How to Prepare for CLAT along with 12th Board Exams?

How to Prepare for CLAT along with 12th Board Exams?

Ritika JonwalUpdated on 26 Aug 2025, 11:49 AM IST

It can be difficult to balance the demanding CLAT preparation and the strain of the Class 12 board exams. However, you can succeed at both simultaneously if you have the proper plan, are well-organised, and manage your time well. This guide will help you figure out the best way to achieve both goals without burning out, whether your goal is to get top grades on your boards or to enter the prestigious field of law. Prepare to reach your full potential and use this important academic stage as a springboard for achievement!

LiveCLAT 2026 Answer Key (Out) LIVE: NLU answer key, response sheet PDF; calculate scores, marking schemeDec 10, 2025 | 7:39 PM IST

The following is the list of law colleges in India as per NIRF rankings 2025:

  • National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore
  • NLU Delhi (NLUD) - National Law University
  • NALSAR University of Law
  • NLU Kolkata (NUJS)
  • GNLU Gandhinagar (NLU) - Gujarat National Law University
  • IIT Kharagpur - Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
  • Symbiosis Law School, Symbiosis International (SLS), Pune
  • Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)
  • Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
  • SOA University - Siksha 'O' Anusandhan
Read More

This Story also Contains

  1. Tips To Prepare for 12th Boards and CLAT Simultaneously
  2. Time Management Strategy For CLAT and 12th Board Together
  3. High weightage Topics for CLAT 2026
  4. Subject-Wise Preparation Tips For CLAT 2026
  5. Why Prepare For 12th Boards and CLAT Together
  6. Things to Avoid When Preparing For Boards and CLAT 2026 Together
  7. Best Books to Prepare for CLAT 2026 along with Board Exams
  8. Conclusion
How to Prepare for CLAT along with 12th Board Exams?
How to Prepare for CLAT along with 12th Board Exams?

This article will help the students preparing for the CLAT exam along with the 12th Boards. The tips and tricks given in this article will guide you to simultaneously prepare for the 12th Boards and the extensive CLAT syllabus.

Tips To Prepare for 12th Boards and CLAT Simultaneously

Below are some of the tips on how to prepare for CLAT and 12th Boards together.

Follow a Realistic and Balanced Study Schedule

Split up your day or week: Set aside specific time windows for CLAT Preparation with the board Exam. For instance:

  • Board subject morning sessions (fresh and concentrated time)

  • CLAT topics (logical reasoning, legal aptitude, etc.) are covered in evening courses.

Go Through the Syllabus and Exam Pattern in Depth

  • Boards: Compile each subject's official curriculum. Pay attention to the unit weights and set priorities appropriately.

  • CLAT: Get acquainted with the most recent CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern and

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CLAT 2026 syllabus. Pay extra attention to subjects that are often examined, such as current events and legal reasoning.

Focus on Common Skills

  • English Language: CLAT and English boards benefit from improved vocabulary skills for CLAT, grammar, and understanding.

  • Reading Practice: Reading newspapers, magazines, and editorials regularly improves reading speed and awareness of current events.

  • Board topics like mathematics can assist in honing analytical skills, but logical reasoning is specific to CLAT, so give it more practice time.

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Read Newspapers Daily

  • Keep abreast of significant national and international events as well as daily news.

  • Make use of mobile apps or current affairs compilations tailored to CLAT.

  • Make notes so you can quickly review them.

Choose Good Study Materials

  • For boards: last year's question papers and NCERT textbooks.

  • For CLAT: Video lectures, online practice exams, and standard CLAT preparation books.

  • For more varied learning, combine online and offline materials.

Learn Time Management and Appear for the Mock Test

  • To develop exam temperament, begin taking the CLAT 2026 Mock Test early.

  • Concurrently, finish past years' board exams within the allotted exam time.

  • Examine errors and adjust time management as necessary.

Stay Consistent and Revise Daily

  • Revisions per week lessen the forgetting curve.

  • For a fast review, use notes, mind maps, and flashcards.

Time Management Strategy For CLAT and 12th Board Together

For prospective applicants preparing for the CLAT in the 12th grade, time management is crucial to crack CLAT in the 1st attempt. Make a smart plan, put in a lot of effort, and condense the syllabus for the 12th board test and the key CLAT themes. After finishing, proceed to the other subjects and make several edits to prepare for CLAT 2026. Below are the CLAT 2026 time management tips:

CLAT Topics

Time Allotment

Daily Newspaper Reading and Note Making

30 Minutes

Vocabs Practice

30 Minutes

Legal Subjects

1 Hour

Quantitative Aptitude

1 Hour

Passage-Based Questions

30 Minutes

Logical Reasoning

30 Minutes

Appear for CLAT Mock Test and CLAT Previous Year Questions

2 Times a Week

High weightage Topics for CLAT 2026

Focusing on High-weightage topics can significantly boost your chances of scoring 100+ in the CLAT 2026 exam preparation. Here’s a section-wise breakdown:

Section

High weightage Topics

English

RCs, Vocabulary in Context, Para Completion

Legal Aptitude and Reasoning:

Principle-Fact Questions, Current Legal Issues

Current Affairs & GK

National & Legal Updates, Awards, International Events

Quantitative Techniques

Percentages, Ratios, Data Interpretation

Logical Reasoning

Critical Reasoning, Assumption/Inference

Subject-Wise Preparation Tips For CLAT 2026

Below are the Subject-wise preparation tips for CLAT 2026 in tabular format.

