Top Mistakes to Avoid for CLAT Aspirants
CL Team June 17 2025
Your preparation needs to shift from generic efforts to exam-focused execution. Many sincere aspirants unintentionally sabotage their progress by falling into avoidable traps. Let’s look at the top 10 mistakes that you must avoid, especially if you're following the strategies from our CLAT 2026 Early Tips Blog.
1. Unstructured or Random Reading
Why it Hurts: CLAT is built on passage-based comprehension. Random news surfing, Telegram forwards, or social media "updates" won't build the deep reading stamina needed for 12,000+ words across 20 passages.
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Avoid |
Do Instead |
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New summaries from YouTube or Telegram sources |
Read 1–2 long-form articles daily from JSTOR Daily, Live Law, Indian Express, or The Hindu |
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Social media reels labelled as “current affairs”. |
Practice comprehension under a timer to build stamina and speed. |
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Reading only headlines without analysis. |
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2. Inconsistent Daily Reading Practice
Why it Hurts: Comprehension is a skill, not a topic. You can’t develop it overnight or through MCQs alone.
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Avoid |
Do Instead |
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Studying only from school textbooks |
Dedicate 30–45 minutes daily for reading practice—legal news, analytical essays, and case-based narratives. |
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Reading GK PDFs without engaging deeply with context. |
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3. Skipping or Fearing Mock Tests
Why it Hurts: Without mocks, you won’t know your weak zones, time usage, or pressure-handling capacity.
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Do Instead |
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Taking mocks only in the last month. |
Take weekly mocks every Sunday starting now. |
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Not analysing mocks due to fear of bad scores.
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Spend 2–3 hours every Monday for analysis: error log, time tracking, accuracy mapping. |
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Only attempting sectionals and never full-length test |
Keep a “mock tracker” journal. |
4. Studying Without a Weekly Plan
Why it Hurts: CLAT prep is not about cramming—it’s about spaced repetition, consistency, and skill building.
Avoid:
· Binge-studying Quant for 3 hours and then ignoring it for 2 weeks.
· Skipping General Knowledge revision cycles.
Do Instead:
Create a Weekly Plan: e.g.,
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Monday |
Legal + Reading |
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Tuesday |
Quant + GK |
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Wednesday |
Logic + Review |
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Thursday |
Mock Analysis |
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Friday |
Quant Drill + Static GK |
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Saturday |
Sectionals |
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Sunday |
Full-Length Mocks |
5. Neglecting Quantitative Techniques (QT)
Why it Hurts: The QT section may carry fewer marks, but it’s often the rank decider , 5-7 marks less , can push your rank down significantly
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Avoid |
Do Instead |
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Postponing Quant out of fear. |
Practice 2 QT sets every Friday. |
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Learning formulas but not applying them to passage-style caselets. |
Focus on Data Interpretation, Percentages, Averages, Ratios—no higher math needed. |
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Use Career Launcher’s Quant practice booklets.
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6. Over-Relying on Coaching Classes
Why it Hurts: Coaching offers guidance, not magic. Your personal initiative is what builds mastery.
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Avoid |
Do Instead |
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· Thinking your coaching batch will “cover everything”. |
Solve 2–3 extra passages weekly apart from coaching homework. |
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· Skipping practice just because “it was taught in class”. |
Join or form a peer group to discuss difficult questions and errors. |
7. Using Low-Quality or Misleading Study Material
Why it Hurts: Random PDFs from Telegram and unverified YouTube channels can confuse you and waste your time.
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Avoid |
Do Instead |
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Downloading every GK PDF you see.
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Stick to reliable sources:
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Switching between sources constantly.
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Manthan (CL’s GK compendium)
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Only attempting sectionals and never full-length test |
Live Law, The Hindu, Indian Express |
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Official PYQs and CLAT-specific material
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8. Skipping Mock Analysis
Why it Hurts: Taking a test is only half the process. The other half is reviewing mistakes.
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Avoid |
Do Instead |
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Rushing into the next mock without analyzing the previous one. |
Maintain an Error Log (Excel/Notebook). |
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Not tracking guesswork or time per section.
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Track: Maintain an Error Log (Excel/Notebook).
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Only attempting sectionals and never full-length test |
Track: Why the error occurred (Concept, Time, Carelessness) |
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Track: Confidence level vs correctness |
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Track: Review every mock within 24 hours. |
9. Focusing Only on Strong Areas
Why it Hurts: CLAT requires sectional balance. Toppers don’t skip the difficult sections—they train for them.
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Avoid |
Do Instead |
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Practicing only English and Logic. |
Allocate dedicated weekly slots for weaker areas. |
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Ignoring Quant and Current Affairs because they feel tough |
Track improvements weekly and reward small wins.
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10. Burnout and Poor Time Management
Why it Hurts: CLAT prep is a marathon. You need mental sharpness on D-day, not just now.
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Avoid |
Do Instead |
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Studying till 2 AM every day. |
Sleep 7 hours daily. |
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Skipping meals or exercise. |
Do a 30-minute walk/yoga routine. |
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Constantly checking scores and ranks obsessively. |
Practice mindfulness, journaling, or hobbies weekly. |
Final Words from Career Launcher Jamshedpur:
Avoid what doesn’t work. Be consistent with what does.
Success in CLAT isn’t about brilliance—it’s about strategy, discipline, and resilience over time.
Visit us at:
Career Launcher, Jamshedpur
2nd Floor, UTI Mutual Fund Building, Near Ram Mandir, Near Hotel Ginger, Bistupur
Call: 999693202574 / 9102999754 / 9102990084
Email: jam.cl@careerlauncher.com