CLAT 2026 Paper Analysis
The overall difficulty of CLAT 2026 on exam day ranged from easy to moderate, and interestingly, the paper opened with GK due to the sections being jumbled. English remained on its expected pattern, with RC-based questions dominating, while the Legal section relied more on notable current legal affairs, similar to the sample paper trend. Logical Reasoning leaned towards analytical concepts, GK covered mostly highlighted areas without major surprises, and Quantitative Techniques remained easy to moderate with simpler data sets that could influence the final rank distribution.
CLAT Exam Analysis 2026
The CLAT 2026 exam, conducted on December 7, 2025, was reported to be overall easy to moderate, with some sections like Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques being slightly more challenging. The exam tested students on a combination of conceptual understanding, analytical skills, and current affairs knowledge, making it important for aspirants to have a balanced preparation strategy.
Section-wise CLAT Exam Analysis 2026
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
Key Themes/Topics |
Difficulty Level |
Good Attempts |
Good Score |
|
English Language |
24 |
Non-Cooperation, Prehistory, Political Order, Hungry Stones |
Easy–Moderate |
22–23 |
~20 |
|
General Knowledge |
28 |
US Tariffs, Divya Deshmukh, Indus Water Treaty, SCO Summit, Air India |
Easy–Moderate |
24–25 |
20–21 |
|
Legal Reasoning |
30 |
One Nation-One Election, Constitution/Preamble, Manoj Narula, TN vs Governor, Same-Sex Marriage |
Easy–Moderate |
26–27 |
~25 |
|
Logical Reasoning |
26 |
ECG, Sunburst Theft, Family Symbols, Olympiad Teams |
Moderate–High |
20–21 |
17–18 |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
12 |
Health Insurance, State Electricity Report |
Moderate–High |
7–8 |
6 |
Also Read - Expected CLAT 2026 Cut Offs
Sectional detailed CLAT exam analysis 2026, Good Attempts, No. of Questions, Difficulty Level
CLAT English Language Analysis
A total of 5 RCs were asked, focusing on historical, philosophical, and literature-based extracts. Questions were mostly direct, with a few inference-based items. Familiar themes made the section predictable and manageable.
Themes included the Non-Cooperation Movement, the philosophical evolution of political systems, prehistoric developments and a literary passage from Tagore’s Hungry Stones.
Vocabulary was simple, and most answers could be derived directly from the text without a deeper legal or philosophical background.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Total Qs |
24 |
|
Passages |
5 |
|
Themes |
History, Pre-history, Literature, Governance |
|
Question Type |
Inference + fact-based |
|
Difficulty |
Easy–Moderate |
|
Good Attempt |
22–23 |
|
Good Score |
20 |
CLAT General Knowledge & Current Affairs Analysis
GK continued to be current affairs-focused rather than static. Most questions were from high-visibility news events in the past 8–12 months.
International relations, national events, sports and policy-based questions dominated the section.
A serious focus was visible on India’s global diplomacy, defence relations and major Government initiatives.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Total Qs |
28–30 (memory-based) |
|
Dominant Areas |
International Relations, Sports, Policy |
|
Major Topics |
SCO, Indus Treaty, US Tariffs, AI Crash |
|
Type |
News & Current Events |
|
Difficulty |
Easy–Moderate |
|
Good Attempt |
24–25 |
|
Good Score |
20–21 |
CLAT Legal Reasoning Analysis
This year, CLAT increased the number of passages from 5 to 6, making the section slightly lengthier.
Passages were almost completely rooted in constitutional debates, recent Supreme Court judgments, and ongoing legal matters such as same-sex marriage and state-government disputes.
Prior legal awareness clearly helped in increasing speed and accuracy.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Total Qs |
~30 |
|
Passages |
6 |
|
Major Areas |
Constitution, SC Judgments, Rights |
|
Important Cases |
Manoj Narula, TN vs the Governor |
|
Difficulty |
Easy–Moderate |
|
Good Attempt |
26–27 |
|
Good Score |
25 |
CLAT Logical Reasoning Analysis
This was the toughest section of CLAT 2026.
The paper consisted of multiple analytical passages, mixed puzzle formats and time-consuming reasoning structures. Many questions required layered elimination and comparative analysis.