Subjects

Preparation Tips

English Language

  • To help you prepare for the CLAT in English Language, read the newspaper, paying particular attention to the editorial and opinion pieces.

  • Consider identifying high-frequency words straight from your newspaper reading to become familiar with and comprehend them, even though it improves your comprehension skills.

  • To become more familiar with this topic, attempt to find the primary point of each story in the newspaper and summarise it.

  • Read the fundamentals of grammar, and focus on the NCERT books for Grammar preparation.


Current Affairs and General Knowledge

  • Every day, read the newspaper. Sources like The Indian Express and The Hindu are suggested.

  • Focus on comprehending the causes of dates and events rather than learning them by heart. Make an effort to understand these issues' background and importance.

  • Make thorough notes with points, emphasising significant dates, honours, and other pertinent details. You will find these notes useful when you are revising.


Legal Reasoning

  • Aspirants should familiarise themselves with legal theories, concepts, and language that are frequently assessed in the exam to prepare for the CLAT Legal Reasoning Section.

  • Current Legal Knowledge Topics should also be familiar to you. Newspapers and reliable legal websites can discuss this.

  • You can solve the CLAT exam questions just by familiarising yourself with the vocabulary and terms used in the sections.

  • Read the sections word for word, line by line, being sure to underline the most crucial details. Don't apply any additional knowledge beyond what is stated in the passage.


Logical Reasoning

  • To prepare for the CLAT Logical Reasoning Section, Concepts like assumptions, conclusions, statement-based question kinds, seating arrangements, coding, and decoding must all be thoroughly understood. Increase your practice to become more familiar with the questions.

  • Practice Questions from reliable sources to enhance understanding of the logical reasoning sections.

  • Read the given passage carefully and focus on the information given in the passage.

Quantitative Aptitude

  • It is important to master the concepts in the beginning for the CLAT Quantitative Aptitude Section for better preparation.

  • Consistently practice the important topics like profit and loss, ratio and proportion, algebra, data interpretation, etc.

  • To extract the required numerical data, carefully read and understand the provided texts, graphs, or representations. Concentrate on locating important information and connections.

  • Appear for Mock tests and Previous year Question Papers.

Why Prepare For 12th Boards and CLAT Together

A student's academic and professional future is greatly influenced by both of these milestones: CLAT provides access to India's esteemed National Law Universities (NLUs), while Class 12 grades are essential for college admissions and academic records and balancing CLAT and 12th Board exams together is essential. Here's a closer look at the reasons for and strategies for kids to get ready for both.

  • Overlapping Skills and Knowledge: CLAT places more emphasis on aptitude, reading comprehension, logical reasoning, legal awareness, and general knowledge than Class 12 exams, which concentrate on subject-specific academic knowledge (such as political science, English, economics, etc.). The knowledge that overlaps is English proficiency, general knowledge, reasoning and aptitude.

  • Helps in developing Time management Skills: Simultaneously preparing for both tests forces pupils to develop time management skills. Making a study plan that incorporates both daily CLAT practice (such as completing comprehension and logical problems) and Class 12 courses fosters outstanding time management skills.

  • Gives a Competitive Edge: While passing the CLAT explicitly opens up a legal career option, performing well on the Class 12 exam guarantees eligibility for several academic prospects in different fields. By preparing for both, you vary your academic profile and keep additional opportunities for higher education open, preventing you from putting all your eggs in one basket.

  • No Drop Year and opportunity loss: After completing their 12th grade, many students take a year off to be ready for the CLAT. You can save time and money by preparing throughout your 12th grade and avoiding the need for a gap year. This puts you ahead of your classmates in terms of job advancement, in addition to relieving academic burden.

  • Early Exposure for competitive exams: Students receive an early taste of competitive exam patterns by studying for CLAT in addition to boards. Later in one's academic career, this assists in preparing for upcoming tests like the UPSC, CAT, or judiciary exams by boosting resilience and confidence.

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Things to Avoid When Preparing For Boards and CLAT 2026 Together

To prepare for CLAT along with boards, it is critical to understand what to avoid. By avoiding certain blunders, you may enhance your study technique and do better on both tests. Let's take a look at what you should avoid when preparing for boards and CLAT in 2026.

  • Avoid referring to many resources, as this will confuse you.

  • Try to avoid using mocks from different websites. Instead, try mocks only from reliable sources.

  • Don't be demotivated by others' preparations.

