Experts’ Speak: Top tips to prepare for CLAT 2020

By: Amit Sharma

This article will suggest you the right time to start for CLAT preparation this year, topics you need to concentrate on and the best books for preparing the content.

Many of us have high goals in our life and we put in all our efforts to achieve the same. In this era of competition, each one of us is in a race to beat the other person, and as of this we adopt various ways such as coaching or specific training sessions to gain a competitive edge over the other person. What about those whose financial condition does not allow them to go for coaching or to have desired and effective study material. Aspirants preparing for tough exams such as Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) always need a helping hand to prepare for the exam and to understand the technicality exist in the exam. But financial weakness doesn’t mean that one can crack the CLAT exam without coaching. Here are few suggestions in this article to prepare for CLAT 2020. This article will suggest you the right time to start for CLAT preparation this year, topic you need to concentrate on and the best books for preparing the content.

This year CLAT exam will consist of 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). All these questions have to be answered in a total of two hours and each question carries 1 mark. The questions will have multiple answer options, out of which one will be the correct option. The exam also has negative marking; meaning thereby is if the candidate attempts a question with the wrong answer, 0.25 mark will be deducted.

CLAT exam covers different subjects. Subjects such as English Comprehension will consist of 40 questions; General Knowledge and Current Affairs will consist of 50 questions; Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability) will consist of 20 questions; Legal Aptitude will consist of 50 questions, and Logical Reasoning will consist of 40 questions.

There are 21 National Law Universities (NLUs) in our country. Every CLAT aspirant has a dream to get shortlisted for one of these universities. Early preparation is the only way to the NLUs. In my opinion, one should start preparing for CLAT immediately after clearing Class 11^th. But on the same hand, one should be clear about the goal that CLAT is the only destination you want to reach and really want to pursue a career in law.

The only difference between a successful and a fail candidate is the approach to preparation. The determination towards reaching the destination. Hard work with appropriate rationality is the key to success and not any training or coaching session. The motivation and dedication for the exam need to be developed from your side and cannot be done by any other institution.

Suggestions to prepare for CLAT 2020

1. Proactive approach: Those who have proactive approach towards CLAT preparation are more likely to clear the same with sound score. Early preparation gives you reasonable time for revision through mock tests and previous year question papers. Early preparation gives you sufficient time to develop in depth knowledge about the subjects you need to prepare.   
2. Planning and strategy for CLAT: Each aspirant has their own tactics and plan to prepare for CLAT exam. One should follow the plan and time table one is comfortable with. Many aspirants try to follow others and try to copy their strategy which is of no use. Each individual has its own potential and accordingly they need to put in efforts.
3. Clarity of exam and syllabus: Aspirants should be clear about what content need to be followed and what not to be followed. One should be clear about the weightage of the topic in the syllabus so that one could prioritise the topics to prepare.
4.  Revision: Revision is the most important part of preparation. Always revise the previously read content before you start with the new topic. To keep the content intact for longer period revision plays an important role.
5.  Practice with previous year papers: Go through the previous year papers to recognize the pattern and to recognize the appropriate weightage of particular topic. This way you will have the idea about the type of questions you need to prepare for CLAT.
6.  Managing Time: Last but not the least is one factor which plays a vital role in CLAT exam is time management. For each question you will have less than sixty seconds time. This will be attained though practice only. Practice needs time and early preparation is the only mantra to get sufficient time and to get success.

 About the Author:

Amit Sharma is serving as an Assistant Professor at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, since 2013. With an experience of seven years in academics, Sharma conducts faculty development programmes at school level and management development programmes at organisational level across the industry