Begin with reading, because CLAT UG is built mostly on passages of about 450 words. In Class 11, build the reading and news habit slowly, and in Class 12, add timed practice, because CLAT comes before your board exams.
Last checked on 1 November 2026. The pattern below is the official CLAT 2027 pattern from the Consortium of National Law Universities. The study plan is our own advice, not an official schedule, and following it does not promise any result.
What are you preparing for?
CLAT 2027 has 120 multiple-choice questions in two hours, or one minute a question. Each right answer earns 1 mark and each wrong answer loses 0.25. There are five sections. English Language and Logical Reasoning have about 22 to 26 questions each, Current Affairs and Legal Reasoning have about 28 to 32 each, and Quantitative Techniques has about 10 to 14.
Notice the timing too. CLAT 2027 falls on 6 December 2026, while its eligibility page expects Class 12 students to sit their qualifying exam in March or April 2027. So the law test came months before the boards. Do not assume every year's date will be the same. Check the Consortium's site when each cycle opens.
What should you do in Class 11?
The aim here is habit, not speed. An hour a day is enough to begin.
| Habit | How often | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Read one long piece | Daily | An editorial or a long article. Write its main argument in two lines |
| Follow the news | Daily | Note one Indian and one world event, and why it matters |
| Read something longer | Weekly | An essay or a book chapter, for practice with long passages |
| Revise Class 10 maths | Weekly | Ratios, percentages, basic algebra, mensuration and simple statistics |
| Try reasoning | Weekly | A few passages with questions on arguments and conclusions |
Do this alongside your school work. Do not let it pull down your marks, because you need at least 45 percent in Class 12, or 40 percent for SC, ST and PwD candidates. Your school subjects are also worth learning for their own sake.
What should you do in Class 12?
Split the time before the exam into three stages. If you start late, shorten the first stage.
| Stage | Main work | Papers |
|---|---|---|
| First (start of Class 12 to about four months before CLAT) | All five sections, in rotation. Learn legal reasoning by applying a rule to facts | One timed section at a time |
| Second (four months to six weeks before) | Practise under time. Keep a list of the mistakes you repeat | One full paper a week, then two |
| Last six weeks | Full papers, review and current affairs revision | Two or three a week, sat in one go |
The review counts for more than the paper. After each paper, go through every wrong answer and any question that took too long. Write down why it went wrong. Those reasons are what you practise next.
How do you approach each section?
- English Language. Read for the main idea first. The official syllabus asks about arguments, viewpoints and inferences, not grammar alone.
- Current Affairs. The official syllabus says no knowledge beyond the passage is needed for legal information, but you still need awareness of events and history. Short monthly notes help.
- Legal Reasoning. Practise using only the rule given in the passage. Your own opinion can mislead you. No prior law is needed.
- Logical Reasoning. Train yourself to find the conclusion and what supports it.
- Quantitative Techniques. Few questions, but they use only Class 10 level maths. Do not skip this section altogether.
Should you guess?
Think about the numbers. A wrong answer costs 0.25, so four wrong answers cancel one right answer. If you can rule out most of the options, a guess may be worth it. If you know nothing, leave it. Test what works for you in practice papers, not on the day.
How do you keep costs low?
Your main tools are cheap: a newspaper, a library and your school's Class 10 maths book. The Consortium sells previous-year question papers for Rs. 500, separate from the application fee, and its site is the first place to look for the official format. You do not need many paid books.
Remember the fee too. For CLAT 2027 it was Rs. 4,000, or Rs. 3,500 for SC, ST, BPL and PwD candidates. Note it early so that it does not catch your family by surprise.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start CLAT preparation only in Class 12?
Yes. Many of the skills tested are reading and reasoning, which you have been building at school. You will need steady daily work and a smaller plan.
Do I need Humanities to prepare for CLAT?
No stream is named in the CLAT 2027 eligibility rule. A Science or Commerce student may need more time for news and reading, and may need less time for the maths.
Can I prepare for CLAT and CUET together?
Some skills overlap, such as reading and general knowledge. But check which CUET papers your university wants, since those may need separate preparation.
Can I sit CLAT while still in Class 11?
The eligibility page covers those who pass Class 12 or who appear in the stated March or April exam. A Class 11 student does not fit that rule for the current cycle. Check the current eligibility page for your year.
Official sources
- https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2027/
- https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2027/ug-eligibility.html
- https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2027/ug-instructions.html
- https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2027/ug-question-format.html
- https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2027/ug-syllabus.html
- https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/documents/Expert_Committee_Report_2026_Press_Release.pdf
Written from the official sources listed above, with no second reader yet. Notices change, so confirm every date on the official website. Nikaalle is not linked to any exam body.