CLAT Essentials is proud to present Ashmita Tyagi, an exceptional law aspirant and LNAT topper whose journey to O.P. Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) reflects dedication, curiosity, and a passion for pursuing law.
A student of DPS Bangalore East, Ashmita pursued the Arts stream and developed a strong interest in legal studies, securing an outstanding 100 marks in Legal Studies. Her academic excellence and focused preparation helped her achieve an impressive 34 marks in LNAT, placing her among the top performers and earning her admission to the prestigious O.P. Jindal Global Law School, where she will begin her journey in legal education.
Beyond academics, Ashmita is someone who believes in constantly exploring new experiences and learning from them. A passionate reader and swimmer, she has also pursued her love for adventure through her PADI Advanced Open Water scuba diving certification. Her participation in four MUNs, experience as a moderator at De’Junior MUN 2024, and involvement in organising debate events reflect her interest in communication, advocacy, and understanding diverse perspectives.
With a unique blend of academic excellence, curiosity, and determination, Ashmita’s journey stands as an inspiration for aspiring law students. In this interview, she shares her LNAT preparation journey, law school aspirations, and the experiences that helped her secure her place at JGLS.
Q. You took LNAT after CLAT and scored 34/42. Did you expect this score, and what range were you realistically anticipating?
Honestly, I did not expect to score as high as 34 and my result was a pleasant surprise. Before taking the LNAT, I had practiced using sample papers and mocks, and my scores were usually in the 26–29 range, so realistically, I expected to score something in that range on the actual test as well.
Q. At what specific moment did you realise LNAT was a completely different beast, and your CLAT strategies weren’t going to cut it? Which CLAT habits helped you, and which ones actively hurt your performance?
I realised the LNAT was quite different from CLAT when I first started reading the passages. The language and arguments were generally more complex, so they required a deeper and more careful reading. One CLAT habit that helped me was being comfortable with long passages and reading under time pressure. However, I initially read too quickly, which works well in CLAT but can cause you to miss nuances in the LNAT. I had to consciously slow down and focus more on analysing the arguments.
Q. What’s one piece of popular LNAT advice that you now believe is useless or misleading?
I think the idea that doing an enormous number of practice questions is essential can be misleading. For me, understanding why I got questions wrong and adapting my approach was more valuable than simply doing more and more questions.
Q. What type of passages challenged you the most initially, and how did you train yourself to handle them?
To be honest, there wasn’t a specific type of passage that I consistently found difficult. For me, the challenge usually came from the complexity of the language, how clearly the author conveyed their argument, or the nature of the questions that followed. After a few mocks, I could usually tell which passages would take me longer by skimming them, so I often left those until the end. What helped me improve was analysing the logic behind the correct answers. LNAT questions are built around clear reasoning, and over time, I developed a better understanding of how the exam setters approached arguments and questions.
Q. How do you handle the “I understand the passage, but the options are confusing” deadlock?
When I found the options confusing, I usually had enough time to go back to the passage rather than trying to choose between the answers in isolation. I would reread the relevant section or, if required, the entire passage, with the question in mind. Understanding the author’s overall argument and message usually made it much easier to identify which option was best supported by the text.
Q. In your experience, do LNAT options test logic, language, or the author’s intent more?
In my experience, LNAT questions primarily test logic and the ability to understand the author’s argument. Language is important because subtle wording differences can change the meaning of an option, but I found that the most difficult questions ultimately came down to reasoning. The strongest answer was usually the one that best aligned with the logic of the passage and the author’s argument, rather than the one that just sounded convincing.
Q. Do you read the passage first or the questions first? Also, how did you divide time between passages—strictly equal segments or a more instinctive “triage” method?
I always read the passage before looking at the questions. I did experiment with reading the questions first, but I found it less effective because I often needed to refer back to the passage anyway. In my experience, many LNAT questions require an understanding of the passage as a whole and the author’s overall argument, so reading the passage first helped me build that foundation.
I also didn’t divide my time into strict segments for each passage. My approach was quite flexible, I just made sure not to get stuck on any one question for too long. If a question was particularly confusing, I would select my best answer, mark it for review, and return to it later if I had time.
Q. LNAT options are famous for having two “very close” options. What was your internal checklist for killing that second-best option?
When I was stuck between two very close options, I first identified the exact difference between them. I would then reread the passage, or the relevant part of it, and select the option that aligned more closely with the author’s argument and overall message. Analysing my mistakes also helped me a lot in developing stronger reasoning over time, which made it easier to eliminate closely matched options.
Q. What resources (e.g., books, newspapers, or practice papers, etc.) contributed disproportionately to your final score?
I think a major reason for my success was the skills I had already developed while preparing for CLAT. Other than that, I took LNAT preparation coaching from Clat Essentials. Even though my LNAT-specific preparation was relatively short, it primarily consisted of the two official practice papers and five mocks as guided by my Clat Essentials’ mentor. I found the mocks very helpful because the passages were quite similar in difficulty and style to those I encountered in the actual LNAT.
Q. How many full-length mocks did you take, and what is the “correct” way to analyse them so you actually learn?
I took around 7–8 full-length mocks. When analysing them, I focused less on the score and more on understanding my mistakes. I would first reread the passage and the question I got wrong and try to answer it again without looking at the correct answer, so that my original line of reasoning was still fresh in my mind. I would then analyse the logic behind the correct option and compare it with my own reasoning. If I couldn’t understand why an answer was correct, I would discuss it with my CLAT Essentials mentor rather than leaving the doubt unresolved. I also maintained notes on my mistakes, such as incorrect assumptions I had made or details I had overlooked. This process helped me learn and improve my reasoning a lot.
Q. If someone has only 30 days left, what are the three things they must focus on to get a 30+ score?
If someone only has 30 days left, my first priority would be taking mocks and analysing them properly. More important than the number of mocks you take is the quality of your analysis. This means reviewing every mistake, and even questions you got right but were unsure about, until you fully understand the reasoning behind the correct answer. Second, I would focus on using high-quality mocks. Try to find practice material with passages that are similar in difficulty to those found in the LNAT, as this will help you develop a better feel for the level of reading and reasoning the test requires. Third, focus on deep comprehension rather than speed. Taking the time to understand an author’s reasoning and assumptions is often more valuable than rushing through passages.
Q. Looking back, what specific mistake cost you those 1–2 marks that would have made your score even higher?
To be honest, I was quite happy with my score and the way I approached the paper. Since I don’t have access to the questions I got wrong, I can’t point to a specific mistake but if I had to guess, it was probably a few close-call questions where I narrowed it down to two options and ended up choosing the less accurate one.
Q. Who should seriously consider the LNAT—and who should probably stay away?
I would recommend the LNAT to students who enjoy reading dense passages and analysing arguments. The passages can be quite challenging, but I found them interesting and engaging. The test rewards critical thinking and reasoning more than anything else.
Students who struggle with long, complex passages or have a weaker command of English may find the LNAT more challenging, as a lot of the test depends on understanding nuanced language and arguments.
A CLAT Essentials Interview by Oyishee Bose