CLAT 2026 Marks vs Rank: Key Differences, Merit List Deciding Factors
Common Law Admission Test 2026 ( CLAT )
CLAT 2026 Counselling is currently underway. The CLAT 2026 Exam was conducted on December 7, 2025. In this article, candidates can understand key differences between CLAT ranks and marks, and what is more important to get a seat at NLUs in India. Both CLAT rank and marks are the deciding factors for the merit list.
Difference between CLAT Marks and Ranks
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is conducted for admissions offered at the National Law Universities in India. The CLAT Counselling 2026 is currently underway. The CLAT Third Allotment List will be published on February 5, 2026. Candidates must note that the CLAT Counselling is completely online. The Consortium announced the marks as well as ranks along with the CLAT results.
While CLAT ranks and marks are both helpful in preparing the merit list of an NLU, often candidates ask what exactly is the deciding factor in the final admission/ selection process. In this article, candidates can understand the key differences between CLAT rank and marks, and their role in the preparation of a CLAT merit list 2026.
- What is CLAT Cut-Off?
- CLAT 2026 Marks
- CLAT Rank Predictor 2026
- CLAT 2026 Reservation Categories
- Difference between CLAT 2026 Rank and Marks
- CLAT 2026 Marks vs Ranks - Deciding factor for Merit List
- CLAT 2026 Second Merit List for UG Courses
What is CLAT Cut-Off?
The CLAT cut-offs are the last rank that is needed for admission to the NLUs. As per the NIRF ranking, the top five NLUs are NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NUJS Kolkata and NLU Jodhpur. Candidates look forward to taking admission to these NLUs. CLAT Cutoff is always higher for these NLUs as compared to others.
CLAT 2026 Marks
The Consortium of NLUs awards marks to a candidate based on their performance in all five sections of CLAT question paper as under
| CLAT Sections |
CLAT total questions per section |
CLAT total marks per section |
CLAT Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28-32 questions |
28-32 marks |
1 mark awarded for each correct answer 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer 0 marks awarded or deducted for no attempts |
|
| 35-39 questions |
35-39 marks |
||
| 28-32 questions |
28-32 marks |
||
| 35-39 questions |
35-39 marks |
||
| 13-17 questions |
13-17 marks |
||
| Total |
120 questions |
120 marks |
Sum of all questions attempted minus incorrect attempts |
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For postgraduate courses as under
| CLAT LLM Sections |
Total MCQs |
Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Sec A – Constitutional Law |
120 questions |
120 marks |
| Sec B - Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence. |
||
| Sec C – Law topics and Contemporary issues |
Therefore, the scorecard of the CLAT exam includes scores obtained by candidates in each section, as well as overall scores obtained in the exam.
CLAT Rank Predictor 2026
To shortlist candidates for the final seat allotment process, the exam authority arranges their names in order of merit. The merit ranks of candidates qualifying CLAT 2026 exam are based on the following factors
- Section-wise marks in CLAT
- Overall scores obtained in CLAT
- Age of the candidate
In case there are ties in marks of two or more candidates, then the merit rank will be determined as under:
For undergraduate courses -
- Candidates securing higher marks in the legal aptitude section of CLAT UG question paper will be ranked higher
- In case of further tie, candidates older in age will be ranked higher
- Finally, if the tie still exists, then a computerised draw of lots.
For postgraduate courses -
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- Candidate older in age is ranked higher
- In case of further ties, a computerized draw of lots will determine the ranks of candidates
CLAT 2026 Reservation Categories
CLAT ranks are arranged for each category as under
- General
- Scheduled Caste
- Scheduled Tribes
- Kashmiri Migrants
- Other Backward Classes
- Persons with Disabilities/ Specially Abled Persons
- J&K candidates
- Economically Weaker Section
Difference between CLAT 2026 Rank and Marks
The major difference between CLAT 2026 ranks and marks is
- Marks are consolidated scores obtained in the CLAT exam
- Ranks are positioned in each category on the basis of marks and tie-breaking criteria
Therefore, it becomes essential for a candidate to score well in CLAT exam, in order to get a higher rank in the merit list.
