CLAT Exam Pattern | Exam Duration, Marking Scheme

CLAT stands for the Common Law Admission Test. It is an entrance examination in India for students who wish to pursue law programs at various national law universities and other institutions across the country. CLAT assesses a candidate’s knowledge of English, general knowledge, mathematics, logical reasoning, and legal aptitude.

For undergraduate programs, students often take the highly competitive CLAT examination after completing their 10+2 (or equivalent) schooling. For admission to renowned legal schools in India, a high CLAT score is required.

So, the first step is to know the CLAT exam pattern before preparation.

Based on the previous year’s exam pattern, the CLAT exam syllabus and paper pattern are split up in the following manner:

COMPONENTS	DETAILS
Mode of Examination	Offline
Medium of Examination	English
Time allotted	2 hours
Total number of Questions	120
Type of Questions	MCQs
Test Sections	English Language Current Affairs, including General Knowledge Legal Reasoning Logical Reasoning Quantitative Techniques
Marking Scheme	120 Marks (1 for every Question & 0.25 Negative)

CLAT SECTION-WISE BREAKUP

Also, it is important before CLAT preparation to get more details about Section-wise breakup, where you can pre-plan on which subject you should focus hard.

SECTIONS	QUESTIONS	WEIGHTAGE
English	22-26	20%
Current Affairs & GK	28-32	25%
Logical Reasoning	22-26	20%
Legal Reasoning	28-32	25%
Maths (Quantitative Techniques)	10-14	10%
Total	120

Why CLAT Exam Pattern is important

The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) exam pattern is important for several reasons:

Consistency & Standardization: The CLAT exam pattern ensures that the admission process for undergraduate and postgraduate law programs in various national law universities across India is standardized. This means that all candidates are assessed using the same format, which promotes fairness and transparency in the selection process.

Prediction of CLAT Exam: A well-defined CLAT exam pattern helps candidates prepare effectively. Knowing the structure of the exam, the types of questions, and the time constraints allows candidates to create a study plan and practice accordingly. So, you can plan and prepare according to your exam.

Comparison and Ranking: The exam pattern allows for the ranking of candidates based on their performance. Law schools can admit students according to their ranks, ensuring that the most qualified candidates are admitted.

Transparency: A clear and well-structured exam pattern enhances transparency in the admission process. Candidates can easily understand how they will be evaluated and can have confidence in the fairness of the system.