How to Prepare for CLAT 2024?

Updated on 22nd June 2023 | 11:11 am | #CLATprep

Cracking CLAT is the most cherished dream for most budding lawyers. “How to prepare for CLAT” is one question every candidate asks. Scoring well in CLAT is as necessary as it gets to get a law degree from an NLU, or, the topmost institutions in India for law. It is never too early to start preparing and creating your own strategy for getting the highest possible scores.

Someone looking at a successful career in law should know about how crucial NLUs can be in their professional journey, involving everything from packages worth 18LPA+ to getting a personal holistic development.

To achieve this, one must take entrance tests like CLAT and AILET, which are the only gateway to NLUs. This article talks about shaping one's preparation for CLAT 2024.

Note: CLAT 2023’s pattern has been changed. Unlike past years, this year the paper will comprise 120 questions.

You must change your preparation strategy, and get your hands on the latest copies of preparation material including mock tests. Although the syllabus and question paper format are expected to stay the same, it is recommended that you speak to CLAT mentors immediately.

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Preparation tips that are a must for every CLAT aspirant

In discovering the perfect answer to "How to prepare for CLAT", let's start with some preparation tips by our CLAT experts:

  • Prepare a monthly and weekly timetable and have the syllabus handy.
  • Make sure to cover all the topics and concepts right on time and revise them at frequent intervals.
  • Write mock tests and practice tests frequently and analyze the tests taken to recognize the weak areas, and work towards improving them.
  • Do not make assumptions while attempting the questions in actual CLAT as for every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted.

CLAT 2024: Exam Syllabus

Following the CLAT syllabus is crucial to the preparation as it

Sections

Topics

English

Comprehension passages, Grammar, word meanings, incorrect/correct sentences

Mathematics

Algebra, profit and loss, time and work, average, speed and distance, permutation-combination and Venn diagrams, statistical estimation, Mensuration

General Knowledge & Current Affairs

Static general knowledge including History, Polity, Geography, Environment, etc.

Current affairs- national of national and international importance, sports, new appointments, awards, honors, etc.

Logical Reasoning

Logical and Analytical reasoning skills

Legal Aptitude

Study of law, Research aptitude, Problem-solving ability, Questions based on hypothetical situations, and Important court decisions

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CLAT 2024: Preparation Plan

#1 Know the marking scheme

It is imperative that you know the marking scheme. You should know which section would be the most suitable one for you to fetch the marks needed to crack CLAT.

#2 Build a Strong Conceptual Understanding

For an exam as demanding as CLAT, you need to have a strong conceptual understanding. Brush up your basics and revise important concepts frequently to develop a good hold over concepts asked in CLAT.

# 3 Practice and analyze

Once the fundamentals are clear, it is important to write the practice test on the very same day for reinforcement of the concept. It will strengthen your conceptual understanding and allow you to assess your weak areas.

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CLAT 2024: Section-wise Preparation Tips

Mathematics

For this section, Practice! Practice! and practice! The more you practice, the more equipped you are. Revision of areas you are weak in helps too. These techniques will help you in building accuracy and keep up with the time-bound exam.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Awareness play a key role in this section. One must make his/ her habit of reading newspapers and watching the news daily. Basic knowledge of history, geography, and science will be preferred as a great advantage. Free news portals including the Hindu are sufficient sources for current affairs.

Legal Reasoning

To ace CLAT 2024, you must focus specifically on static and current legal issues, landmark judgments, and important cases from the last year. It helps significantly in understanding the passages faster. Read about all the new amendments and enactments done in both monsoon and winter sessions of the parliament along with recent contemporary issues. There might be questions in cases where you are not left with enough time to read and understand the passage. Having prior knowledge in such instances is of great help. Work on vocabulary comprising legal jargon, legal terms, foreign phrases, and maxims. Lookup for a term if you do not understand the meaning, and read it repeatedly.

English Language

For this part, it is necessary to read as much as possible. Reading the newspaper and practicing comprehension passages will increase your answering speed. Solve the previous year's question papers. Take online mock tests and check your performance.

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Books for CLAT 2024 Preparation

In order 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 2024, including

  • Guides to the question paper and sample questions;
  • Model question papers; and
  • Instructional materials and exercises for each of the subjects that the UG-CLAT 2024 co

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

Section-wise booklist for CLAT preparation

Sections

Books

English Language

High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin

English is Easy by Chetan Anand Singh

Objective General English by RS Aggarwal

Barron's Pocket Guide to Vocabulary

Legal Reasoning

Universal's CLAT Guide

Legal Awareness and Legal Aptitude by AP Bhardwaj

LexisNexis Butterworths

Bare Acts of the Indian Constitution

Mathematics

Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal

Class 10th NCERT Textbook

Logical reasoning

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal

Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey

Analytical and Logical Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal

General Knowledge & Current Affairs

Pearson General Knowledge Manual

Lucent’s General Knowledge

Manorama Year Book

India Year Book

Competition Success Review

The Hindu Newspaper

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Frequently Asked Questions

CLAT 2024 will be held on 3 December 2023.

CLAT is an offline MCQ-based paper that happens annually.

The one-time application fee which is non-refundable for CLAT 2024 is:

  • INR 4,000 for General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI candidates.
  • INR 3,500 for SC/ST/BPL candidates.

Students from any board or stream can take the test if they are currently in class 12, or have passed out already.

The paper is conducted only in the English language.