CLAT Syllabus 2026: Download Free PDF, Check Syllabus, Weightage, Books and Preparation

Changes in the CLAT Syllabus 2026 Over the Years

CLAT syllabus has been revised multiple times over the years. The last time CLAT exam syllabus was changed was in 2024, when the number of questions was reduced to 120. Some of the changes that took place over the years are:

• Comprehension-based Questions – A few years back, CLAT was more about direct questions. Now, the CLAT 2026 syllabus focuses heavily on passages in English, Legal Reasoning, and Current Affairs, testing your ability to read, understand, and analyse.
• Smarter Current Affairs Sections – Instead of static GK, the syllabus now focuses on contemporary events, legal or social issues. This means reading quality newspapers is more important than facts.
• Legal reasoning without Legal knowledge – The CLAT syllabus shifted from expecting legal theory from students to testing their reasoning skills through legal principles mentioned in the question.
• Emphasis on Critical Reasoning – This CLAT syllabus section now includes more argument-based questions than before.
• Skill-based Approach – The overall CLAT syllabus has moved towards testing skills over learning. CLAT syllabus will now reward candidates who can think quickly and apply concepts rather than memorize them.

How to Prepare for CLAT 2026 Examination?

CLAT exam is one of the prestigious yet toughest entrance exams for students aspiring to study and pursue their careers in Law. However, with effective preparation strategies, students can obtain good marks in the examination:

• Whenever 40-50% of the syllabus is completed, start attempting mock tests, especially before 1-2 months of the exam. Our free CLAT mock tests provide full-length, subject-wise, chapter-wise tests and live quizzes also.
• Attempt section-wise tests through previous year questions whenever a particular topic of a subject is being completed. Use a timer and see how much time it is taking you to solve those questions.
• The most demanding thing for the exam is to have a strong command of vocabulary and develop reading habits. How can we do that? By reading various types of journals, editorials, articles, newspapers, novels, and magazines. For newspapers, follow the Hindu, The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Telegraph, etc.
• Check YouTube or connect with your teachers at respective coaching centers for doubt-clearing one-to-one mentorship sessions. Check the recommended books for all 5 subjects
• If students are making a study plan, it should be long-term. Changing study plans every 2 weeks or months will not be effective by any means.

How Can I Get 90-100 Attempts in CLAT?

Many toppers or students who cleared CLAT have advised that you should attempt at least 90-100 questions. In CLAT 2024 average number of students who attempted questions was 105-110. Attempting 90-100 questions in an exam like CLAT requires strategic preparation and effective test-taking techniques. Here are some key strategies:

Preparation Strategies

1. Clear Fundamentals: Strengthen your basics in all subjects. This includes grammar for English, legal principles for Legal Aptitude, and foundational concepts in Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning.
2. Practice Regularly: Regular practice with previous years' mock tests and question papers is essential. This helps familiarize you with the exam pattern and question types.
3. Time Management: Allocate specific time slots to each section during your practice sessions to build speed and accuracy. For instance, you can allot 30 mins for English, 30 Minutes for CR, 10-12 Minutes for CA, 10-12 minutes for DI, and another 35-38 minutes for DI. Practicing under timed conditions can help in actual tests.
4. Analyze Performance: After each mock test, thoroughly analyze your performance. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, and focus on improving the areas where you are lagging.

Test-Taking Strategies

1. Prioritize Sections: Start with sections you are most confident in to secure easy marks quickly. This can boost your confidence and save time for tougher sections later.
2. Skim and Scan: For lengthy passages, such as in the English and Legal Reasoning sections, skim through the text to get the gist before diving into the questions. This saves time and improves comprehension.
3. Intelligent Guessing: If you are unsure about an answer, use elimination methods to narrow down your choices. Intelligent guessing can help maximize your score while minimizing negative marking risks.
4. Stay Calm and Focused: Maintain a calm demeanor throughout the test. Stress can impair judgment and slow you down, so practice relaxation techniques to stay focused under pressure.

