Introduction to CLAT Preparation

CLAT preparation becomes crucial for someone targeting top NLUs, passing such top-tier institutes involves everything from packages worth 18LPA+ to getting personal, holistic development.

This article talks about shaping one's CLAT 2026 preparation, which is the gateway to most NLUs.

First, you must have a preparation strategy and get your hands on the latest copies of preparation material, including mock tests. Have a plan and stick to it.

Although the syllabus and question paper style are likely to remain the same, it is strongly advised that you speak with CLAT mentors as soon as possible.

Note: The section-wise allocation of questions has remained the same for CLAT 2024 and CLAT 2025.


Section-Wise Syllabus for CLAT Prep

Understanding the syllabus becomes primary to the formulation of a CLAT preparation plan. Following the CLAT syllabus is crucial to the preparation. Find all the important topics for the sections below.

Syllabus for CLAT Preparation

Section

Details

English Language

- Passages (~450 words) from fiction/non-fiction

- Designed for a 12th-grade reading level


You’ll be asked to:

• Identify main points and arguments

• Draw inferences and conclusions

• Summarise content

• Compare/contrast arguments

• Understand contextual meanings of words

Current Affairs including General Knowledge

- Passages (~450 words) from news or journalistic sources


You’ll be tested on:

• Awareness of current and global events

• Arts and culture

• International affairs

• Historical events with present significance

Legal Reasoning

- Passages (~450 words) based on legal/public policy/moral scenarios


You’ll be expected to:

• Identify legal rules and principles

• Apply them to given scenarios

• Understand the impact of changes in rules

(No prior law knowledge needed)

Logical Reasoning

- Short passages (~450 words)


You’ll need to:

• Identify arguments, premises, and conclusions

• Analyse patterns of reasoning

• Strengthen/weaken arguments

• Infer conclusions and apply analogies

Quantitative Techniques

- Based on facts, data sets, or textual numericals


You’ll be tested on:

• Interpretation and manipulation of data

• Applying Class 10 math: ratios, algebra, mensuration, statistics


CLAT 2026 Preparation Plan and Tips

  • Make a monthly and weekly schedule and have the curriculum ready.
  • Make certain that all subjects and ideas are covered on time and that they are reviewed at regular intervals.
  • Write CLAT mock tests and practice tests regularly, then analyze the results to identify and improve weak areas.
  • Make no assumptions when answering questions in CLAT, as each incorrect response will cost you 0.25 points.

Let's start with a generic plan for CLAT preparation from our CLAT specialists to get the right and most trusted solution to "How to Prepare for CLAT".

Phase 1 (Month 1): “CLAT Foundation Fortress”

Goal: Lay a strong foundation in all CLAT sections
Duration: 4 weeks

CLAT preparation foundation

CLAT Sections

Weekly Focus

Resources/Tools

English Language

Basic RC strategies, vocabulary building, practice 1 passage/day

CLAT prep books, Word Power Made Easy

Current Affairs & GK

Daily newspaper (The Hindu / Indian Express), weekly round-ups

CL(LST) GK Compendium

Legal Reasoning

Basics of legal terms, reading comprehension from legal scenarios

CLAT PYQs

Logical Reasoning

Argument structure, assumptions, and inferences

RS Aggarwal, CL(LST) material

Quantitative Techniques

Revise Class 10 math (ratios, %s, mensuration)

CL(LST) QT Booklets

Bonus Tasks

• 1 Mini Mock/week (30 mins each)

• Start Vocabulary Flashcards

• Create error logs

CL(LST) CLAT Test Series

Phase 2 (Month 2): “Build CLAT-Essential Skills”

Goal: Build core competencies with CLAT section-wise problem solving
Duration: 4 weeks

Build skills for CLAT prep

CLAT Section

Weekly Focus

Resources/Tools

English Language

Practice 2 RCs/day, contextual vocab

CL(LST) English Sectional Tests

Current Affairs & GK

Focus on static GK + continue current affairs

CL (LST) GK Compendiums (Manthan & Manthan 2.0)

Legal Reasoning

Case law practice, principle-fact questions

CL (LST) Legal Reasoning Handbook

Logical Reasoning

Critical reasoning, statement-assumption

Practice Sets, LSAT-type RCs

Quantitative Techniques

DI sets, mixed practice sets

PYQ-type problems

Bonus Tasks

• 2 Full Mocks

• Weekly PYQ analysis

• Performance tracker setup(excel sheet)

CL (LST) Dashboard, Excel planner

Phase 3 (Month 3): “CLAT Mock Drill Mode”

Goal: Start full-length, timed CLAT mock practice
Duration: 4 weeks

CLAT Mock Drills

Task

Weekly Goals

Comments

CLAT Full Mocks

2 CLAT mocks/week + (1 AILET mock)

Review thoroughly(Same Excel sheet as before)

