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Updated By Ankita Jha on 07 Dec, 2025 10:47
CLAT exam pattern 2026 indicates the format of the test, number of sections, total marks, etc. For comprehensive preparation, aspirants must follow the CLAT exam pattern along with the syllabus.
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CLAT 2026 exam pattern indicates the structure of the test, marking scheme, duration, sections included, etc. If you are preparing for CLAT 2026, then you must be familiar with CLAT exam pattern 2026 for effective preparation. Along with it, they must know CLAT syllabus 2026 for a clear picture of which subjects they need to study and what are the major topics. Instead of evaluating a candidate's past legal knowledge, CLAT UG exam is intended to assess their aptitude for legal study. Through objective-style questions, the offline (pen-and-paper) test assesses general awareness, comprehension abilities, and analytical thinking. English Language, Current Affairs (including General Knowledge), Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques are the paper's five main components. In evaluating a student's reading, reasoning, and problem-solving skills, each part has a distinct function.
As per CLAT exam pattern, the exam duration is of two hours (120 minutes) in total and consists of 120 multiple-choice questions. Each question is worth one mark, and each wrong response is worth 0.25 points. In line with the abilities needed for success in legal studies and practice, the comprehension-based pattern that has been implemented in recent years places a strong emphasis on reading proficiency, critical thinking, and contextual awareness. Check out the below sections to learn about the CLAT 2026 exam pattern details.
Check the table given below to know the basic details of the CLAT 2026 exam pattern. The highlights of CLAT exam pattern have been provided here.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Offline |
Duration | 2 Hours |
Language | English |
Type of Questions | UG: Multiple Type Questions (MCQs) PG: Multiple Type Questions (MCQs) & Subjective |
Number of Questions | CLAT UG - 120 CLAT PG - 120 |
Marking Scheme | For every correct answer: +1 For every incorrect answer: -0.25 For every unattempted question: 0 |
Total Marks | CLAT UG - 120 marks CLAT PG - 120 marks |
Below we have listed the new exam pattern for CLAT UG 2026 -
These questions will be divided into the five subjects listed below.
The PG-CLAT 2026 will emphazie on students' comprehension abilities. It will last 120 minutes and consist of one section. Check out the details here -
As per the CLAT exam pattern 2026, the section-wise CLAT 2026 weightage has been updated below.
CLAT UG 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage
Section | Weightage |
|---|---|
English Language | 22 - 26 questions or 20% of the paper roughly |
Legal Reasoning | 28-32 questions or 25% of the paper roughly |
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 28-32 questions or 25% of the paper roughly |
Logical Reasoning | 22 - 26 questions or 20% of the paper roughly |
Quantitative Techniques | 10 - 14 questions or 10% of the paper roughly |
CLAT PG 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage
Section | Weightage |
|---|---|
Constitutional Law | 60 questions, or 50% of the paper |
Other subjects of law such as Torts, Contract, International Law, Criminal Law, IPR and Jurisprudence | 60 questions, or 50% of the paper |
Candidates must prepare for CLAT 2026 keeping in mind the latest CLAT exam pattern 2026 and marking scheme along with the syllabus.
Response | Marks (per Question) |
|---|---|
Correct Answer for MCQs | + 1 Marks |
Incorrect Answer | - 0.25 Mark |
Unanswered/ Unattempted Question | 0 Mark |
To get well-versed with the CLAT exam pattern, interested applicants must also practice the CLAT mock test and CLAT previous years questions.
Here are some key features related to the CLAT exam pattern 2026 that will help the candidates in their preparation journey -
We have provided the section-wise detailed CLAT syllabus 2026 (for UG) below -
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for English Language
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Current Affairs and General Knowledge
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Legal Reasoning
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Logical Reasoning
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Quantitative Techniques
Discover the list of CLAT books 2026 provided below subject-wise -
CLAT Books 2026 for the English Language
Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning by RS Agarwal | Objective General English (English) by RS Aggarwal |
|---|---|
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis | High School English Grammar & Composition (English) by P C Wren, H Martin |
CLAT Books 2026 for General Knowledge and Current Affairs
Manorama Yearbook (English) | Lucents General Knowledge (English) |
|---|---|
Pratiyogita Darpan | Competition Review Yearbook |
CLAT Books 2026 for Legal Aptitude
Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning: For CLAT and LLB Entrance Examinations (English) by Pearson | Objective Legal Aptitude by RS Aggarwal |
|---|---|
Legal Aptitude and Legal Reasoning by A P Bhardwaj | |
CLAT Books 2026 for Quantitative Techniques
Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning (English) by RS Aggarwal | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations (English) by Pearson |
|---|---|
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Arihant | S Chand’s 30 Days Wonder for Maths |
CLAT Books 2026 for Logical Reasoning
A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal | Quantitative Aptitude ebook (All Parts Solved) by R S Agarwal |
|---|---|
Analytical Reasoning (English) by M K Pandey | Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal |
Some additional books for CLAT 2026 preparation -
Also Read:
| CLAT 2026 Admit Card | CLAT 2026 Eligibility |
|---|---|
| CLAT Sample Papers | CLAT 2026 Exam Centres |
| CLAT 2026 Important Dates | CLAT 2026 Coaching Institutes |
Want to know more about CLAT
The Quantitative Techniques section includes elementary-level (Class X) math questions, often presented through data interpretation, graphs, and short passages.
Yes. Most questions in CLAT UG are comprehension-based, requiring candidates to read passages and answer questions that test reasoning and interpretation skills.
+1 mark for every correct answer
–0.25 mark for every incorrect answer
0 mark for unattempted questions
The total duration of the exam is 2 hours (120 minutes) for both UG (LL.B.) and PG (LL.M.) programmes.
The CLAT exam pattern is issued by the Consortium of NLUs. Candidates have to visit the official website to check the details of the exam pattern.
Knowing the CLAT exam pattern is important as it will provide insights into the structure of the examination, marking scheme, number of sections included, overall marks, question type etc. For effective preparation, aspirants must have a clear idea of the pattern.
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