Is your dream to study at India’s top National Law Universities (NLUs)? The dust has settled on the 2026 exam, and the countdown to CLAT 2027 has officially begun.
If you are currently in Class 11 or starting your gap year, this is your strategic window. With the exam tentatively scheduled for December 2026, you have exactly one year to master the aptitude-based format that challenges thousands of aspirants. This isn’t just another law entrance exam; it is a battle of reading speed, critical thinking, and consistency.
This comprehensive blog post breaks down everything you need to know—from the projected exam pattern to a phase-wise preparation strategy—to help you secure that coveted seat in NLU Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Kolkata.
CLAT 2027: The Ultimate Guide to Syllabus, Exam Date & Strategy to Crack It
1. What is the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)?
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a centralized national-level entrance examination established in 2008. It serves as the gateway for admissions to 25 out of 27 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India.
Key Exceptions: It is important to note that NLU Delhi and NLU Meghalaya do not accept CLAT scores; they conduct their own separate entrance exams (AILET and MEG-UAT, respectively).
Beyond Admissions: While primarily for law school admissions, the CLAT score is also a gold standard used by major organizations for recruitment:
- PSUs: Leading Public Sector Undertakings like ONGC and BHEL often use CLAT (PG) scores for hiring Legal Officers.
- Indian Army: The CLAT score is mandatory for JAG (Judge Advocate General) Entry candidates.
2. The “Quick Facts” Table
| Feature | Key Details |
| Full Exam Name | Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of NLUs |
| Participating Institutes | 25 NLUs + 60+ Private Law Colleges |
| Frequency | Once a Year (Annually in December) |
| Total Aspirants | More than 1,00,000 annually |
| Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Score Range | -30 (Theoretical Minimum) to 120 (Maximum) |
| Accepted By | NLUs, Private Colleges, PSUs & Indian Army (JAG) |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 for every wrong answer |
| Official Website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
Before diving into prep, let’s look at the critical projected numbers and dates for the upcoming cycle.
🔔 Tip: Mark your calendar! The application window typically opens in July/August 2026. Do not wait until the last day to register.
3. CLAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria
Are you eligible? The criteria for the Undergraduate (UG) program remain student-friendly with no upper age limit.
- Academic Qualification: You must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or an equivalent examination.
- Minimum Marks:
- 45% for General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories.
- 40% for SC/ST categories.
- Appearing Candidates: If you are appearing for your Class 12 board exams in March/April 2027, you ARE eligible to apply (subject to passing by the time of admission).
4. CLAT Exam Pattern & Syllabus Breakdown
Gone are the days of rote learning. CLAT focuses heavily on Reading Comprehension. The paper consists of 120 Questions divided into 5 sections.
The 5 Core Sections
- English Language (22-26 Questions)
- Focus: Comprehension passages (~450 words), vocabulary, inference, and tone identification.
- What to study: Editorials from The Hindu or The Indian Express, word roots, and figures of speech.
- Current Affairs & General Knowledge (28-32 Questions)
- Focus: Static GK (History, Art & Culture) linked to current events, National & International affairs.
- What to study: Monthly compendiums, legal news, and major global summits happening in 2025-26.
- Legal Reasoning (28-32 Questions)
- Focus: Applying legal principles to factual situations. No prior law knowledge is required, but familiarity with Torts, Contracts, and Criminal Law helps.
- Key Skill: Identifying the principle → Applying it to facts → Deriving the conclusion.
- Logical Reasoning (22-26 Questions)
- Focus: Critical reasoning (arguments, assumptions, conclusions) and analytical reasoning (puzzles).
- Key Skill: Spotting flaws in arguments and drawing logical inferences.
- Quantitative Techniques (10-14 Questions)
- Focus: Data Interpretation (DI) based on sets/graphs. The math level is basic (Class 10), but the questions are calculation-intensive.
- Topics: Ratios, Averages, Percentage, Profit & Loss.
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5. Participating Universities: Know Your Target
Your CLAT score is valid for admissions to the top law schools in the country. The 25 participating NLUs are generally tiered based on preference:
- Tier 1 (The Dream): NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar.
- Tier 2: NLIU Bhopal, MNLU Mumbai, HNLU Raipur, RMLNLU Lucknow, NLU Odisha.
- Tier 3: Emerging NLUs like those in Shimla, Jabalpur, Trichy, and Nagpur.
Note on NLU Delhi & Meghalaya: If you wish to study at NLU Delhi, you must apply for AILET. For NLU Meghalaya, you must appear for the MEG-UAT or check their specific admission notification.
6. Proven Preparation Strategy for CLAT 2027
Success in CLAT isn’t about how much you know; it’s about how fast you can read and process information. Here is a 12-month roadmap starting from Jan 2026.
Phase 1: Foundation (Jan – April 2026)
- Build a Reading Habit: Read for at least 1 hour daily. Mix genres—philosophy, law, science, and fiction.
