CLAT 2026 Preparation Guide: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Strategy & 60-Day Master Plan

CLAT 2026 Preparation Guide: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Strategy & 60-Day Master Plan

With the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 scheduled for December 7, 2025, serious preparation is key to securing a seat in the prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) of India. This guide outlines the syllabus, question pattern, section-wise time management, weightage from a strategic view, last year's cutoffs for top NLUs, a practical 60-day study plan, and suggested resources.

CLAT 2026 Syllabus Overview

The CLAT exam comprises five main sections, each testing a distinct skill essential for a law career:

CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern

Section-wise Weightage and Time Allocation

The chart below shows the approximate weightage percentage for each section in CLAT 2026:

The section-wise number of questions and recommended time allocation based on their weightage is illustrated here:

Cut-off for Top 10 NLUs (CLAT 2025)

Based on last year’s data, to secure admission in top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, etc., the general category cutoff was approximately:

Aiming for a score above 90 will significantly increase chances of admission in the top NLUs.

60-Day Master Plan: Day-wise Preparation Table

Strategy Behind the 60-Day Plan & Assumptions

• The plan divides preparation into focused blocks maximizing absorption of topics with high weightage.
• The first 30 days emphasize foundational knowledge and skill-building with sustained daily effort (~6-8 hours).
• Middle 20 days build deeper understanding in complex areas like legal reasoning and logical reasoning.
• The last 10 days are reserved primarily for thorough revision and extensive mock test practice to build exam temperament and speed.
• It assumes the aspirant can dedicate full-time study hours or can adapt in parts accordingly.
• Balancing reading-heavy sections early in the day when concentration peaks enhances efficiency.
• Consistent practice and revision reduce last-minute burnout and boost confidence.

How to Prepare for English Language in CLAT 2026

The English Language section of CLAT continues to be one of the make-or-break areas for aspirants. While it carries equal weightage with other subjects, its role extends beyond just scoring marks—strong reading and reasoning skills acquired here spill over into Legal Reasoning, Critical Reasoning, and even Current Affairs. With the CLAT 2026 scheduled for December, this is the best time to sharpen your English skills in a focused, structured way.

Understanding the English Language Section

CLAT’s English section does not test rote grammar rules or standalone vocabulary anymore. Instead, the paper emphasizes:

• Reading long, moderately complex passages (around 400–450 words).
• Answering questions that demand comprehension, inference, critical reasoning, and application.
• Tackling vocabulary in context rather than direct word meanings.

This shift means preparation has to be more practice-driven and aligned with real-life reading instead of mechanical memorization.

Step 1: Build a Reading Habit

Reading is at the heart of English preparation for CLAT. Since every question flows from a passage, the faster and deeper you read, the higher your accuracy. Start with:

• Newspapers: The Hindu or The Indian Express editorials for contemporary issues, opinions, and argumentative writing styles.
• Magazines: Frontline, The Economist, or EPW for broader perspectives.
• Non-fiction books: Authors like Yuval Noah Harari, P. Sainath, or Arundhati Roy improve your adaptability with different writing styles.

While reading, train yourself to notice arguments, tone, and the writer’s assumptions—exactly the skills tested in the paper.

Step 2: Strengthen Vocabulary in Context

Gone are the days when you needed to memorize bulky word lists. Instead:

• Maintain a personal word journal noting unfamiliar words you encounter in editorials and passages.
• Record their meaning, usage, and synonyms in sentences of your own.
• Revise weekly so words move from passive to active memory.

This approach ensures you can handle contextual vocabulary questions, which are far more reliable in CLAT.

Step 3: Practice Comprehension Intensive Drills

The English section rewards regular practice on passages. To prepare effectively:

• Solve at least one passage daily from previous CLAT papers or practice material.
• Focus not just on answering, but on why an option is correct.
• Analyze mistakes—did you misinterpret tone, overlook a key phrase, or rush?

Timed practice is essential since managing speed without losing accuracy remains a challenge.

