CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern

CLAT is an offline (pen-and-paper) exam. The Consortium of NLUs decides upon the CLAT 2026 exam pattern. The exam had a total of 120 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes.

Every correct answer will be awarded 1 mark, while a wrong answer will lead to the deduction of 0.25 marks. Thus, the marking scheme is +1/-0.25.

Also Read - CLAT 2026 Results


CLAT 2026 Section-Wise Question Distribution

Section

No. of Questions

Percentage

Current Affairs & GK

28

23.33%

Logical Reasoning

26

21.67%

English Language

24

20%

Quantitative Techniques

12

10%

Legal Reasoning

30

25%

Total

120

100%


CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis

The overall CLAT 2026 paper can be categorised as easy to moderate, with sections appearing in a jumbled order and GK placed first. English remained on expected lines with Reading Comprehension as the primary focus and no major structural changes. Legal Reasoning had a noticeable tilt towards prominent legal current affairs, similar to the sample paper pattern released earlier. Logical Reasoning included more Analytical Reasoning-based questions, while GK carried no significant surprises and mostly covered highlighted and anticipated topics. Quantitative Techniques was easy to moderate, with straightforward data sets that may ultimately act as the differentiator for top ranks.

Read for Detailed CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis

CLAT 2026 Score Calculator (Live Now)

After the CLAT 2026 exam, the biggest question in every aspirant’s mind is:

“What score will get me which NLU?” Below is the answer!

The CLAT 2026 Score Calculator helps you estimate your exact score even before the official answer key is released. You simply need to enter your total attempts, correct answers and incorrect answers, and the tool will automatically calculate your final score after negative marking. 

This gives you a quick idea of where you stand, how accurate your attempt was, and whether you should expect a higher or lower normalised score once the result is declared.


How to Use CLAT Score Calculator

The CLAT Score Calculator is now live. Any aspirant can use this score calculator with just 3 simple steps. 

Step 1: Click on the Score Calculator Button

Step 2: Sign up if not already done, otherwise just log in with your ID & password.

Step 3: Fill in your Category

Step 4: Fill in your CLAT 2026 section-wise details

Voila! You’d have your estimated scorecard for CLAT 2026

What it gives


CLAT 2026 Rank Predictor

Once CLAT gets over, most students immediately start calculating in their head—“I think I got around 90… so will I get NLSIU Bangalore? Will I get any top NLU at all?” These questions are extremely normal because everyone wants clarity as soon as the exam ends. The Rank Predictor solves exactly this!

The Rank Predictor is a separate feature which uses your expected score and compares it with previous year CLAT ranks, cut-offs and difficulty levels to estimate your probable All India Rank (AIR). Based on your score, the model gives a best-case and worst-case rank range and also suggests possible NLUs you may get in Round 1 and round-wise counselling later.

What it gives


How Does Our CLAT Rank Predictor Works?

CL-LST’s CLAT Rank Predictor works based on the candidate's maximum and minimum accurate attempts. This is done with the help of our students as they input their attempts and how they believe they have scored.

Step 1: Enter your estimated CLAT 2025 score.

Step 2: CL-LST will predict your rank based on student data of 10,000+.

Note: You will only be allowed to get your prediction after you have submitted your raw scores and filled in the correct information based on how you have performed in the actual exam.

Also Read - CLAT 2026 Results Release Date


CLAT 2026 Category-Wise Expected Cutoffs (Top NLUs)

Category-wise Expected CLAT 2026 Cutoffs

Category

Expected Score Range (Top 10 NLUs)

Trend Summary

General (GEN)

82–110

Highest competition; wide variation by NLU tier.

OBC

78–103

3–6 marks lower than General.

EWS

79–104

Slightly lower than General; high demand.

SC

60–85

18–25 mark difference from the General category.

ST

55–75

Lower competition, but state NLUs vary heavily.

CLAT Exam Analysis 2025: An Overview

"What an easy variant paper! Overall, the paper could be termed as easy on difficulty level with moderate length. CLAT 2024 paper, although expected, can still be termed as easier than its predecessors."

Overall, the CLAT 2025 paper was on the easier side paper which made the students very happy. As goes the trend, with an easy paper, the cut-offs are expected to be on the higher side.


CLAT Exam Analysis: Previous Year CLAT Cutoff

The CLAT cutoff is an indication of the rank that a candidate is expected to achieve to be shortlisted by the participating National Law Universities. The top NLUs are known to have a higher CLAT cutoff range..

Find below the tabulated CLAT 2025 cutoff. The table showcases the category-wise closing ranks for the NLUs.

