CLAT Essentials is proud to present Shritama Goswami, a CLAT West Bengal Rank 4 achiever and an Aditya Birla Scholar. She is a student at the prestigious NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, where she is currently pursuing B.A. LL.B. (Hons.). Her remarkable achievements reflect not only academic excellence but also an enduring passion for learning and intellectual growth.
A student of DPS Megacity, Kolkata, Shritama transitioned from Science to Humanities in senior secondary school, embracing her interest in the social sciences and law. Her focused preparation and consistent efforts helped her secure an outstanding result in CLAT, earning admission to one of India’s leading National Law Universities. Her selection as an Aditya Birla Scholar further highlights her exceptional academic potential and all-round excellence.
Beyond academics, Shritama enjoys reading, travelling, and exploring new cultures through language. She has a keen interest in writing, editing books and research papers, and is always eager to learn new languages—interests that reflect her curiosity, attention to detail, and love for continuous learning.
In this interview, Shritama shares her CLAT preparation strategy, journey to NALSAR Hyderabad, experiences as an Aditya Birla Scholar, and the lessons that helped her secure AIR 117, offering valuable insights for every law aspirant preparing for CLAT and aiming for the country’s top NLUs.
Q. Congratulations on your outstanding achievement. Could you share your immediate reaction upon receiving the news that you are joining NALSAR, and what this success signifies for you personally?
Thank you! The immediate reaction was of course elation but it was not fully-realised yet because at that point, I still had a chance for getting NLS. However, once NALSAR was confirmed, I was satisfied with the opportunity of going to a college that has a wonderful balance of work and play. Personally, this success means a lot to me because it gave me immense self-confidence after a lot of hard work, when most of the time it felt like the hard work might not go anywhere. Getting NALSAR made me happy beyond belief, more so because it made my family so happy.
Q. You were also selected as an Aditya Birla Scholar, a remarkable achievement beyond your CLAT success. How did that opportunity impact you, and what qualities do you think helped you stand out for such a recognition?
The Aditya Birla Scholarship has opened a few doors for me in academically ( CV value, SOPs etc.), but the real impact has been the self-belief that it has instilled in me. As for the qualities, I think paramount is to be clear about who you think you are as a person and what things in life have got you there- be it certain events, your parents or any other person. If you have conviction about some things in life and clarity about the ideals you believe in, it helps others (by others, I mean, in this instance, the panellists) understand the same in you. Then, you will not have to worry about coming off as artificial. Secondly, show your passion towards what you like without worrying about coming across as overeager.
Q. What motivated your decision to pursue a career in law?
My family has many lawyers, so it was always there as an option. Moreover, I read “To Kill A Mockingbird” as a child and was incredibly moved by Atticus Finch’s character.
Q. Could you outline the daily routine you adhered to during your preparation? Specifically, how did you structure your day to ensure effective study hours versus necessary breaks?
I took my offline mocks seriously and the analysis after, which I used to do with my fellow mock-takers, was the most important part of the preparation. I did not follow a strict routine otherwise. If I were not taking mocks, I used to take sectionals in order to refine those areas, particularly.
Q. The decision to take a drop is rarely easy; there’s societal pressure, self-doubt, and uncertainty. How did you mentally prepare yourself for the drop year before it even began? And how did you know it was right for you?
My decision to drop a year was made easy by my parents’ understanding nature. They supported me in it to such an extent that I was immune to any outside noise from the outset. This is a privilege which I understand many do not have. Hence, trusting your hard work and preparation is important. I knew a drop year was right for you because that was the only way of getting to study law at a good college. Coupled with the fortunate circumstance that my family and friends were not pressuring me in any way, I knew dropping a year was the right thing to do. Sometimes, when I worried that my friends would graduate before me, I used to tell myself that everything happens in its own time.
Q. Did your study routine evolve as the exam date approached, particularly in the final month? How did your strategy in the last 30 days differ from the initial phase of your preparation?
In the final month, I started heavily brushing up my GK so I could freshly remember everything. I also gave more mocks of varying difficulty levels. The last month is for fine-tuning the preparation. All strategies should ideally be tested by then. However, surprising things can happen in the last month as adrenaline kicks in, and some people do their best only in the last month. So never lose hope!
Q. The preparation journey is often long and arduous. How did you navigate periods of burnout or suboptimal performance in your mock tests to maintain your momentum?