When implemented effectively, these strategies can help you manage time more effectively and increase your chances of attempting more questions accurately in mock tests and actual exams.

How should a Beginner start preparing for CLAT Syllabus?

Before studying for any exam, you need to prepare yourself mentally. If you are a beginner and have no idea how to start preparing for the CLAT exam, check the points below to understand how to start your CLAT preparation.

• Recognize Your Current Level: Start preparing in 11th or 12th grade. Before beginning, take a diagnostic test to understand your current aptitude. CLAT tests aptitude, mental ability, and comprehension, not just knowledge.
• Set a Target College and Score: Decide which law school you want to attend based on your current level, location, affordability, and interest in law. Determine the score you need for your chosen college and focus on achieving that.
• Gather Resources: List all available study materials, including books, videos, previous years’ papers, practice questions, and topper notes. Supplement coaching institute materials with self-study books.
• Create a Timetable: Allocate 3-4 hours daily for CLAT preparation, including ample breaks. Keep weekends free for extracurricular activities. Study and revise at the same time each day to build a routine.
• Join a Coaching Institute: Many students benefit from structured coaching programs that offer curated content, access to teachers, practice sessions, and mock tests. Coaching provides discipline and a structured approach to preparation.
• Maximize Preparation:​
  1. Preview content before class.
  2. Participate actively in class.
  3. Solve and review in-class exercises and practice questions.
  4. Take topic-wise tests after completing a topic and analyze your performance.
• Mock Tests: Take at least 50 mock tests in real exam conditions. Analyze your results to identify weaknesses and improve. Discuss your mistakes with mentors to enhance your understanding.
• Read Newspapers: Regularly read newspapers like The Hindu, The Telegraph, Indian Express, and Times of India to improve current affairs knowledge and reading comprehension.

Golden Rules Followed by AIR-1: Jai Kumar Bohara

This year, Jai Kumar Bohara became the AIR-1 with the 100 percentile marks. He decided to pursue his career in Law as his parents and grandfather are also from a lawyer background. Let’s see what he said to upcoming CLAT 2026 aspirants about his journey of becoming the CLAT AIR-1 student of 2024:

• The GK section was tough in comparison to the other 4 subjects. He followed the notes and materials of CLAT Express and LawPrep. Whatever topics students are covering in GK, should be revised daily. If there are 30 topics, study 5 of them on the first day, and the next day, do another 5 along with a revision of the previous topics.
• Jai stated that students can take 1-1.5 months to decide, but after that, there should be no looking back. Whenever you are ready, you should focus on delivering your 100 percent, or else do not appear for the exam.
• When students asked Jai about any particular reference books, he said that they should make a habit of reading current affairs, newspapers, journals, etc. For books also, vary from person to person, so it will be better to stick with the books with which a student’s vibe and mindset match. He personally followed Wiley’s textbooks.
• To ace the exams, giving mocks should be treated as reading the Bible. He stated that many students along with him, left the hall while giving mock tests. However, it must be noted that mock tests are just for self-practice and improvement. No one, except you, is going to assess your performance and skills based on your mock test performances. You can also increase your gut feeling by practicing.
• Take 1-2 breaks while studying. However, according to him, during the breaks, a student should do some mind-refreshing activities, which is beneficial. He told students during the candid talk to avoid mobile phones, as it is such a thing if you have thought to use it for 5 minutes, it will be extended into 10 minutes and further.
• Make long-term strategies, divide them into phases, and continue it till the day of the examination. In the first phase, do not pressure yourself and start building your momentum. Increase study timing in the later months.
• Whatever subject a student feels confident with should be started initially to boost the confidence level, and it will be helpful for other subjects also.
• To enhance Legal Reasoning, students should practice and keep their content limited during the exam, as it is a personalized subject. Read articles and learn theories to frame your answers interactively in limited words.
• Read newspapers, and case files and try to draw arguments for Logical Reasoning. For Quantitative Techniques, get your concepts cleared by the teachers and practice passages regularly, as it is an approachable subject.
• Do not compare your marks with other students, as it will demotivate and will build unnecessary stress. If you are a beginner, you should avoid it at any cost.
• Make limited friends and make friendship with the ones who are understanding and bring a positive impact in your life. Do not make friends by seeing their friends. Take breaks on Sundays and go for refreshments like going for an outing, or eating with a limited company of friends. Make a proper balance between friends and being isolated.
• Talk with parents and teachers not only about studies but also about some other things. By doing this, your mind will get refreshed and it will give you extra energy for the next day's preparation.