CLAT 2025 Cut-Offs: Opening and Closing Ranks

NLUs

Course

General 

ROBC 

SC 

ST 

CNLU Patna

[BA LLB]

882 – 1278

Reserved for Bihar Domicile

Reserved for Bihar Domicile

CNLU Patna

[BBA LLB]

1215 – 1424

Reserved for Bihar Domicile

Reserved for Bihar Domicile

NUALS Kochi

[BA LLB]

350 – 1175

Reserved for Kerala Domicile

Reserved for Kerala Domicile

NLU Odisha

[BA LLB]

382 – 943

3196 – 6557

8920 – 11889

NLU Odisha

[BBA LLB]

552 – 1034

7630 – 7711

10921 – 12684

NUSRL Ranchi

[BA LLB]

864 – 1476

1671 – 2923

8542 – 9324

10015 – 13373

NUSRL Ranchi

[BBA LLB]

1164 – 1504

1845 – 3634

8493 – 9515

10573 – 13619

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli

[BA LLB]

1231 – 1516

2045 – 3090

6291 – 9564

Reserved for TN Domicile

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli

[LLB]

1259 – 1642

3432 – 4096

6571 – 11547

Reserved for TN Domicile

DSNLU Vishakhapatnam

[BA LLB]

957 – 1489

2734 – 3612

8198 – 9240

13506 – 13834

MNLU Mumbai

[BA LLB]

418 - 536

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

MNLU Nagpur 

[BA LLB]

680 – 1353

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

MNLU Nagpur 

[BBA LLB]

681 – 1375

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

MNLU Aurangabad 

[BA LLB]

1023 – 1580

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

MNLU Aurangabad 

[BBA LLB]

1361 – 1850

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

NLUJA Assam

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

1163 – 1643

Reserved for Assam Domicile

Reserved for Assam Domicile

Reserved for Assam Domicile

HPNLU Shimla [BA LLB]

[BA LLB]

949 – 1951

8641 – 11003

12203 – 15816

HPNLU Shimla 

[BBA LLB]

1135 – 1994

9542 – 12439

15632 – 18083

MPDNLU Jabalpur

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

1371 – 1762

2477 – 3926

8826 – 11784

13674 – 18330

DBRANLU Sonepat

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

626 – 1621

2173 – 3856

7991 – 11377

12630 – 16128

GNLU Silvassa

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

755 – 1252

2745 – 3356

8380 – 8676

12108 – 12880

NLUT Agartala

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

1866 – 2098

Reserved for Tripura Domicile

Reserved for Tripura Domicile

RPNLU Prayagraj

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

1102 – 1987

Reserved for UP Domicile

Reserved for UP Domicile

Reserved for UP Domicile

NLSIU Bangalore

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

1 – 102

209 – 1324

182 – 3014

226 – 3396

NALSAR Hyderabad

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

17 – 155

333 – 1219

816 – 3177

1311 – 3433

WBNUJS 

[BA LLB]

57 – 285

Reserved for WB Domicile

3048 – 3952

4824 – 6343

WBNUJS 

[BSc LLB]

299 – 652

Reserved for WB Domicile

4244 – 6584

8594 – 9739

NLIU Bhopal 

[BA LLB]

257 – 458

1086 – 1757

4682 – 5763

5456 – 8243

NLIU Bhopal 

[BSc LLB]

438 – 843

2158 – 2453

4768 – 7200

8673 – 11901

NLIU Jodhpur

B.A. LL.B (Hons.), B.B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

159 – 357

583 – 1669

3158 – 4659

2638 – 5232

HNLU Raipur

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

463 – 765

2144 – 2385

6232 – 7350

8711 – 9973

GNLU Gandhinagar

B.A. LL.B (Hons.),

164 – 402

715 – 2138

976 – 5791

4457 – 7639

RMLNLU Lucknow

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

460 – 721

Reserved for UP Domicile

Reserved for UP Domicile

Reserved for UP Domicile

RGNUL Punjab

B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

95 – 1146

2067 – 8126

7540 – 11761

NLUs

General (Opening Rank - Closing Rank)

OBC (Opening Rank - Closing Rank)

SC (Opening Rank - Closing Rank)

ST (Opening Rank - Closing Rank)

MNLU Nagpur [BA LLB]

680 – 1353

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

MNLU Nagpur [BBA LLB]

681 – 1375

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

MNLU Aurangabad [BA LLB]

1023 – 1580

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

MNLU Aurangabad [BBA LLB]

1361 – 1850

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

NLUJA Assam

1163 – 1643

Reserved for Assam Domicile

Reserved for Assam Domicile

Reserved for Assam Domicile

HPNLU Shimla [BA LLB]

949 – 1951

8641 – 11003

12203 – 15816

HPNLU Shimla [BBA LLB]