Students found the Sunburst Theft and Olympiad Team puzzles especially tricky.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Total Qs |
~30 |
|
Dominant Style |
Analytical puzzles |
|
Sets |
Sunburst Theft, Olympiad, Family |
|
Nature |
Calculation + deduction |
|
Difficulty |
High |
|
Good Attempt |
20–21 |
|
Good Score |
17–18 |
CLAT Quantitative Techniques Analysis
Quant had only two DI passages, but Set 1 was extremely time-consuming.
The difficulty didn’t come from concepts but from lengthy data, multi-step calculations and multi-row comparisons.
Students who attempted Quant at the end struggled with time.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Total Qs |
10 |
|
Sets |
Health Insurance, Power Consumption |
|
Type |
DI + calculation |
|
Length |
High |
|
Difficulty |
Moderate–High |
|
Good Attempt |
7–8 |
|
Good Score |
6 |
CLAT 2026 Difficulty Level
|
Section |
Difficulty |
Good Attempt |
Good Score |
|
English |
Easy–Moderate |
22–23 |
20 |
|
GK |
Easy–Moderate |
24–25 |
20–21 |
|
Legal |
Easy–Moderate |
26–27 |
25 |
|
Logical |
High |
20–21 |
17–18 |
|
Quant |
Moderate–High |
7–8 |
6 |
CLAT Marking Scheme
Here is an overview of the marking scheme for CLAT 2026
|
CLAT 2026 Question Type |
Marks Awarded/Deducted |
|
Correct Answer |
+1 |
|
Wrong Answer |
-0.25 |
CLAT 2026 Section-Wise Question Distribution
As per the CLAT 2026 exam, the percentage of question distribution among all the sections is given below.
Below is a table showcasing the distribution of questions.
|
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 Conducting Body
The CLAT exam is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs every year. It takes care of all the exam conduction and execution of the CLAT exam 2025. Everything from Registration Window dates, Eligibility Criteria, the CLAT Exam Fee, and more is taken care of by the Consortium of NLUs.
CLAT 2025 Exam Pattern
Given below is the section-wise breakup of the paper, the ideal attempts, and a good score:
|
Section |
Ideal Attempt |
Good score |
No of Qs. |
|
Reading Comprehension |
20-23 |
20-21 |
24 |
|
Current Affairs including General Knowledge |
25-26 |
23-25 |
28 |
|
Legal Reasoning |
28-30 |
25-26 |
32 |
|
Logical Reasoning |
20-21 |
19-20 |
24 |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
10-11 |
9-10 |
12 |
CLAT 2025 Paper Analysis
The CLAT 2025 exam was conducted smoothly across the country, and students found the paper to be easy to moderate in difficulty. Most sections were direct and passage-based, with a few time-consuming sets in Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning. Overall, a well-prepared student could comfortably attempt 110+ questions, making it one of the easiest CLAT papers in recent years.
CLAT Exam Analysis 2025: Section-Wise
Given below is a detailed section-wise CLAT 2025 analysis. All the test takers are advised to go through the detailed CLAT exam analysis (2025) to estimate their performance and evaluate possible options for them
The English section was easy and predictable, with all passages being short and easy to comprehend. Most questions were direct inference or vocabulary-based.
This section was again easy and well-balanced. The questions were based on contemporary topics and some static GK from history and governance.
Legal Reasoning continued to be the most scoring section in CLAT 2025. Most passages tested the conceptual understanding of basic principles and recent legal updates.
The Logical Reasoning section was moderate, with a few tricky inference questions. One passage on circular reasoning was slightly challenging.
Quant was moderate and lengthy, but solvable with logical thinking. The sets were calculation-heavy, and one new format appeared this year.
CLAT Exam Analysis 2024
Overall, the CLAT 2024 paper was termed as easy on difficulty level with moderate length. CLAT 2024 paper, although expected, was termed easier than its predecessors. However, candidates should go through the detailed CLAT 2024 exam analysis to get a brief overview of the test, calculate their expected score, and plan their options accordingly.
With every easy paper, the cut-offs are expected to be on the higher side. The top 3 NLUs had a cut-off of around 95-100. Mid-level NLUs are expected around 80-90.
