CLAT Exam – DETAILED ANALYSIS -

INTRODUCTION

CLAT i.e., a Common Law Admission Test is a centralized national level entrance exam for admission into undergraduate and post graduate law programs at NLUs i.e., National Law Universities in India. CLAT was first introduced in 2008. It is a highly competitive entrance exam and requires extensive preparation to qualify. It requires knowledge of exam pattern, syllabus and important dates.

Admissions into Undergraduate or Postgraduate law programs

This test is taken after the 12^th grade for taking admissions into integrated undergraduate law degree and for taking admissions into post graduate law program this test is taken after graduation in law.

Exam Structure:

CLAT consists of multiple-choice questions covering areas such as English, General Knowledge, Mathematics, Legal Aptitude, and Logical Reasoning. There may also be a section on current affairs.

Eligibility:

For the UG program, candidates must have completed 10+2 or its equivalent with a minimum percentagenot less than 45% marks in aggregate and 40% for SC/ST candidates.
There is no upper age limit for appearing in the exam.
For PG programs, a candidate should have completed LL.B. or an equivalent degree in law with not less than 50% marks in aggregate and 45% for SC/ST candidates.
Only Indian nationals and NRIs can appear in the test.

Application Process:

Candidates need to apply online, and the application forms are generally available in the first quarter of the year.

The registration link is activated on its official website consortiumofnlus.ac.in.

Step 1: CLAT Registration:

Candidates have to visit the official website to get themselves registered.
They have to fill all the required information such as name, mobile number, email , address etc.
Click on the register button and confirm the registration.

Step 2 :Fill in CLAT application form :

For filling up the CLAT application form, candidates have to login with there mobile number and password.
Now candidates are required to fill all the information required.
They have to choose the course they want to pursue.
Candidates are given choice to choose their preferred center for CLAT examination. Three choices are given. Candidates must select from the given centers.

Step 3:Upload documents:

At the next step, candidates must upload the required documents in prescribed size and format.

Required documents are:

Email Id and Phone Number
Scanned Photograph
Scanned Signature
Category Certificate
Class 10th mark sheet
Class 12th mark sheet
ID Proof- Aadhar Card/ Driving License/ PAN Card
Relevant Certificate issued by a competent authority (PwD or BPL Certificate)

Step 4 : Pay CLAT application fees :

Application fee for CLAT examination is INR 4000 for general OBC PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI and 3500 for SC/ST/BPL.
It can only be paid online at the admission portal.
The exam application process is complete after the application fees have successfully paid by the candidates.

Admit Card:

Admit cards are issued to eligible candidates a few weeks before the exam.

Exam Date:

CLAT is usually conducted in May(once a year). The duration of the exam is two hours.

Exam pattern :

The duration of entrance exam is 2 hours. It consists of multiple-choice questions. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer and 1 mark is given for every correct answer.

Syllabus:

English: Comprehension passages, grammar, and vocabulary. (22-26 questions)

General Knowledge: Current affairs, general knowledge, and static general knowledge. (28-32 questions)

Mathematics: Elementary mathematics. (10-14 questions)

Legal Aptitude: Study of law, research aptitude, and problem-solving ability. (28-32 questions)

Logical Reasoning: Logical and analytical reasoning skills. (22-26 questions)

Results:

Results are generally declared in June, and candidates are ranked based on their scores.

Counseling:

After results are declared, a centralized counseling process is conducted for seat allotment in participating NLUs.

Preparation:

How to get started with CLAT preparation:

Know the Syllabus: The first step in CLAT preparation is to understand the syllabus and exam pattern. This will help you plan your preparation accordingly.

Create a Study Plan: Make a study plan that suits your schedule and stick to it. Allocate sufficient time to each subject and topic.

Practice with Sample Papers: Solving sample papers is a great way to assess your preparation and identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Take Mock Tests:Mock tests are an excellent way to simulate the actual exam environment and improve your time management skills.

Stay Updated: Stay up-to-date with current affairs and legal developments. This will help you answer questions related to legal reasoning and general knowledge.

Candidates often prepare with mock tests, previous years’ question papers, and study materials.