By the Online Coaching 4u team
CLAT gets discussed a lot in terms of "how hard is it," but the more useful question before you start preparing is simpler: what, specifically, does it test, and do you actually qualify to sit it? Both answers are more precise than most casual summaries suggest, here's the complete breakdown.
Quick facts
UG-CLAT: 120 questions, 120 marks, 2 hours, offline, +1/-0.25 marking
Highest-weight section: Legal Reasoning (~25% of the paper)
Minimum qualifying marks: 45% in 10+2 (40% for SC/ST) for UG
Upper age limit: None
PG-CLAT: 100 MCQs + 2 subjective questions, 150 marks
Eligibility: who can actually sit for CLAT
| Requirement | UG-CLAT | PG-CLAT |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying exam | 10+2 (any stream) | LL.B. or equivalent |
| Minimum marks, General/OBC | 45% | 50% |
| Minimum marks, SC/ST | 40% | 45% |
| Upper age limit | None | None |
Two details trip people up: first, CLAT doesn't require any specific 12th-grade stream, commerce, science and humanities students all sit the same paper on equal footing, since Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning don't assume subject-specific background. Second, if you're currently in Class 12 and haven't received your results yet, you can still register and appear, you'll just need to submit proof of having cleared the qualifying exam by the time the admitting NLU asks for it.
UG-CLAT exam pattern
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 120 MCQs |
| Total marks | 120 |
| Duration | 2 hours (no sectional time limit) |
| Marking scheme | +1 correct, -0.25 incorrect, 0 unattempted |
| Mode | Offline, pen-and-paper (OMR-based) |
Section-wise breakdown (approximate)
| Section | Approx. questions | Approx. weight |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Reasoning | 28-32 | ~25% |
| Current Affairs incl. GK | 28-32 | ~25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 22-26 | ~20% |
| English incl. Comprehension | 22-26 | ~20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10-14 | ~10% |
These figures are approximate and shift a little from year to year, the Consortium doesn't publish a fixed per-section question count in advance, only the overall total of 120.
What each section actually tests
Legal Reasoning
Passage-based questions built around a legal principle or a recent development, you're then asked to apply that stated principle to a new fact pattern, no outside legal knowledge is assumed. Topics that come up repeatedly: the Constitution (fundamental rights, directive principles, landmark judgments), Law of Torts, Contract Law, Criminal Law, legal maxims, and current developments in Indian law and public policy.
Logical Reasoning
Also passage-based, this section is closer to critical reasoning than to puzzle-style logic, you're asked to identify an argument's premises and conclusion, spot logical flaws, and draw valid inferences. It's not the verbal/non-verbal reasoning format (seating arrangements, blood relations) common in banking or SSC exams.
English including Comprehension
Reading comprehension of moderately complex passages, testing inference, tone, and main-idea identification, alongside grammar and vocabulary-in-context questions drawn from the same passages.
Current Affairs including General Knowledge
National and international events, government schemes, awards, and socio-economic and environmental issues, generally covering the 12 months leading up to the exam, with heavier weight on the more recent months.
Quantitative Techniques
Short passages or datasets (2-3 lines of information) followed by 4-5 questions on percentages, ratios, averages, profit and loss, time and work, and basic data interpretation, class 10-level maths, not the harder quant tested in exams like CAT.
PG-CLAT: a genuinely different exam
If you're applying for an LL.M., don't assume UG-CLAT prep transfers directly, the PG pattern is structurally different: 100 MCQs plus 2 subjective/essay-type questions, for 150 total marks, still within 2 hours. It tests substantive law directly rather than aptitude, covering Constitutional Law, Contract Law, Criminal Law, Torts, Jurisprudence, and specialised areas like Environmental Law, International Law and Intellectual Property Rights.
Where to go next
If you're still working out the calendar, our CLAT 2027 exam date and registration guide has the confirmed dates and fees. Once you know what you're up against, our CLAT cutoff and NLU-wise trends piece shows roughly what score different tiers of NLUs required last cycle, and our CLAT preparation strategy guide turns this syllabus into an actual study plan.
Compare every verified CLAT coaching institute we track on our CLAT coaching listings page.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions does CLAT have, and how much time do I get?
120 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes (2 hours), for the UG-CLAT exam. There's no separate sectional time limit, you can move freely between sections within the two hours.
What is the CLAT marking scheme?
+1 mark for every correct answer, -0.25 for every incorrect answer, and 0 for unattempted questions. There's no bonus for speed beyond simply attempting more correct answers.
Which CLAT section carries the most weight?
Legal Reasoning, at roughly 28-32 questions out of 120 (about a quarter of the paper), followed by Current Affairs including GK and Logical Reasoning at a similar or slightly smaller share. Quantitative Techniques is the smallest section, typically 10-14 questions.
Does CLAT test legal knowledge from law school, or something else?
Neither, really. Legal Reasoning at the UG level tests whether you can apply a given legal principle (stated in the passage itself) to a new fact scenario, it's a reasoning skill, not a memory test of statutes or case law. You don't need any prior legal education.
Is the PG-CLAT pattern the same as UG-CLAT?
No, it's structurally different: 100 MCQs plus 2 subjective/essay-type questions, 150 total marks, still within 2 hours, and it tests substantive law subjects like Constitutional Law, Contract, Criminal Law, Torts, International Law and IPR rather than the UG's aptitude-style sections.
