What is the Best Way to Prepare for CLAT 2026?
CL Team July 23 2025
Are you thinking of becoming a lawyer? Then cracking CLAT is the first step toward your dream. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the most popular law entrance exam in India. Many students appear for it every year to get admission into top National Law Universities (NLUs) like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and others.
If you're planning to write CLAT 2026 and don't know where or how to begin, this blog is just for you. I'll keep it simple and clear.
What is CLAT?
CLAT is a national-level exam for students who want to study law after Class 12. Through CLAT, you can take admission in the 5-year BA LLB program at top law colleges. The paper tests your reading, thinking, and problem-solving skills - not your memory.
When is CLAT 2026?
The Consortium of NLUs has already announced that the CLAT 2026 exam will be held on 7th December 2025 (Sunday). It will be in offline mode, meaning it will be a pen-and-paper test.
So, you have enough time if you start now. But don’t wait too long!
What is the Syllabus for CLAT?
There are 5 sections in the CLAT exam:
1. English Language - You'll get a passage followed by questions based on it.
2. Current Affairs including General Knowledge - Questions will be based on recent news and events, especially legal and national topics.
3. Legal Reasoning - This section will give you legal situations and ask you to apply logic.
4. Logical Reasoning - Puzzles, arguments, patterns, and reasoning-based questions.
5. Quantitative Techniques - Class 6-10 level Maths, with graphs, tables, and word problems.
No direct legal knowledge or advanced Maths is required. You just need good reading and reasoning skills.
How to Start Preparing for CLAT?
Starting your CLAT preparation can feel confusing. But here's a simple plan you can follow:
1. Start Reading Daily
This is the most important habit. Read newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express. Focus on the editorial section. This improves your English, vocabulary, and current affairs knowledge.
2. Make a Study Schedule
Don’t study randomly. Make a daily plan. For example:
lEnglish – 30 minutes
lCurrent Affairs – 30 minutes
lLegal Reasoning – 1 hour
lLogical/Maths – 30 minutes
Study for 2 to 3 hours every day. Be regular.
3. Solve Past Year Papers
This helps you understand the pattern and level of the exam. Try solving one past paper every week. Later, increase it to two.
4. Give Mock Tests
Mocks are like practice matches. They show you your strong and weak areas. Start giving 1 mock test every 2 weeks. From October onwards, try 1–2 mocks every week.
After each mock, check what went wrong and improve it.
5. Focus on Legal Reasoning
This section carries the highest marks. You don’t need to remember laws. Just understand the principle and apply it to the situation logically.
Tips That Actually Work
lMake your own notes, especially for Current Affairs.
lDon’t cram facts. Focus on understanding.
lStay updated with national and legal news.
lPractice puzzles and logic questions regularly.
Use YouTube or coaching material for help if needed.
Final Thoughts
CLAT is not just about hard work - it's about smart preparation. The earlier you start, the better your chances. With daily reading, consistent practice, and regular mock tests, you can surely get a good score.
If you want to study law from the top NLUs, the time to start is NOW.
Stay focused. Stay consistent. You got this!