How to Get Success in CLAT 2026?

How to Get Success in CLAT 2026?

Ongoing Event

CLAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 31 Oct' 25

Ritika JonwalUpdated on 14 Feb 2025, 11:59 AM IST

Are you preparing for CLAT 2026? The Common Law Admission Test CLAT 2026 examination will be conducted in December 2025. Achieving success in the CLAT entails passing the entrance exam and getting accepted into National Law Universities (NLUs) which are among the best-ranked universities. However, since NLUs only have a small number of seats available, the entrance exam becomes very competitive. To succeed in CLAT 2026, applicants must follow a well-thought-out preparation approach. The CLAT test assesses legal reasoning, critical thinking, fast reading comprehension, and basic quantitative abilities. Candidates must spend at least seven to eight months preparing for the CLAT.

This Story also Contains

  1. CLAT 2026 examination synopsis
  2. Know the CLAT 2026 syllabus
  3. General Preparation Tips to Succeed in CLAT 2026
How to Get Success in CLAT 2026?
How to Get Success in CLAT

CLAT 2026 examination synopsis

Examination Full form

Common Law Admission Test

Conducting Body

Consortium of NLU

Examination Date

December (Date yet to be notified)

Exam Duration

2 hours

No. of question

120

Total no. of marks

120

Marking Scheme

Correct answer: 1 Mark

Negative marking: 0.25

Know the CLAT 2026 syllabus

Prior knowledge of the law is not required from an aspirant for the examination. The examination tests if the aspirant possesses critical thinking, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The CLAT 2026 syllabus will consist of five subjects from which the questions will be asked in the examination. The five subjects are English, current affairs and general knowledge, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and quantitative aptitude. Let us discuss in detail the syllabus and strategy of each section separately.

How to prepare for CLAT English language: Overview

No. of questions asked

22-26

Section weightage

20%

Type of Questions Asked

Reading comprehension passages of around 450 words are given. The type of questions asked from the passages are:

  • Meaning of words

  • Concluding paragraph

  • Providing a theme to the passage

  • The central idea of the passage

Skills required

  • Reading ability

  • Vocabulary

  • Grammar


Important books for CLAT 2026 English

A lot of coaching materials and books are available in the market. The most recommended books for this section are as mentioned below.

  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

  • General English by RS Aggarwal

  • 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Norman Lewis

  • Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal

  • Study Package for CLAT & LLB by McGraw Hill

Preparation strategy of English language for CLAT 2026

CLAT English will test the reading and comprehension skills of the candidate. Let us discuss some tips that can help in the preparation.

  • Read books and novels regularly. It helps in enhancing the reading speed and vocabulary.

  • Read newspapers, articles, and editorials daily as a majority of passages are taken from newspapers. After reading the articles, try to conclude it.

  • Make notes and maintain a vocabulary notebook.

  • Regular revision of notes helps in retaining what the candidate has learned before.

  • Practice of mocks and reading comprehension.

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How to prepare for CLAT 2026 Current affairs & general knowledge: Overview

No. of questions asked

28-32

Section weightage

25%

Type of Questions Asked

Five to seven passages will be given in the form of a reading comprehension consisting of 400 to 450 words.

  • The passages will be related to the latest news, historical events, international affairs, etc.

  • Questions will be asked from the given passages only.

  • Here are a few examples of the types of questions that are asked:

  • Name of the institution that played a major role

  • Date of the event

  • Name of people and organizations involved.

Skills required

  • General Awareness

  • General knowledge

  • Awareness about domestic and international institutes and events.


Important books for CLAT 2026: Current Affairs & General Knowledge

Selecting books for entrance exam preparation is tough. Especially when there are a lot of options available. Here are the book recommendations that can be helpful to the candidate:

  • Newspapers - preferably The Hindu and Times of India.

  • General Knowledge by Lucent Publication

  • Pratiyogita Darpan

  • IAS Current Affairs magazines

  • Manorama Yearbook by Manorama

CLAT Sample Paper 2026 with Answer Key- Careers360
Download the CLAT Sample Paper 2026 PDF featuring the latest exam pattern with descriptive-type questions for effective preparation.
Download EBook

Preparation strategy of Current Affairs, and General Knowledge for CLAT 2026

The CLAT current affairs section which also includes general knowledge carries good marks weightage in the examination. The candidate needs to have a good approach for this section. Some of the tips to prepare CLAT current affairs as mentioned below.