Step 4: Polish Grammar and Usage

Although grammar is rarely tested directly, it underpins comprehension and writing. Weak grammar can lead to misinterpreting sentence meanings. Revise through:

• SC Gupta’s grammar exercises or Norman Lewis for clarity and structure.
• Pay special attention to sentence connectors, modifiers, and parallelism.

This will improve your ability to untangle dense CLAT passages.

Step 5: Take Mock Tests Strategically

Mocks are non-negotiable. They help you learn pacing and question prioritization, and they simulate pressure. After every mock:

• Conduct a post-mortem—why did you get certain questions wrong?
• Track your accuracy trend in English. If you are strong here, aim for 90%+ accuracy; if not, focus on incremental improvement.

Remember: CLAT rewards consistency, not occasional brilliance.

How to Prepare for Current Affairs and General Knowledge for CLAT 2026

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 is scheduled for 7th December, and for aspirants aiming to clear this prestigious exam, preparing current affairs and general knowledge (GK) is crucial. With approximately 28-32 questions from this section, performing well here can significantly boost your overall score. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to efficiently prepare for current affairs and GK to ensure success in CLAT 2026.

Understanding the Importance of Current Affairs and GK in CLAT

Current affairs in CLAT encompass dynamic national and international events, including government policies, legal developments, economics, sports, awards, science, and technology. These are complemented by static GK topics like history, geography, and cultural knowledge. The exam tests candidates not only on recalling facts but also on analyzing and applying this information in context.

The weightage and evolving nature of these questions make consistent and strategic preparation essential.

Building a Daily Current Affairs Routine

Success starts with discipline and routine. Create a structured daily schedule that covers multiple sources and formats:

• Morning Reading (30-45 minutes): Begin with reputed newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express, or The Times of India. Focus on editorials, national and international news, government policies, and legal updates. Reading editorials enhances vocabulary and critical thinking—vital skills for CLAT.
• Mid-Morning Review (20-30 minutes): Go through monthly current affairs magazines or yearly compendiums such as Manorama Yearbook or Arihant’s Current Affairs Yearly. These provide in-depth analysis and a broader understanding of themes.
• Afternoon Quick Updates (15-20 minutes): Utilize apps like Inshorts or CLAT-focused platforms such as GKToday for short summaries and quick quizzes on current topics.
• Evening Revision and Quizzes (1-2 hours): Revise notes from daily and weekly learning, participate in quizzes, and solve previous years’ GK questions and CLAT mock tests to gauge preparation level.
• Night Recap (20-30 minutes): Brief revision of what you studied during the day to enhance retention.

Effective Study Techniques for Current Affairs and GK

• Make Concise Notes: Maintain a dedicated notebook or digital document for current affairs and GK. Categorize notes into national affairs, international events, sports, awards, economics, law-related news, science, and environment. This organization eases revision and helps retain facts.
• Regular Revision: Revisiting your notes periodically using spaced repetition techniques consolidates memory and helps recall under exam conditions.
• Follow Legal Developments: Given CLAT’s legal emphasis, track recent judgments, legislative changes, and landmark cases through law journals, websites, and legal news portals to stay updated.
• Practice with Previous Papers and Mock Tests: Solving past CLAT papers familiarizes you with the question pattern and difficulty level. Mock tests enhance speed, accuracy, and time management skills, which are critical on exam day.

Recommended Resources for Preparation

• Newspapers: The Hindu, The Indian Express (for editorial and current affairs)
• Monthly Magazines: Manorama Yearbook, Pratiyogita Darpan
• Online Platforms: TestFunda online platform, GKToday, Insights on India
• Apps: Inshorts
• Books: Lucent’s General Knowledge, Current Affairs fortnightly/Monthly Questions by testfunda

How to Prepare Legal Reasoning for CLAT Exam 2026

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a gateway to premier National Law Universities in India, and Legal Reasoning is a crucial section of this exam. For CLAT 2026 aspirants, excelling in Legal Reasoning can significantly boost your overall score and rank. This guide will help candidates understand the syllabus, key topics, and preparation strategies for mastering Legal Reasoning.