- Clear Basics: Finish the syllabus for Math and grammar. Understand the basics of Torts and Contracts.
- Newspaper Analysis: Do not just read the news; analyze the why and how behind the headlines. Start making notes of major events.
Phase 2: Practice & Strategy (May – Sept 2026)
- Sectional Tests: Start taking time-bound tests for individual sections to build speed.
- The “Principle Bank”: Create a notebook of legal principles you encounter in mocks to understand how they are applied.
- Vocabulary Journal: Note down 10 new words daily from your reading.
Phase 3: Mastery (Oct – Dec 2026)
- Mock Marathon: Attempt 2-3 full-length mocks per week.
- Analysis is Key: Spend more time analyzing the mock than writing it. Identify why you got a question wrong (Knowledge gap? Reading error? Silly mistake?).
- Time Management: Aim to finish the paper in 110 minutes, keeping 10 minutes as a buffer.
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7. Final Verdict On CLAT 2027: The Ultimate Guide
CLAT 2027 is a marathon, not a sprint. The students who succeed are those who remain consistent with their reading and resilient with their mock scores. Start early to gain the “early bird” advantage over the competition.
Ready to kickstart your prep? Would you like me to generate a specific Monthly Study Schedule for the first quarter of 2026 to help you get started?
Quick Summary
- Mode: Offline (OMR-based).
- Age Limit: None.
- Prep Time: 1 Year is ideal for a top rank.
- Acceptance: 25 NLUs (excluding NLU Delhi).
- Maths: Not required in Class 12, but Basic Math (Class 10 level) is part of the exam syllabus.
- CLAT vs NEET: CLAT is an aptitude test (IQ & English), while NEET is a knowledge test (Science).
- 75 Marks: Good for a Tier-2 NLU, but aim for 90+ for the top 5 colleges.
- Career: CLAT opens doors not just to law firms, but also to PSUs and the Army JAG branch.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a centralized national-level entrance exam for admission to:
5-Year Integrated LL.B (UG): For students after Class 12 (Science, Commerce, or Arts).
LL.M (PG): For law graduates.
PSU Recruitment: Public Sector Undertakings like ONGC and BHEL use CLAT (PG) scores to hire Legal Officers.
Army JAG Entry: The Indian Army uses CLAT (PG) scores for Short Service Commission (NT) JAG Entry Scheme. -
What rank can I expect? It heavily depends on the paper’s difficulty level. Since the exam total is now 120 marks:
In a Tough Paper: 75 marks is excellent and can land you a rank in the Top 500-1,000 (Tier-1 NLU).
In an Easy/Moderate Paper: The competition is fiercer. 75 marks generally typically corresponds to a rank between 2,500 and 4,500.
Verdict: 75 is usually a “safe score” for a Tier-2 or Tier-3 NLU, but to secure top colleges like NLSIU or NALSAR, you should aim for 90+. -
CLAT 2027 will be conducted in Offline Mode (Pen-and-Paper).
The Process: You will go to a designated test center and mark your answers on an OMR sheet using a Black or Blue ballpoint pen.
Scope: This applies to both CLAT UG (after Class 12) and CLAT PG (LL.M). -
There is NO upper age limit for CLAT 2027.
Who can apply: Whether you are 17, 25, or older, you are eligible to appear for the exam.
Academic Requirement: You just need to have passed (or be appearing for) Class 12 with a minimum of 45% marks (40% for SC/ST). -
Yes, absolutely. One year is considered the “Golden Period” for CLAT preparation.
Why? It gives you enough time to build a reading habit (crucial for the new pattern) without the panic of a crash course.
Strategy: If you dedicate 2-3 hours daily to reading editorials and solving logical reasoning sets, 12 months is more than sufficient to land a Top-5 NLU. -
CLAT is the gateway to 25 National Law Universities (NLUs).
Top Tier: NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar.
Exceptions: NLU Delhi (conducts AILET) and NLU Meghalaya do NOT accept CLAT scores.
Bonus: Scores are also accepted by top private colleges like Nirma University and NMIMS, as well as for PSU jobs. -
No, you do not need Math as a subject in Class 11 or 12.
However: The exam does have a section called “Quantitative Techniques” (approx. 10-14 questions).
Level: These questions are based on Class 10 level basic math (Ratios, Averages, Percentages, DI).
Verdict: Arts and Commerce students without Math can easily crack this section with practice; you don’t need advanced calculus or trigonometry. -
Not mandatory. Many toppers crack CLAT with self-study, provided they are disciplined with mock tests and newspaper reading.
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You cannot skip it entirely. The section is only 10% of the paper, but these marks often decide the difference between a top 3 NLU and a Tier-2 college. Focus on “easy killer” topics like Averages and Ratios.
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The Hindu and The Indian Express (specifically the Explained and Editorial pages) are the gold standards.
