With CLAT 2027 confirmed for 6 December 2026, students who begin preparation in July 2026 have five focused months to build the accuracy and speed needed for a top National Law University seat.

CLAT 2027 is a 120-mark pen-and-paper exam covering five sections — English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques — in 120 minutes with a negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer. A structured section-wise plan is the clearest path from July to a competitive score in December.

  • CLAT 2027 is scheduled for 6 December 2026; the official notification is expected in July 2026 and registration opens 1 August 2026.
  • The paper carries 120 questions worth 120 marks; each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks and unattempted questions carry no penalty.
  • Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs together account for roughly 56–64 out of 120 marks — the two highest-yield sections.
  • Based on CLAT 2026 trends, top NLUs such as NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad are expected to require 93 marks and above for General category students.
  • A daily study routine of 5–6 hours with weekly mocks starting September is the minimum recommended for a top-NLU score.
Direct Link — CLAT 2027 Official Website (Consortium of NLUs): consortiumofnlus.ac.in

CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern at a Glance

Every section in CLAT 2027 is passage-based — questions are drawn from unseen text, not from rote lists. Understanding section weights helps you allocate preparation time accurately over the five months ahead.

Section Approximate Questions Approximate Marks
English Language 22–26 22–26
Current Affairs including General Knowledge 28–32 28–32
Legal Reasoning 28–32 28–32
Logical Reasoning 22–26 22–26
Quantitative Techniques 10–14 10–14
Total 120 120

Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for every incorrect answer. Accuracy over speed is the guiding principle — especially in Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs where passage length demands careful reading before attempting questions.


Month-by-Month Study Schedule: July to December 2026

Five months break into three clear phases: foundation (July–August), intensive practice (September–October), and mock-driven consolidation (November–December). Here is what each month must deliver:

Month Phase Key Tasks
July 2026 Foundation Begin daily newspaper reading; open a current affairs diary; revise Class 10 arithmetic for Quantitative Techniques; read NCERT Legal Studies (11th and 12th) for legal awareness context
August 2026 Core Concept Building Practise English comprehension passages daily; work through 20 Legal Reasoning principle-fact sets per week; cover Logical Reasoning argument and inference question types; maintain July–August current affairs diary
September 2026 Intermediate Practice Solve CLAT previous-year papers (2019–2025); take 2 sectional mocks per week; compile current affairs from January–September 2026; log weak areas after every mock
October 2026 Advanced Practice One full-length mock every week; sharpen Legal Reasoning timing; revise Quantitative Techniques shortcuts; compile static GK (awards, appointments, sports results); review error log weekly
November 2026 Intensive Mock Phase 3–4 full-length mocks per week; 90-minute post-mock analysis after each; cover October–November 2026 current affairs; targeted daily revision of weak sections
December 2026 Final Revision 2 light mocks per week; flashcard revision of current affairs and legal principles; maintain exam-day routine including 7–8 hours sleep; no new topics after 3 December

Section-Wise Preparation Strategy

English Language (22–26 Marks)

CLAT English tests your ability to read dense editorial and literary passages and draw inferences — not isolated grammar rules. Read 2–3 long-form editorials daily from a quality national newspaper to build inference speed and contextual vocabulary. Practise identifying the author’s tone, central argument, and implied meaning, which are the most frequent CLAT English question types. Speed on this section is built through daily volume, not grammar drills.

Current Affairs including General Knowledge (28–32 Marks)

This is the most preparation-intensive section and cannot be crammed in the final week. Maintain a running current affairs diary from January 2026 onwards, covering national legislation, Supreme Court judgments, international agreements, and major government schemes. Read a national newspaper every morning and revise that week’s notes every Sunday. Dedicate one week in October to static GK: awards, sports results, key book releases, and government appointments.

Legal Reasoning (28–32 Marks)

CLAT Legal Reasoning does not require any prior law knowledge. Every question provides a legal principle and a fact situation — your task is to apply the principle to the facts. Practise 15–20 principle-fact problem sets daily starting in August. Build the habit of reading the principle’s key condition first, then checking whether the facts satisfy it. Speed on this section improves with volume of practice, not with theory study.

Logical Reasoning (22–26 Marks)

CLAT Logical Reasoning is entirely passage-based and tests inference, assumption identification, and argument strengthening or weakening — not syllogisms or seating puzzles. Practise critical reasoning passages from LSAT material alongside CLAT previous papers. Target 20 or more correct answers with 85% accuracy by November 2026. Improving reading speed in this section directly improves your English score too.

