How to Start Preparing for CLAT – Class 11th, Class 12th & Droppers

Common Law Admission Test

Last Date to Apply
31st October, 2025

Nirek Rishi
Nirek Rishi

Table of Content

The CLAT 2026 examination is set to take place on 7th December 2025. The exam is highly competitive and helps students get into some of the best law colleges in India. Students can start preparing for the exam irrespective of where they are currently in their education journey. This article highlights some useful tips for students starting their preparation process for the CLAT exam, whether they are in class 11th, class 12th or even hoping to retake the exam this year. Following these tips can help students have a good launching point in their preparation process for the exam and can help boost their score.

Is the CLAT Exam Preparation Difficult While in Class 11th and 12th?

At a high-school level, the CLAT examination can be quite difficult for students to prepare for, especially when starting. However, with enough time and practice, students will be able to thoroughly prepare for the examination, enough so to be able to score well on the exam. The syllabus can be vast but with thorough preparation, students can surely crack it.

The CLAT examination is considered to be a difficult examination for students to clear in general, especially if they wish to pursue their law programs from some of the top law-schools in the country. Balancing this preparation with class 11th studies, class 12th board preparations or other entrance exams can be difficult but not impossible for students to be able to do.

CLAT Preparation Tips for Class 11th, 12th and Droppers

Provided below are some preparation tips for students who are beginning their preparation process for the CLAT exam. Following these tips can be very useful for students starting out their preparation for the examination and can help them maximize their scores on the CLAT exam.

The preparation tips for CLAT are as follows:

Be Thorough With the Syllabus

This is the first and most important step for students to take. Students should note down the syllabus for each topic or section of the CLAT exam. Doing so can help students know how much ground they will be needing to cover when preparing for the CLAT exam. Being thorough with the exam syllabus and pattern for CLAT can ensure students strategize their time and energy for preparing for the exam accordingly.

The syllabus for the CLAT UG is as follows for students’ reference:

Section

Topics

English

  • Passage Summary
  • Passage Words and Phrases
  • Passage Arguments and Comparison
  • Reading Comprehension

Legal Reasoning

  • Legal Matters
  • Public Policy
  • Moral Philosophy
  • Law Applications
  • Law Identification

Logical Reasoning

  • Argument Recognition
  • Strengthening or Weakening of Conclusions
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Relations and Analogies
  • Contradiction Analysis
  • Effectiveness of Arguments
  • Passage Inferences

Current Affairs

  • International Affairs
  • Legal Affairs
  • Public Policies
  • International and National History
  • Contemporary Events of Significance
  • Arts
  • Culture

Quantitative Aptitude

  • Solving Numerical Info Based on Passages
  • Algebra
  • Ratio and Proportion
  • Mensuration
  • Trigonometry
  • Statistical Information
  • Probability

Students Can Also Read: Subjects in CLAT UG and PG

Set Goals

For each study session of either the CLAT exam or other studies, it can be very useful for students to keep goals. Doing so can help organize their studying sessions a lot better. This can also be very useful in keeping students motivated while preparing for CLAT as well as other examinations. Students can keep daily, weekly and monthly goals to assess and analyze their overall progress. Keeping track of their progress across longer periods of times and helping students be confident and improve their performance on the CLAT examination.

Structured and Balanced Study Sessions

It is crucial that students set realistic plans to balance their study sessions between the CLAT exam and other study-obligations. It can be very beneficial where students set certain parts of their day for their CLAT preparation and others for their exams. For instance, students can dedicate 2 hours of a particular day to preparing for the Legal Reasoning sections and 2 hours in a day dedicated to their school or other exam preparations. Creating a timetable for the week or even month can be especially helpful in this balancing process for their overall preparation.

