S Exam Prep, and LawSikho.
✅ Official Practice Tests
Yes — Varies; sample papers are often released as part of the registration portal for registered candidates.
🆓 Free Online Resources
Official sample papers and previous year papers provided by the Consortium, educational content on YouTube, and free monthly current affairs compendiums from coaching institutes.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many students lose marks by over-answering questions they are unsure of, leading to high negative marking. Another common error is failing to manage time across the five sections, often leaving the Quantitative Techniques section untouched.
💡 EduAtlasHub Exclusive Insights
🔍 Insider Tips
Treat the Legal Reasoning section as a reading test; the answer is always within the passage regardless of your external legal knowledge. Prioritize sections based on your personal strength to build confidence early in the two-hour window.
⭐ Unique Features
CLAT is unique for its comprehensive passage-based format where even quantitative and logical sections are presented through textual descriptions. It also serves as the gateway for recruitment into lucrative legal roles in Indian PSUs.
🎓 How This Score Impacts Your Application
A high score is essential for securing a seat in top-tier NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore or NALSAR Hyderabad. Beyond admissions, many PSUs use CLAT PG scores to recruit legal officers directly.
More insights: country notes, comparisons, myths, examiner tipsSee all ▾
🌍 Country-Specific Notes
The exam is primarily for Indian institutions, though NRI and Foreign National categories are available for international applicants wishing to study in India.
⚖️ Comparison with Alternatives
CLAT is more passage-heavy and reading-intensive than AILET. Unlike the LSAT-India, which focuses purely on reasoning, CLAT includes a significant General Knowledge component.
🆕 Recent Changes
Starting from the 2024 cycle, the number of questions in the UG exam was reduced from 150 to 120, while the duration remained unchanged at 2 hours. This change was aimed at making the exam less stressful for students.
🔜 Upcoming Changes
While no structural changes are announced for the next immediate cycle, the Consortium continues to update the depth of the passage-based questions to emphasize analytical skills over memory.
🧐 Myths vs Facts
Myth: You need to know complex laws before the exam. Fact: CLAT tests legal reasoning, not legal knowledge, and all necessary principles are provided in the passages. Myth: Only humanities students can pass. Fact: Many science and commerce students excel due to their logical and mathematical aptitude.
👨‍🏫 Examiner Tips
Do not skip the Quantitative Techniques section; even though it has the fewest questions, it often serves as a rank-decider. Always read the questions before the passage to know exactly what information to look for while reading.
🏆 Success Stories
Thousands of students from rural backgrounds have successfully utilized online platforms to rank within the top 500. Many alumni of the NLUs have gone on to become successful advocates in the Supreme Court and partners at top-tier law firms.
📋 Post-Exam Steps
After the results, candidates must register for the online counseling process, fill in their NLU preferences, and pay the counseling fee to be considered for seat allotment.
🎯 Score Uses Beyond Admission
Scores are utilized for the recruitment of legal trainees and officers by various government-owned companies (PSUs) such as ONGC and BHEL.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the CLAT score valid?+
The CLAT score is valid for 1 Year.
How much does the CLAT cost?+
The exam fee is $48 (approximately ₹4000 in India).
How often can I retake the CLAT?+
Candidates can appear for the exam once every year. There is no restriction on the total number of attempts an individual can make throughout their lifetime.
When are CLAT results declared?+
Results are typically announced within 10 to 15 days following the conduct of the examination.
Which universities accept the CLAT?+
CLAT is accepted by 24 National Law Universities and over 60 private law schools across India..
Is a calculator allowed in the CLAT?+
No
How should I prepare for the CLAT?+
Preparation focuses on developing high reading speed, critical thinking, and current affairs awareness. Candidates are expected to analyze complex legal and logical passages within tight time constraints.
📝
Register for CLAT
Gateway to the National Law Universities of India
Register Now →
📊 Quick Facts
Official Site →
Conducted ByConsortium of National Law Universities (NLUs)
Year Started2008
CategoryLaw Entrance Examination
Last UpdatedJune 18, 2026
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