Quantitative Techniques (10–14 Marks)

The smallest section by weight, covering data interpretation and basic arithmetic — percentages, ratios, averages, and simple graph reading. Two to three focused weeks in July and one revision week in October is sufficient for most students. Do not over-invest here at the expense of Current Affairs or Legal Reasoning. Aim for full marks on this section with minimum time investment.


Sample Weekly Study Timetable

This schedule suits a student studying 5–6 hours daily alongside school or college during the July–October foundation and practice phase. Increase to 7–8 hours from November:

Time Slot Activity (Monday to Saturday)
6:00 AM – 7:00 AM Daily newspaper reading and current affairs diary update
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Legal Reasoning or Logical Reasoning passage practice sets
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM English comprehension practice or Quantitative Techniques
9:00 PM – 9:30 PM Review and consolidate that day’s current affairs notes
Sunday Morning Full sectional mock (2 hours under timed conditions)
Sunday Afternoon Post-mock error analysis and error-log update (90 minutes)

Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs deserve the longest weekday blocks because they carry the highest combined marks and require consistent daily input rather than intensive last-minute revision.


Mock Test and Revision Plan

Mocks are the backbone of CLAT preparation and must start in September — not November. Beginning mock tests three months before the exam gives you time to identify patterns in your errors and correct them before 6 December 2026. Here is the recommended cadence:

Month Mocks Per Week Primary Goal
September 2026 1 full-length + 2 sectional Identify weak sections; build 2-hour exam stamina
October 2026 2 full-length + 1 sectional Improve accuracy; reduce careless errors
November 2026 3–4 full-length Maximise total score; sharpen time allocation per section
December 2026 (1–5) 1–2 light mocks Maintain sharpness without building fatigue before exam day

Post-mock analysis is as important as the mock itself. After every paper, spend 90 minutes categorising each error: conceptual gap, careless slip, or time-pressure mistake. Address each category differently in the following week’s study plan.

Based on CLAT 2026 trends, students targeting NLSIU Bangalore (General category closing rank around 102) or NALSAR Hyderabad (closing rank around 148) should aim to score consistently above 93 marks out of 120 in November mocks. Students targeting other top-10 NLUs should work toward 85 marks and above. These are estimates based on past year trends and actual CLAT 2027 cutoffs may vary.

CLAT 2027 Study Plan FAQs

Ques. How many hours should I study daily for CLAT 2027?

Ans. 5–6 hours per day is sufficient during July to October. From November onwards, increase to 7–8 hours to accommodate 3–4 full-length mocks per week along with post-mock analysis and current affairs revision before the 6 December 2026 exam.

Ques. Which section of CLAT 2027 should I prioritise most?

Ans. Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs including General Knowledge each carry approximately 28–32 marks out of 120, making them the two highest-weight sections in CLAT 2027. These deserve the maximum daily preparation time. Logical Reasoning at 22–26 marks is the next priority.

Ques. When should I start taking full-length CLAT 2027 mock tests?

Ans. Start sectional mocks in August 2026 once basic concepts are covered and move to full-length mocks from September 2026. Starting mocks early exposes weak areas with enough time to address them before the December exam. Do not wait until November.

Ques. How do I cover current affairs for CLAT 2027?

Ans. Read a national newspaper (The Hindu or Indian Express) every morning and maintain a handwritten current affairs diary. Cover events from January 2026 onwards with special focus on Supreme Court judgments, constitutional developments, international treaties, and major government schemes. Revise your weekly notes every Sunday.

Ques. What score is good in CLAT 2027 for top NLUs?

Ans. Based on CLAT 2026 trends, a score of 93 marks and above out of 120 is expected to be competitive for top NLUs such as NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad in the General category. Students targeting other top-10 NLUs generally need 85 marks and above. Actual CLAT 2027 cutoffs may vary based on paper difficulty and student performance.

Ques. Can I crack CLAT 2027 in 5–6 months without coaching?

Ans. Yes. Many students clear CLAT without coaching through consistent self-study using CLAT previous-year papers (2019–2025), a quality daily newspaper, good sectional practice material, and a regular mock test schedule. Consistency across five months is more valuable than any single resource or coaching programme.