In this article, we have provided one one-year preparation plan for CLAT 2026. Students can follow the tips for exam preparation and secure good marks.
How to prepare for CLAT 2026 in one year?
The CLAT exam is conducted for UG and PG admission to the NLUs and other private institutes. Common Law Admission Test is a higly competitive exam and requires a well planned preparation. Students have to follow the paper pattern and syllabus for preparation. The syllabus is based on English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques, and Logical Reasoning.
Also Read: Idioms and Proverbs for CLAT 2026 With Meaning
You can start your preparation with basic concepts. Follow the current affairs and solve the past years question to know what types of questions are asked. You must have dedication for your preparation.
- Understand the CLAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus
- CLAT Syllabus 2026
- Create a Study Plan for CLAT Exam
- Best Books for CLAT 2026
- Section-wise Preparation Tips for CLAT 2026
- Why appearing for CLAT Mock Tests is important?
- CLAT Free Mock Test by SHIKSHA
Understand the CLAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Before you start your preparation, check the CLAT paper pattern and syllabus. We have provided the syllabus for the CLAT UG and PG exams.
CLAT Exam Pattern
The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is conducted for admissions into undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs at various National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. The exam pattern varies slightly between the UG and PG programs.
| CLAT UG Pattern | CLAT PG Pattern |
| UG 2026 Exam Pattern: Mode of Exam: Offline, pen-and-paper-based. Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes). Total Marks: 120 marks. Total Questions: 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). |
PG 2026 Exam Pattern:Mode of Exam: Offline, pen-and-paper-based. Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes). Total Marks: 120 marks. Total Questions: 120 MCQs |
| Question Sections: English Language Current Affairs & General Knowledge Legal Reasoning Logical Reasoning Quantitative Techniques |
Question Sections: Candidates can check the CLAT PG Question Paper section below: Constitutional Law: Questions related to the Indian Constitution. Other Law Subjects: Questions are based on various law subjects like Jurisprudence, Contract Law, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR, etc. |
| Marking Scheme
|
Marking Scheme
|
Also Read: Quantitative Techniques for CLAT 2026: Syllabus, Topics, Marking Scheme, Books, Important Questions
Commonly asked questions
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.
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.
While it is bit challenging as its syllabus is not defined. Candidates can expect question on CLAT Current Affairs from anywhere. But if you do prepare well your chances to score high in this section also increases. The best way to prepare is to read the newspaper on a daily basis. Rest is to read GK books.
CLAT Syllabus 2026
Students preparing for the exam can check the CLAT syllabus for UG and PG programs here.
CLAT UG 2026 Syllabus:
| Subjects | Topics |
| English Language |
|
| Current Affairs including General Knowledge |
|
| Current Affairs including General Knowledge |
|
| Legal Reasoning |
|
| Logical Reasoning |
|
| Quantitative Techniques |
|
CLAT PG 2026 Syllabus
Candidates must ensure that they check the CLAT LLM Syllabus 2025 before beginning their preparation. Candidates can check the same below:
- Constitutional Law: In-depth knowledge of the Constitution of India, key amendments, and landmark judgments.
- Other Law Subjects: Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Contract Law, International Law, Environmental Law, Human Rights Law, Intellectual Property Law, and other significant legal disciplines.
Also Read:
| How to Prepare for CLAT 2026 Logical Reasoning | CLAT Legal Reasoning 2026: Legal Aptitude Questions, Preparation Tips & Tricks |
Create a Study Plan for CLAT Exam
Planning your preparation is very important. Create a monthly roadmap for your preparation. This way, you can complete the syllabus of CLAT 2026 and don't forget to revise.
Monthly Study Plan
Divide the syllabus into monthly goals. Allocate time for each subject. Read the complete monthly study-plan below:
| Months | Study Plan |
| Months 1-3: Foundation Building |
|
| Months 4-6: Intensifying Preparation |
|
| Months 7-9: Practice and Application |
|
| Months 10-12: Revision and Mock Test |
|
Also Read: CLAT 2026 Important Topics: Check GK, Mathematics, English, Legal & Logical Reasoning
Daily Study Routine for CLAT Exam 2026
Create a daily study schedule, dedicating specific hours to different sections. Include time for revision and practice tests.
| Time | Topics |
| Morning (2-3 hours) | Focus on Quantitative Techniques or Legal Reasoning. |
| Afternoon (2 hours) | Study Current Affairs and General Knowledge. |
| Evening (2 hours) | Practice English Language and Logical Reasoning. |
| Night (1 hour) | Revision. |
Also Read:
| How to clear CLAT 2026 in first attempt? | How to prepare for CLAT in 6 months: Tips, Tricks & Study Plan | How to attempt Current Affairs & GK questions in CLAT 2026? |
Commonly asked questions
Yes it is very much possible to clear the CLAT Exam in first go. You just need to be consistent and prepare well. Candidates must include attempting mock test and solving past years question paper in their study plan.
