How to Prepare for CLAT 2026 from Scratch: Best Strategy, Daily Study Plan & Top Books
Common Law Admission Test 2026 ( CLAT )
How to prepare for CLAT 2026 From Scratch?
Are you wondering how to start preparing for CLAT 2026 from scratch? Whether you are in Class 12, a dropper, or just decided to pursue law CLAT Exam is a gateway to getting into the best NLUs and law colleges in the country. With a few months left for the CLAT Exam 2026, there is nothing to panic about. In this article we bring forward to you ultimate step-by-step CLAT 2026 preparation guide. CLAT 2026 Exam Date has been announced. The CLAT Exam Date is December 7, 2025
Latest Update: CLAT 2026 Admit Card (UG/PG) LIVE: Direct Link CLAT Hall Ticket Active Soon @consortiumofnlus.ac.in
This article covers:
- How to prepare for CLAT 2026 from scratch
- Best books for CLAT 2026 preparation
- Daily study timetable for CLAT 2026 aspirants
- Section-wise strategy (Legal, GK, Logic, English, Quant)
- Mistakes to avoid and mock test tips
Read further to know more.
- What is CLAT 2026?
- How to Start CLAT 2026 Preparation from Scratch
- What are the best book for CLAT 2026 Preparation (Section-Wise)
- Also Read: CLAT 2026 Sample Papers PDF (Out) - Past Years' Free Sample Paper Download Link
- CLAT Mock Papers
- Final Tips to Crack CLAT 2026 from Scratch
What is CLAT 2026?
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The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT 2026) is the national-level entrance exam for UG law programs at 26 NLUs including NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS. Except NLU Delhi, admissions to all other NLUs are done through CLAT Exam.
CLAT 2026 Question Paper will have five sections, i.e. English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. The CLAT PG exam covers Constitutional Law and other legal subjects such as Jurisprudence, Torts, IPC, CrPC, CPC, Family Law, and IPR.
| Feature |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Date |
07-Dec-2025
|
| Exam Mode |
Offline (Pen-Paper) |
| Duration |
2 Hours
|
| Total Questions |
120 |
| Subjects |
English, Legal Reasoning, GK, Logic, Quant
|
Also Read: CLAT 2026 Official website: Important Information, Check CLAT Consortium Official Site
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How to Start CLAT 2026 Preparation from Scratch
It is never too late to start preparing for CLAT Exam if you are determined to work hard and give your best. It is important to thoroughly understand the CLAT Syllabus 2026 first. Read further to know step-by-step guide to start CLAT preparation from the beginning.
Step 1: Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern
Before you begin, know what to expect:
CLAT 2026 Subjects and Weightage
| Section Approx. |
Questions |
Weightage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 28–32 |
25% |
|
| 28–32 |
25% |
|
| 22–26 |
20% |
|
| 22–26 |
20% |
|
| 10–12 |
10% |
Focus more on comprehension-based practice. All sections are passage-based.
Step 2: Follow a 5-Month Study Plan
With only five months left for CLAT Exam. Candidates who are starting CLAT preparation in July can utilise the following study-plan to crack CLAT 2026 in first attempt.
Month-Wise Study Plan:
| Month |
Focus Area |
What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| July |
Build Basics |
Vocabulary, Legal Terms, GK habits |
| August |
Start doing sectional practice |
Practice Logic, Legal and Reading Daily |
| September |
Start practicing mock tests |
Make you practice mock tests daily keeping the duration in mind |
| October |
Start revising and practicing full length mock tests |
Note down your weak areas while attempting mock tests. Work on topics in which you are scoring low |
| Nov-Dec |
Final Revision |
Work on your speed, analyse which section you are putting more time, boost your GK section |
Also Read: How to clear CLAT 2026 in first attempt?
Step 3: Follow a Daily Study Timetable
To prepare for any exam it is very important to have a time table in mind. To help you as a beginner we have framed a daily CLAT 2026 study schedule below:
| Time |
Subject |
|---|---|
| 1 hour |
Legal Reasoning Section (2 passages/ day) |
| 45 minutes |
Current Affairs + GK revision |
| 30 minutes |
Vocabulary + English comprehension |
| 30 minutes |
Logical Reasoning practice |
| 30 minutes |
Quant (basic math + graph-based Qs)
|
| Practice full-length mock test |
Every Weekend |
Also Read:
- Synonyms & Antonyms for Law Entrance 2026: List of Most Commonly Asked Words
- Idioms and Proverbs for CLAT 2026 With Meaning
What are the best book for CLAT 2026 Preparation (Section-Wise)
Candidates always get confused while choosing books to prepare for CLAT 2026. While there is no scarcity of books to study for CLAT Exam, here we have listed the top books for CLAT 2026:
| Subject |
CLAT 2026 Book Recommendation |
|---|---|
| CLAT Logical Reasoning |
· A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal · Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal · Analytical Reasoning (English) by MK Pandey · A New Approach to Verbal and Analytical Reasoning by Arihant |
| CLAT Legal Reasoning |
· Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by Pearson · Legal Aptitude and Legal Reasoning by AP Bhardwaj · Objective Legal Aptitude by RS Aggarwal |
| · Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Arihant Publications · 30 days wonder for Maths by S Chand · Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Pearson's · Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal |
|
| CLAT GK & Current Affairs |
· General Knowledge 2025, 2024, and 2023 by Arihant Publications · Current Affairs Yearly by Arihant Publications · Manorama Year Book by Manorama Publications · General Knowledge 2025-2026 by Lucent’s · General Knowledge 2025-2026 by Tarun Goyal |
| CLAT English |
· Objective General English 2025 by SP Bakshi · Objective General English 2025 by RS Aggarwal · The Pearson Guide to the CLAT by Pearson's · Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis · CLAT Guide by Tata McGraw-Hill |
