Preparing for the CLAT exam while in Class 12 is quite common, but you can crack it if you apply right strategy. Read below to know some tips that will help you to do well in the exam.
If you are in Class 12, you must be thinking that what strategy you can apply to prepare for CLAT without compromising your board exam preparation. This concern is valid since both exams are often scheduled close to each other. While it might be confusing, when to start CLAT 2026 preparation? The best thing is that the CLAT Syllabus can be covered easily if you decide to.
Also Read: Idioms and Proverbs for CLAT 2026 With Meaning
You can easily cover the CLAT syllabus while preparing for the board exams, especially since sections like Quantitative Techniques. Read further to know how to prepare for CLAT Exam along with Class 12th board exams?
Also Read: How to prepare for CLAT in 6 months: Tips, Tricks & Study Plan for CLAT 2026
- Tips to prepare for CLAT in Class 12th
- CLAT 2026 - Section-wise questions and weightage
- Topic-wise tips to prepare for CLAT 2026 from Class 12
- How to prepare for CLAT 2026 with boards
Tips to prepare for CLAT in Class 12th
One of the most important part is to begin your CLAT preparation on time. Try and solve as many sample papers, mock tests and previous years' question papers as possible. If you start your preparation way before, you will be able to do all this. Begin your preparation with the CLAT important topics first. Once done, you can begin other topics. Some of the challenging part is to decide how much time should be dedicated to preparing for CLAT exam. For that, make sure you give 3 to 4 hours daily. You should also make a study plan so that you don't loose way during your journey.
Tips for Effective Study: Candidates can follow the following study plan to score well in CLAT Exam:
- Create a Study Plan
- Assess Your Progress
- Cover Important Topics First
- Seek Help If required
- Stay Consistent
The CLAT UG question paper will have questions from five sections:
- Current Affairs including GK
- English Language
- Legal Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Techniques
When preparing for these sections, remember the weightage carried by them.
Commonly asked questions
Though CLAT Preparation takes months of practice, it is still not impossible. You can prepare for the CLAT Exam in one week with a correct and dedicated focus. But you should have at least some understanding of concepts to clear the exam.
The CLAT syllabus is considered challenging due to its comprehensive, passage-based nature. Candidates will have to solve the questions within two hour time limit for 120 questions. The syllabus is tough and exam is difficult to crack.
As per NIRF ranking 2025, NLSIU Bangalore is the No. 1 ranked NLU colleges in India. The table below has other NLUs in India rankwise.
Top NLUs in India | NIRF 2023 | NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | |
2 | 2 | 2 | |
4 | 4 | 4 | |
7 | 8 | 5 | |
18 | 21 | 27 | |
24 | 22 | 30 | |
30 | 26 | 15 | |
28 | 27 | 35 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.
To get good marks in CLAT 2027, focus on reading comprehension, daily current affairs, and consistent mock test practice. The exam consists of 120 questions, making speed and accuracy crucial. Prioritize Legal and Logical Reasoning, and use daily newspaper reading to boost your score in all sections.
CLAT 2026 - Section-wise questions and weightage
| Subject |
Number of questions |
|---|---|
| 28-32 |
|
| 35-39 |
|
| 35-39 |
|
| 28-32 |
|
| 13-17 |
Reference material or CLAT books - If you closely analyse the CLAT exam pattern and syllabus released by the consortium for the CLAT exam, you will note that not all sections are equal. Also, each section in the question paper is designed to test a different skill set. So, to succeed, you need to follow the best CLAT reference material that is out there.
Here are some of the features of good reference material or best books for CLAT
- Error-free - If a book is filled with errors, stay away from it. Rather than help you in your effort to crack CLAT, it will only sabotage your plans. So, ensure that the books are clean, well-written, and contain few to no errors. If you can’t do it yourself, take help from a senior.
- Well-known published - Good books are typically published by reputable publishers.
- Contain examples, illustrations, charts, etc - These items make learning fun, easy, and engaging. Also, it helps to memorize important points.
- Comes with question sets - These problem banks can be found at the end of each chapter or at the end of the book. Problem sets can help edify what you have learned, develop problem-solving skills, and understand how different concepts interact.
Topic-wise tips to prepare for CLAT 2026 from Class 12
The CLAT test is designed to test the comprehension and reasoning abilities of the candidate. Also, typically, no prior knowledge is needed to solve the CLAT question paper, apart from maybe the Current Affairs section.
- English Language - The section will contain 45–word passages and test your comprehension and language skills.
- Current Affairs including GK -Will assess your awareness of current affairs and GK. You will given passages and for that you don't need any prior knowledge of legal subjects. To prepare for this section, make sure you rea newspaper and opinion pieces daily.
- Quantitative Techniques - This section will test your ability to derive, infer, and manipulate numerical information. The level of questions asked in the 10th standard.
- Legal Reasoning -Questions will be passage-base,d and you are required to identify and infer rules and principles, and use these rules and principles to solve problems.
