Effective Note-Taking Strategies for CLAT 2026 Preparation
The best way to take notes for CLAT is to make sure that you write down in a point wise manner the legal principles and landmark judgements. For the GK section maintain a diary writing down the current events related to social justice, social issues, government schemes etc.
Lee Iacocca says, ““The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen.”. This quote is very true for the CLAT exam. Taking notes for this exam is very crucial because of the extensive syllabus. The best note taking CLAT strategies is to ensure that you write down the important landmark judgements, legal principles, maxims in a point wise manner. From the GK and current affairs section, maintain a dairy or journal writing down in 250 to 280 words the important events related to social issues, social justice, government schemes related to social issues and national and international events. Make sure that you write down these notes in a structured way so that you can recall them quickly while revising. Go through this article to know how effectively you can make notes for yourself for the CLAT exam.
Also Read: Proven Techniques to Build Concentration for Long CLAT Study Sessions
How to Make Notes for CLAT
Follow these tips while making notes.
- Go for subject wise notes - We recommend that you make notes for each subject. Do not compile your notes in one single copy or diary. Make subject wise notes so that you can revise them thoroughly before the exam. You can follow the below table to know how to make your subject wise notes.
Legal Reasoning | GK / Current Events | English | Logical Reasoning & Quantitative Techniques |
Note down important legal principles, landmark cases, and maxims in short, pointwise form. Create a principle + example format for quick application. | Maintain a monthly journal with short bullet points on national & international events, judgments, government schemes, and awards. Use a one-liner format for quick recall. | Write down new vocabulary words, idioms, and grammar rules with usage examples. | Summarize formulas, shortcut methods, and question types with solved examples. |
- Visualise Note Taking - One key point while making your notes is to write it down in such a way that you can visualize it while revising or during your exam. Experts recommend that you make use of mindmaps, flowcharts, tables to shorten your notes thereby mentioning the details that are important only.
Mind Maps | Flowcharts | Tables |
Great for connecting topics (e.g., Constitution Articles → Rights → Important Cases). | Useful for legal principles and their applications. | For quick comparative notes (e.g., Amendments vs. Provisions, International Organizations vs. Headquarters). |
- Use Bullet Points - While making your notes make sure that you write them in bullet form particularly GK and current affairs section. Ensure that you complete your note in 2 to 3 lines for a single topic. Do not unnecessarily exaggerate on one line. Keep it crisp and easy to read and understand. Moreover for the legal reasoning section we can say while you read the editorials from different sources you must restrict your notes to a maximum of 250 to 280 words.
- Keep space for addition - While writing your notes keep space for addition. For example, in the current affairs part, there is a judgement made related to an issue of social justice. Keep some space to add while there is anything new related to that same cause. Instead of making 2 separate notes for one single issue it is better to summarise it in one single note.
- Highlight the Keyword - One technique to retain what you are writing or especially while writing your notes is to highlight the keyword. Underline the key sentence / phrase / keyword so that you remember the gist of the note by just looking at it during your revision phase.
Also Read: Case-Based GK Questions for CLAT: How to Prepare Effectively
How to Retain Your CLAT Notes?
To successfully clear the CLAT exam it is not only about writing your notes but also how much you retain them in the actual exam. You can follow the techniques mentioned below to retain your CLAT notes.
Technique | Details | Why it is Important |
Make Smart Notes Not Lengthy |
| Short, structured notes are easier to recall and revise multiple times. |
Use Active Recall While Studying |
| This strengthens memory retention and builds confidence. |
Repetition Technique |
| This ensures the brain doesn’t forget the information quickly. |
Organize Notes Subject-Wise | Maintain separate notebooks / folders for
| Well-organized notes prevent confusion during revision. |
Use Visual Memory Tools |
| Visual cues make recall faster during exams. |
Link Notes with Practice Questions |
| Notes evolve with practice and become your personalized guide. |
Monthly Consolidation |
|
Also Read: Practical Tips for Balancing Your CLAT 2026 Prep with Extracurricular Activities
Revision is one thing that will either make you or break you. And the best way to revise is to make notes by following CLAT note taking strategies. Make sure that you get all your queries resolved before your exam. You can call us on 1800-572-9877 to speak to our CLAT experts. For getting additional details on CLAT write to us on our Common Application Form .