CLAT PG 2020 Topper Interview: Sahil, AIR 5, says take mock tests for better results
Common Law Admission Test 2026 ( CLAT )
Registration - 1 Aug '25 - 31 Oct '25
Sahil Mathur, a native of Sonipat, Haryana, secured the AIR 5 in CLAT PG 2020 exam. Shiksha got talking to him to know more about his preparation process, secret to success and his future plans.
Sahil Mathur, who did his BALLB from Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam, bagged the AIR 5 in CLAT PG 2020 exam by securing 67.50 out of 120 marks. Sahil is currently pursuing Master of Business Law from National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore. His father is a contractor and mother a businesswoman. He believes that candidates can surely get through CLAT if they study 5-6 hours daily and keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in law. He says he gets attracted towards law as it is applicable in every sphere of life whether it is politics, science, sports, or anything else. Below are the excerpts of the interview.
Q. Congratulations on your success! Did you expect to be the topper of CLAT PG 2020?
A. The CLAT PG 2020 question paper was a combination of predictable and surprising questions. As I had worked hard, I was expecting a good rank, but I was definitely not expecting AIR 5.
Explore colleges based on CLAT
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
Q. What was your preparation strategy that helped you crack CLAT PG 2020?
A. There are six primary points that helped me in my CLAT LLM preparation.
Basics: You must have a solid basic grasp of all legal disciplines, which you will develop over the course of your law school career and not just in a month or two.
Planning: You must prepare a schedule for studying but not at the expense of other activities. Once you have made a plan, stick to it religiously.
Consistency: Consistency is the key. Taking a long vacation will just set you back.
Explore more Law exams with upcoming dates
10 Oct '25
14 Nov '24 - 15 Oct '25
18 Oct '25
7 Aug '25 - 10 Nov '25
16 Oct '25 - 17 Dec '25
28 Dec '25
1 Jan '26
28 Feb '26
8 Mar '26
1 May '26 - 8 May '26
Discussions: This is something not everyone believes in, but having frequent discussions with my classmates helped a lot in my CLAT preparation.
Revision: Always revise what you study, otherwise all efforts will go waste. It is always good to revise when the topic is still fresh in your mind. Revise at least 2-3 times for better retention.
Mock tests: Mock tests are quite useful for any exam. Attempt as many mocks as feasible for good results.
Besides, give at least 5-6 hours every day to your CLAT preparation. Keep a tab on the bar and bench and live law for latest changes in the law.
Q. Did you take any coaching for the exam?
A. Yes, I joined an academy which really helped in my preparation. The academy conducts live lectures, examinations, mock tests and also provides study material for CLAT preparation.
Q. What study plan did you follow for the exam?
A. After changes were made in CLAT LLM pattern and curriculum in January 2020, I began reading Supreme Court judgments. Some decisions are lengthy, but in law school, you learn to focus on the most crucial portions. I mostly focused on cases, however the fundamentals of each topic must also be covered.
Q. Which books did you read to prepare for CLAT PG exam?
A. As Constitution is one of the most important subjects for the CLAT PG test, I focused on reading current and previous historic cases, and if any Article of the Constitution was mentioned in the judgment, I read it from the Constitution Bare text. Besides, one must study the key concepts of the Constitution. In view of the presence of several other legal subjects inCLATLLM syllabus, my method for other subjects is mostly case study, although the fundamentals of each subject must be covered, which may be achieved through various sources. Below are the books I consulted during preparation.
- PM Bakshi for CLAT PG - Constitutional Law
- SN Dhyani for Jurisprudence
- AK Jain’s Guide for LLM or Universal’s Guide for LLM
- Criminal manual for CRPC, Evidence Act and IPC
Also Read:
- Best Books for CLAT 2021 Preparation
- CLAT Question Papers PDFs
- How to Prepare for CLAT 2021- Tips, Books, Planning, Syllabus
Q. How did you deal with your strengths and weaknesses while preparing for CLAT PG exam?
A. CLAT mock tests can help identify your strengths and weaknesses. Also, analysis of CLAT PG previous year question papers can be useful in identifying key areas of focus. With the new CLAT pattern, reading the passage attentively can help you prepare comprehension-based questions. It is possible that reading a large comprehension will take a long time, so practice reading in advance.
