CLAT 2027 Exam Overview

Particulars

Details

Exam Date

December 6, 2026 (Sunday)

Exam Timing

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Conducting Body

Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs)

Exam Mode

Offline (Pen & Paper)

Duration

2 Hours

Total Questions

120

Total Marks

120

Marking Scheme

+1 correct, −0.25 incorrect

For complete details on eligibility, application process, and counselling, refer to the CLAT 2027 page.


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Phase-Wise Study Plan for CLAT 2027

Phase

What It Covers

Phase 1

Building the basics: Understanding how each of the 5 sections works before attempting any mock

Phase 2

Moving to application-level questions and starting sectional tests across all subjects

Phase 3

Full-length mocks every week, with error analysis after each one

Phase 4

Pure revision: No new topics, just consolidating what's already been covered


Phase 1: Foundation Building

The goal in this phase is clarity, not speed. Mock tests should wait until the basics are in place; the focus here is on understanding how each section works and building a solid foundation across all five subjects.

Board overlap: Class 12 English, regardless of stream, is directly useful for CLAT preparation. Keeping up with the school syllabus alongside this phase creates more overlap than most students expect.

English Language

Current Affairs & General Knowledge

Legal Reasoning

Logical Reasoning

Quantitative Techniques


Phase 2: Advanced Concepts & Consistency

Daily CLAT preparation should increase to 3-4 hours from this phase. Sectional tests begin here as well, across all five subjects. Weekend board revision should continue alongside this, at least 1-2 hours regardless of stream, so the board syllabus doesn't feel unfamiliar once board exam season starts.

English Language

Current Affairs & General Knowledge

Legal Reasoning

Logical Reasoning

Quantitative Techniques

By the end of this phase, you should be comfortable attempting sectional tests in all 5 subjects and reviewing your mistakes analytically - not just what went wrong, but why.

Also Check: How to Manage time in CLAT 2027 | CLAT Age Limit 2027


Phase 3: Extensive Practice & Mock Tests

This is the most intensive phase for CLAT. At least one full-length mock test every week with a proper analysis session after every test. On weekends, dedicate time to your board subjects - by the end of this phase, you should have gone through your board syllabus at least once, whatever your stream may be.

Practice Strategy

Section-wise focus:

A mock test you don't analyse is wasted effort; the real learning happens in the review. This is where a structured CLAT Test Series helps, since it comes with proper analysis built in after every test.


Phase 4: Revision & Consolidation

No new topics. No new concepts. Pure revision for CLAT. And since you've been touching your board syllabus throughout your preparation journey, you're not behind. The shift to board preparation after CLAT will feel manageable, not overwhelming.

Smart Revision Time Allocation:

Final Revision Checklist:


Sample Daily Study Routine (Class 12 + CLAT)

Time

Activity

6:00-7:00 AM

Newspaper reading + Vocabulary

School Hours

Board Classes

4:00-5:30 PM

CLAT sectional practice (rotate one section daily)

5:30-6:00 PM

Break

6:00-7:00 PM

Current Affairs / GK reading

7:00-8:30 PM

Board homework or Revision

8:30-9:00 PM

Legal Reasoning or Logical Reasoning practice

Weekends

One full-length mock + Board subject deep revision

Note: This routine is a suggested structure; actual hours will vary based on each student's school schedule, energy levels, and current preparation stage, so it's meant to be adapted, not followed rigidly.


Common Mistakes Class 12 Students Make While Preparing for CLAT

  1. Ignoring board syllabus until CLAT is done: Creates a backlog that turns February-March into panic mode instead of revision.
  2. Skipping mock analysis: Attempting mocks without reviewing them wastes the exercise entirely; the score improvement comes from the review.
  3. Reading current affairs without a fixed source: Random reading across multiple apps and sites leads to shallow recall; one consistent monthly source works better than five inconsistent ones.
  4. Treating Legal Reasoning as memorisation: CLAT tests application of principles to facts, not recall of bare acts.
  5. Missing the registration window: CLAT 2027 registration closes October 31, 2026; last-minute submissions risk technical errors with no correction option after the deadline.

Conclusion

CLAT 2027 and Class 12 boards don't have to compete for the same months. With the exam confirmed for December 6, 2026 and boards following in February-March 2027, the sequence favours students who commit to a phase-wise plan early; CLAT preparation first, boards reinforced weekly alongside it, then a full shift to board revision once CLAT is done.

Suggested readings