Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    What is a Good Score in CLAT 2026?: Expected Good Score in Top NLUs

    What is a Good Score in CLAT 2026?: Expected Good Score in Top NLUs

    Switch toEnglish IconHindi Icon
    JasmineUpdated on 07 Dec 2025, 09:55 PM IST
    Switch toEnglish IconHindi Icon

    Having a good score in CLAT 2026 is important, as every year around 60,000 candidates appear for the Common Law Admission Test but just over 4000 seats are available. CLAT 2026 was conducted on December 7, 2025. The CLAT 2026 results will be out tentatively one week after the exam and students must be aware about what is a good score is in CLAT. With a success rate of around 5%, the consensus is that CLAT is tough. An awareness of what a good score in CLAT can help candidates estimate their chances of NLU admission into various universities. Analysis of last year's exam suggests that a good score in CLAT 2026 is expected to be 100+ marks for the general category in the top two NLUs. Last year's CLAT 2025 topper, Sakhsam Gautam, has scored the highest marks of 103.5 in CLAT 2025. The exact data about what is a good score in CLAT 2026 can be known if one looks at the previous year's NLU cut-off data, past years' exam analysis, reservation, and seat matrix.

    This Story also Contains

    1. What is a good score in CLAT under the new pattern?
    2. CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis
    3. Key takeaways from previous year CLAT cut-offs - Top Four NLUs
    What is a Good Score in CLAT 2026?: Expected Good Score in Top NLUs
    What is a good score in CLAT 2026

    A good score in CLAT 2026 is expected to be higher, similar to last year, as easier exam results in higher CLAT cut-offs. Along with a good score, aspirants must also have an understanding of the CLAT marks vs rank dynamics to know what rank a particular CLAT score translates to. Scores obtained in CLAT 2026 will be accepted by National Law Universities (NLUs) participating in the exam and other affiliated colleges. Through the Common Law Admission Test, candidates will be admitted into the 5-year LLB programmes of participating NLUs.

    What is a good score in CLAT under the new pattern?

    The total number of questions in CLAT has dropped from 150 to 120. This change has significantly altered the estimates of what constitutes a good CLAT score. The revised CLAT pattern will have implications for overall CLAT cut-offs 2026 as well. Earlier, a score of 100+ marks (66%) out of 150 was considered enough to clear the CLAT cut-off for the general category. However, under the revised pattern, a good score in CLAT has increased to around 80-85% marks (100 marks out of 120). The good score in CLAT 2026 for other categories has also increased proportionately.

    Jindal Global Law School Admissions 2026

    Ranked #1 Law School in India & South Asia by QS- World University Rankings | Merit cum means scholarships | Applications Closing Soon

    Amity University-Noida Law Admissions 2026

    Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026

    A relatively easy paper indicates that a good score in CLAT will be 90+ marks to get into the top 10 NLUs. Tier-2 and tier-3 NLUs have slightly lower cut-offs than the top ones. Still, the difference in cut-off marks among the top NLUs is not as wide as it appears when we look at the earlier cut-offs in terms of rank. This is due to the intense competition among applicants.

    CLAT 2026 College Predictor
    Know your admission chances in National Law Universities based on your home state & exam result for All India Category & State Category seats.
    Try Now

    You may also check-

    UPES Integrated LLB Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 26th March | Ranked #18 amongst Institutions in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in India for Academic Reputation by QS Rankings | 16 LPA Highest CTC

    Lovely Professional University | Law Admissions 2026

    India's Largest University | BCI approved | Meritorious Scholarships up to 5 lacs |

    Category Wise Analysis of Good Score in CLAT 2026

    The analysis of the category-wise data available for previous CLAT results indicates that the good score in CLAT has risen considerably across all categories. A good score for a general candidate is in the range of 90-100+ marks. A good CLAT score for an EWS candidate is in the range of 85-95+ marks. The CLAT cut-off marks further decrease for other categories. For candidates under state reservation category, a good score in CLAT 2026 will be considerably lower than the score required for all other categories that do not come under state reservation or domicile reservation. A good score in CLAT 2026 for an OBC candidate will be 80-90+ marks. On the other hand, SC and ST candidates can secure a seat in top NLUs with a CLAT 2026 score of 75-85 marks without domicile reservation.

    Category Wise Expected Good Score in CLAT 2026 in Top NLUs

    NLU NameGeneralEWSOBCSCSTNRI
    CLAT score for NLSIU Bengaluru100+95+90+83+78+-
    CLAT score for NALSAR Hyderabad100+95+90+82+78+-
    CLAT score for WBNUJS Kolkata98+-56+*80+74+89+
    CLAT score for NLU Jodhpur95+-88+79+74+88+
    CLAT score for GNLU Gandhinagar95+90+87+77+70+84+
    CLAT score for MNLU Mumbai93+81+77+*71+*41+*43+
    CLAT score for RMLNLU Lucknow91+85+82+*53+*41+*72+