Familiarize Themselves With Basic Legal Terms

This is especially useful for students starting out. While students do not need to be thorough with every aspect of the law or hail from a legal background to prepare for the CLAT UG examination, familiarizing themselves with basic legal terms can be especially helpful. Students who have a basic understanding of beginner-level terms will be able to comprehend and answer the legal passages of the section a lot quicker. This is especially useful for the Legal Reasoning and English sections of the CLAT examination.

Practice Reading

When starting preparation for the CLAT exam, especially when in class 11th, it can be beneficial for students to practice their reading through legal articles, journals and newspapers. This can be crucial in students developing their reading abilities and speed. This also helps students be up-to-date with current affairs a lot more efficiently. Having these skills for the CLAT exam can be instrumental in improving their performance, especially in the sections of English, Current Affairs and Legal Reasoning.

CLAT UG Eligibility

Students looking to appear for the CLAT UG examination must ensure they meet the required eligibility criteria. Not doing so will not allow students to be able to sit for the CLAT UG examination. Only upon meeting the eligibility criteria will students be allowed to sit for the CLAT exam and enroll in the relevant law courses.

The eligibility criteria is as follows:

Law Program

Criteria

BA LLB

  • Students must have completed their 10+2 from a recognized board and/or institution.

BBA LLB

  • All students must have completed their class 10+2 from a recognized board.
  • All students must have attained a minimum 45% score on their board examinations.
  • All subjects taken by students in their class 12th must have been passed.

BTech LLB

  • All students must have passed their class 10+2 from a recognized board or institution.
  • Students must have completed their 10+2 from the Science stream while having subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.

BCom LLB

  • All students must have completed their class 10+2 from a recognized board.
  • All students must have attained a minimum 45% score on their board examinations.
  • All subjects taken by students in their class 12th must have been passed.

BSc LLB

  • Students must have completed their 10+2 from the Science stream while having subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.
  • All students must have completed their class 10+2 from a recognized board.
  • All students must have attained a minimum 45% score on their board examinations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the CLAT 2026 exam happening?

The CLAT 2026 examination is scheduled for 7th December 2025. It is a highly competitive test that helps students get into top law colleges across India. You can start preparing for it whenever you are ready, regardless of your current class.

Is CLAT exam preparation hard for Class 11th and 12th students?

Yes, CLAT preparation can be challenging for high school students, especially at the beginning, due to the vast syllabus and the need to balance it with school studies. However, with consistent effort, smart planning, and enough practice, it is definitely possible to score well and crack the exam.

What are the best CLAT preparation tips for students starting out?

To start your CLAT preparation effectively, first thoroughly understand the syllabus. Set clear daily, weekly, and monthly goals to stay organized and motivated. Create a balanced study timetable, dedicating specific time slots for CLAT and your school studies. Also, begin familiarizing yourself with basic legal terms.

What topics are covered in the CLAT UG exam syllabus?

The CLAT UG syllabus includes English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs, and Quantitative Aptitude. English tests comprehension and vocabulary. Legal Reasoning involves applying principles. Logical Reasoning focuses on arguments and patterns. Current Affairs covers national and international events. Quantitative Aptitude tests basic math from passages.

How can I balance CLAT preparation with my school studies?

It is crucial to set a realistic timetable. Dedicate specific hours of your day or week for CLAT preparation and other hours for your school work. For instance, you could spend two hours on Legal Reasoning and then two hours on your school subjects. This structured approach helps manage both effectively without feeling overwhelmed.

Is it important to learn basic legal terms for CLAT UG?

Yes, familiarizing yourself with basic legal terms is very helpful for the CLAT UG exam, especially for the Legal Reasoning and English sections. You do not need a deep legal background, but understanding fundamental terms will help you comprehend passages and answer questions much faster and more accurately.

What are the eligibility criteria for the CLAT UG examination?

To be eligible for CLAT UG, you must have completed your 10+2 from a recognized board. For most programs like BA LLB and BCom LLB, you need a minimum of 45% in your board exams and must have passed all subjects in Class 12. Specific science streams may be required for BTech LLB or BSc LLB programs.

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