To prepare for this section which cover 10 percent marks of the total CLAT paper it is important to have a right approach. Candidates must note that you can score really well if you study the Class 19 level mathematics properly. Be regular and plan strategically rather than trying to learn advance maths,
The Legal Reasoning section in the CLAT exam checks your ability to apply logical legal principle to given situations. Some of the important topics are Law of Torts, Contract and Criminal Law, Legal Maxims, etc. Candidates must include practicing passage based legal cases to apply logic and memorise law related to them.
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Best Books for CLAT 2026
The list of books for CLAT 2026 is provided below.
| Subject |
CLAT 2025 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 2023, 2022, and 2021 by Arihant Publications · Current Affairs Yearly by Arihant Publications · Manorama Year Book by Manorama Publications · General Knowledge 2022-2023 by Lucent’s · General Knowledge 2021-2022 by Tarun Goyal |
| CLAT English |
· Objective General English 2023 by SP Bakshi · Objective General English 2024 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 |
Also Read: 110+ Important Vocabulary Words for CLAT Exam 2026
Section-wise Preparation Tips for CLAT 2026
The preparation tips for every section are provided below:
| Sections | Preparation Tips |
English Language |
Reading Comprehension: Practice reading long passages quickly and efficiently. Work on your vocabulary and grammar. Regular Reading: Read newspapers, journals, and books to enhance your comprehension skills and improve your vocabulary. |
Current Affairs |
|
Legal Reasoning |
|
Logical Reasoning |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
|
Also Read: CLAT Questions for Practice with Solutions: Free PDF Download
Why appearing for CLAT Mock Tests is important?
- Simulate Exam Conditions: Take full-length mock tests to simulate the actual exam.
- Analyze Performance: After each test, analyze your performance to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Work on Weak Areas: Focus on improving weak areas by revising concepts and practicing more.
Also Read:
| CLAT 2026 English Language: Questions, Syllabus, Preparation Tips & Tricks | CLAT 2026 GK questions: Preparation for current affairs including gk section |
Follow the preparation plan, and you will get success. By following this comprehensive approach, you can prepare for CLAT 2026 within a year and maximise your chances of success.
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CLAT Free Mock Test by SHIKSHA
Check the table below to access Shiksha’s free CLAT Mocks for practice:
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
Yes, candidates who have registered for the CLAT exam can access the sample papers through their login credentials.
P
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
The practice the sample papers of CLAT released by the consortium follow these steps
Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in
Login and click on attempt sample paper
You will now see instructions on your screen
Read the instructions and click on Start Mock Test
Attempt the question paper
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
Yes, students can take admissions to BITS Law School without appearing from CLAT exam. BITS Law School admissions also conducts its own entrance exam called BITS Law Admission Test. Shortlisted candidates need to appear for Personal Interview rounds for admissions.
P
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
No, CLAT is not compulsory to take admission in the law courses at Innovative Institute of Law. Candidates are shortlisted based on merit achieved in last qualifying exam. However, the institute accepts CLAT score as well.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
To check the merit list for NLU Silvassa, 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 at the UG and PG levels.
Students shou
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
To get a seat at GNLU Silvassa for the UG and PG-level law courses, students have to appear for the CLAT entrance examination and then the counselling process to be considered eligible for admission.
The GNLU Silvassa CLAT cutoff 2026 was concluded after 5 rounds of seat allotment for the above-ment
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, you could get into GNLU Silvassa with a 4000 rank if you belong to the SC AI category. For this category, the overall cutoff range was 2843 to 8902. Hence, a rank of 4000 could get you a seat at this institute.
Students can see the table below to know the last round closing ranks for available
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
GNLU Silvassa CLAT cutoff 2026 concluded after the release of the final round of seat allotment for the BA LLB (Hons) and LLM courses. The cutoff was out for several AI and HS quota categories.
For the General AI category, the overall cutoff ranged from 336 to 1500 for both courses, with LLM course
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week 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 a week 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
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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