Law & Governance
Official Guide & Assessment Pattern for CLAT (Common Law Admission Test - NLUs)
Exam Significance & Admission Purpose
The premier entrance test for admission into 26 National Law Universities (NLUs) across India for the 5-Year Integrated BA LLB / BBA LLB programs. Renowned for its reading-intensive comprehension passages testing legal reasoning, logical deduction, and critical reading.
Detailed Eligibility Criteria
Class 12 pass with min 45% (40% for SC/ST) from any stream. No upper age limit.
Exam Pattern & Test Structure
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | Passage-based Comprehension (~24-28 Qs) | ~24-28 Marks | Integrated 120 Mins |
| Current Affairs & GK | Passage-based Monitored Affairs (~28-32 Qs) | ~28-32 Marks | Integrated 120 Mins |
| Legal Reasoning | Legal Principles & Scenario Passages (~35-39 Qs) | ~35-39 Marks | Integrated 120 Mins |
| Logical Reasoning | Critical & Analytical Passages (~24-28 Qs) | ~24-28 Marks | Integrated 120 Mins |
| Quantitative Techniques | Data Interpretation Passages (~10-14 Qs) | ~10-14 Marks | Integrated 120 Mins |
Marking Scheme:+1 for Correct, -0.25 for Incorrect, 0 for Unattempted. Total 120 Questions (120 Marks).
Recommended Preparation Timeline & Strategy
Read quality editorial newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express) daily to build a 300+ wpm reading speed.
Solve 40+ full-length 2-hour offline mock tests to master section pacing.
Practice deriving legal conclusions strictly from provided passage principles without assuming outside laws.
Cutoff Trends & Score Analysis
To get into NLSIU Bangalore (Top 70 AIR), a candidate generally needs a score of 98-102+ out of 120 depending on paper difficulty.
Premier Colleges & Universities Accepting Scores
NLSIU Bangalore (Rank #1 NLU)
NALSAR Hyderabad
WBNUJS Kolkata
NLU Jodhpur
GNLU Gandhinagar
NLIU Bhopal