Also Read: CLAT 2026 Sample Papers PDF (Out) - Past Years' Free Sample Paper Download Link
CLAT Mock Papers
The Consortium shares the online mock tests for CLAT 2026 UG and PG exams. However, it starts mock test by September onwards. But, to help you prepare well Shiksha has created CLAT Free Mock Tests. Candidates can practice and get ready for the upcoming CLAT Exam 2026. Check the table below to access Shiksha’s free CLAT Mocks for practice:
| Clat Mock Test 1 Solutions |
|
| CLAT Mock Test Set 2 Solutions |
|
| CLAT Mock Test Set 3 |
CLAT Mock Test Set 3 Solutions |
| CLAT Mock Test Set 4 Solutions |
|
| CLAT Mock Test Set 5 Solutions |
|
| CLAT Mock Test Set 6 Solutions |
|
| CLAT Mock Test Set 7 Solutions |
|
| CLAT Mock Test Set 8 Solutions |
|
| CLAT Mock Test Set 9 Solutions |
|
| CLAT Mock Test Set 10 Solutions |
Final Tips to Crack CLAT 2026 from Scratch
- Practice 100+ legal reasoning passages before the exam
- Read news daily and revise monthly current affairs
- Attempt at least 30–40 full-length mocks
- Keep a notebook for mistakes, revise every week
- Stay confident. CLAT rewards smart strategy, not rote learning
Q1. Can I prepare for CLAT 2026 without coaching?
As per the experience shared by toppers, it is very much possible to clear CLAT without Coaching and just by self-study. Consistency matters more than classes.
Q2. Is 6 months enough to crack CLAT 2026?
Yes, 6 months are enough to prepare for CLAT 2026. If you ensure that you study 4–5 hours daily with focused mock test practice and revision.
Q3. How many hours should I study daily?
Candidates who are in Class 12th must ensure that they study minimum 3-4 hours a day. However, aspirants who have dropped an year for the preparation are advised to spend 5-6 hours since they don’t have to worry for board exam.
Q4. When should I start mock tests?
Aspirants must ensure that they start with section-wise, then full-length at least two months before the exam.
Read More:
She has over 10 years of experience in the education and publishing sectors. She specialises in exam coverage and content creation. At Shiksha, she writes, analyses, and presents information for students preparing f
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
CNLU Patna LLM cutoff 2026 is out, wherein the first round closing rank is 968 for the students belonging to the General AI quota. Apart from the General category, the cutoff has been released only for the PWD category, for which the cutoff rank is 6270.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
GNLU Gandhinagar LLM cutoff 2026 released has been released across different categories under the AI and HS quotas. For the students belonging to the OBC category, the CLAT first round closing rank for LLM admission is 1212 in the AI quota. GNLU offers multiple specialisations under its LLM course.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, with a CLAT cutoff rank of 500, it is possible to secure a seat at any courses offered at HNLU Raipur for the students belonging to the General AI quota. During the NLU Raipur CLAT cutoff 2026, the maximum recuired cutoff was 773. Therefore, a cutoff rank of 500 is considered as a safe rank for
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Getting a seat at NLU Jodhpur depends on various factors, including category, quota, course and round. During the CLAT first round cutoff 2026, the maximum cutoff was 310 for admission to the BA LLB (Hons) programme. Therefor, if you belong to the General AI quota and aiming for BA LLB (Hons) course
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
NLIU Bhopal CLAT cutoff 2026 for admission to the B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) was 666 in the first round, for the students belonging to the General AI quota. In the Home State quota, the round 1 closing rank for the same course stood at 1950. Candidates can refer to the table below to view the category-wise
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The NLU Assam CLAT Cutoff 2026 was released for admission to the BA LLB (Hons) and LLM course for all categories under the Home State and the All India quota.
According to the Round 1 closing ranks, the cutoff ranged from 2258 to 3527, with LLM course specialisations being the popular choice among p
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
For admission to the BA LLB (Hons) course at NALSAR, the CLAT 2026 cutoff rank was 148 in the first round, for the students belonging to the General AI category students. For other categories under the AI quota, the first round closing ranks are given below:
| Category | Clat Cutoff 2026 (Round 1 Closing Rank) |
|---|---|
| General | 148 |
| OBC | 831 |
| SC | 3259 |
| EWS | 630 |
| PWD | 4951 |
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
CLAT required cutoff ranks depends on multiple factors, such as round, category, course and quota. If you belong to the General AI category, the maximum cutoff required was 148 for the NALSAR B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) course in the first round. Similary, for admission to the LLM course, the maximum cutoff
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The MNLU CLAT Cutoff 2026 was released for admission to various law courses for the students under the All India quota. For the General AI category, the closing cutoff ranged from 1424 to 1737, wherein BALLB (Hons) was the toughest course for admission for this category. Students can refer to the ta
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The MNLU CLAT Cutoff 2026 was released for admission to the BA LLB (Hons), LLM, and BBA LLB course for General and PWD categories belonging to the All India quota. According to the Round 1 closing cutoff for the General AI category, the cutoff ranged from 1096 to 1284, wherein LLM course specialisat
N
Contributor-Level 10
CLAT Notifications
The CLAT Topper List will be released along with the CLAT 2026 Result. It must be noted that the admission to the NLU will be given based on the preference choosen by the candidate while filling the application form.