    *state category reservation

    Category Wise Expected Good Score in CLAT 2026 in Top NLUs

    Category-wise Expected CLAT Cut-Off 2026 Rank in Top NLUs

    CategoryNLSIU BengaluruNALSAR HyderabadWBNJUS KolkataNLU JodhpurGNLU GandhinagarMNLU MumbaiRMNLU Lucknow
    CLAT general cut-off100150250350450600750
    CLAT EWS cut-off500550--12003900*2300*
    CLAT OBC cut-off950110023000*140018506400*3600*
    CLAT SC cut-off3000350045005000600010000*25000*
    CLAT ST cut-off60006000800080001100034000*34000*
    CLAT NRI Cut Off--125014002800330009500

    *state category reservation

    CLAT 2026 College Predictor

    Candidates can also make use of the CLAT 2026 college predictor developed by Careers360 to know whether they have a good score in CLAT 2026 for admission into various NLUs. This free tool provides the candidates with a list of NLUs in which they have a strong chance of admission by taking inputs such as the candidate's overall rank, state, seat type, and category. The direct link to the college predictor is given below.

    Careers360's College Predictor

    ParticularsDetails
    Access LinkCLAT 2026 college predictor

    What is a Good Attempt in CLAT 2026?

    A good attempt in CLAT 2026 will be anywhere between 105-110 questions assuming there is not too much guesswork and loss of marks on account of negative marking. With an attempt of 105-110 questions and good accuracy, candidates can expect to score around 98-100 marks which is enough for admission in the top 3 NLUs.

    Good Score in CLAT PG 2026

    A good score in CLAT LLM 2026 is expected to be far less than what is required for CLAT UG. As per last year trends, a good score in CLAT PG 2026 is 71+ marks for admission into top NLUs. The CLAT PG vs rank analysis shows that with a score of 71+, a candidate can obtain a CLAT rank of 100 or higher. The CLAT LLM cut-off trends indicate that a rank of 100 in CLAT PG is good for admission into elite NLUs such as NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad.

    CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis

    Analysis of the CLAT question paper suggests that a good score in CLAT is around 100 marks for top NLUs such as NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad. The exam was as easy as it was last year. The cut-off rank is not expected to change as the NLU preferences of candidates continue to be the same, with NLSIU Bengaluru being the top choice.

    CLAT 2026 Section-Wise Difficulty Level

    SectionDifficulty level

    English

    Easy

    General knowledge

    Easy

    Quantitative aptitude

    Easy to moderate

    Legal reasoning

    Easy

    Logical reasoning

    Easy to moderate

    Overall

    Easy-moderate

    NLUs with Low scores/Rank in CLAT 2026

    The lower-ranked and new NLUs such as DBRANLU Sonipat have offered admission to students securing 46-48% marks in the past. However, due an easy paper in the revised pattern, a low score in CLAT, such as less than 50% may not be sufficient. For top NLUs, there has been a 15 percentage point increase in the expected good score which is now 90-100 marks. For lower-ranked NLUs, a score of 65-70% should be enough, i.e. a score of 75-80 marks. It is also a matter of the candidate's personal choice in whether to opt for admission to a lower-ranked NLU or look elsewhere.

    What to Do in Case of Low Score in CLAT 2026?

    If candidates have a low score in CLAT 2026, they can check the list of colleges for admission with low CLAT scores. Such candidates can also appear for other law entrance exams, where one can get admission into top-ranked law schools like NLU Delhi through AILET, or ILS Pune and GLC Mumbai through MH CET Law. There are many colleges other than NLUs that have better placement records, alumni base, infrastructure, etc. So, there is no dearth of options for candidates who do not have a good score in CLAT. The table below provides last year’s general category cut-offs for top-ranked NLUs in India.

    Top NLU Cut Off Ranks 2025

    Top NLU Cut Off Ranks 2024


    Top NLU Cut Off Ranks

    Key takeaways from previous year CLAT cut-offs - Top Four NLUs

    Let's look at some key insights and takeaways obtained by analysing CLAT 2025 scores for the top four NLUs.

    NLSIU Bengaluru

    NLSIU Bengaluru always remains the most preferred NLU among the students. Last year, the closing rank was 112 for the general category after three rounds. The institute has increased seats in the last two years, so cut-offs have gone up accordingly.

    The NLSIU Bengaluru cut-off mark which used to be around 68-70% (103-104 marks) earlier has increased marginally. Under the new pattern, students should still try to score around 80% (100+ marks) or above to secure admission to this university. In case of a reserved category, even 4000 will be a good rank to obtain admission because of lower CLAT cut-off marks. The table below describes the cut-off rank for each category.

    NLSIU Bengaluru CLAT Cut Off Rank 2025

    Category

    Cut off rank

    General

    112

    EWS

    703
    OBC1541

    SC

    3133

    ST

    3396

    NLSIU Bengaluru CLAT Cut Off Rank 2024

    Category

    Cut off rank

    General

    102

    EWS

    523
    OBC971

    SC

    3007

    ST

    7487

    Also Read:

    NALSAR Hyderabad

    The second most sought-after university among NLUs, the NALSAR Hyderabad BA LLB cut-off rank was 159 last year. The admission list shows that most of the top-ranked candidates who do not get NLSIU Bengaluru apply for NALSAR Hyderabad.

