Left NLU Odisha for NLU Delhi: Aarav Sachdeva on His CLAT 2026 AIR 30

CLAT 2026 Topper Interview: Aarav Sachdeva on Preparation Strategy and NLU Delhi

Careers360: After CLAT 2025, you chose to prepare again while keeping NLU Odisha as a backup. What gave you the confidence to take another shot?

Aarav Sachdeva: When I started my CLAT preparation, I had always targeted a top NLU like NLU Delhi or NLSIU Bengaluru. So, after my CLAT 2025 results, even though I got a seat at an NLU, I was not completely satisfied, and there was still a zeal in me to give it another shot. Coming to confidence, I firmly believe that it comes from within yourself. I knew what I was capable of and I knew my potential, and that gave me the confidence to try again.

Careers360: You prepared for CLAT 2026 while being enrolled at NLU Odisha. What was different about your second attempt?

Aarav Sachdeva: For my second attempt, firstly, I had a great deal of learning from my first attempt. During my first attempt, a large portion of my strategy was based on advice from seniors or simply hit and trial. This time, however, I knew what worked for me, what my weak portions were, and what exactly I needed to do.

Secondly, I had already experienced the actual exam day once, so that helped me maintain my calm and composure during the second attempt.

Careers360: You went from your 2025 attempt to AIR 30 in CLAT 2026. What was the biggest change in your preparation or approach?

Aarav Sachdeva: As I mentioned earlier, this time my preparation was much more focused and catered to what worked for me. For instance, I knew that I was fairly comfortable with all the CLAT sections, but sometimes struggled to complete an entire paper at once. So, unlike my previous attempt, my strategy this time was very mock-heavy, with comparatively fewer sectional tests.

I also focused a lot more on GK this time. I referred to multiple compendiums and watched several videos as well to make sure that my preparation was as comprehensive as possible.

Careers360: You are now involved in mooting, research, policy and ADR at NLU Delhi. Which skills from CLAT preparation help you most?

Aarav Sachdeva: I believe CLAT preparation gives you an introduction to many of the skills that one later requires in law school. The most prominent among these is the reading habit one develops while preparing for CLAT, since one is expected to read a lot in law school.

Additionally, CLAT preparation makes one generally aware of current developments, important static facts, and even the basics of various legal principles. All of these help in one way or another once you enter law school.

Careers360: What reading habits helped you during CLAT, and what can CLAT 2027 aspirants adopt from them now?

Aarav Sachdeva: Personally, I read The Hindu daily and The Indian Express whenever I could, especially the editorial sections. I believe that is a good starting point for any aspirant.

Apart from newspapers, I also referred to articles, writings and blogs on topics that I was relatively weak in, such as Economics and Philosophy. I think reading beyond just CLAT material helps in becoming more comfortable with unfamiliar passages and subjects.

Careers360: After joining NLU Delhi, what is one thing you wish you had known while preparing for CLAT?

Aarav Sachdeva: I believe that as an aspirant, one is naturally quite anxious about the exam day throughout the preparation phase. There is a great deal of uncertainty about what might happen on the actual day, whether one will be able to interpret the passages properly, whether one will know the GK questions being asked, or whether one will be able to do the maths calculations accurately.

I wish I had known then that if you have prepared sincerely and believe in yourself, things generally fall into place. A lot depends on staying calm and trusting yourself during those two hours.

Careers360: For students considering another attempt because they are not satisfied with their current options, what would you want them to learn from your journey?

Aarav Sachdeva: I think this has been reflected, in one way or another, in my other responses as well: one should have a firm belief in oneself. In my opinion, apart from your preparation, your CLAT result also depends a lot on how you perform during those two hours.

Without confidence in yourself, it becomes very difficult to perform to the best of your ability in an exam like CLAT. If you genuinely believe that you can do better, are willing to put in the work again, and understand where you went wrong the first time, taking another attempt can certainly be worth it.