CLAT 2024 Overview
Given below is the section-wise breakup of the paper, the ideal attempts, and the good score:
|
Section |
Ideal Attempt |
Good score |
No. of Qs. |
|
Reading Comprehension |
20-23 |
20-21 |
24 |
|
GK, including Current Affairs |
25-26 |
23-25 |
28 |
|
Legal Reasoning |
28-30 |
25-26 |
32 |
|
Logical Reasoning |
20-21 |
19-20 |
24 |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
10-11 |
9-10 |
12 |
CLAT Exam Analysis 2023
The CLAT 2023 was of a decent difficulty level, having little to no surprise elements in the paper pattern or question topics unlike AILET 2023.
The paper was conducted on December 18, 2022, from 2 to 4 pm. With a very easy paper, the cut-offs were on the higher side. The top 3 NLUs had a cut-off of around 95-100. Mid-level NLUs were around 80-90.
CLAT 2023 Overview
Given below is the section-wise breakup of the paper, the ideal attempts, and the good score:
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
Ideal Attempt |
Good Score |
|
Reading Comprehension |
30 |
25–27 |
19-21 |
|
GK, including Current Affairs |
35 |
20-21 |
14-15 |
|
Legal Reasoning |
40 |
35-37 |
31-32 |
|
Logical Reasoning |
30 |
26-27 |
19-21 |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
15 |
7-9 |
6-7 |
CLAT Exam Analysis 2022
CLAT 2022 was conducted on June 19, 2022. It was the last time that the CLAT exam took place in mid-year.
Overall, the paper was termed as moderately difficult and extremely lengthy. Compared to the previous year’s paper, it was lengthier and moderately difficult. 2020 was the beginning of the new era of the CLAT 2.0 paper pattern. That year’s paper, although expected, was termed as tougher than its predecessors.
CLAT 2022 Overview
Given below is the section-wise breakup of the paper, the ideal attempts, and the good score:
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
Ideal Attempt |
Good Score |
|
Reading Comprehension |
30 |
25-26 |
21-22 |
|
GK, including Current Affairs |
35 |
30-31 |
25-26 |
|
Legal Reasoning |
40 |
33-34 |
28-30 |
|
Logical Reasoning |
30 |
22-25 |
16-18 |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
15 |
8-10 |
8-9 |
CLAT Exam Analysis 2021
CLAT 2021 was conducted on July 23, 2021.
Overall, the paper was termed as moderately difficult and extremely lengthy. Compared to the previous year’s paper, it was lengthier and moderately difficult.
CLAT 2021 Overview
Given below is the section-wise breakup of the paper, the ideal attempts, and the good score:
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
Ideal Attempt |
Good Score |
Level of Difficulty |
|
Reading Comprehension |
30 |
25-26 |
24+ |
Easy-Medium |
|
GK, including Current Affairs |
35 |
30-31 |
25+ |
Difficult |
|
Legal Reasoning |
40 |
34-35 |
31+ |
Moderate |
|
Logical Reasoning |
30 |
25-26 |
21+ |
Easy-Moderate |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
15 |
7-8 |
8+ |
Easy-Moderate |
|
Total |
150 |
119-120 |
100+ |
Moderate |
CLAT Exam Analysis 2020
CLAT 2020 became the big bad and the most awaited entrance exam of 2020 because of the COVID-19 crisis. The exam was held on September 28, 2020, in online CBT mode across various centers in India.
The paper was lengthy but moderately easy. It was a different era for the CLAT exam so it couldn’t be compared to the past year's papers. But one thing was common. Like previous online CLAT exams, there were a few centers where the students faced technical issues.
CLAT 2020 Overview
Given below is the section-wise breakup of the paper, the ideal attempts, and the good score:
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
Ideal Attempts |
Good Score |
|
Reading Comprehension |
30 |
27-28 |
25+ |
|
GK, including Current Affairs |
36 |
29-30 |
20+ |
|
Legal Reasoning |
39 |
34-35 |
28+ |
|
Logical Reasoning |
30 |
25-27 |
22+ |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
15 |
7-8 |
8+ |