The CLAT exam is conducted annually. The Consortium of National Law Universities holds the responsibility to conduct the CLAT exam. All the top law schools, except NLU, and Delhi, participate in the CLAT exam and grants admission through it. The CLAT exam is 2 hours long (120 Minutes). The entrance exam includes Multiple-choice questions. The exam is conducted in the offline mode through pen and paper-based tests. The exam includes a component of negative marking. There are no sectional timings involved, therefore candidates can switch between sections throughout the exam duration.
CLAT Exam Pattern: Question Count and Marks Distribution
S.No.
Subjects
Questions(approx.)
CLAT total marks
Weightage
1
English including Comprehension
28-32
28-32
20%
2
General Knowledge and Current Affairs
35-39
32-35
25%
3
Legal Reasoning
35-39
35-39
25%
4
Logical Reasoning
28-32
28-32
20%
5
Quantitative Techniques
13-17
13-17
10%
TOTAL
150
150
100%
CLAT Exam Pattern: Difficulty Level
S. No.
Name of the Subject
Difficulty Level
1.
English Language
12th Level
2.
Current Affairs including General Knowledge
12th Level
3.
Legal Reasoning
12th Level
4.
Logical Reasoning
12th Level
5.
Quantitative Technique
10th Level
CLAT Exam Pattern: Passage Word Limit
S. No.
Name of the Sections
Word Limit of the passages
1.
English Language
450 words per passage
2.
Legal Reasoning
450 words per passage
3.
Logical Reasoning
300 words per passage
4.
Current Affairs
450 words per passage
5.
Quantitative Technique
No prescribed word limit
CLAT Exam Pattern: Areas of Assessment
S.No.
CLAT Sections
Areas of Assessment
English Language
Read and understand the key ideas discussed in the Passage and any arguments and opinions mentioned.Make conclusions and inferences based on the Passage.Summarising the Passage.Draw contrast and similarities among the different views or statements set out in the Passage andComprehend various words and phrases in the Passage’s context.
Current Affairs (including current affairs)
Contemporary events of importance from India and the worldArts and CultureInternational affairs andHistorical occurrences of continuing importance.
Legal Reasoning
Identify and discuss the rules and regulations mentioned in the Passage;
To infer the influence of modification in rules or principles on different scenarios; andApply rules and regulations to like and alike scenarios.
Logical Reasoning
Understanding the discussion, its premises and conclusions.Read and discuss the ideas discussed in the passages.Critically look at the patterns of reasoning and determine how decisions may depend on specific narratives or evidence.Draw inferences from the passage and apply them to completely new situations.Identify contradictions and similarities, draw relationships and analogies, and assess the impact of arguments.
Quantitative Techniques
To Derive, infer and manipulate the numerical information given in the paragraphs or the form of other representations; andTo apply 10th-standard mathematical operations like introductory algebra, measurement, ratios and proportions and statistical estimation.
CLAT Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme
S. No.
Responses
Marking Scheme
Correct Response
1 Mark awarded
Incorrect Response
0.25 Marks deducted
Not answered Questions
Zero marks awarded or deducted
CLAT Exam Pattern: Why is it important to know?
Knowing the CLAT exam pattern is essential for effective preparation and performing well in the exam. Here are some reasons why knowing the CLAT exam pattern is important:
Understanding the Marking Scheme: Knowing the CLAT exam pattern helps in understanding the marking scheme, which is essential to devise an effective exam strategy. For instance, knowing the weightage of different sections can help in planning the time and effort to be spent on each section.
Time Management: Knowing the exam pattern helps in managing time effectively during the exam. By understanding the number of questions, the time duration, and the weightage of each section, a candidate can plan the time to be spent on each section and avoid wasting time on difficult questions.
Identifying Strong and Weak Areas: Knowing the exam pattern helps in identifying the strong and weak areas of a candidate. By understanding the weightage of different sections, a candidate can identify the sections in which they are strong and weak. This can help in focusing on weak areas and improving the overall performance.
Selecting the Right Questions: Knowing the exam pattern helps in selecting the right questions to attempt. By understanding the marking scheme, a candidate can identify the questions that carry higher marks and attempt them first.
Avoiding Surprises: Knowing the CLAT exam pattern helps in avoiding surprises during the exam. By understanding the exam pattern, a candidate knows what to expect in the exam and can prepare accordingly. This can help in reducing exam anxiety and performing well in the exam.
Knowing the CLAT exam pattern is important for effective preparation, time management, and performing well in the exam.
