Exam prep·India· 6 min read

CLAT Eligibility and Exam Pattern Explained

What the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is, who can apply, the subject areas it tests, and how the paper is structured — with a reminder to confirm current details on the official source.

What CLAT is and who conducts it

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national entrance test for admission to law programmes at most of India's National Law Universities (NLUs). It is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities and is used for both the five-year integrated undergraduate law degree (taken after Class 12) and the postgraduate LLM.

A strong CLAT score is the main gateway to the NLUs, and many other law schools also accept CLAT scores for their own admissions.

Who can apply (eligibility)

For the undergraduate (UG) programme, candidates who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 (or an equivalent) are generally eligible, subject to a minimum-marks requirement that differs by category. For the postgraduate LLM, an LLB (or equivalent) degree is required.

The exact minimum percentage, category relaxations, and any other conditions are fixed in the official notification each year and can change, so confirm the current eligibility on the Consortium's official website before you apply.

What the exam tests (pattern)

The UG paper is comprehension-based and objective (multiple-choice), drawing questions from five areas, with negative marking for wrong answers. The PG (LLM) paper focuses on law subjects.

The exact number of questions, total marks, time limit, and marking scheme are set in the official notification for each cycle, so always check the latest pattern on the official source rather than older guides.

English Language
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
Legal Reasoning
Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Techniques

How to use this for preparation

Because CLAT rewards reading and reasoning, regular practice with comprehension passages, legal-reasoning sets, and current-affairs reading helps more than rote learning. Start from the official notification so you prepare for the current pattern, and track the official timeline for registration and the test date.

Frequently asked questions

Who conducts CLAT?

CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. Most NLUs use it for admission, with the notable exception of National Law University, Delhi, which conducts its own test (AILET).

What subjects does CLAT test?

The undergraduate paper covers English, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques, in a comprehension-based format.

Does CLAT have negative marking?

Yes, CLAT applies negative marking for incorrect answers. The exact marks awarded and deducted are stated in the official notification each year — verify the current scheme on the Consortium's official site.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Consortium of National Law Universities — official CLAT site.

Last verified: 2026-06-03.