CLAT 2023 Exam: Dates, Application Form (Open), Eligibility, Exam Centres, Syllabus & Pattern, Preparation Tips

CLAT 2023 - The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has started registration of CLAT 2023 from August 08, 2022. The CLAT 2023 registration form is available online, at CLAT official website - consortiumofnlus.ac.in till November 13, 2022. Candidates willing to appear in CLAT 2023 exam can fill the application form before the last date. The CLAT 2023 registration fee is Rs 4,000 (Rs 3,500 for SC and ST candidates). CLAT 2023 will be held on December 18, 2022, in offline, pen and paper mode.
LATEST: CLAT application form from August 08, 2022
Also Read | What is a good score in CLAT? 

What is CLAT Exam?

The Common Law Admission Test, also known as CLAT is a national-level law entrance exam for admission to 22 national law universities and more than 70 affiliated colleges. The exam is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) in offline, pen and paper format. Candidates who pass the examination will be eligible for admission to 5-year integrated LLB and LLM programmes offered by the participating national law universities.

CLAT 2023 exam events

CLAT Highlights: Registered candidates, intake, NLUs (Updated)

Being a national-level law entrance exam, CLAT is attended by thousands of candidates every year. It is one of the most competitive law entrance exams in India at present. Mention below are the details of the CLAT exam in the previous three years.

CLAT exam highlights 

How was CLAT last year?

According to several students and experts, CLAT exam held on June 19, was easy to moderate but a lengthy paper. The CLAT question paper had comprehension-based questions, each paragraph followed by 4-5 multiple choice type questions. A total of 150 questions are asked in the examination. 

Candidates who wish to appear in CLAT 2023 should meet the eligibility criteria as prescribed by the Consortium of National Law Universities. CLAT is conducted for both UG and PG law programmes, so candidates should meet the eligibility criteria of the programme they have selected. The details of CLAT eligibility criteria are as mentioned below.

UG CLAT 2033 eligibility criteria

Candidates should have passed Class 12 with at least 45% marks (40% in the case of SC and ST students) from a recognized board or institution.

Candidates who will appear in Class 12th board exams in April-May 2023 are also eligible to appear in the exam. However, the admission of such students will be subject to fulfilling the required eligibility criteria.

PG CLAT eligibility criteria 2023

Candidates should have passed graduation in Law (3-year LLB or 5-year LLB) from a recognized university. They must have obtained at least 50% marks (45% in the case of SC and ST candidates) in the qualifying examination.

Further, candidates appearing in the final year of the LLB degree programme are also eligible.

CLAT 2023 age limit

There is no age limit for appearing in CLAT 2023. Further, there are no restrictions on the number of attempts also.

Mode of Application : Online

Mode of Payment : Net Banking | Credit Card | Debit Card

The CLAT 2023 application form has opened on August 08, 2022. Eligible candidates who wish to appear in CLAT 2023 will have to register online and fill out the application form, by visiting the official website - consortiumofnlus.ac.in till November 13, 2022.

How to fill CLAT Application Form 2023?

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to fill out the application form of CLAT 2023.

• Registration: To register, enter your name, email id, mobile number, and other details. 
• Fill in relevant details: Here enter personal, academic, and contact details. You will also be required to select the program of study (UG or PG), and enter preferred NLUs in the order of priority from the drop-down menu.
• Upload documents: Scanned copies of signature, photograph, and other documents in the prescribed specification (refer to the table below) have to be uploaded.

Document Required for CLAT 2023 application form                   

• Application fee: Depending on the category of the candidate, the application fee may vary as shown in the table below.

CLAT Application Form 2023: Important points to remember

• During the document verification process of CLAT counselling 2023, all details entered in the form will be verified. Exam officials will demand originals of all essential documents to be produced before them. In case of any inconsistency in the information shared in the application form, the candidate may be disqualified.
• Also, simply meeting the eligibility criteria is no guarantee for admission, as the final CLAT seat allotment will be based on the merit rank of the candidate in the online exam. 

Watch - How to fill CLAT application form 

Application Fees

Sometimes the candidate may need a little assistance in their CLAT exam preparation to get over the line. Like the candidate may want to know about some tools that can assist them to improve accuracy or improve speed. 

