CLAT Exam Pattern 2026 – Marking Scheme, Total Questions, Duration & Section-wise

The Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLUs) has published the CLAT Exam Pattern 2026. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 for UG will consist of 120 multiple-choice questions carrying 120 marks to be solved in 2 hours. The exam will be conducted in an offline pen-and-paper mode with a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Having a solid grasp of the latest CLAT 2026 exam pattern is absolutely essential for effective preparation and smart time management.

The exam paper is divided into five sections: English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. This revised pattern focuses more on comprehension and reasoning skills rather than rote learning.

Overview

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) 2026
Conducting Body	Consortium of National Law Universities
Mode of Exam	Offline (Pen & Paper)
Duration	2 Hours (120 Minutes)
Total Questions	120 MCQs
Total Marks	120 Marks
Marking Scheme	+1 (Correct), -0.25 (Wrong), 0 (Unattempted)
Sections	5 Sections
Medium	English
Exam Date	December 7, 2025

Detailed CLAT Exam Pattern 2026

Section	No. of Questions	Weightage
English Language	22-26	20%
Current Affairs including GK	28-32	25%
Legal Reasoning	28-32	25%
Logical Reasoning	22-26	20%
Quantitative Techniques	10-14	10%
Total	120	100%

Key Features:

• All questions are passage-based (approx. 450 words per passage).
• No sectional time limits.
• Focus on reading speed, critical thinking, and application skills.

CLAT Marking Scheme 2026

Response Type	Marks
Correct Answer	+1 Mark
Wrong Answer	-0.25 Marks
Unattempted	0 Marks

Strategy Tip: Attempt questions only when you are 60-70% confident due to the strict negative marking penalty.

CLAT UG Syllabus 2026 (Section-wise)

Section	Detailed Topics / Skills Tested
English Language	Reading Comprehension (450-word passages) Main idea and purpose of the passage Inference and conclusion drawing Summarisation Argument analysis and viewpoints Contextual vocabulary and word meaning Passage structure and organisation
Current Affairs including General Knowledge	Contemporary events (National & International) Government schemes and policies Science & Technology developments Sports, Awards & Honours Arts, Culture & Books Historical events of current relevance Economic developments, Budgets & Indices Environmental issues and climate change
Legal Reasoning	Application of legal principles to fact situations Identification of rules and principles from passages Torts, Contracts, Criminal Law basics Constitutional Law (Fundamental Rights, DPSP) Public Policy and Moral Philosophy questions Legal maxims and terminologies in context No prior legal knowledge required
Logical Reasoning	Argument analysis (Premise & Conclusion) Strengthen and weaken arguments Identify assumptions and inferences Parallel reasoning and analogies Flaws in arguments Critical analysis of patterns of reasoning Logical consistency and contradictions
Quantitative Techniques	Class 10 level Mathematics Data Interpretation (Graphs, Charts, Tables) Ratios, Proportions, and Percentages Basic Algebra Mensuration and Geometry Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode) Time, Speed & Distance Averages and Mixtures

Preparation Tips for CLAT 2026

• Prioritize High-Weightage Areas: Current Affairs and Legal Reasoning account for 50% of your total score.
• Daily Reading: Build reading stamina by going through leading newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express.
• Practice Under Pressure: Take 10-15 full-length mocks under strict timed conditions to mirror the actual exam environment.
• Maintain Accuracy: Don’t let negative marking ruin your score. Be selective about the questions you attempt.
• Enhance Speed: Since the exam is passage-heavy, increasing your reading speed without losing comprehension is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How do I apply for the CLAT 2026 exam?

Ans. You’ll need to submit your application directly through the official Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLUs) portal. Simply click the official application link once the registration window opens.

Q2. When is the deadline to submit my CLAT application?

Ans. The exact application deadline hasn’t been announced yet. Keep a close eye on official CNLU notifications so you don’t miss the final cutoff date.

Q3. What subjects are included in the CLAT 2026 test paper?

Ans. The exam paper is divided into five key areas: English Language, Current Affairs (including General Knowledge), Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.

Q4. How does the CLAT 2026 marking scheme work?

Ans. You earn 1 mark for every correct answer you choose. However, be cautious with your guesses, as a penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for each incorrect response. Skipping a question results in zero marks.

Q5. How much time is given to complete the exam?

Ans. You will have exactly 2 hours (120 minutes) to finish the entire test. Because there are no sectional time limits, you are free to manage your time across subjects however you prefer.

Q6. Is there a negative marking penalty?

Ans. Yes, the Consortium applies a strict negative marking policy. A quarter of a mark (0.25) is subtracted for every wrong answer, so avoid blind guessing.

Q7. How many total questions are on the test?

Ans. You will face a total of 120 multiple-choice questions, which are heavily focused on passage-based reading comprehension.