Preparing for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) requires strategic planning, consistent practice, and adaptability. As someone who gave CLAT and other law exams recently, I would like to share tips about what in my opinion, are the most important things required to ace these exams.
Understanding CLAT: The Exam Blueprint
CLAT is a 2-hour exam comprising 120 questions across five sections:
English Language: Reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary.
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge: Dynamic and static GK, emphasising recent events.
Legal Reasoning: Application of legal principles and analytical problem-solving.
Logical Reasoning: Critical thinking, puzzles, and argument analysis.
Quantitative Techniques: Basic math and data interpretation.
Strategic Preparation Framework
1. Build Strong Foundations
Sectional Focus: Start by understanding each section’s requirements. Dedicate time to grasping concepts before attempting practice questions.
Basic Resources: Stick to essential materials and quality mock test series.
2. Daily Reading Habit
- Read newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express) and legal blogs.
- Follow good websites and good material for English comprehension and Current Affairs insights.
- Keep a tab on current affairs and use monthly magazines to stay upto date on GK.
3. Master Time Management
- Practice solving questions under timed conditions, especially QT.
- Create a schedule that balances study hours with breaks to avoid burnout.
- Allocate time per section based on your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t be overconfident about any section and allocate the most time to the section you are weakest at.
Section-Wise Preparation Tips
English Language
- Focus on speed reading and comprehension.
- Practice passages with inference-based questions.
- Revise grammar rules and solve error detection exercises.
- Read books on a daily basis to improve vocabulary and comprehending skills.
- The Editorial section of a good newspaper is a very rich resource for improving both reading skills and current affairs.
- Grasp concepts that relate to literary devices, different themes and character sketches.
Current Affairs and General Knowledge
- Maintain a written or typed record of notes for GK topics. Make a list of important GK topics to be covered(both static and current) and make regular notes on these topics. It is also important to enhance and enrich these notes on a daily basis.
- Cover major topics like international affairs, government policies, awards, sports etc.
- Attempt regular quizzes or tests and exchange notes with a dedicated study group if needed.
Legal Reasoning
- Understand key legal principles such as torts, contracts, and constitutional law.
- Practice case-based questions and strengthen logical deduction skills.
- Stay updated on landmark judgments and recent legal developments.
- Solve the legal reasoning section of different mocks with a time limit to get acquainted with different kinds of questions and how to approach them.
Logical Reasoning
- Practice Analytical Reasoning questions like Puzzles and Syllogisms frequently(Especially important for AILET)
- Practice assumptions and conclusion-based questions and try to figure out the various differences in these questions.
- Attempt timed mock exercises to enhance analytical speed.
- Practice questions that deal with tone of the passage, main idea of the passage etc.
Quantitative Techniques
- Revise fundamental arithmetic concepts like percentages, ratios, and averages.
- Solve data interpretation sets daily.
- Use math tricks to improve calculation speed.
- Practice as many questions as you can to improve speed of calculation as every minute saved in the QT section can be utilised elsewhere.
Mock Tests: The Game Changer
- Frequency: Attempt at least 2-3 full-length mocks weekly(Start of with 2 mocks a week, slowly increase to 3-4 mocksa week, increase to even 5 mocks a week close to the exam and then no mocks for the last 10 days)
- Analysis: Spend equal time reviewing mistakes and revising weak areas. Analysis of the mocks is the single most important thing, these give you an idea about your mistakes and teach you how to approach different questions.
- Adaptability: Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you.
- Simulate Exam Conditions: Attempt mocks in a quiet, timed environment to build focus.
- Don’t take mock scores to be the best indicator of your capability- Even the best students have off days, it is more important that you know the mistakes you make in every mock and then work to improve on them for the next mock. Similarly, don’t be casual if your mock goes well, analyse it properly and keep working.
Advanced Preparation Tips
1. Create a Personalised Study Plan
- Allocate more time to weaker sections. Use a wide variety of resources to practice questions/mocks from. The more widespread your material, the better.
- Schedule daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Keep them realistic and well spaced out(Especially if you have school commitments to manage too).
- Incorporate flexibility to accommodate unforeseen challenges.
2. Join Study Groups
- Collaborate with peers to exchange knowledge and strategies.
- Engage in healthy competition through group quizzes and debates.
3. Stay Updated
- Follow important news on a regular basis and try to develop a curious mind for all current affairs.
- Take help from your mentors and teachers and have regular discussions with regards to your preparations. Follow their advice and implement it to your prep.
Ideas to Improve Performance
- Track Progress: Maintain a doc or notebook for your various mock scores and sectional test scores to have an idea about your progress.
- Diversify Practice: Solve previous years’ papers alongside different mocks.
- Focus on Accuracy: Prioritize solving questions correctly over attempting all. This is paramount, accuracy should always be the ultimate aim. Once you develop a good enough speed, the accuracy will follow even when attempting all questions.
- Stay Healthy: Incorporate exercise, proper sleep, and a balanced diet into your routine. An unhealthy mind/body will only hamper preparations.
- Reward Yourself: Celebrate small achievements to stay motivated and develop a strong support group.
Final Words
CLAT preparation is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands perseverance, focus, and adaptability. Equip yourself with the right resources, maintain a disciplined routine, and embrace challenges as opportunities to grow.
Remember, No exam is tough if a person prepares correctly and consistently. Don’t be disheartened if the actual results don’t go your way, there are always good alternatives. The journey matters as much as the destination.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pranjal Tripathi is a dynamic and driven student whose journey is marked by excellence in academics, leadership, and competitive pursuits. Securing an outstanding All India Rank 34 in the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET), he is set to embark on the next phase of his academic career at one of the country’s premier law schools.
An integral member of his school’s MUN and business teams, Pranjal has consistently demonstrated sharp analytical skills and a keen understanding of global affairs. As the Vice-Chairperson of All India Political Parties Meet at Bosco MUN, 2024 , he played a pivotal role in fostering engaging and intellectually rigorous debates. His contributions extended beyond diplomacy, as he was also a part of the Board of Directors for Bosco Empresarios, the annual school business event. where he helped shape and execute high-impact events with precision and strategy.
With a strong foundation in problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration, Pranjal thrives in environments that challenge him to think critically and innovate. Whether navigating complex negotiations in MUN committees or strategizing for business competitions, he brings a forward-thinking mindset and a commitment to excellence. As he steps into the legal world, he is eager to leverage his skills and experiences to create meaningful impact.