CLAT 2023 Preparation Tips 

• Candidates need to be well-versed with the exam pattern and syllabus.
• Practice sufficient mock tests and sample papers to edify learning and to hone problem-solving skills.
• CLAT aspirants are also advised to follow a proper timetable for preparation.
• Candidates should choose books that are easy to follow, meet the quality standards, and contain lots of practise material to prepare for the exam.
• Regular revision is the key to scoring good marks in exams.
• Maintaining equanimity is crucial for effective preparation. To achieve that stay in the moment, instead of flying into the future or pondering the past. 

CLAT 2023 last-week and exam-day tips

• Solve sample papers: The last most should involve extensive solving of CLAT sample papers 2023. While in the preliminary phases of the CLAT exam preparation one may solve one sample paper a week, the number in the last month and weeks can be increased. One may solve as many sample papers as possible.
• Mock test: The idea of CLAT mock tests 2023 is to get an exam-like experience, which may include a pressure-cooker situation. Considering the exam will be now conducted in online mode, mock tests will help the candidate to understand navigation, how questions are presented, how questions can be answered, and manage time. Note that there will be 150 multiple choice questions that have to be answered in 120 minutes. This means speed and accuracy will be important qualities for success in the exam.
• Don't study new topics close to the exam: Unless you are thoroughly done with what you have already taken up, better don't get entangled in new topics, because it will eat into your last phase of exam preparation. Remember the last phase is all about acceleration, which includes doing fast revision, solving sample papers, and taking mock tests. But if you bring in new topics, you will break the flow; also note that new topics will take more time to master, which you can ill afford at this stage.  
• How to answer the CLAT question paper 2023: The questions asked in the CLAT exam 2023 can be placed in three groups: easy, moderate, and difficult. It is recommended that the candidate starts with easy questions, before answering moderate and difficult questions. Also, if one gets stuck with a difficult question, better not spend too much time on it, but instead move on to the next question.
• Stay composed even in difficult situations during exams: Sometimes the question paper may turn out to be more difficult than expected, or you may not be able to answer an easy-looking question. In those situations, it is important to keep one's cool and not get rattled. Take a deep breath and move on to the next question.
  Also read | Last minute preparation tips to ace CLAT 2023 exam

CLAT UG Sample Papers - Based on new CLAT exam pattern

Download CLAT subject wise sample papers                                                                           

CLAT 2023 best books for exam preparation 

When preparing for CLAT exam 2023, it is important to have dependable and high-quality study material. The CLAT best books 2023 will be those that are easy to understand, and contain few to no errors, including problem sets and instructions. 

CLAT Exam Reference Books

CLAT 2023 toppers

The CLAT toppers are announced along with the result. In the previous session, Rishabh Shivani topped CLAT exam at the undergraduate level. Menal Jain, Shivansh Choudhry and Harshit Gupta were second, third and fourth on the list of CLAT toppers. Samriddhi Mishra had secured AIR 1 in CLAT LLM exam.

CLAT LLM topper 2022

CLAT 2021 toppers interview, rank, marks

CLAT 2020 toppers interview

Candidates preparing for CLAT 2023 should be well versed with the exam pattern and syllabus. The CLAT exam pattern informs the candidates about the test structure, number of questions and their types, marking scheme and several other test modalities.

As per the CLAT 2023 exam pattern, the test will be held in offline mode, with OMR sheets and question papers. There will be 150 multiple choice type questions in CLAT UG and 120 questions will be in CLAT LLM. All questions will be based on comprehension passages. The details of the exam pattern are mentioned below.

CLAT Exam pattern 2023

Watch - CLAT syllabus for UG Law

Candidates appearing in CLAT 2023 should solve a good number of mock tests during their preparation. There are multiple benefits of taking the CLAT mock test 2023:

• Mock tests contain similar types of questions to those asked in the exam. So, solving these problems will help candidates judge the difficulty level of CLAT 2023 and plan accordingly.
• The success in mock tests can be indicative of exam readiness or lack of it. If readiness is lacking, one may need to pull up one's socks and try harder.
• Doing well in mock tests would also give the candidate lot of confidence to carry to the actual exam.
• CLAT mock tests will teach the candidate time management skills and also how to wriggle out of a tricky problem by keeping a cool head.
• Effective prioritizing of questions is an art that can be cultivated by solving the CLAT mock test. Students who master this art will be able to lock down all the sure-shot questions first, before moving on to tricky and not-so-sure questions.

