🏛️ CLAT Exam Pattern 2026: Complete Breakdown for UG & PG Aspirants
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is one of India’s most prestigious law entrance exams, opening doors to top National Law Universities (NLUs). Understanding the CLAT exam pattern is crucial for candidates aiming to ace the test and secure a spot at a premier law school.
In this article, we’ll cover the CLAT 2026 exam pattern for both Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) levels, including marking scheme, section-wise breakup, and helpful tips to approach each section strategically.
📌 What is CLAT?
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a national-level entrance test conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) for admissions to:
- 5-year integrated LLB programs (UG)
- One-year LLM programs (PG)
📚 CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern – Undergraduate (UG)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen-and-paper based) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Total Questions | 120 |
| Type of Questions | Objective-type (MCQs) |
| Total Marks | 120 |
| Negative Marking | Yes (-0.25 for every wrong answer) |
🔍 Section-wise Weightage (UG)
| Section | No. of Questions (approx.) |
|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 28–32 |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 |
Each question carries 1 mark. Incorrect answers attract a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
📘 CLAT 2026 UG Syllabus Overview
- English Language: Comprehension passages, vocabulary, grammar, and inference-based questions.
- Current Affairs + GK: Recent events, awards, important dates, international affairs, static GK.
- Legal Reasoning: Legal propositions, situations, and the ability to apply principles logically.
- Logical Reasoning: Critical thinking, arguments, patterns, syllogisms.
- Quantitative Techniques: Basic math (10th standard level), graphs, tables, number interpretation.
🎓 CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern – Postgraduate (PG)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Total Marks | 120 |
| Type of Questions | Objective (MCQs) only |
| Negative Marking | Yes (-0.25 for every wrong answer) |
🧠 CLAT PG Sections & Focus Areas
- Constitutional Law
- Jurisprudence
- Torts, Contract Law, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR
- Legal comprehension passages with objective questions based on the passage
✅ Why Understanding CLAT Exam Pattern Matters
- 📈 Helps strategize time management
- 🔍 Allows focused preparation for each section
- 🧠 Minimizes surprises on the exam day
- 📝 Aids in effective mock test practice
💡 Tips to Crack CLAT Based on Exam Pattern
- Start with a Mock Test: Know your strengths and weaknesses.
- Make a Study Plan: Allocate time based on section-wise weightage.
- Read Newspapers Daily: Especially useful for Current Affairs and Reading Comprehension.
- Practice Past Papers: Familiarize yourself with question trends.
- Focus on Speed + Accuracy: Especially critical due to the negative marking.
📎 Final Words
The CLAT exam pattern is designed to test both aptitude and reasoning ability rather than just rote knowledge. Being aware of the structure, format, and focus areas of the exam gives you a solid edge in your preparation.
Stay updated with the latest CLAT notifications on the official website, and keep practicing!