  • Watch the news and read newspapers, especially editorials. Be in touch with news and latest events.

  • For the CLAT general knowledge portion, make notes of important historical events and dates.

  • Learn international institutions, their headquarters, date of establishment, etc.

  • Aspirants should revise their notes regularly.

  • The current affairs magazines are provided by various coachings.

How to prepare Legal reasoning for CLAT 2026: Overview

No. of questions asked

28-32

Section weightage

25%

Type of Questions Asked

A passage of approximately 400 to 450 words is given. The candidate has to answer the questions asked from the passages. The types of questions asked are:

  • The objective behind the paragraph

  • About the act, law, or purpose of institutions

  • Definition of basic legal terminologies

  • Supreme court verdicts

  • Conclusion of the passage

Skills required

  • Critical thinking

  • Familiarity with basic legal terminologies

  • Problem-solving skills

You may also check -

Important books for CLAT 2026: Legal reasoning

Aspirants sometimes become confused about the source to consult for this portion. Let us look at a few significant books available on the market that students might utilise for their preparation.

  • Objective Legal Aptitude by RS Aggarwal

  • Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by Pearson

  • The Pearson Guide to the CLAT by Harsh Gagrani

  • Bare Act of India

Preparation strategy of Legal reasoning for CLAT 2026

The CLAT legal reasoning section does not require legal knowledge. This section acquires a weightage of 25% which makes it an important portion. Let’s look at some strategy tips that candidates can use to approach this section.

  • Develop familiarity with the basic legal terminologies.

  • Make notes of popular Supreme Court verdicts, acts, and laws.

  • Practice a lot of mocks and sample papers.

  • Analyse CLAT past year papers to see the pattern and most asked areas.

How to prepare Logical reasoning for CLAT 2026: Overview

No. of questions asked

22-26

Section weightage

20%

Type of Questions asked

Logical reasoning section contains two to three passages, from which questions are asked. Some examples of the questions are:

  • Marking the true statements from the options based on the paragraph

  • The main argument of the passage

  • Draw relationships and analogies

Skills required

  • Logical thinking

  • Critical thinking

  • Analytical thinking


Important books for CLAT 2026: Logical Reasoning

The logical reasoning section needs a good objective questions book from which candidates can practice daily. The list of recommended books for CLAT logical reasoning is mentioned below.

  • Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal

  • Logical Reasoning by Arun Sharma

  • Analytical and Logical Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal

  • A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal

Preparation strategy of Logical reasoning for CLAT 2026

Candidates find the logical reasoning portion a little tough. But at the same time, it can be scoring too. Let’s discuss what candidates should do to ensure good marks.

  • The correct approach to securing good marks in logical reasoning is to analyze the past year's papers and check the pattern of questions asked.

  • Solve as many sectional tests as possible.

  • After solving sets and mocks, analyze the weak points, and work on them.

How to prepare Quantitative techniques for CLAT 2026: Overview

No. of questions asked

10-14

Section weightage

10%

Type of Questions Asked

The pattern of questions asked in this section is the same as in the other sections. Passages are given, which contain data. The candidates are expected to answer the questions by analyzing the data and information given in the passage. Topics from which the questions are asked are as follows

  • Ratio

  • Average

  • Percentage

(Other 10th level maths question)

Skills required

  • Quantitative skills

  • Data interpretation skills

  • Analytical skills

Important books for CLAT 2026: Quantitative Technique

A lot of students find this section a little challenging. But with practice, a candidate's quantitative aptitude can improve. Below are a few materials and books that students can use for preparing the quantitative section.

  • 10th standard Maths NCERT

  • Data interpretation by R.S Aggarwal

  • Quantitative Aptitude by R.S Aggarwal

  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Pearson's

Preparation Strategy of Quantitative Techniques for CLAT 2026

The CLAT quantitative section has the least weightage as compared to the other sections. However, it can be scored as the questions asked in the examination are of the 10th standard level. Now let’s look at the strategy that can help aspirants.

  • Read the syllabus carefully and analyze previous year’s papers to understand the pattern. By analyzing the paper, the candidate will also be able to understand the micro topics that are asked from the quantitative sections.

  • Start with basics and practice from 10th standard NCERT.

