CLAT stands for Common Law Admission Test. It is a national-level entrance exam for students who want to study law in top law universities of India. This exam is used for getting admission into undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law courses. Many National Law Universities (NLUs) and other colleges accept CLAT scores for admission into their LLB and LLM programs.
National-Level Law Entrance Exam
BA LLB (5-year Integrated Law Program)
BBA LLB
BCom LLB
BSc LLB
LLM (Master of Law) for PG candidates
Once a year
For UG Course (BA LLB and others):
You must pass Class 12 or be in the final year.
You should have at least 45% marks (40% for reserved categories).
There is no age limit.
For PG Course (LLM):
You must have a LLB degree (3-year or 5-year).
You should have at least 50% marks (45% for reserved categories).
Mode: Online only
Register on the CLAT exam website.
Fill out your details and choose your exam center.
Upload photo, signature, and required documents.
Pay the application fee online.
Submit the form and save a copy.
Offline – Pen and Paper Based
UG CLAT
Total Questions: 120
Duration: 2 hours
Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Subjects:
English Language
Current Affairs & General Knowledge
Legal Reasoning
Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Techniques
Each correct answer: +1 mark
Wrong answer: –0.25 marks
PG CLAT
120 MCQs from Law subjects
Includes topics like Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Torts, Contracts, Criminal Law, etc.
UG CLAT
Basic English reading and grammar
News and current events
Legal stories and case situations
Logical puzzles and questions
Simple maths up to Class 10 level
PG CLAT
Core law subjects from LLB course
Application Start: July or August
Last Date to Apply: November
Admit Card Release: December
Exam Date: December or January
Result Declaration: January
Result is declared as a scorecard and rank list.
Each law college has its own cutoff rank.
Higher the rank, better the chances of getting into top NLUs.
Admit card is released a few weeks before the exam.
It shows your exam center, time, and roll number.
You must carry the admit card and ID proof to the exam hall.
Read newspapers daily to stay updated on current affairs.
Practice previous year CLAT question papers.
Work on English, legal knowledge, and reasoning daily.
Take online mock tests regularly.
Revise formulas and tricks for quick math solving.
Q1. Who conducts CLAT?
A: The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) conducts CLAT every year.
Q2. Is CLAT only for NLUs?
A: No. Many private law colleges also accept CLAT scores.
Q3. Can I take CLAT after Class 12?
A: Yes. Students who pass or are appearing in Class 12 can apply for UG CLAT.
Q4. Is there negative marking?
A: Yes. 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer.
Q5. What is a good score in CLAT?
A: A score above 85–100 can help get admission in top NLUs, depending on difficulty and cutoffs.
National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore
NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
National Law University, Bhopal
WBNUJS, Kolkata
Many other NLUs across India
Some private colleges also use CLAT scores for admission
After the result, online counseling is held by the CLAT Consortium.
You have to fill your college preferences.
Seats are allotted based on rank, category, and availability.
You must confirm admission by paying the fee and uploading documents.
The exam is now held only once a year in offline mode.
New colleges may join the CLAT counseling every year.
Students are advised to check updates regularly during the admission season.