  • Do not spend too much time on social media platforms. Set a time limit for efficiency.

  • Do not study for more than 2-3 hours at once. Instead, take small pauses during your preparation.

Best Books to Prepare for CLAT 2026 along with Board Exams

Along with NCERT textbooks and daily newspaper reading, these are a few CLAT books for the 2026 exam that can help you prepare for CLAT 2026:

Subjects

Books

English Language

  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

  • CLAT Guide by Tata McGraw-Hill

  • General English by SP Bakshi

  • General English by RS Aggarwal

  • High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin

  • The Pearson Guide to the CLAT by Pearson's

Legal Reasoning

  • Universal’s CLAT Guide

  • Legal Awareness and Legal Aptitude by AP Bhardwaj

  • Bare Acts of the Indian Constitution


Logical Reasoning

  • A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal

  • Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal

  • A New Approach to Verbal and Analytical Reasoning by Arihant

Quantitative Techniques

  • Data interpretation by R.S Aggarwal

  • Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Arihant Publications

  • Quantitative Aptitude by R.S Aggarwal

  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Pearson's

  • 30 Days Wonder for Maths by S Chand


Current Affairs & General Knowledge

  • Mаnоrаmа Yeаr Bооk by Mаnоrаmа Publications

  • Generаl Knоwledge by Lucent


Conclusion

It is a wise, forward-looking move to prepare for both the Class 12 Boards and the CLAT at the same time. It requires an optimistic outlook, smart preparation, and consistency. Students who become adept at striking a balance between the two will benefit from both academic success and a solid basis for a prosperous legal profession. Managing both tests is not only feasible, but it may also mark a significant turning point in a student's academic career, provided they follow a study plan, have access to the appropriate materials, and make timely adjustments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do 12th Board Marks Matter for CLAT?
A:

Though Class 12 Marks do not directly affect CLAT, you have to pass Class 12 with a minimum of 45% Marks and 40% for Reserved Categories.

Q: Is 70 a good score in CLAT 2026?
A:

70 Marks is a good score for CLAT; it depends on the difficulty level of the exam and the specific NLU you are targeting.

Q: What will be the difficulty level of CLAT 2026?
A:

By comparing the previous year's CLAT difficulty level, it is predicted that the CLAT 2026 difficulty level will be moderate to difficult. 

Q: How many seats are there for CLAT 2026?
A:

For CLAT 2026, there are approximately 3,361 seats for CLAT UG and CLAT PG; there are approximately 1,298 Seats. 

Q: How to manage CLAT and 12th Boards Together?
A:

Along with preparing 12th Boards, try to allot 2-3 hours daily to prepare for CLAT 2026. With a systematic preparation strategy, it's not that difficult to crack the CLAT 2026.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

Hello aspirant,

With 64.5 marks in CLAT 2026 and EWS+UP domicile, getting a top NLU may be difficult because EWS cutoffs are usually high. However, you may still have chances in the newer or mid-tier NLUs, depending on this year's overall scoring trend. NLUs like NLU Tripura, NLU Shimla or NLU Jabalpur sometimes open seats for EWS candidates at lower scores. It's best to wait for the official ranks and counselling lists, as seats shift during later rounds.

FOR REFERENCE : https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-cutoff

THANK YOU

Hello aspirant,

Getting 43 in CLAT can feel disappointing, but it doesn't define your ability. You still have AILET, and many students improve sharply in their second attempt. For AILET, focus more on English, logical reasoning and GK. In static GK, study important books, monuments, national parks, constitutional facts and major awards. For current affairs, revise the last 6-8 months covering national events, government schemes, appointments, sports and major international news. Make short notes and revise daily. With a clear plan and claim mind, you can perform much better in AILET.

FOR GUIDANCE : https://law.careers360.com/articles/ailet-preparation-tips

THANK YOU

Hello,

Here are the Expected SC Category Cut-offs (CLAT UG 2026):

  • NLSIU Bangalore: 85-87
  • NALSAR Hyderabad: 82-84
  • WBNUJS Kolkata: 80-82
  • NLU Jodhpur: 78-80
  • GNLU Gandhinagar: 76-78
  • RMLNLU Lucknow: 74-76

For more details access below mentioned link.

https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-cut-off-2026-for-sc-category

Hope it helps.

Good Morning, Candidate,

It entirely depends on the university whether the admission for the BA LLB will be based on the 12th board or the national-level entrance exam, or both. The admission exams are below

1. Common Law Admission Test

2. All India Law Entrance Test

3. Symbiosis Law Admission Test

4. Common University Entrance Test

Thank you. Hope this information helps you.

Hello

The best way to cover the important current affairs is to read the newspaper daily. Then try to analyse the newspaper and remember the trending topics. Practice the previous year's question paper and understand the pattern of the question. Summarise all current affairs topics and understand them in brief. If you want more information about current affairs, then you will read the article How to Prepare for CLAT Current Affairs 2026 .

Thank you.