1135 – 1994

9542 – 12439

15632 – 18083

MPDNLU Jabalpur

1371 – 1762

2477 – 3926

8826 – 11784

13674 – 18330

DBRANLU Sonepat

626 – 1621

2173 – 3856

7991 – 11377

12630 – 16128

GNLU Silvassa

755 – 1252

2745 – 3356

8380 – 8676

12108 – 12880

NLUT Agartala

1866 – 2098

Reserved for Tripura Domicile

Reserved for Tripura Domicile

RPNLU Prayagraj

1102 – 1987

Reserved for UP Domicile

Reserved for UP Domicile

Reserved for UP Domicile

NLUs

Course

General (Opening Rank - Closing Rank)

ROBC (Opening Rank - Closing Rank)

SC (Opening Rank - Closing Rank)

ST (Opening Rank - Closing Rank)

CNLU Patna

[BA LLB]

882 – 1278

Reserved for Bihar Domicile

Reserved for Bihar Domicile

CNLU Patna

[BBA LLB]

1215 – 1424

Reserved for Bihar Domicile

Reserved for Bihar Domicile

NUALS Kochi

[BA LLB]

350 – 1175

Reserved for Kerala Domicile

Reserved for Kerala Domicile

NLU Odisha

[BA LLB]

382 – 943

3196 – 6557

8920 – 11889

NLU Odisha

[BBA LLB]

552 – 1034

7630 – 7711

10921 – 12684

NUSRL Ranchi

[BA LLB]

864 – 1476

1671 – 2923

8542 – 9324

10015 – 13373

NUSRL Ranchi

[BBA LLB]

1164 – 1504

1845 – 3634

8493 – 9515

10573 – 13619

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli

[BA LLB]

1231 – 1516

2045 – 3090

6291 – 9564

Reserved for TN Domicile

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli

[BCom LLB]

1259 – 1642

3432 – 4096

6571 – 11547

Reserved for TN Domicile

DSNLU Vishakhapatnam

[BA LLB]

957 – 1489

2734 – 3612

8198 – 9240

13506 – 13834

MNLU Mumbai

[BA LLB]

418 – 536

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile

Reserved for Mah Domicile


CLAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Determining The CLAT Cutoff

The cut-off of the exam can be influenced by various factors such as the difficulty level of the test, the number of applicants, and the number of seats.

Appearing for CLAT 2025

CL-LST Guru's in Attendance

Gautam Puri

Teaching experience of 30+ years

Amitendra Kumar

Teaching experience of 18+ years

Rahul Reddy

Teaching experience of 18+ years

Prasan Kamat

Teaching experience of 20+ years

Govind Singh

Teaching experience of 4+ years

Ayushi Suryavanshi

Teaching experience of 3+ years

Missed the NLU bus today?

You did your best, but feel you might miss securing a seat in an NLU or NLU of your choice. Do not worry! Other exams can give you access to some of the best law schools in the country.

Admissions to NMIMS University, Government Law College, Mumbai, and Christ University will be based on separate entrances to be conducted after the board exams.

Other LAW Entrance Exams

Below mentioned are a few law entrance exams that generally occur after the CLAT exam and open the doors to prestigious law schools:

To prepare for these varied law entrance exams, consider enrolling in our specialized non-CLAT programs mentioned below, tailored to maximize your chances of securing admission in the esteemed legal institutions you aspire to join next year.

If your heart and mind are still set on getting into your dream NLU, you can also appear for the CLAT/AILET exam next year with focused preparation and take another chance at your dream.

LST Bullet

For Retaker's-CLAT 2026

Enroll Now

Frequently asked questions

Cutoffs depend on a few factors: exam difficulty, number of applicants, and total seats. If the paper remains easy like CLAT 2025, the expected cutoffs for top NLUs may rise. The updated CLAT Rank Predictor will help estimate your position.

While the exact analysis will be available after the exam, CL-LST experts expect a moderate to easy paper, similar to CLAT 2025. The number of questions remains 120, making accuracy extremely important.

CLAT follows the marking scheme of +1 for every correct answer and - 0.25 for every incorrect answer. Students can use the CLAT Score Calculator on this page to estimate their CLAT 2026 Score instantly.

The CLAT analysis helps students understand: Whether the paper was easy, moderate, or difficult How their attempts compare to expected cutoffs What their projected rank could be using score calculators How to improve the strategy for AILET 2026, which is held one week after CLAT

The CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis will go live on December 7, 2025, at 4:30 PM. CL-LST experts will share insights on difficulty level, ideal attempts, expected cutoffs, and student reactions.

Aspirants could access the CLAT Scorecard tool from December 1, 2024, at 4 PM.

Aspirants need to simply input their attempts and they will receive their score within minutes. No more tedious matching of sets or questions with answer sheets.

With the Rank Predictor tool, aspirants will get the complete picture of their CLAT 2025 performance. The tool will provide important insight into aspirants' rank and the NLU they could secure.

The CLAT 2026 Rank Predictor tool went live after the exam on December 7, 2025.

The Consortium has released the exam date for CLAT 2026 on July 20, 2025. It will be conducted on December 7, 2025.