How to take CLAT 2023 mock tests?

• Click on the mock test link ( Click here )
• A login window will open
• Enter user id and password
• On login, a dashboard will be displayed
• Click on the mock test link to start the test
• Go through all the instructions, and terms and conditions
• Take the mock test.

Candidates by solving CLAT question papers can strengthen their conceptual understandings and improve problem-solving skills.

CLAT previous year's papers

Candidates should also solve all previous year's CLAT papers, especially those based on the new exam pattern. The previous year's papers would also be helpful in understanding the type of questions asked in the examination and topics that appear frequently in the test paper. While registering for CLAT, candidates may purchase the question papers on payment of Rs 500. However, the official question papers of CLAT at FREE of COST are provided below.
To download CLAT previous year's question papers - Click here

Candidates who register successfully for CLAT 2023 will get their admit cards at least 10 days before the examination. The CLAT 2023 admit card will be available for download at - consortiumofnlus.ac.in. CLAT admit card is a mandatory document for appearing in the examination.

Further, the admit card mentions various details such as candidate roll number, application number, exam centre name, address, CLAT exam reporting time and instruction. One must download and take a printout of the admit card to the designated CLAT exam centre on the exam day.

How to download the CLAT admit card 2023?

candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to download their admit card of CLAT 2023.

• Visit the official website of the CLAT consortium
• Click on CLAT admit card link (which will be available once the admit card is released)
• A login window will open
• Enter your registration or application number and password
• The CLAT admit card will be displayed on screen in downloadable pdf format
• Download the admit card and take a printout

CLAT admit card login wiodnow

CLAT 2023 Exam Guidelines

As per the guidelines, the candidate has to report to the CLAT 2023 exam centre at least 45 minutes before the commencement of the exam. Also, after 15 minutes after the commencement of the CLAT exam, no candidate will be allowed fresh entry.

To take the test, the candidate has to display a printout of the admit card and a valid and original photo ID proof.

No baggage counter

There will be no baggage counter at the exam venue and candidates will be solely responsible for the safe keep of their belongings. So, it is advisable not to carry non-essential items to the centre.

If the candidate wants, they may visit the exam centre to check out the location, travel route, distance and traffic situation. However, no candidate will be allowed beyond the main entrance gate, except on exam day and that too is only on producing the admit card and photo ID.

Important items to carry to the CLAT exam hall

• Blue/Black Ball Pen

• Admit Card

• Any original photo ID proof issued by the Government.

• Transparent water bottle.

• Own mask, gloves and personal hand sanitiser.

• Self-health declaration

• Disability certificate for PWD candidates

CLAT exam day 2023 - Things to avoid

• Electronic/communication devices such as mobile phones

• Any kind of watch, calculator, headphones, etc.

• Sheets of paper including blank sheets are not allowed inside the examination hall.

Candidates may also note that the consortium or the security staff at the exam centre will not be held responsible for the loss and damage of any property/gadgets of candidates.

The consortium will release the CLAT 2023 answer key soon after the exam. The answer key of CLAT 2023 can be used to calculate the marks in the examination. Candidates will be able to download the CLAT answer key 2023 from the official examination portal.

Further, in case of any discrepancies in the answer key or question papers, candidates will have to opportunity to raise objection against it. The objections will be reviewed by the expert committed to CLAT 2023. In case raised objections are found to be valid, necessary changes to the answer key will be made and result will be prepared accordingly.

How to download CLAT 2023 answer key?

• Open the CLAT examination portal - consortiumofnlus.ac.in
• Click on the master question paper and answer key links
• The CLAT answer key will be displayed on the screen
• Download and calculate your answers

How to calculate marks using CLAT answer key 2023

As per the official marking scheme of CLAT 2023, every correct answer will fetch 1 mark, while for an incorrect answer 0.25 marks will be deducted. Use the following formula to calculate probable scores.

For e.g. If the number of correct answers is 100 and incorrect answers is 40 then the total marks will be calculated as-

Total CLAT Marks = (100*1) - (40*0.25)

Therefore; Total marks = 100 - 10 = 90

How to raise objections against CLAT 2023 answer key?

Candidates will be given around two days to raise their objections against the key. The CLAT objection fee is Rs. 1000 per question. In case of the objections are accepted, the objection fee will be refunded.

