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.
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?
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
Commonly asked questions
The CLAT Topper List will be released along with the CLAT 2027 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.
For the CLAT 2027 Quantitative Techniques section, candidates must focus on the 10th-grade data interpretation and arithmetic.
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:
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 |
Explore colleges based on CLAT
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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 |
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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.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 19 hours ago
To get a seat at Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Law University for the BA LLB and LLM courses, students have to first appear for the CLAT entrance exam and then sit for the CLAT counselling process to be considered eligible for admission to the above-mentioned courses.
The NLU Sonepat CLAT cutoff 2026 was
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 19 hours ago
Yes, you could get into NLU Sonepat with a CLAT rank of 300 if you belong to the OBC AI category.
For this category, the overall cutoff ranged from 3409 to 4684 for the BA LLB and LLM courses. Students can refer to the table below to know the first and last round closing ranks for this category.
| Course | Round 1 | Last Round |
|---|---|---|
| B.A. LL.B. | 3409 | 3780 |
| Master of Legislative Laws (LL.M.) | 3526 | 4684 |
Not
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 19 hours ago
To know how to check the merit list for NLU Sonepat admission to the UG and PG-level courses, see below:
- Go to the official Consortium of NLUs portal.
- Click on the CLAT option on the top bar.
- Find the merit list declared for UG and PG programmes.
- Candidates can also log in to the CLAT portal to access
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 19 hours ago
To get into HPNLU for the BA LLB (Hons), LLM and BBA LLB (Hons) courses, students have to first appear for the CLAT entrance examination, followed by its counselling process. Only those students who appear for the counselling process are considered eligible for admission.
The HPNLU CLAT cutoff 2026
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 19 hours ago
The NLU Shimla CLAT cutoff 2026 was released for both the SC All India and the SC Home State quota. The cutoff was out for admission to the BBA LLB (Hons), LLM and BA LLB (Hons) courses.
For the ST AI category, the overall cutoff ranged from 4544 in the first round to 13896 in the last round. As per
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 21 hours ago
To check the merit list for NLU Aurangabad, students can refer to the list of pointers below.
- Go to the official Consortium of NLUs website.
- Click on the CLAT option in the top-right corner
- Scroll down to the notification section
- Check the merit list for all courses among the UG and PG-level courses
St
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The NLU Nagpur cutoff 2026 was released for admission to the UG and PG-level courses based on the CLAT entrance exam and its counselling process. The cutoff was in the form of ranks for the BA LLB (Hons), LLM and BBA LLB (Hons) programmes.
The NLU Nagpur CLAT cutoff 2026 for the PWD AI category rang
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Yes, NLU Mumbai does accept the CLAT entrance exam for admission to the UG and PG-level courses. NLU Mumbai CLAT cutoff 2026 was released in the form of ranks for the BA LLB (Hons) and LLM courses.
The cutoff was out for several All India and Home State quota categories for a total of 5 rounds of se
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The needed rank to get DSNLU would depend on the course you have chosen and the category you belong to. The DSNLU CLAT cutoff 2026 concluded with the release of the final cutoff list for the BA LLB (Hons) and LLM courses.
If you belong to the General AI category, the overall cutoff ranged from 1279
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
DSNLU Cutoff 2026 was released for various All India categories, including the OBC AI category. The cutoff was published for admission to the BA LLB (Hons) and LLM courses.
The DSNLU OBC Cutoff 2026 ranged from 2199 to 3182 for both courses. Students can refer to the table below to know the first an
N
Contributor-Level 10
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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