CLAT 2026: Mistakes You Should Avoid in Critical Reasoning

Importance of Critical Reasoning in CLAT Exam

Critical Reasoning (CR) is a key sub-component of the Logical Reasoning section in the CLAT exam. In this section, the candidate is tested on their ability to:

• Evaluate arguments, identify assumptions, and detect flaws.

• Strengthen or weaken conclusions.

• Draw inferences and analogies.

• Reason under uncertainty and ambiguity.

Because CR questions require deeper analysis than straightforward logic or puzzle questions, mastering them helps improve both accuracy and speed — essential in a timed exam.

How Much Critical Reasoning Matters in CLAT Exam

To understand how important Critical Reasoning is, we have to look at how much weight the Logical Reasoning section carries in CLAT overall:

• The Logical Reasoning section typically includes 22–26 questions out of 120.

• That amounts to around 20% of the total marks.

• Many expert analyses and coaching sources note that a “large portion” of those Logical Reasoning questions are based on Critical Reasoning (argument evaluation, inference, strengthening/weakening).
  
  

So in effect, Critical Reasoning contributes to a sizeable chunk of your scoring potential in CLAT — not directly as a separate section, but as a fundamental part of the Logical Reasoning section, which itself is worth 20% of the exam.

Common Mistakes Students Make in CLAT Critical Reasoning

CLAT 2026 Critical Reasoning: Top Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

It has been observed by the past 5-year CLAT analysis that most aspirants lose marks in Critical Reasoning due to misinterpreting arguments, overlooking logical connectors, and falling for distractors. This data highlights the most common mistakes and proven strategies to avoid them for CLAT 2026.

CLAT 2026 Critical Reasoning: Common Mistakes Avoided vs Strategies Implemented

CLAT 2026 Critical Reasoning (CR) Preparation Tips

In the CLAT logical reasoning section, questions will be asked from a series of short passages of about 450 words each. It evaluates the problem-solving skills of the students. Given below are the CLAT 2026 Critical Reasoning Key Preparation Tips.

Step 1: Understand Question Types

1. Assumption → What must be true for the argument to hold?

2. Inference / Conclusion → What logically follows from the passage?

3. Strengthen / Weaken → Which option supports or undermines the argument?

4. Cause & Effect → Identify cause and resulting effect.

5. Logical Consistency → Detect contradictions or unsupported statements.

Step 2: Stepwise Solving Approach

1. Read the Question First → Identify what is being asked.

2. Highlight Premises & Conclusion → Underline key facts.

3. Determine Question Type → Assumption, Inference, Strengthen/Weaken.

4. Evaluate Options → Eliminate extreme or unrelated choices.

5. Confirm Logical Coherence → Ensure selected answer fits perfectly.

Step 3: Practice Routine

• CLAT 2026 Critical Reasoning Daily:

  • 30 min – Analyse past CR questions.

  • 20 min – Solve 2–3 new passages.

  • 10 min – Review mistakes.

• CLAT 2026 Critical Reasoning Weekly:

  • Attempt full-length timed CR tests.

  • Track accuracy and recurring traps.

Step 4: Common Mistakes & How to Avoid

• Misreading keywords: Highlight terms like must, cannot, probably

• Ignoring connectors: Trace logic from premise → conclusion

• Falling for distractors: Remove irrelevant or extreme options

• Overthinking: Focus only on the passage facts

• Time mismanagement: Attempt easy first, mark tough for review.

Step 5: Resources

• CLAT Previous year papers (2016–2025) – for pattern recognition.

• CLAT Books:

  • “A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning” – R.S. Agarwal

  • Arun Sharma – Logical Reasoning practice

• Online CLAT Mock Tests: Online CLAT Mock Tests By Careers360

Step 6: Advanced Tips

• Think like the setter – identify hidden assumptions.

• Use tables or diagrams for complex cause-and-effect questions.

• Maintain an error log to track types of mistakes.

• Stick to a 15–20-minute CR time limit in exams. For information on how to effectively manage your time and study, please refer to the CLAT Time Management article.

CLAT 2026 Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions with Detailed Solution

In the CLAT logical reasoning section, questions will be asked from a series of short passages of about 450 words each. Here are some Critical Reasoning (CR) questions of CLAT / Logical Reasoning along with detailed solutions. You can treat them as mocks for the CLAT 2026 pattern. After these, I’ll give you tips and a strategy for solving CR questions in CLAT.

Passage

Being a consultant, your work consists of a deep examination of the company's environment and its internal system to notice inefficiencies and potential improvements. The interaction with the company's management and different sections to decipher their objectives, opportunities, and processes. This means that, through the use of data analysis, industry best practices, and the formulation of creative ways of solving all problems, to come up with unique solutions to all problems to increase efficiency and productivity, and hence, increase profitability for employers. This might entail operations such as logistics redesign, business process reengineering, adopting new applications, systems, or even community relation programs. People management is a critical component of change management, to make sure that all the relevant parties interpret the potential alterations positively. Also, to offer orientation and create resources to explain the changes to the group and make it comfortable with the shift. The general goal is the organization's ability to continue to grow and remain relevant with the shareholders and stakeholders in the industries it operates.

1. What is the primary purpose of the passage?

A) To explain the legal obligations of a consultant
B) To describe the role of a consultant in improving a company’s efficiency
C) To discuss the financial benefits of hiring consultants
D) To analyze the weaknesses of management in organizations

Answer: B

Solution: The passage focuses on what a consultant does—examining inefficiencies, proposing solutions, and managing change to improve efficiency and profitability. It does not focus on legal obligations, financial benefits alone, or criticizing management.

Question 2: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A) Consultants only work with the management and ignore other employees.
B) Change management requires communication and orientation with employees.
C) Profitability is the only goal of a consultant.
D) Community relation programs are optional and not part of consultancy.

Answer: B

Solution: The passage explicitly states that people management is critical, and consultants provide orientation and resources to help employees adapt. Options A, C, and D are either extreme or contradicted by the passage.

Question 3: The passage assumes that:

A) Companies are always inefficient without consultants.
B) Employees will always resist change.
C) Properly managed change can improve organisational growth and relevance.
D) Consultants are the only way to achieve profitability.

Answer: C

Solution: The passage implies that change management, if handled well, helps the organisation grow and remain relevant. Options A, B, and D are not stated or implied.

Question 4: Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the argument in the passage?

A) Companies rarely benefit from external consultancy.
B) Employees are more productive when they understand changes in their workflow.
C) Consultants are often expensive for organizations.
D) Shareholders do not care about efficiency improvements.

Answer: B

Solution: The passage emphasizes that people management and orientation help employees adapt to changes, which improves efficiency. B directly supports this reasoning. The other options weaken or are irrelevant.

Question 5: Which of the following statements is best supported by the passage?

A) Consultants primarily focus on redesigning logistics in all companies.
B) Creative solutions and data analysis are important tools used by consultants.
C) Consultants work independently without interacting with management.
D) Shareholders are usually unaware of the changes suggested by consultants.

Answer: B

Solution: The passage clearly states that consultants use data analysis, industry best practices, and creative solutions to improve efficiency and profitability.