Steps to raise objections against CLAT answer key 2023

• Visit CLAT 2023 official examination portal
• Login using your mobile number and password
• Click on the "Raise" objection option
• Select the type of objection - about the question or about answer key
• Select the question ID and add a comment
• Submit the objection

CLAT Question Paper & Answer Key - Previous Year's

As per the experts and candidates who appeared in the exam CLAT 2023 was easy to moderate. However, the test was lengthy. There were around 28-30 passages in the test paper. Check the CLAT analysis for the UG paper.

CLAT 2023 exam analysis

The result of CLAT 2023 will be declared tentatively in the last week of December 2022.  Candidates will be able to download their result from the official website of the NLU Consortium. They will need the application number and date of birth to download the admit card. 

CLAT result is provided in the form of individual scorecards. Along with the result, an invite list is also released for counselling purposes.  

How to download CLAT result 2023?

• Visit the official website of CLAT 2023
• Click on the result link 
• In the CLAT login window, enter the registration/application number and date of birth
• The CLAT result 2023 would be displayed on the screen
• Download and take a printout of the result

Details mentioned on the CLAT 2023 result

• Name of the candidate
• Roll number
• Category under which admission is sought
• Program of study (UG / PG)
• CLAT score 
• CLAT All India Rank (AIR)
• CLAT 2023 category rank (CR)

CLAT 2023 Merit List

The merit list of CLAT 2023 mentions the roll number, marks and merit rank of the candidates. The CLAT merit rank is important as it is referred to for inviting the candidates for counselling and seat allotment.

CLAT Merit List 2023 - Tie-breaking procedure

• The candidate who has a higher score in the “Legal Aptitude” section of CLAT 2023 will be placed higher in the merit list
• If this step, the candidate who is senior in age will get a higher rank
• If the tie is still undecided, a computerized draw of lots will be used to decide the merit rank of such candidates.

The CLAT 2023 cut off will be the minimum marks required for admission to a national law university participating in the counselling. CLAT cut off will be different for each NLU, depending on the number of seats offered by NLU, number of applicants and reservation policy. 

In order to secure admission to a desired NLU, candidates must clear the cut-off. Meanwhile, candidates can check the NLU-wise cut-off trends of previous years to know about the expected cut offs for this year. Mentioned below are the details of the previous year's cut-off of CLAT exam with the details like opening rank and closing rank.

CLAT previous year cut-offs (Year - 2021)

*only state categories

CLAT LLM cut off 2021

*cut-offs under state category

Previous years' CLAT cut-offs - 2019, 2018

What is a good score in CLAT 2023?

To decide what is a good score you have to first identify the NLU you want to get admission into. And the last rank (or cutoff rank) for which admission is offered in that institute can be considered to be a good score. That said the cutoff fluctuates depending on a host of parameters like seat intake, the performance of candidates in CLAT 2023 total applicants, and the CLAT merit rank of these applicants. So, you will be in the safe zone only if you score a little higher the past year's cutoff rank.

CLAT 2023 expected cut-off marks

Mode of Counselling: Online

Around 15, 000 candidates in CLAT UG and 3,000 candidates are expected to be invited for CLAT counselling 2023. It will be held online, in five rounds. After each round, the consortium will release the seat allotment for all national law universities participating in the common admission process. 

CLAT counselling fee 2023

The counselling fee of CLAT 2023 is Rs. 30,000. For SC and ST candidates, the counselling fee is Rs 20,000. Candidates can pay the counselling fee online while registering for the counselling. The counselling fee will be adjusted with the NLU course fee. 

CLAT Seat Allotment 2023

The allotment of CLAT seats is made on the basis of the merit rank of the candidate and NLU preference selected. The seat allotment of CLAT 2023 will be announced for each law school, in five rounds. After each round of seat allotment, candidates will have the following options;

• Accept the seat allotment and complete the admission process
• Apply for upgrade and submit NLU fee
• Exit the admission process

Post Round 5 seat allotment, the candidate has two options before him:

• Accept the allotted seat
• Exit the admission process.

To accept a seat, the candidate will have to pay the NLU fees and complete admission formalities. However, if the candidate is unhappy with the allotted seat, they may exit the admission process without paying the admission fee.

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