Mock tests are one of the most crucial parts of the CLAT Examination preparation. Many aspirants struggle to use mock tests effectively during their preparation. Only studying the concepts won’t help you crack the examination; the accurate preparation lies in testing yourself under exam-like conditions. Also, many students believe that only taking more and more mock tests will help them score well on the examination. Still, it is equally important to analyze the mock tests after appearing for it to identify your weak areas. This blog will help the students understand how many mock tests to appear for and how to analyse them after appearing for it. Candidates must understand the importance of mock tests to ace their CLAT Examination.
Importance of Mock tests
Mock tests help simulate the actual examination-like conditions at home during your preparation. Taking regular mock tests will help you boost your confidence and rectify your mistakes from time to time. Given below are some common benefits of taking mock tests:
| Benefits | Importance |
| Examination-like conditions | This helps the candidates understand the question distribution and marking scheme. |
| Time Management Practice | This improves your speed in lengthy sections such as Reasoning & Logical Reasoning |
| Identify your weak areas | This highlights the areas where you need more practice. |
| Reduces Exam Anxiety | Appearing for mock tests will help boost your confidence by creating a real examination experience. |
| Enhances Accuracy | Helps in building accuracy and reduces the chances of mistakes. |
| Improves Logical Thinking | Helps strengthen students’ reasoning and critical thinking abilities. |
How many mock tests should you appear for?
The number of mock tests you should appear for depends on the level of your preparation and comfort level. The recommended number of mock tests are advised below through a table:
| Preparation Stage | Number of Mocks | Frequency |
| Beginner (4-6 months prior to the examination) | 10-15 mocks | 1 per week |
| Intermediate (2-3 months prior to the examination) | 20-30 mocks | 2-3 per week |
| Final Preparation (Last month before the | 40+ mocks | 4-5 per week |
Candidates must focus on increasing the frequency of the mock tests slowly. In the first 2 months, candidates must focus on concept building and attempt at least 1 mock. Slowly increase the number of mocks by 2-3 mocks per week. In the last month, attempt mock papers every day and review them regularly.
How to analyze your mock tests?
Appearing for a mock test only brings you to have the way of your preparation; the real preparation lies in learning and analysing your mistakes and improving your strategy of preparation accordingly. Given below is a step-by-step to analyze your mistakes in the mock tests:
- Step-1: Firstly, check your score and compare them to your previous scores and accordingly set targets to improve your score.
- Identify your strengths and weak areas. Note down the sections where you scored less and lost marks. Focus on improving accuracy rather than focusing on the number of mock tests.
- Review your mistakes and also check whether you committed the mistake due to lack of knowledge, a silly mistake or due to lack of time.
- Reattempt the unsolved or difficult questions. Do not leave such questions as they will help you build concepts.
- Try working on your speed as well as accuracy in solving questions at the same time and develop strategies to answer those questions faster.
- Prepare notes to use for future reference. Write down the formulas, rules and important concepts to look back on after revision.
Strategy to improve your score using mock tests?
Every section of the Common Law Admission Test requires a different approach to solving. Given below is a section-wise strategy for each section to maximise your score.
| Section | Strategy |
| English Language | Always check your speed while solving the comprehensions in the English Language section. The comprehensions are generally long and take a long time to solve. Identify your vocabulary and grammatical errors and revise them regularly. |
| Current Affairs and General Knowledge | Track down the topics you tend to miss out on frequently. For instance, keep yourself updated with national and international affairs. Prepare a list of topics that are repeatedly asked in the examination. Revise static general knowledge using short notes which you can prepare early. |
| Logical Reasoning | Identify the questions that take long to solve in this section. Develop shortcut techniques and practice them to solve syllogism and critical reasoning questions. |
| Legal Reasoning | Revise the legal principles and fundamental laws regularly to keep checking that you are not misinterpreting the principles. Keep track of time while attempting lengthy passages. Improve your elimination techniques in case-based problems. |
| Quantitative Techniques | This section involves problems from elementary mathematics, so you need to identify calculation mistakes and improve your solving speed. Prioritize the data interpretation problems as they are easier to solve and understand and are purely arithmetic. Focus on improving your accuracy ultimately. |
Toppers Strategy: Dedicate 2-3 days of your preparation on improving your weak areas per week.
FAQs
Ideally, a candidate must appear for at least 30-40 mock tests before taking the actual examination. This will boost your confidence and focus.
Candidates must start appearing for mock tests 3-4 months before the examination and gradually increase their frequency.
Mock tests help create examination-like conditions at home. This helps build the candidates’ confidence and analyse their weak areas before the examination, and also improve their accuracy.
Both the mock tests have their benefits; for instance, full-length mock tests help improve time management, and sectional mock tests help improve specific sections. Candidates can appear for any type of mock test according to their needs.
No, this is not always true. Some of the mock tests might seem easy to the candidates, while some may be harder than the actual examination. Focus on improving your accuracy rather than looking at the number of mock tests.