Can I prepare for both CLAT and IPMAT together?

Preparing for both CLAT and IPMAT simultaneously is tough due to the rigorous and different nature of each exam's syllabus.

• CLAT is an entrance exam for law courses that focuses on general knowledge, current affairs, legal aptitude, logical reasoning, and numerical ability.
• In contrast, IPMAT is an entrance exam for integrated management programs that emphasizes quantitative ability (both multiple-choice and short-answer questions) and verbal ability.
• Although there are some similarities in verbal ability and quantitative sections, the core focus and subject matter of each exam are different.
• CLAT prioritizes legal and rational-legal knowledge, while IPMAT targets analytical and management-focused skills.

While Reading Passages, I cannot Keep My Focus Fully. What Should I Do?

This thing often happens with students, like they lose links of the passages while reading 2-3 lines of it. What they can do is try to build the skills of speed running or skimming through the passages. This method helps in understanding the passages by not reading them fully but going through the important points hidden.

• It must be noted that it is the game of skimming and reading the entire 450 words will only consume your time, as there will be only 120 minutes.
• Reduce this 120 minutes to 105 minutes, as on the exam day
• 15 minutes will go by in the blink of an eye by following exam day rules.

How to Prepare for CLAT Syllabus Subject-wise?

To prepare subject-wise, students need to identify which subject they can become an expertise in. If we consider CLAT subject-wise preparation, then:

• For Quantitative Techniques: Solve questions of the passages having factual information. Reading the passages can help students to tackle different scenarios of questions. Sharpen your mathematical skills by practicing class 10+2 books. Practice formula-based questions, solve previous year's questions, and attempt mock tests regularly.
• For Logical Reasoning Preparation: Read the passages carefully, skim the important points, learn the theme, and try to infer conclusions from them. Jot down the arguments and try to figure out what is pointing towards an agreement and what is towards conflict. Build time management skills by attempting Consortium’s practice paper sets and mock tests regularly. Solve mock tests and previous year questions.
• For Legal Reasoning Preparation: In this section, the questions are mostly from the newspapers, case files, etc. There is no specific knowledge required in this part. Instead, students need to recognize the facts mentioned, and frame answers using the practical knowledge. Pick a topic and communicate with your friends, and sit for debates with your family. By doing this, students can set their perspective on their answers. Solve mock tests and previous year questions here also.
• For General Knowledge Including Current Affairs Preparation: For this, read in-depth current affairs of both India and of International also. Watch news, and read newspapers like The Indian Express, The Hindu, Times of India, etc. Candidates can also gather information from novels and magazines. However, whatever topics you are studying in GK, should be read in-depth. Attempt free online quizzes, solve previous year's question papers, and attempt mock tests.
• For English Language Preparation: Make a strong command of words to increase your vocabulary. Practice grammar and see where you are making mistakes. In the passage, concentrate on the 5Ws: Who, What, Why, When, & Where, and the paragraph conveys a single point of view in the English Language part. Read different books, stories, and analytical writings, attempt mock tests, and solve the previous year's questions.

What Books are Recommended for CLAT Examination 2026?

We have mentioned some recommended books that students can consider to ace their preparation: