Updated on Jul 08, 2025
Amrita Das
CLAT Exam Pattern 2026: The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) prescribes the CLAT Exam Pattern 2026. The exam pattern outlines the number of questions, sections, total marks, exam duration, marking scheme, and syllabus. The CLAT UG 2026 will have 120 questions across five sections. The CLAT PG 2026 will also consist of 120 questions, mainly based on law subjects. The CLAT 2026 exam will be conducted in offline mode for a total duration of two hours (120 minutes).
The CLAT 2026 Syllabus will include English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques for UG. The CLAT PG Syllabus 2026 will cover major law subjects taught at the undergraduate level. Candidates should know the CLAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus clearly to prepare better for the exam. Test takers should also practice mock tests and refer to the Best CLAT Books for better preparation. Read further to know more about the CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern in detail.
CLAT UG Exam Pattern 2026
The CLAT UG 2026 will be conducted in offline mode. It will have 120 multiple-choice questions from five sections. Each question carries 1 mark, and there will be negative marking for wrong answers. The exam duration is 2 hours. The CLAT 2026 exam will be held in English language only. Check out the table below for CLAT UG Exam Pattern 2026.
Particulars | Details |
Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
Duration | 2 Hours (120 minutes) |
Total Questions | 120 MCQs |
Total Marks | 120 |
Medium | English |
Sections | English Language, Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques |
Marking Scheme | +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, 0 for unanswered |
CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2026
The CLAT PG 2026 will also be a pen-and-paper-based exam. It includes 120 multiple-choice questions based on core law subjects. Each question is of one mark, with negative marking for incorrect answers. The paper is designed to test candidates’ understanding of major law areas studied during LLB. Check out the following table for CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2026.
Particulars | Details |
Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
Duration | 2 Hours (120 minutes) |
Total Questions | 120 MCQs |
Total Marks | 120 |
Medium | English |
Subjects | Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, Labour Law |
Marking Scheme | +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, 0 for unanswered |
CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme
CLAT follows a uniform marking scheme for both UG and PG exams. Each correct answer will be awarded +1 mark. For every wrong answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted. Unanswered questions carry no mark deduction. Check out the following table for CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme.
CLAT Marking Parameters | Marks Awarded |
Correct Answer | +1 mark |
Incorrect Answer | -0.25 mark |
Unattempted Question | 0 marks |
CLAT 2026 Exam Timings
The CLAT 2026 will be held in the afternoon session. Candidates must follow the bell timings strictly. Candidates’ entry will start at 1:00 pm and the CLAT 2026 exam will begin at2:00 pm. The exam will end at 4:00 pm, and students can leave the centre at 4:15 pm after submitting the OMR sheet to the exam invigilator. Check out the following table for CLAT 2026 Bell Timings.
Particulars | Bell Type | Timings |
Entry inside the examination hall begins | Long bell | 1:00 PM |
Entry of candidates inside the classroom ends | Long bell | 1:30 PM |
Instructions and distribution of envelopes | Short bell | 1:50 PM |
Exam begins | Long bell | 2:00 PM |
Last entry to exam centre | Short bell | 2:15 PM |
Completion of 60 minutes | Short bell | 3:00 PM |
10-minute warning before exam ends | Short bell | 3:50 PM |
Exam ends | Long bell | 4:00 PM |
Candidates allowed to leave the test centre | Short bell | 4:15 PM |
CLAT 2026 Syllabus
The CLAT Syllabus 2026 for UG will test candidates’ language comprehension, general knowledge, legal awareness, logical reasoning, and basic mathematics. Whereas, the CLAT PG Syllabus 2025 will include core law subjects such as Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, and others from LLB courses. Candidates must know the complete syllabus of CLAT 2026 before starting their preparation.
Exam Type | Subjects/Topics |
CLAT UG | English Language, Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques |
CLAT PG | Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, International Law |
Also Check CLAT Syllabus 2026
CLAT 2026 Sectional Weightage
CLAT 2026 will have five sections with varying weightage. Each section will have questions within a definite set range. Current Affairs and Legal Reasoning will have the highest weightage of 25% each. Quantitative Techniques will have the least with 10% weightage. Check out the following table for CLAT 2026 Sectional Weightage.
Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Weightage |
English Language | 22–26 | 22–26 | 20% |
Current Affairs including General Knowledge | 28–32 | 28–32 | 25% |
Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | 28–32 | 25% |
Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | 22–26 | 20% |
Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | 10–14 | 10% |
Total | 120 | 120 | 100% |
CLAT 2026 Best Books
Referring to the best books for CLAT 2026 is important for strong preparation. There are several Best CLAT Books 2026 which cover theory, practice questions, as well as previous years' papers. Check out the following table for some of the CLAT 2026 best books.
CLAT Sections | Recommended Books |
English Language | English Grammar by Wren & Martin
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis |
Current Affairs & GK | General Knowledge 2022-24 by Arihant
Manorama Year Book |
Logical Reasoning | A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal
A New Approach to Verbal & Analytical Reasoning by Arihant |
Legal Reasoning | Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by Pearson
Pearson’s Guide to CLAT |
Quantitative Techniques | NCERT Class 10 Maths Book
Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal |
CLAT 2026 Preparation Tips
For CLAT 2026, candidates require a focused and planned preparation. Candidates must start early and understand the exam pattern and syllabus of CLAT 2026 properly. Use the best books for each section, take mock tests, and analyze performance. Most importantly, time management and accuracy are key to scoring well in the CLAT 2026 exam. Some of the effective CLAT 2026 preparation tips are as given below-
- Understand the syllabus and exam pattern before starting preparation.
- Make a proper timetable and follow it consistently.
- Read newspapers and magazines daily for GK and Current Affairs.
- Practice previous year papers and take regular mock tests.
- Revise key concepts in legal reasoning and mathematics regularly.
- Improve reading speed by reading editorials and opinion columns.
- Maintain good physical and mental health during preparation.
CLAT Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
What is the marking scheme for CLAT 2026?
In CLAT 2026, candidates will be awarded +1 mark for each correct answer. There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer in the CLAT 2026 exam.
Is there negative marking in CLAT 2026?
Yes, there is negative marking in CLAT 2026. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted from the total score in CLAT 2026.
What is the total number of questions in CLAT 2026?
The CLAT 2026 exam will have a total of 120 multiple-choice questions. This is a consistent aspect of the CLAT 2026 exam pattern.
What is the duration of the CLAT 2026 examination?
The CLAT 2026 examination will have a duration of two hours (120 minutes). Proper time management is crucial for successfully completing the CLAT 2026 paper.
What type of questions can be expected in the CLAT 2026 exam?
Most sections in the CLAT 2026 exam, except Quantitative Techniques, will feature passage-based questions. These passages will be followed by multiple-choice questions to assess comprehension and analytical skills in CLAT 2026.
What is the weightage of different sections in CLAT 2026?
In CLAT 2026, Current Affairs including General Knowledge and Legal Reasoning sections hold the maximum weightage (25% each). English Language and Logical Reasoning account for 20% each, while Quantitative Techniques has a 10% weightage in CLAT 2026.
Will there be any changes to the CLAT 2026 exam pattern compared to previous years?
As of now, the CLAT 2026 exam pattern is expected to remain consistent with recent years. Any official changes to the CLAT 2026 pattern will be announced by the Consortium of NLUs.
Are there any specific instructions for attempting the CLAT 2026 exam?
For CLAT 2026, candidates should reach the exam center before reporting time as it's an offline test. It's advisable to read all instructions thoroughly on the CLAT 2026 question paper and admit card to avoid disqualification.
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