  • Make notes of formulas and revise them regularly.

  • Take as many CLAT mock papers and sectional tests as possible.

General Preparation Tips to Succeed in CLAT 2026

As we have mentioned before, the preparation takes around seven to eight months. Apart from the subject-wise approach and strategy, there are several things a candidate can do to ensure success in CLAT 2026.

  • The candidates should check the CLAT eligibility criteria before starting the preparation.

  • An aspirant should understand and learn the syllabus. It guides the candidates about the structure and pattern of the exam.

  • The candidates should follow standard books for CLAT preparation. These books should be concise, easy to understand and based on the updated CLAT syllabus.

  • Making a timetable for the CLAT exam would help the candidates organize their preparation and prepare in a targeted manner. On average the candidate is expected to give seven to eight hours daily.

  • Start with the basics of the subjects given in the syllabus. Building a strong foundation helps in understanding the subjects.

  • Complete the whole syllabus at least one month before the exam. Once the majority of topics are covered, candidates should start taking CLAT mocks.

  • Practice makes a man perfect. Therefore, the candidate should solve a lot of CLAT mock papers. Simultaneously, candidates should also solve the previous year's CLAT papers to understand the difficulty level of the exam and important topics that feature regularly in the question papers.

  • Time management is one of the most important aspects of CLAT preparation. Students often find it difficult to complete the CLAT exam within two hours. Therefore, one must master time and stress management. It will help the candidate on the main examination day.

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All about LSAT India

Complete information around exam dates, application process, participating institutes, etc. Get the Ebook

Also check - How to Prepare for CLAT in 6 Months

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are the five sections in CLAT 2026 syllabus?
A:

The five sections in CLAT 2026 are English language, current affairs that includes general knowledge, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and qualitative techniques.

Q: Is it difficult to crack CLAT 2026?
A:

Candidates can crack CLAT 2026 with proper strategy, hard work, dedication and planning. They need to follow the success tricks discussed in this article to crack CLAT 2024.

Q: How much time should candidates invest in preparing for CLAT 2026?
A:

Candidates with a proper preparation strategy can crack CLAT 2026 within 5-6 months.

Q: Will candidates benefit by solving CLAT mock test 2026?
A:

Yes, candidates by solving CLAT mock tests can understand the exam pattern as well as their weak points.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

Hello,

While NLUs are costly, you can still pursue government-funded law education through state-funded universities and their affiliated colleges that accept CLAT scores, such as institutes like Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University.

I hope it will clear your query!!

It is always better to take the CLAT exam right after Class 12 if your goal is to build a career in law, because CLAT UG is specifically designed for admission into integrated five-year law programs like BA LLB, BCom LLB, or BBA LLB. Appearing after Class 12 saves you time, as you complete both graduation and law together in a single course. On the other hand, if you first complete graduation and then plan for law, you will not be eligible for CLAT UG but instead for CLAT PG, which is meant for admission into LLM programs. This path takes longer, because you first spend three or four years on graduation and then add another three years in an LLB program if you choose not to go for an integrated course. So, if you are already sure about pursuing law as your career, writing CLAT right after Class 12 is the smarter and time-saving option, while writing it after graduation makes sense only if you are considering higher studies in law or a shift in career later.

For CLAT, the most important topics are from  Legal Reasoning, Current Affairs & GK, the Indian Constitution, English Language, Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning. For a brief detail you can go through the following link: https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-important-topics

Thank You.

Hi dear candidate,

Both the colleges Maharaja Agrasen (MAIMS) or Gitarattan (GIBS) are affiliated to IP University and allows admission either by CLAT or IPU CET Law. Without either of these exams, your admission is NOT accepted there. You can try looking for management quota seats in these colleges if you have got good marks in 12th class.

BEST REGARDS

Hi dear candidate,

You can easily register yourself for CLAT exam by visiting the Consortium of NLUs official website and follow these steps:

  • Register yourself with your EMail ID, phone number and password.
  • Log in using OTP
  • Complete application form by entering details, selecting program (UG/PG) and uploading required documents mentioned there.
  • Then at last, review the application and pay the registration fees.
  • Download your confirmation slip.

Know the complete process at:

CLAT Registration 2026 (Started): Documents Required, Application Fee, Link, Steps to Apply

BEST REGARDS