English

Advanced inference-based RCs

Focus on accuracy & speed

Legal Reasoning

Daily 2 passages with a timer

Stick to a 35-40 min section time

Logical Reasoning

2 sets of arguments/assumptions per day

Evaluate the time taken

GK & Current Affairs

6-months roundup + tests

Make your own weekly revision notes

QT

10 sets/week, focus on time

Brush up on formulas, shortcuts

Bonus

• 1 Deep analysis session per mock

• Group discussions on GK/legal news(Hindu Analysis are a must)

Join a study group or LST sessions

Phase 4 (Month 4): “CLAT Error Log”

Goal: Fix accuracy, attempt strategies, and time management
Duration: 4 weeks

Review your mistakes

Component

Weekly Focus

CALT Full-Length Mocks

3/week (CLAT & AILET alternated)

Mock Analysis

Redo wrong questions, track time spent per section

Legal Reasoning

Timed principle-fact practice daily

GK

Weekly quiz + mini topic revisions

English

15 RCs/week with summary writing

QT & Logical

Mixed question tests + 3 full CLAT sectionals/week

Bonus Tasks

• Revise from error logs

• Re-attempt tough mocks

• Attend live Bootcamps

Phase 5 (Month 5): “CLAT Revision Rampage”

Goal: Hardcore revision + revisit all CLAT sections + stay exam-ready
Duration: 4 weeks

Revising CLAT concepts

Task Type

Weekly Plan

CLAT Full Mocks

3–4 CLAT mocks/week (alternate difficulty levels)

CLAT PYQs

Solve CLAT PYQs from 2018–2025 again

CLAT Sectional Retake

2 full sectionals of weak areas/week(Decide which is your weak areas based on the excel sheet)

GK & Current Affairs

Revise monthly compendium from May–Oct

Error Log

Re-attempt incorrect questions from all the CLAT mocks

Bonus

• Group Mock Review Sessions

• Time yourself in revision sets

Phase 6 (Month 6): “The Final Lap to CLAT 2026”

Goal: Polishing performance, managing stress, and perfecting strategy
Duration: Final 3 weeks + 1 week for cooldown

Final nail to CLAT prep

Task

CLAT Final Preparation Plan

CLAT Mock Tests

2 mocks in week 1–2, 1 CLAT mock in the final week

Final GK Revision

Self-made notes only + 50 important events list

Legal & RC

1 set/day to stay sharp

Mindset Work

Simulate test-day environment, meditation, and sleep hygiene

Bonus

• Avoid burnout

• Create your “test strategy note.”

Note:

  • This plan is the simplest and honest one. If you want to create one for yourself, get assistance from our counsellor.
  • If you need assistance with the Error logs and how to analyze the Excel sheet, please connect with the counsellor.

CLAT 2026 Section-Wise Preparation Tips

English Language

For the CLAT English Language part, it is necessary to read as much as possible. Follow these steps to make yourself familiar with the section.

  • Reading the newspaper and practicing comprehension passages will help you answer questions faster.
  • Solve the CLAT Previous Year Question Papers to understand the level of difficulty of the section and the exam.
  • Examine your performance by taking online mock tests.

Ways to improve grammar

  • Study the fundamentals of grammar, which you may do even from school-level grammar books, to build your foundation.
  • Grammar and vocabulary are considerably aided by resource books such as Total English and Word Power Made Easy.

Do extensive reading

  • Reading enhances your English skills. To improve your vocabulary, read books, periodicals, newspapers, and novels.
  • You can also utilize tools like Aeon Essay and 3 Quarks. They provide articles and essays written in sophisticated and proficient English, allowing aspirants to improve their reading ability.

Quantitative Techniques

For this section, Practice! Practice! and practice!

The more you practice, the better you will be prepared. Revision of weak topics is also beneficial. These approaches can help you improve your accuracy and stay up with the time constraints of the exam.

The CLAT Quantitative Techniques syllabus includes brief sets of facts, graphs, and other numerical information representations, followed by a sequence of questions.

There are a few key points to remember when preparing for the CLAT Quantitative Techniques section:

Understanding the concept

At the start of your preparation, it is critical to focus on understanding and mastering the numerous concepts in this part. This will serve as a solid basis for the rest of your preparation.

Consistent practice

As you proceed in your preparation, be sure you practice Data Interpretation (DI) sets and math questions on a regular basis. Regular practice will make you feel more at ease and confident when answering the questions in this area.

Understanding the questions

Read how to extract the relevant numerical information, and carefully study and interpret the passages, graphs, or representations. Concentrate on locating relevant data points and correlations. Following these methods will significantly assist you in the real exam segment.

Practice with many examples

Practice with a number of numerical examples and simulated tests to improve your problem-solving abilities. This will expose you to various question styles and assist you in developing effective problem-solving strategies.

Current Affairs including General Knowledge

The Current Affairs, including the General Knowledge section, is critical if you want to score high in CLAT. The questions in this area are intended to assess your understanding of current, historical, or legal events.

The importance of this section stems from the fact that you can save a significant amount of time in this portion, which you can then use in more difficult areas, such as legal aptitude and logical thinking.