CLAT 2026 Marks vs Ranks - Deciding factor for Merit List
Both CLAT rank and marks are the deciding factors for the merit list, as the exam authority allots ranks on the basis of marks obtained by candidates. Further, the qualified candidates are segregated on the basis of category (including horizontal reservations) for all NLUs.
CLAT Cutoff Marks vs Ranks
The cutoff marks for CLAT 2026 means the minimum marks a candidate needs to secure in all the sections as well as the overall question paper. Whereas, CLAT cutoff rank 2026 indicates category-wise rank (last) eligible to get admission in a particular NLU.
CLAT 2026 Marks
Here are the cutoff marks for the CLAT exam
| CLAT Sections |
Difficulty Level |
Expected cut off |
|---|---|---|
| English Language |
Easy |
20+ |
| Current Affairs including GK |
Moderate |
30+ |
| Logical Reasoning |
Moderate |
15+ |
| Legal Reasoning |
Easy to Moderate |
20+ |
| Quantitative Techniques |
Moderate |
10+ |
| Total |
Moderate |
95-115 |
CLAT Cutoff Ranks 2026
The merit list is published for all participating NLUs, and category-wise ranks by the consortium. Candidates can check the same below
CLAT 2026 Second Merit List for UG Courses
Candidates can download seat allotment for CLAT undergraduate course from the table below once released.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 7 hours ago
Candidates must understand that the CLAT Exam is for admission to NLUs and it is national level competitve exam. But AIL LET Exam is for one specific college. It is completly a personal choice to choose.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 7 hours ago
The AIL LET Exam is comparatively easier than the CLAT. While CLAT is held for NLUs, the AIL LET Exam is only for Army Institute of Law. Hence, the competition and difficutly level is bit less.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
The Chanakya National Law University Patna BA LLB (hons) cutoff trend has shown an increase in competition for admissions. The BA LLB (hons) admission cutoff has seen a small increase which might be the result of either better CLAT-UG scores than the previous year or more applicants for BA LLB (hons
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Candidates with a high score in CLAT may be preferred for selection in BA LLB at Ramaiah College of Law. But if you qualify the eligibility criteria and clear all the rounds of the selection process, you may get a seat at Ramaiah College of Law without appearing for CLAT.
S
Beginner-Level 5
Answered Yesterday
Candidates with a high score in CLAT may be preferred for selection in BA LLB at Ramaiah College of Law. But if you qualify the eligibility criteria and clear all the rounds of the selection process, you may get a seat at Ramaiah College of Law without appearing for CLAT.
S
Beginner-Level 5
Answered Yesterday
No, the CLAT-UG has been concluded for the 2026 Chanakya Law University Patna BBA LLB admissions. Candidates who are interested in applying for the aforementioned course are now required to wait for CLAT 2027 to begin. The CLAT-UG registrations generally begin in the month of August.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Yes, the CLAT-UG is a mandatory entrance exam for Chanakya National Law University Patna BBA LLB (hons) admissions. There are no other entrance exams that are accepted by Chanakya National Law University Patna for deciding the admissions to its BBA LLB (hons) course.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Both exams are national level. While AIBE is a certification exam, CLAT is an entrance exam to get admission into NLUs. The difficulty level of both the exams are more or less same.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
- Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Enter your registered mobile number and password.
- Click on the Login button.
- Click on the Download Admit Card.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
The Allahabad HC has ordered that Question No. 9 of Booklet C (and its equivalent questions across all sets) be re-evaluated by treating both options 'B' and 'D' as correct answers. The revised CLAT Score 2026 shall not affect candidates who have already been allotted seats in Round 1 of CLAT UG 202
Contributor-Level 10
It totally depends on you that when you should start preparing for CLAT. If you want really good marks in board exams, focus on that at first and then prepare for CLAT. If you can manage boards and CLAT preparation side by side then go for it, but do not affect your board scores.