The CLAT pattern at a glance
The table below is a summary of the question paper format published by the Consortium of National Law Universities for the UG programme. Pattern details have been revised over the years, so confirm the format and the mode for the year you apply.
| Section | Questions | Approximate share |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22 to 26 | About 20% |
| Current Affairs including General Knowledge | 28 to 32 | About 25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 28 to 32 | About 25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 22 to 26 | About 20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10 to 14 | About 10% |
| Total | 120 in 2 hours | 120 marks |
The paper is a single sitting with one time limit; the order in which you attempt sections is your decision unless the instructions say otherwise.
Marking scheme
- Correct answer: +1.
- Wrong answer: −0.25.
- Unattempted: no marks.
With +1 and −0.25, the break-even accuracy is 20%, so a guess after eliminating one or two options pays. But in a 120-question paper with one minute a question, the question is not usually whether to guess; it is whether you will reach the questions at all.
A worked example of scoring
Illustration: Candidate A attempts 110 questions with 85 correct and 25 wrong: 85 − 6.25 = 78.75. Candidate B attempts 95 questions with 80 correct and 15 wrong: 80 − 3.75 = 76.25. Candidate A leads by 2.5 marks despite more errors because the extra attempts, 15 more, converted at a good rate. Now suppose A's 15 extra attempts had been blind guesses at 25% accuracy: 3.75 correct and 11.25 wrong would have given 3.75 − 2.81 = +0.94, nearly nothing. The takeaway: attempting more helps when the extra attempts are informed, and the way to get there is by being fast enough at reading to give each question a real look.
What makes the paper passage-based
In most sections, a passage of 300 to 500 words is followed by several questions. In Legal Reasoning, the passage states a legal principle or a rule and the questions give fact situations. In Current Affairs, the passage is a news-style text and the questions test understanding and awareness. In Logical Reasoning, passages contain arguments. In English, the passages are literary or non-fiction. In Quantitative Techniques, short sets of data or text are followed by questions. See the section pages for more.
What each section asks
| Section | Typical content |
|---|---|
| English Language | Passages with comprehension, inference, tone and vocabulary questions |
| Current Affairs and GK | News-style passages on recent events, international affairs, law and policy, and static GK |
| Legal Reasoning | Principle and fact situations; legal and public-policy passages |
| Logical Reasoning | Arguments, assumptions, inference, analogies and some analytical items |
| Quantitative Techniques | Arithmetic and data interpretation at about class 10 level |
What to confirm each year
- The mode (offline or online) and the duration.
- The number of questions and the section ranges.
- The marking scheme and any change to negative marking.
- The syllabus guidance for each section.
- Exam date, fee, eligibility and the list of participating universities.
All of this is in the official CLAT notification from the Consortium. Because secondary websites differ on small details, do not rely on a single summary.
How the pattern shapes preparation
- Reading speed first: one minute a question including the passage is a demanding pace.
- Section order: test orders in mocks, for example Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning first or last.
- Paper practice: if the exam is offline, take mocks on paper and practise marking the answer sheet.
- Current affairs: a daily routine beats cramming.
Plan your mocks with the CLAT mock test strategy and see the CLAT hub for the full set of resources.
Disclaimer: information on this page is a summary of published material and may change. TestMint is not affiliated with the Consortium of National Law Universities. Read the official notification before you apply.
