CLAT 2027 Complete Guide: Exam on 6 December 2026, Registration Closing, Eligibility and Preparation

Quick answer

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2027 is the entrance test for undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes at the National Law Universities. The Consortium of NLUs issued the notification on 22 July 2026, and the exam is on Sunday, 6 December 2026, from 2 PM to 4 PM. Registration opened on 3 August 2026 and closes around 31 October 2026, so if you have not registered, check the consortium site today.

Key dates

Who can apply

For the UG programme (five-year integrated law course): A Class 12 pass with the minimum marks set in the notice, from a recognised board.

For the PG programme (LLM): A law degree with the minimum marks set in the notice.

Reserved categories have relaxation in marks and fee, as the notice sets. Check the eligibility section of the official PDF.

Exam pattern

CLAT is an offline, pen-and-paper test in these sections:

• English language
• Current affairs, including general knowledge
• Legal reasoning
• Logical reasoning
• Quantitative techniques

The total marks, the number of questions and the negative marking are set in the notice. The PG exam has its own pattern.

Syllabus

• English: Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and synonym-antonym questions.
• Current affairs: National and international events, legal developments and economic news from the last year.
• Legal reasoning: Principles of law and short case-based questions.
• Logical reasoning: Arguments, syllogisms and puzzles.
• Quantitative techniques: Arithmetic, percentages, ratios and data reading.

Preparation plan

1. Weeks 1 and 2: Build the English base with one passage a day.
2. Weeks 3 and 4: Logical reasoning and quantitative techniques, with 30 questions a day.
3. Weeks 5 and 6: Current affairs and legal reasoning, with a weekly summary.
4. Weeks 7 and 8: Full-length mock papers twice a week, with an error log.
5. Final week: Revise the error log and take one full mock.

Documents to keep ready

• Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets, and the degree for the PG exam
• Date of birth proof
• Category and disability certificates, if claimed
• Photograph and signature in the specified format
• Photo identity proof for the exam centre

Common mistakes

• Missing the registration close. Register before the deadline, since late registration is usually not allowed.
• Ignoring legal reasoning. It is a distinct section and needs practice on principles.
• Skipping the admit card check. Confirm the centre and the time when it is released.

Why law entrance preparation starts early

CLAT is a reading-heavy test. Good performance depends on fast reading, a strong vocabulary and the habit of thinking through a legal principle quickly. Students who start reading daily, even before the notification, have a clear advantage in the English and legal reasoning sections.

A reading routine that works

• Morning: One editorial from a national newspaper, with a note of the main argument.
• Evening: One short passage from a practice set, timed, followed by a review of each answer.
• Weekend: A quick summary of the week's legal and national news.

Legal reasoning in practice

Legal reasoning questions give a short factual situation and a legal principle, and ask whether the outcome follows. Learn the common principles in contracts, torts, constitutional law and criminal law at the basic level. Practise by reading the principle, stating the rule in your own words, and then applying it to the facts.

Mock papers and error logs

Take one full-length paper a week in the last two months, under exam conditions. After each paper, log every wrong answer with the section, the reason and the fix. Review the log before each new paper. This is more useful than attempting many papers without review.

Documents and what to carry

• Printed admit card
• Photo identity proof in the form the notice names
• Photographs, if the admit card asks for them
• Pen and any other item the notice allows

English section: what to practise

The English section tests reading, vocabulary and grammar. Reading passages often present a argument and ask you to identify the main point, the tone or an inference. Practise by summarising each paragraph in one line. For vocabulary, learn words in context from the passages you read, rather than from lists alone.

Logical reasoning and quantitative techniques

Logical reasoning includes arguments, syllogisms and puzzles. Practise sets of statements and conclusions, and draw a quick diagram for each. Quantitative techniques cover arithmetic, percentages, ratios and data tables. Build speed on the common forms, and keep a short list of formulas you use often.

Choosing the right NLU programme

The National Law Universities offer the five-year integrated LLB and the one-year LLM, and each university sets its own fees, campus and specialisations. Compare the campus location, the moot court and internship record, and the faculty profile. Many students also look at the placement pattern in courts and law firms, which the universities usually publish each year.

Mock tests and time management in the paper

The paper is three hours long with a set number of questions in each section. Plan the time per section and keep a steady pace. Leave the hardest questions for the end, and mark them so you can return. Practise the full paper once a week in the last two months, under the same time limit you will face on the day.

Preparing for the consortium's final notice

Watch the consortium website for the final instructions and any change to the exam centre or the timing. Read the eligibility section again close to the exam, since rules sometimes change slightly between notifications. Keep your documents ready in one folder for the admission stage that follows the test.

Common questions candidates ask

Can I apply for CLAT with a 12th result pending? Check the notice. Final-year students can apply under the rules in the official notice.

Is there a separate test for the PG course? The PG course uses a separate pattern and a separate notice, so check the PG rules.

Do I need a computer for CLAT? CLAT is taken offline, in a test centre, with a pen and a paper sheet.