Students who took the CLAT 2026 exam are now checking their scores. Many are asking if scoring 70 marks in the exam is enough to get into a good law college. The Consortium of National Law Universities will soon announce the CLAT 2026 Result . Understanding your chances early can help you plan your next steps.
For students in reserved categories like OBC , EWS , SC , and ST , 70 marks can be competitive for getting admission to some National Law Universities (NLUs). However, for general category students, this score might be more useful for getting into other law colleges that accept CLAT scores but are not part of the NLU system. The exact outcome depends on your student category and the specific NLU you wish to join.
Expected Ranks for 70+ Marks in CLAT 2026
A score of 70 marks in CLAT 2026 typically places a candidate in an All India Rank (AIR) range of around 2600 to 8200 . Small changes in marks can lead to significant changes in rank. The table below shows the expected rank range for scores from 70 to 80 marks:
| Marks | Expected Rank (Up To) |
| 70+ | AIR 8200 |
| 70.5+ | AIR 7900 |
| 71+ | AIR 7500 |
| 71.5+ | AIR 7000 |
| 72+ | AIR 6700 |
| 72.5+ | AIR 6300 |
| 73+ | AIR 5900 |
| 73.5+ | AIR 5600 |
| 74+ | AIR 5200 |
| 74.5+ | AIR 4900 |
| 75+ | AIR 4700 |
| 75.5+ | AIR 4490 |
| 76+ | AIR 4150 |
| 76.5+ | AIR 3920 |
| 77+ | AIR 3620 |
| 77.5+ | AIR 3350 |
| 78+ | AIR 3200 |
| 78.5+ | AIR 3020 |
| 79+ | AIR 2850 |
| 79.5+ | AIR 2750 |
| 80+ | AIR 2650 |
Chances for Admission to National Law Universities (NLUs)
Based on past trends, 70 marks is generally not enough for general category students to secure a seat in the top-tier NLUs. These top institutions include names like NLSIU Bangalore , NALSAR Hyderabad , and WBNUJS Kolkata . General category candidates usually need a much higher rank, often below 90 , to get into these premier law schools.
For Reserved Categories:
- OBC and EWS Categories: Students with 70 marks in these categories have good possibilities to secure seats in Tier 2 or Tier 3 NLUs.
- SC and ST Categories: Candidates from these categories have even better chances. A score of 70 marks could potentially help them get into some Tier 1 NLUs.
Last Year's Cutoff Ranks for Top NLUs (General Category)
To better understand the competition, it helps to look at the cutoff ranks from the previous year. The table below shows the Round 1 closing cutoff ranks for the top 5 National Law Universities for general category students:
| Name Of The College | Round 1 Closing Cutoff Rank (General) |
| NLSIU Bangalore | 100 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 150 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 285 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 357 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 376 |
As seen from these numbers, securing a rank within the top few hundreds is essential for general category admission to the best NLUs. For students scoring around 70 marks , who fall into a much higher rank range ( 2600-8200 ), direct admission to these top colleges is challenging for general category.
In summary, whether 70 marks in CLAT 2026 is competitive largely depends on your student category and the specific law college you are targeting. Students should use this information to make informed choices during the upcoming counselling rounds and to shortlist colleges effectively.
