The Common Law Admission Test is a highly challenging and competitive examination. Starting your journey early can be very beneficial in the long run. Preparing yourself from standard 11 will allow you to build a strong foundation in every subject. This gives you a significant advantage allowing you to master the basics and advance skills required for every subject. This blog brings a comprehensive guide including effective strategies, important resources, and other tips for the candidates aspiring to clear the Common Law Admission Test from early classes itself without damaging their school commitments.
CLAT 2026 Examination Structure
The Common Law Admission Test primarily assesses the candidates on five main sections. The questions across these sections are designed in a way to not only test the candidates knowledge but also how quickly and accurately they can answer the questions within the time limit given. The details and pattern for the examination is given below:
| Structure | Details |
| Total Number of Questions | 120 Questions |
| Total Time | 120 minutes/ 2 hours |
| Mode of Examination. | Offline/Pen-Paper Based |
| Sections Involved | English, Current Affairs & General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques. |
- Candidates must understand the examination before deciding to prepare for it because knowing the structure and importance of each section will help draft a well-targeted preparation plan.
Why Start Early for CLAT 2026?
Starting early can always give you an extra edge in the CLAT Examination. There are multiple benefits to starting early mentioned below:
- There is ample amount of time until the examination. You can easily give yourself an in-depth understanding of the concepts over time.
- You can have a balanced approach towards your CLAT Preparation and school studies. You can easily allocate weekdays to your school and weekends to your CLAT preparation without hampering each other.
- Early exposure to CLAT preparation will reduce exam stress and anxiety and build your confidence over time.
Preparation Strategy
Dividing your preparation strategy into phases can be very beneficial in the long run. This will not seem tiring to you and you will easily be able to focus for long hours. Check out below the phase wise preparation strategy for a better understanding:
Phase 1: Foundation Building
- Familiarize yourself with the CLAT examination pattern and Structure. Understanding the pattern will help build you a better preparation strategy.
- Develop reading habits from the beginning of your preparation. Regularly read newspapers, magazines and editorials to improve your comprehension skills.
- Recapitulate the fundamentals of mathematics. This will help you ace the Quantitative Techniques section as it comprises high school mathematics.
- Solve analytical and logical questions to boost your analytical thinking.
Phase 2: Conceptual Clarity
- After clearing your basics dive into legal reasoning and logical reasoning questions. Study the important legal principles of the constitution.
- Keep giving regular mock tests. Always analyse your weak points after every mock test and improve them with time.
- Learn time-management skills with time. Allocate specific time to solve each section. Increase your speed and accuracy with each session.
Points to Remember While Your Preparation
Starting early can be tiring in the long run as a result candidates must stay consistent and motivated throughout this journey. Check out below some tips that might be useful while your preparation:
- Stay updated on current affairs. Regularly follow daily newspapers to revise and keep a check on national and international affairs.
- Regularly practice your writing. Improve your articulation skills by including practices such as essay writing and summarization in your preparation.
- Collaborate with your peers. Join study groups for peer knowledge and motivation. This will help build a healthy competition among you and your friends.
- Always seek guidance from trusted seniors and your well wishers. Join a renowned institution or a coaching centre if you need better understanding or are lacking behind.
- Always keep a check on your mental and physical health. A sound mind and body will definitely help you ace the examination.
Resources Needed for CLAT 2026
Clearing the CLAT 2026 Examination requires you to prepare from the right resources. There are a variety of resources available online as well as in stores but you only need a few to prepare correctly. Given below are tried and tested resources essential for an effective preparation:
| Resources | What to read? |
| Books | Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by A.P. Bhardwaj Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey |
| Newspapers and Editorials | The Hindu The Indian Express Frontline LiveMint |
| Online Resources | iQuanta Online Coaching |
FAQs
No, the earlier a candidate starts the stronger foundation they will have in each section. Starting early gives you a headstart and doesn’t build up pressure on you in the long run and you can easily allocate enough time for every section.
No, it is not at all necessary to join a coaching centre you are not willing too. Although candidates wish they can enhance their preparation by acquiring all the necessary preparation resources such as books and mock tests papers from renowned institutions such as iQuanta.
That’s a question asked by every beginner. Candidates must integrate their CLAT preparation smartly with their school priorities. Allocate the weekdays for school studies and prepare for your CLAT Examination on the weekends.
Candidates should start focusing with the English Language section and Current Affairs as this will help build a strong foundation in reading and comprehension skills in the long run, also revising the current affairs initially will give you enough time to prepare for it until examination.
Yes, Daily Newspapers and Editorials are extremely beneficial resources with respect to the CLAT Examination. Reading newspapers will help improve the candidate’s reading and evaluation skills as well as provide information on the latest and important current affairs.