What is Legal Reasoning in CLAT?

Legal Reasoning in CLAT tests your ability to apply legal principles and rules to various fact-based situations. It assesses comprehension skills, analytical thinking, and your ability to infer conclusions from given scenarios. The questions are passage-based, where each passage is followed by multiple-choice questions that require applying legal doctrines, rules, and logic to solve problems. Prior legal knowledge is not mandatory as relevant principles are provided within each passage.

Key Topics in CLAT Legal Reasoning

The syllabus for Legal Reasoning covers a range of legal areas including:

• Law of Contracts
• Criminal Law and Indian Penal Code
• Constitutional Law (Fundamental Rights, State Policy, Separation of Powers)
• Law of Torts (negligence, nuisance, defamation)
• Family Law
• Important Supreme Court Judgments and legal maxims
• Intellectual Property Rights and International Laws
• Legal terminology and principles

The section typically consists of 4 to 5 passages, each about 450 words, with 28 to 32 questions in total, accounting for about 25% of the exam marks.

Essential Skills to Develop

1. Understanding Legal Principles: Focus on grasping the fundamental legal rules stated in passages. Practice interpreting legal norms, statutory provisions, and their applications to facts.
2. Critical Analysis and Reasoning: Enhance your ability to analyze fact patterns and logically apply rules. Identify relevant facts amid complex information and distinguish between arguments.
3. Legal Vocabulary: Build familiarity with legal terms and maxims to decode passages swiftly and accurately.
4. Scenario-based Reasoning: Since questions are based on applying principles to fact situations, continuous practice with legal case studies and past questions helps sharpen this skill.
5. Time Management: CLAT is time-sensitive. Practice completing the legal reasoning section swiftly with accuracy through timed mock tests.

Effective Preparation Strategies

• Daily Consistent Practice: Dedicate specific hours daily to legal reasoning practice. Alternate days focusing exclusively on this section can also work well.
• Study Material & Resources: Use books and online resources tailored for CLAT Legal Reasoning. Refer to previous years’ question papers and expert preparation guides.
• Take Mock Tests: Regularly attempt full-length CLAT mocks and sectional tests under timed conditions. Analyze your errors to improve accuracy and speed.
• Read Legal Editorials & Judgments: Stay updated on landmark cases and current legal developments related to the syllabus. This helps improve comprehension and legal awareness.
• Learn Legal Maxims & Important Terms: Memorizing key legal maxims and terminology simplifies understanding and answering principle-based questions.
• Break Down Passages: Practice breaking complex passages into key points and legal principles which aids faster question answering.

Common Question Types to Expect

• Assertion and Reasoning based questions requiring validation of premises
• Principle-based questions applying one or more legal doctrines to scenarios
• Fact-based questions to identify relevant legal facts or outcomes
• Legal GK questions on recent laws, judgements, or constitutional provisions

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning in CLAT 2026

The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is not merely a test of knowledge; it’s a test of aptitude and reasoning ability. Among its five sections, Logical Reasoning has emerged as a game-changer. With carefully framed passages and questions that test analytical thinking, this section rewards clarity of thought, structured preparation, and consistent practice. If CLAT 2026 is your target, now is the right time to strengthen this area.

Understanding the Nature of Logical Reasoning in CLAT

The Logical Reasoning section in CLAT is not built around abstract puzzles alone, as many students initially assume. Instead, it focuses on short passages—about 300–350 words each—followed by questions that test whether you can:

• Recognize arguments and their conclusions.
• Identify assumptions or flaws in reasoning.
• Draw logical inferences and implications.
• Apply principles to new fact situations.

In essence, the section tests how well you can dissect and evaluate arguments in a fast-paced exam environment. Around 28–32 questions are typically asked, contributing significantly to your final score.