- Logical Reasoning - This section will test skills like the ability to recognize an argument, its premise, conclusions, etc. This section can only be mastered through practice, as simple rote learning won’t work
Commonly asked questions
To prepare for CLAT Exam you need right books and good study plan. You must solve past-year question papers and mock tests.
The time required for CLAT preparation depends on your starting point. If you're beginning from scratch, a 6-9 month preparation period is ideal, allowing you to cover the entire syllabus, build foundational knowledge, and improve time management. For those with a basic understanding of key subjects, 4-6 months may be sufficient. Consistent, focused study with regular mock tests and revisions is crucial. It's important to balance all sections—English, Legal and Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge, and Quantitative Techniques. Even in the final months, dedicate significant time to practicing mock tests, revising, and strengthening weak areas for a good score.
The Quantitative Techniques & Logical Reasoning sections are considered the most difficult to prepare for in the CLAT exam.
The Consortium of NLUs will conduct the CLAT Exam in offline; pen and paper mode. The exam will be conducted from 2 to 4 pm.
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
Explore more Law exams with upcoming dates
20 May '26
25 Apr '26 - 21 May '26
1 Nov '25 - 22 May '26
22 May '26
23 Mar '26 - 26 May '26
22 Apr '26 - 5 Jun '26
1 May '26 - 20 May '26
20 May '26
21 May '26
30 Jan '26 - 13 Jun '26
How to prepare for CLAT 2026 with boards
One of the biggest challenge is to prepare for board exams and CLAT too. Some of the tips that can help you to prepare well:
- Make a separate study plan for boards and CLAT exam
- Utilise summer and winter vacations
- Focus on important and more weightage topics first
- Solve sample papers
- Attempt Mock tests
Read More:
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
5 May '26 | AILET Fourth Provisional Merit... |
4 Feb '26 | AILET Third Provisional Merit ... |
8 Jun '25 | LSAT India 2025 May Session Re... |
May '25 | LSAT India 2025 May Exam |
1 May '26 - 3 May '26 | ULSAT 2026 Exam Date |
15 Dec '25 - 29 Apr '26 | ULSAT 2026 Applications (5-yea... |
30 Apr '26 | SLS Hyderabad third merit list |
10 Apr '26 | SLS Noida third merit list |
21 May '26 | Release of RULET 2026 Admit Ca... |
23 May '26 | RULET 2026 Exam |
Jun '26 | MH CET Law 2026 Result (5-Year... |
May '26 | MHCET Law 2026 Preliminary Ans... |
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 |
Jun '26 | Last date for submission of ha... |
Jun '26 | PU UGLAW Tentative Merit List ... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Yes, most law departments at private and government law colleges in Chennai do not ask for CLAT exam scores for BA LLB after Class 12. Even the top-ranked Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences BA LLB course requires Saveetha Admission Test scores if you haven't sat for the CLAT exam.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
JEE / KCET/ COMEDK (any one exam) is mandatory for applying to Vidyashilp University's B.Tech Hons. Programs (Data Science and AI/ML). For admissions to the Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) program, submitting CLAT scores is preferred as it enhances their scholarship opportunities. However, it is not man
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, aspirants with CLAT scores can get admission in BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) courses. Such candidates have to apply with CLAT. A merit list is prepared based on CLAT scores. Selected applicants have to participate in counselling. Aspirants who get seat have to confirm their admission by pay
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered a week ago
JEE / KCET/ COMEDK (any one exam) is mandatory for applying to Vidyashilp University's BTech (Hons) Programmes. For admissions to the law programmes, submitting CLAT scores is preferred as it enhances their scholarship opportunities. However, it is not mandatory.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, candidates need to have CLAT score for admission in BA LLB (Hons) programme at SASTRA University. Aspirants must also complete Class 12 from a recognised board in the first attempt with at least 60% aggregate with English as a subject for admission.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, in case a candidate has secured a rank in CLAT, then he/she can get admission if they clear the cutoff as mentioned by the VITSOL authorities.
K
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
For CLAT 2026 Category 1 students (General/OBC/PwD/NRI/PIO/OCI), the fee structure has three main components:
CLAT 2026 Fee Structure for Category 1
1. Exam Registration Fee
- ₹4,000 (without question papers)
- ₹4,500 (with question papers)
- Payment via online modes (credit/debit card, net banking, UPI).
2. C
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, you can join the BBA LLB programme in Amrita International School of Law without CLAT exam. If you have a valid AILET score, you can submit it for admission. Else you can appear for Amrita Law Admission Test (AmLAT).
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, you can join Amrita International School of Law without CLAT exam. If you have a valid AILET score, you can submit it for BA LLB admission. Otherwise, you can appear for Amrita Law Admission Test (AmLAT).
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Both the Andhra Pradesh LAWCET and CLAT entrance exam are conducted for admission to the Law schools in India, however, the syllabus for these exams are different on many parameters and candidates should strategise differently for both the exams. Andhra Pradesh LAWCET exam has sections including Cur
R
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
Read Full Bio