How to prepare for CLAT 2026 in 1 Year? Check Month-wise preparation Strategy
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  • How to prepare for CLAT 2026 in 1 Year? Check Month-wise preparation Strategy

How to prepare for CLAT 2026 in 1 Year? Check Month-wise preparation Strategy

Ongoing Event

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

Ritika JonwalUpdated on 08 Jul 2025, 11:19 AM IST

Ever wondered if a whole year is enough to crack one of India’s toughest CLAT 2026? Pitch this with a focused 12-month study plan, and you can turn your CLAT 2026 dream into reality, even if you’re starting from scratch today!

How to prepare for CLAT 2026 in 1 Year? Check Month-wise preparation Strategy
How to prepare for CLAT 2026 in 1 Year

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is not just another entrance exam; it's your golden ticket to the top National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. But with thousands of aspirants and limited seats, a smart, well-planned strategy becomes your ultimate weapon.

In this article, we break down a comprehensive month-by-month preparation plan for CLAT 2026. From building strong fundamentals to mastering advanced CLAT 2026 Mock Test strategies, you’ll discover how to pace your CLAT 2026 preparation, stay motivated, and boost your chances of getting into your dream NLU - all within one year!

Why a 12-Month Preparation Strategy is Essential?

Cracking CLAT needs more than just hard work; it necessitates a purposeful, systematic strategy. A 12-month preparation Strategy ensures:

  • Comprehensive Coverage: Allocates enough time to comprehensively cover the whole CLAT 2026 Syllabus, leaving no topic uncovered.

  • Strong Fundamentals: Allows enough time to understand fundamental concepts, particularly in difficult areas such as legal reasoning and quantitative procedures.

  • Effective time management: It entails doing regular CLAT Mock Tests and analyses to increase speed, accuracy, and exam-day efficiency.

  • Consistent revision: It ensures retention by focusing on work and revisiting weaker areas.

  • Motivation and Discipline: Keeps preparation reasonable by setting clear goals and preventing burnout.

CLAT 2026 12 Months Preparation Strategy

Given below is a breakdown of the 12-month preparation Strategy to maximise your preparation:

Months

Month-wise Strategy

Short Tips

1st Month- 2nd Month

  • Focus on the foundation more in the first two months of preparation.

  • Start by learning in depth about the syllabus and the types of questions asked in the exam.

  • Analyse the previous year's question paper.

  • Knowing that the CLAT exam consists of five sections, allot time equally to all the sections.

Even if you don't comprehend everything right away, start by answering a few questions from prior papers. The purpose is to become acquainted with the examination style.


3rd Month- 4th Month

  • For the 3rd and the 4th month of preparation, it is advised to divide the sections and start subject-specific preparation.

  • For example- focus on comprehension and grammar, for the General Knowledge sections take up current affairs and law-related changes, followed by the legal sections where you can focus on basic law, new judgements and amendments, next comes the Logical Reasoning sections emphasize repeating questions topics in the previous year exams and lastly the Quantitative Aptitude Section practice as much as possible.

If you find difficulty in managing time with all the sections in the CLAT exam. Start by creating a road map for preparation by ensuring that you don't miss out on any of the sections.

5th Month- 6th Month

  • As in the first 4 months of preparation, the strategy and road map are ready.

  • Now, in the 5th and 6th months of preparation, allocate more time for preparation, increase your study hours, and try allocating more time to the weaker sections.

  • It is advised to appear for a mock test now and try to appear for one test per week, as it will help you to keep up with the pace of the preparation.

Join a reliable batch or coaching program to get expert guidance and peer support.


7th Month- 9th Month

  • It's time to increase the intensity of practice in the 7th and 9th months. Attempt 2-3 mock tests a week.

  • After appearing for the mock test, review the answers and try spotting the errors and weak points.

  • It is also advised to solve past years' question papers to improve time management.

Take guidance from seniors or teachers who have prior experience or have appeared in the CLAT exam.

10th Month- 11th Month

  • In the 10th- 11th Month of preparation, focus on polishing what you have learnt earlier.

  • Keep handwritten notes ready, as they will help in quick revision.

  • Focus on the weak areas and try to revise them again and again for better results.

Take regular pauses to prevent burnout and retain mental clarity.

12th Month

  • In the final months of preparation, it is advised to appear for mocks 4-5 times a week.

  • Prioritise accuracy above attempting every question.

  • Maintain a positive mindset and avoid studying new things at this time.

To handle pre-exam anxiety, practise mindfulness or relaxation techniques.

Books To Follow For CLAT 2026

The Common Law Admission Test consists of five sections: English language, general knowledge (including current events), legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and quantitative techniques. The CLAT books listed below are subject-specific recommendations from legal experts for CLAT preparation.

Subjects

Books to Follow

English language

  • English is Easy by Chetananand Singh

  • General English by SP Bakshi

  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

  • 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Norman Lewis

  • Barron's Pocket Guide to Vocabulary Objective


General knowledge (including current events)

  • General Knowledge by Lucent Publication

  • Competition Success Review

  • Pratiyogita Darpan

  • Manorama Yearbook by Manorama

  • General Knowledge 2023, 2022, and 2021 by Arihant Publications


Legal Reasoning

  • Objective Legal Aptitude by R.S Aggarwal

  • Important Judgment That Transformed India by Alex Andrews George

  • The Pearson Guide to the CLAT by Harsh Gagrani

  • LST’s Legal Reasoning Module

  • Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by Pearson


Logical reasoning

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

  • Logical Reasoning by Arun Sharma

  • Analytical Reasoning by M. K. Pandey

  • Analytical and Logical Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal

  • A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal


Quantitative techniques

  • Data interpretation by R.S Aggarwal

  • Elementary Mathematics with Numerical Ability by Prateek Jain

  • Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M Tyra

  • Quantitative Aptitude by R.S Aggarwal

  • Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Arihant Publications

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the pattern for CLAT 2026?
A:

The CLAT 2026 consists of 5 sections, and the total number of questions will be 120 questions and 120 minutes is the time allotted for the exam.

Q: When will the registration process for CLAT 2026 begin?
A:

The tentative registration dates for CLAT 2026 will start from july 2025.

Q: What was the difficulty level for CLAT 2025?
A:

The difficulty level for CLAT 2025 was easy to moderate.

Q: When will be the CLAT 2026 be conducted?
A:

The Consortium of NLUs conducts the CLAT exam in the december month of the preceding year.

Q: Will CLAT 2026 be easy?
A:

After analysisg the previous year question papers and the types of questions asked in the CLAT exam it is expected that CLAT 2026 will be moderate to difficult.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

Hi dear candidate,

On our official website, you can find various study material EBooks and Sample Papers that can help you prepare better that you can download for free.

Kindly refer to the link attached below:

CLAT E-books and Sample Papers

CLAT Study Material 2026 PDF - Books, Mock Test, Question Papers

BEST REGARDS


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