Step 1: Build Conceptual Clarity

Before you dive into practice, ensure you understand the basics of reasoning. Focus on core concepts like:

• Arguments vs. Statements: Distinguish between facts, assumptions, and conclusions.
• Types of Reasoning: Deductive, inductive, and analogical reasoning.
• Common Fallacies: Recognizing circular reasoning, faulty cause-effect, or false analogies is crucial.

Books like RS Aggarwal’s A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning can build your foundation, but supplement them with practice material aligned to CLAT-style passages.

Step 2: Develop a Habit of Active Reading

The Logical Reasoning section is passage-based, so your reading skills directly impact your performance. Here’s a tactical habit:

• Read editorials in newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express. While reading, pause to ask—what is the author’s conclusion? What evidence supports it? What assumptions lie beneath it?
• Summarize passages in your own words. This will train you to capture arguments quickly, a skill that pays off in the exam.

Step 3: Practice Topic-Wise Questions

Divide your preparation into micro-topics and practice each intensively. Some important areas include:

• Strengthening and weakening arguments
• Identifying assumptions
• Inference-based questions
• Cause and effect
• Principle-based application

Initially, solve these slowly with detailed analysis. As you improve, simulate exam speed by timing yourself.

Step 4: Analyze Mock Tests Rigorously

Mocks are not just about marks—they are diagnostic tools. In Logical Reasoning especially, analyze:

• Did you misinterpret the passage?
• Did you fall for a trap answer?
• Were you rushing and missing keywords like “not,” “except,” or “most likely”?

Maintain an error journal where you log every mistake with explanation. Over a month, you’ll see recurring patterns in your errors and can consciously correct them.

Step 5: Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

Unlike quantitative aptitude, Logical Reasoning is not about drilling hundreds of random problems daily. What matters is how you think. Even solving 10–12 high-quality CLAT-style passages daily, with reflection, is enough. Make sure your practice materials mirror the exact exam format.

Step 6: Time Management in the Exam

Logical Reasoning can become time-consuming because of lengthy passages. Train yourself to:

• Read passages with focus the first time (avoid re-reading multiple times).
• Eliminate wrong options before selecting the right one.
• Skip and return—if a question feels stuck, move forward and come back later.

With practice, you should target completing this section in about 25–30 minutes, leaving buffer time for revision.

How to Prepare Quantitative Techniques for CLAT Exam 2026

The Quantitative Techniques section in CLAT 2026 accounts for approximately 10% of the total marks, typically around 10-121questions. Although this weightage may seem small, performing well in this section can be a decisive factor in securing admission to prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs). Preparing strategically and diligently is key to mastering this section, especially since the questions are set at a Class 10 mathematics level.

Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The Quantitative Techniques section includes questions based on short factual passages, propositions, or data presented in textual, pictorial, or graphical formats. Candidates need to interpret the data and apply basic arithmetic, algebra, and data interpretation skills to answer multiple-choice questions. Key topics commonly covered include ratios and proportions, basic algebra, profit and loss, time, distance, work, and statistics.

Build a Strong Foundation in Basics

Clear conceptual clarity is fundamental. If there are gaps, especially for students who did not take mathematics at higher secondary levels, revisiting Class 8 to 10 NCERT books can be extremely beneficial. Strengthen your grasp of fundamental formulas, operations, and mathematical concepts before moving on to practice problems.

Regular Practice with Focus

Consistent daily practice is essential. Dedicate at least an hour each day solving quantitative problems of Class 10 difficulty. Practice different question types to enhance speed and accuracy. Use previous years’ CLAT question papers and sample papers to familiarize yourself with the exam style and difficulty level.

Develop Shortcut Techniques and Mental Math Skills

Time management is crucial in CLAT. Learning mathematical shortcuts for calculations, approximation techniques, and simplifying problems can save valuable time. Mastery of these shortcuts enables you to solve questions quickly, leaving more time for other sections of the exam.

Solve Mock Tests and Analyze Performance

Regularly attempt full-length mock tests that include quantitative sections. This helps simulate exam conditions and builds your endurance. Analyze mistakes meticulously to avoid repeating them. Focused revision on weaker areas identified through mock tests improves overall accuracy and confidence.