I gave myself enough breaks in between mocks and never overdid it on taking mocks. I used to aim to give two to three fully focused mocks in a week, never more, especially in the middle stages of my preparation. The quality of analysis is more important than the number of mocks taken. Other than that, my coaching centre, Clat Essentials used to host amazing and fun workshops and games, which never dulled my spirits. Those games, which I compulsorily attended with my friends, were among the most effective and fun parts of my preparation.
Q. CLAT is distinct for its high-pressure, speed-intensive nature. How did you manage exam-day anxiety, and did you utilize any specific techniques to maintain composure during the test?
I trusted my preparation and told myself to focus. I did not do anything special on the day as I did not want to unnerve myself by making the day any different.
Q. With the abundance of study material available, could you list the primary resources, books, periodicals, or platforms that you found most indispensable to your success?
Mock tests are the most effective as practice makes perfect. Clat Essentials’ GK tests and other material are great. There are a number of current affair monthly compendiums available online but I found online news articles about a particular topic to be most effective and compiling them is a more rigorous and effective preparation than just reading an already prepared compendium.
Q. How instrumental were mock tests in your overall preparation strategy? Specifically, how did they aid in your conditioning for the actual exam environment?
Taking mock tests and the analysis after is the most integral part of the preparation. It creates a simulation of the actual exam, where things might not go perfectly, but through practice, you learn to master the inconveniences. Taking mocks of varying difficulty is integral, and taking physical mocks in a centre, outside of home, is also important because all this contributes to the prep, down to how one flips the pages and the pattern of marking the OMR sheet.
Q. Beyond merely attempting mock tests, how did you approach the post-test analysis? Did you maintain a systematic record of errors to track your improvement?
I did not maintain anything systematic but I gave most of my time to the analysis and trying to understand which kinds of areas gave me problems. Based on that understanding, I took sectionals for refining those areas.
Q. Given the vast scope of General Knowledge and Current Affairs, what methodology did you adopt to stay updated efficiently without feeling overwhelmed?
I overtly relied on Clat Essentials’ daily telegram tests and all other GK tests. Other than that, I surfed the news on my phone when I felt bored.
Q. Time management is critical in a 120-minute examination. Could you walk us through your section-attempt strategy?
I used to start with the reading-heavy sections of Legal or Logical first, and take “breaks” by doing GK, maths, and English in between. The pattern was- Legal, gk, logical, maths, English. If I found any section very difficult, I used to leave it and come back later to avoid getting stuck.
Q. In hindsight, is there any aspect of your preparation strategy that you would alter or improve upon if given the chance?
I would improve my maths section surely and also GK to some extent.
Q. How did you approach your second attempt differently — strategically, mentally, and in terms of resource selection?
I gave my first CLAT without any prep so everything was new for my second one.
Q. Did you take up any dedicated mentoring support, and how important do you think one-on-one mentoring from experienced educators is in shaping a student’s CLAT preparation?
It is very important as I don’t think I would have done well in a huge classroom with many students and overworked, distracted teachers.
Q. The comprehension-heavy format of CLAT rewards strong readers. Was reading always a habit for you, or did you consciously build it during prep — and if so, how?
It was a habit for me since childhood but it can also be built by consciously putting down the phone and reducing the internet time to build focus.
Q. Having gone through the entire journey yourself, what is the single biggest mistake you see fellow aspirants making that silently kills their rank?
Giving too many mocks in attention-deficit conditions and without proper analysis.
Q. What’s your advice for future aspirants on handling an unpredictable paper?
If you practice mocks of all sorts, you will be ready for almost anything. But even then, if the paper is unpredictable, calm yourself and realise that your preparation is strong enough to handle this and it is an unpredictable paper for most people, so it is a level playing field.
Q. Comparison with peers is one of the most silent yet damaging traps during CLAT prep. Did you ever fall into it, and how did you learn to block out that noise?
Competition naturally breeds comparison. However, my fellow competitors were my friends, so I tried to keep it very natural and well-intentioned between us, as did they. Helping others and getting help are big parts of preparation, as they build a solid foundation of concepts. Hence, I did all post-mock analysis with friends which also made it very fun.
Q. Based on your experience, what is your primary advice for future aspirants targeting CLAT 2027?
Try to be calm and trust your preparation.
Q. Finally, what is your message to students who are currently weighing whether to take a drop for CLAT 2027 — both those who should take it and those who perhaps shouldn’t?
I would say a drop is worth it, and it really doesn’t make a difference in law school once you join. If societal conditions do not prevent it, then you should take a drop, but know that you have to dedicate yourself fully for the next year. It is not a constant pressure, but your goal is singular, so do not let anything distract you.
A CLAT Essentials Interview by Oyishee Bose