Q. What other law entrance exams did you take or are planning to take?
A. I attempted and successfully cleared AILET in 2020. I am planning to take UGC-NET exam in the future.
Q. Was law always your first preference?
A. Yes, law has always been my first preference. I decided to pursue a career in law in Class 11.
Q. Any tips for students who are planning to take these exams in future?
A. You can easily prepare yourself for CLAT UG if you start studying a year or so before the exam, but in CLAT PG, if you do not focus on the fundamental concepts of legal subjects taught in law schools in the beginning of the first year, you will be at a severe disadvantage.
Initially, I was stressed due to the constant postponement of CLAT PG exam, but what kept me calm was my focus on the end goal. Do not overburden yourself psychologically and keep a cool mind even when you have to face failures as failures always lead to success.
Q. What are your future plans?
A. I am still exploring different opportunities, preferably in the area of insolvency and restructuring.
Read more:
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
7 Aug '25 - 10 Nov '25 | AILET 2026 Registration |
27 Nov '25 | AILET 2026 Admit Card |
8 Jun '25 | LSAT India 2025 May Session Re... |
May '25 | LSAT India 2025 May Exam |
31 Aug '25 | ULSAT 2025 Applications (3-yea... |
31 Aug '25 | ULSAT 2025 Applications (5-yea... |
1 Aug '25 - 30 Nov '25 | SLAT Application Form 2026 |
10 Oct '25 | SLAT 2026 Mock Test |
Apr '26 | RULET 2026 Application Process |
May '26 | RULET 2026 Correction Window |
15 Sep '25 - 25 Sep '25 | MH CET Law 2025 Institute Leve... |
13 Sep '25 - 22 Sep '25 | MH CET Law 2025 Institute Leve... |
Jul '23 | LFAT 2023 Declaration of Resul... |
1 Jun '23 - 7 Jun '23 | LFAT 2023 Reserved Exam Dates |
Feb '26 | ACLAT Exam 2026 |
1 Oct '25 | ACLAT 2025 Application |
10 Jul '25 - 15 Jul '25 | PU UGLAW Counselling 2025 |
3 Jul '25 | PU UGLAW Provisional Merit Lis... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
To know if you are eligible for CLAT Exam or not you can visit the official website and check the notification. The notification which was earlier released by the consortium carries all important details like elgibility criteria, fees, exam dates etc. Once you have checked if you are eligible to app
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
You don't have to worry. In case you have forgotten your ID and password, which is pretty much normal. You can go and click on the forgot password tab in the registration window. You will receive the mail and then you have to reset your password. Once day you will be able to login.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
See, it doesn't matter that you fill the form through laptop or phone. What matters is you fill the form. Yes, you should have good network connection and internet speed. It should not happen that you have filled the form and when you reach the last step you loose the connection. So what is importan
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
Yes, the application form for CLAT was released long back in August. Those who have not filled the form yet must understand that there is no right day to fill the form. You should fill is as soon as possible. Because if you miss it you have to wait one more year unnecessarily to appear in the exam.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
This is so sad. But unfortunately, even with all the right documents, if you have not paid the application fee, your application form will be rejected. Since the application process is currently underwa, y you can still go and submit the fees. Once the window will close you won't be able to pay the
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The last date to submit the application form is October 31, 2025. It must be noted that the consortium will open the application correction window after that. Sometimes the consortium do extend the last date for registration but it is better to fill the form way before and why to wait.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
Students can fill the application form by visiting the official website. You should know that there is no other way to fill the registration form. The application form is not released offline neither you can download the form and send it to the consortium. You should fill the form by October 31, 20
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
You can fill out CLAT form by following the simple steps given below:
- Go to the official website
- Click on the apply online link.
- Click on the login box.
- Go to the application form tab at the top.
- Enter your personal, qualification and preferences for NLU.
- Upload all your documents Pay the fees
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
Yes, you can fill out the CLAT Application Form in phases. There is an option to save in every step. However, it will be better if you fill the form in one go. For this, you should keep all the documents ready in hand. See if you fill the form in one go you don't have to worry about it.
C
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
Candidates can check the list of documents required to fill the registration form for CLAT below:
- Passport-Size Photograph
- Scanned Signature
- Class 10 Marksheet/Certificate
- Class 12 Marksheet
- Category Certificate
- PwD Certificate
- Domicile Certificate
- Valid Photo ID Proof
- Email ID and Mobile Number
P
Contributor-Level 6
CLAT Notifications
How will I know if I am eligible to appear in CLAT exam or not?