CLAT 2020 Topper Interview: Aprajita, AIR 1, says regular practice, consistency key to success

Aprajita, a native of Patna, Bihar, topped CLAT 2020 with AIR 1. Read below to know her strategy and tips that will help you prepare for the exam in the best possible way. 

Aprajita, a student of Notre Dame Academy, Patna, claimed AIR 1 in CLAT 2020 by securing 127.25 out of 147 in the exam. Aprajita, 19, is currently pursuing law from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru. Her father is a railway officer and mother a homemaker. She started her CLAT preparation in Class 11 and continued it for two years. She enjoys sketching and playing guitar in her free time. She believes that her tenacious efforts and unwavering attention to enhance her skills helped her perform well in the exam. 

Shiksha caught up with Aprajita to know about her secret to success, what keeps her motivated, her preparation strategy and more.

Q. Did you expect to be the topper of CLAT 2020?

A. Though I performed well in the exam and was confident of a good result, I did not expect to be the CLAT topper. It was a pleasant surprise!

Q. What was your preparation strategy that helped you crack CLAT 2020?

A. The CLAT syllabus is pretty extensive and I do not believe it is feasible to cover everything, and in our case, the pattern was altered at the last minute. It may appear that there are too many things to accomplish and not enough time, but putting in continuous efforts over reasonable time guarantees that you have enough time to focus on your strengths and shortcomings. It is not about finishing all you set out to achieve or reading every other book your friends are reading, it is about staying consistent with what you are doing. Hence, my tenacious efforts and unwavering attention to enhance my skills helped her perform well in the exam.

Q. How did you manage time between board exams and entrance exams preparation?

A. When I was in Class 12, I went to school on a regular basis and prepared for the boards throughout the year. I had always been very consistent in my school studies. This made it possible for me to devote some time to CLAT preparation even while taking the board exams. I did not take a total break from CLAT preparation even during my board exams because CLAT requires regular practice and consistency is the key.

Q. Did you take any coaching for these exams?

A. Yes, I took coaching from a private institute. It was a two-year classroomprogramme. Apart from that, I had been takingCLAT mock tests regularly. It helped me improve my performance.

Q. What study plan did you follow for the exam?

A. I started CLAT preparation in Class 11 and prepared consistently for two years. Throughout the year, I prepared for both CLAT and board examinations. TheCLAT exam pattern changed in November-end, which was a setback. In January 2020, we received our first CLAT sample paper and it was then I started my actual preparation. I allocated time to subjects based on my strengths and weaknesses. I devoted more time to general knowledge, taking regular notes and revising them on weekends. I spent around 2-3 hours every day preparing for CLAT. During these hours, I took online mock tests to evaluate my performance and identify my strong and weak areas, and then I would spend one hour analysing the tests (a section-by-section analysis) to ensure that none of my flaws went undiscovered. I concentrated on my sectional scores and worked on the areas where I tend to fall short. I went through each and every question to see where I went wrong and why and then worked on the technique I needed to use in the following mock. I had maintained a register in which I wrote down the topics in which I had scored poorly and worked on them accordingly. The goal was to increase my score with each mock as well as to understand my strengths and weaknesses. Time management is also an important factor that needs to be kept in mind while preparing for the exam.

Q. Which books did you read to prepare for the exam?

A. Apart from the material provided by my coaching institute, I referred to avarious books. Below are subject-wise books that I consulted during my preparation.

Quantitative technique: 18 Days Wonder and RS Aggarwal 

General knowledge and current affairs: Regular newspaper reading, particularly editorials, and webistes 

Logical reasoning: GMAT RC passages and prep material 

Legal reasoning: Mock tests and coaching material 

English: Good newspapers and CLAT mock tests to improve my vocabulary and comprehension skills. 

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Q.What other law entrance exams did you take or are planning to take? 

A. Apart from CLAT 2020, I took AILET 2020.

Q. Was law always your first preference?

A. As a kid, I wanted to be anautomobile engineer or study astrophysics, but owing to a series of events, I opted for law. It may seem corny, but I always wanted to assist others and law appeared to be a good match. I believed that studying law would provide me with the required knowledge and degree to assist those in need.

Q. Any tips for students who are planning to take these exams in future?

A. There may be instances when your mock results do not meet your expectations. Discover a legitimate explanation for this and work on it so that you do not make the same mistakes again. Simply staying focused, motivated and determined can help you get into an ideal college. Do not beat yourself up or psychologically torment yourself in the process. Also, do not put your life on hold, instead spend some time doing what you enjoy such as playing games, watching movies, listening to music or talking about your difficulties with family and friends.

Q. What are your future plans?

A. I am pursuing BA LLB from the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru. For the time being, I want to explore everything available to me and then make a decision on what I want to do in future. 

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