    NALSAR Hyderabad BA LLB Cut Offs 2025

    CategoryClosing rank

    General

    159

    EWS

    546

    OBC

    1219

    SC

    3273

    ST

    3621

    NALSAR Hyderabad BA LLB Cut Offs 2024

    CategoryClosing rank

    General

    167

    EWS

    564

    OBC

    1116

    SC

    3574

    ST

    6083

    WBNUJS Kolkata

    The third-best CLAT NLU, WBNUJS Kolkata is similar to NALSAR Hyderabad in terms of campus placement. Most students put WBNUJS in the third position while giving NLU preference. Last year, WBNUJS Kolkata's closing rank for the general category was 327

    WBNUJS Kolkata BA LLB Cut Offs 2025

    CateogoryClosing rank

    General

    327

    EWS

    -
    OBC4168* (state reservation)

    SC

    4753

    ST

    6343

    WBNUJS Kolkata BA LLB Cut Offs 2024

    CateogoryClosing rank

    General

    279

    EWS

    -

    OBC23192 (state reservation)

    SC

    4503

    ST

    8860

    NLU Jodhpur

    The general category CLAT cut-off rank for NLU Jodhpur was 367 last year. This means a good competitive pool of candidates went to NLU Jodhpur too.

    NLU Jodhpur BA LLB Cut offs 2025

    CategoryClosing rank

    General

    367
    EWS986
    OBC1776

    SC

    5445

    ST

    5955

    NLU Jodhpur BA LLB Cut offs 2024

    CategoryClosing rank

    General

    379

    EWS-
    OBC1424

    SC

    5178

    ST

    8960

    Order of Preference

    The rank list for the top 4 NLUs suggests that students have preferred the NLUs in the following order - NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata and NLU Jodhpur.

    MNLU Mumbai

    Interestingly, MNLU Mumbai which is new (establishment year - 2014) compared to top-ranked NLUs is also among the student’s preferred list. The general category closing rank for MNLU Mumbai comes within the 600 rank. However, one should also notice that MNLU Mumbai has 63% of seats reserved for Maharashtra-domiciled candidates. This is also a reason why only a few candidates under the open category get admission to this university and thus cut-offs are so competitive.

    You may also check:

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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

    70 is not a good score in CLAT 2026 for admission into top NLUs. The CLAT ST cut off for top NLUs is expected to be around 75+ marks.

    Q: What is a good score in CLAT 2026?
    A:

    Under the new pattern, candidates should try to score around 90+ marks to get admission to top NLUs.

    Q: Is 33 a good score in CLAT?
    A:

    No 33 marks may not be enough to secure NLU admission through CLAT.

    Q: Can I get admission o NLSIU Bengaluru with CLAT rank 200 under general category?
    A:

    CLAT cut-offs for NLSIU Bengaluru was 98 last year under the general category. So, getting admission with a CLAT rank 200 is difficult unless you have a domicile category reservation for the university.

    Q: Is 57 a good score in CLAT?
    A:

    57 may not be a good score for a general candidate. To get into one of the top NLUs, a candidate must score in the range of 90+ marks.  However, with 57 marks, a candidate from a reserved category may be able to get admission. 

    Q: Is 105 a good score in CLAT?
    A:

    Yes. A score of 105 will be enough to bag a seat in a top NLU such as NLSIU Bengaluru.

    Q: What are the top 4 NLUs in CLAT?
    A:

    NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata and NLU Jodhpur are the top four NLUs participating in CLAT.

    Q: Which NLU can I get with a CLAT rank 1000 and general category?
    A:

    You can get NLU Odisha, RGNLU, NLU Trichy with general category CLAT rank 1000.

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Law Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    BITS LAT Application Date

    27 Aug'25 - 28 Apr'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    NLSAT Application Date

    15 Nov'25 - 23 Mar'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Study from Still Life
    Via Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
    Indian Government and Politics
    Via University of Kashmir, Srinagar
    Literature, Culture and Media
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
    Ergonomics Workplace Analysis
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
    Sociology of Development
    Via Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
    Geography of India
    Via University of Mysore, Mysore
    Swayam
     162 courses
    Edx
     129 courses
    Futurelearn
     74 courses
    NPTEL
     74 courses
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe

    Questions related to CLAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CLAT ?

    Hello Santosh,

    Domicile cut-offs are unpredictable. You can apply and get a seat only if the domicile category is selected. You can apply, but the chances of getting either of them are rare.

    CLAT is an entrance examination conducted for admissions into law colleges. The qualifying marks vary with the colleges. You should check the details on the website to get a clear idea regarding cut offs for the colleges. You will also get the exam pattern through the article shared.

    The exact number for students appeared for CLAT has not been revealed yet. About 88,657 students appeared Nationwide for CLAT examination.

    Hello, it is highly unlikely to get admission to the GGSIPU Main Campus or VIPS. However, you can target other colleges affiliated with GGSIPU through the counselling process.

    Hi,

    You can get the CLAT section-wise mock test, previous year question papers and comprehensive study material here .