Here are some tips to prepare for this section:

  • Make reading the newspaper a regular routine for CLAT General Knowledge (GK) preparation. The Hindu and The Indian Express are both reliable sources.
  • Instead of memorizing dates or occurrences, concentrate on understanding the reasons for them. Try to understand the background and relevance of these issues.
  • Make a list of noteworthy dates, awards, and other important information. These notes will be quite useful during your revision session.
  • Look for monthly topic lists that cover significant topics from reputable sources. These lists may provide extra resources for your research.
  • IAS websites provide reliable and required information on the issues under consideration. This can act as a trusted resource for CLAT preparation.

Legal Reasoning

Legal reasoning is one of the most intensive and important sections of the CLAT exam. One good thing about this section is that it requires close to no prior legal information. Below are some tips to prepare for the legal reasoning section of CLAT.

  • The huge volume of content in this part might make it difficult for applicants to solve at times. This is why increasing your reading speed matters. Relevant books that can help you with just this are given at the end of this post.
  • Aspirants must familiarise themselves with legal ideas and vocabulary often assessed in the exam, in order to prepare for this portion.
  • Work on your vocabulary, which should include legal jargon, legal words, foreign phrases, and maxims. If you don't grasp a phrase, look it up and read it several times.
  • Simply familiarising yourself with the phrases and terminology used in the CLAT test sections can boost your confidence when reading because you'll see the topic isn't entirely foreign.
  • It is not required to memorize or fully grasp these legal principles or maxims.

Logical Reasoning

The ideal strategy to prepare for Logical Reasoning is to first comprehend the principles and reasoning, followed by as many practice problems as possible. It includes topics such as Syllogisms, Blood Relations, Number Series, and Statements and Assumptions.

It is critical to maintain track of time in this section. Time management becomes even more critical while tackling logical reasoning problems, as the section's questions can be complex and time-consuming at times. Some other important tips for logical reasoning preparation are given below.

  • It’s very important to comprehend concepts such as assumptions, conclusions, statement-based question types, strengthen and weaken questions, and others. Take the time to become acquainted with these ideas.
  • Use reliable resources, such as GMAT Club, to practice level 700 CR (Critical Reasoning) problems. These resources can help you comprehend the ideas and improve your score.
  • It is also critical that you master specific shortcuts. Shortcuts include creating a mind map, diagram, and other visual aids. Shortcuts are especially crucial for topics such as Syllogisms and Blood Relations.

Books for CLAT 2026 Preparation

To prepare for any exam, books are the most reliable source. A plethora of books are available in the market for CLAT preparation. The Consortium also publishes various preparatory materials for the UG-CLAT 2026, including

  • Question paper guides and sample questions
  • Model question papers, and
  • Instructional materials and exercises for each of the subjects that the UG-CLAT 2025 contains.

In addition to these, we have suggested section-wise books that will make your CLAT preparation journey easier.


Section-Wise Booklist for CLAT Preparation

Section

Book Title / Material

Publisher / Source

Notes

English Language

CL-LST English Module

Career Launcher (LST)

Focuses on comprehension, vocabulary & grammar with updated RCs

Word Power Made Easy

Norman Lewis

For vocabulary building (use as a supplement)

30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary

Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis

Additional source for contextual vocab

Current Affairs & GK

CL-LST GK Compendium (Monthly)

Career Launcher (LST)

Covers current affairs, important events, art & culture, and international news

Static GK Notes

CL-LST

Comes as part of the main material pack

Manorama Yearbook / Lucent GK (Selective)

Malyala Manorama / Lucent

Only for static GK revision; don’t overdo

Legal Reasoning

CL-LST Legal Reasoning Module

Career Launcher (LST)

Best for principle-fact based questions & case law patterns

Legal Maxims

Career Launcher (LST)

Included in mock packages or crash course

Universal’s Guide to CLAT (Selective Reading)

LexisNexis

Optional – good for additional practice

Logical Reasoning

CL-LST Logical Reasoning Booklet

Career Launcher (LST)

Structured as per CLAT’s passage-based reasoning format

LSAT-style Argument Sets

CL-LST Mock Tests

Useful for higher-order inference training

Quantitative Techniques

CL-LST QT Module

Career Launcher (LST)

Aligned with CLAT’s data-driven math approach

NCERT Class 9 & 10 Math

NCERT

Strong base for QT fundamentals


Free CLAT Preparation Resources by CL-LST

If you’re preparing for CLAT, CL-LST (Career Launcher – Law School Tutorials) offers several free, high-quality resources to support your preparation. These include:

  • Daily Hindu Analysis Sessions on YouTube – Stay updated with current affairs and improve your vocabulary and comprehension through in-depth editorials discussed by CL-LST’s top mentors.
  • Free CLAT Mock Tests – Attempt full-length mock tests with detailed solutions and performance analytics to understand your strengths and areas of improvement.
  • CLAT Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs) – Download past year papers (from 2020 to 2024) in PDF format for free, and familiarize yourself with the pattern and difficulty level of the exam.
  • Strategy Sessions by Expert Mentors – Learn how to structure your preparation, manage time, and approach different sections of the exam effectively through insightful guidance from CLAT experts.

When someone searches for ChatGPT on CLAT preparation, it provides a similar structural analysis of the query.

Suggested Readings