CLAT marks 40 which is a score of just over 30% cannot be considered a good performance in the exam. Most candidates with a CLAT score of 40 marks will find it difficult to gain NLU admission. The expected rank for CLAT marks 40 is around 33000 or lower. At this rank, only ST candidates can clear the CLAT cut-off for some of the participating NLUs. Read on to find out the rank for the CLAT score of 40 and the top NLUs for that rank.
If two or more candidates obtain the same number of marks, then the Consortium will resort to the tie-breaker rule to prepare the round 2 merit list of CLAT 2026.
Through the Common Law Admission Test candidates will be admitted into the 5-year LLB and LLM programmes of participating universities. CLAT 2025 was conducted on December 1, 2024.
As per the CLAT marks vs rank analysis, a candidate with CLAT marks 40 will obtain a rank between 33000 to 38000. The CLAT cut-off for ST candidates in tier 3 NLUs often falls in this range. Given below is the corresponding rank for scores around the CLAT mark 40. The rank estimates are based on trends observed in the last year’s CLAT cut-offs.
Marks | Rank |
43 | 33000 - 33500 |
42 | 33500 - 34000 |
41 | 34000 - 35000 |
40 | 35000 - 36000 |
39 | 36000 - 37400 |
38 | 37400- 38000 |
37 | 38000 - 38200 |
Candidates can also make use of the CLAT rank predictor, a free tool developed by Careers360. Click on the link given below and enter the marks to know the estimated CLAT rank.
Particulars | Link |
Tool Link |
CLAT mark 40 is not a good score in CLAT. The NLU cut-offs for most universities are way above the CLAT score of 40. ST candidates with domicile reservations will be able to gain admission to some of the participating NLUs in CLAT with this score. Tier 3 NLUs and a few tier 2 NLUs with domicile reservations offer admission for candidates with score around CLAT mark 40.
NLU | ST | |
Opening rank | Closing rank | |
NLUJA Assam | 17149* | 46899* |
TNNLU Tiruchirappalli BA LLB | 38376* | - |
MNLU Mumbai | 24593* | 34264* |
MNLU Nagpur - BA LLB | 29470* | 50326* |
MNLU Nagpur - BBA LLB | 42740* | 46480* |
MNLU Aurangabad- BA LLB | 41238* | - |
MNLU Aurangabad - BBA LLB | 47604* | - |
NLUT Agartala | 31488* | - |
*state category reservation
Other than the NLUs, several law colleges accept CLAT scores. Candidates who have a low score in CLAT 2025 can look at these law schools as they are good alternatives to pursue law. The table given below provides a list of some of the law schools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The top NLUs for ST candidates for CLAT marks 40 include MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, and NLUJA Assam.
The expected rank for CLAT marks 40 is around 33000 to 38000.
A CLAT mark of 40 is not a good score in CLAT.
On Question asked by student community
Start preparing for CLAT by first understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, which includes English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Make a simple daily routine and begin with basics read newspapers regularly for current affairs, practice comprehension passages for English and legal sections, and solve basic
Hello
With an AIR of 9076 and EWS rank of 846 in CLAT 2026, getting a top NLUs is unlikely, which is why you didn’t get a seat in the first round. However, you still have some chances in lower-tier NLUs like NLU Odisha, NLU Assam, NLU Tripura, NLU Meghalaya,
Hello
With a CLAT 2026 score of 60.75, AIR 17,715, and OBC-NCL rank 3,347 as an out-of-Delhi candidate, getting a seat in the Faculty of Law, Delhi University is very unlikely. DU’s cut-offs for OBC candidates are usually much higher, even in later rounds. You should keep backup options like
Hello,
With AIR 10542 and OBC rank 1843, getting top NLUs is unlikely. However, you still have chances in newer or lower ranked NLUs like NLU Assam, NUSRL Ranchi, MNLU Nagpur/Mumbai, especially in later or vacancy rounds. Also consider good private law colleges as backup options.
Since you scored 8000 AIR in CLAT, getting into top NLUs may not be possible, so it is a good idea to look for affordable and good law colleges.
State government law colleges are usually low in fees, and have decent reputation. Some options include Government Law College, Mumbai, Faculty
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