CLAT is universally perceived as one of the country's most difficult entrances. If you want to attend one of the top-ranked NLUs, you'll need to do well on the exam and obtain a good score.

If you want to crack the CLAT and get a great score, it is imperative that you have a really good strategy for preparation in place. To get into the best ranked National Law Universities, a good CLAT score and rank go a long way, so if you're interested in cracking CLAT, then do read on!!!

1. Create a Study Plan and consistently follow it!

Depending on when you're taking CLAT, do chalk out a really good study plan by figuring out your timelines till CLAT. Let's say you are in class 11 and have 2 years to prepare for CLAT, you should create weekly schedules which cover specific areas that you're preparing for. If you're enrolled in a CLAT online coaching centre, they will have fixed schedules and syllabus formats that adhere to their courses. You can follow your coaching schedule and ensure that you consistently review the concepts after class. Once the concepts are clear, do head out to put your concepts to the test by practicing questions from the area. Do ensure that you're doing at least 50 questions from each topic so that the fundamentals are etched in your mind. Now, once you are done with your syllabus, you should aim to take at least 3 mocks a week for the last 3 - 4 months till CLAT. Taking mocks aren't helpful till you actually review them. A thorough review will help you gauge your troubled areas and will give you crucial insights regarding your preparation. You might identify your weaknesses to be time management, reading long passages, and quick calculations (just saying). Now, once you've identified these problems, you should ensure that you're investing time to improve them. Creating schedules is completely personal and it depends on your specific schedules and engagements. However, as a golden rule, 300 hours of preparation is more than enough to crack the test. Depending on your CLAT year, do break it down weekly, and then daily and stick to your plan. To crack CLAT 2022, do ensure that your fundamentals are super, and you've practiced enough full-length mock tests so that you can dominate on test day

CLAT'S NEW EXAM PATTERN AND SYLLABUS

The CLAT test format in CLAT 2021 has undergone some significant modifications. CLAT 2020 heralded some crucial changes to the CLAT pattern, by essentially focussing heavily on a reading-based curriculum. In general, Vocabulary and grammar questions were scrapped and are rare. The test focuses mostly on reading comprehension, passage-based critical reasoning, long passage-based legal reasoning questions, and Passage based general knowledge which requires extensive exposure to a particular topic and areas around it rather than cursory knowledge. Math focussed more on Data Interpretation but the topics and concepts remain the same. However, these changes are artificial. Essentially the syllabus remains the same, but it's packaged differently.

Plan out your study strategy

Ideally, you should take a diagnostic test and figure out your areas of strengths and areas where you need work. Prepare your plan accordingly by focussing extensively on the areas you need to improve. Reading every day, practicing a variety of questions, and reviewing them are some of the keys to cracking CLAT 2022

Let's check out each section in detail:

Current Affairs - The Game Changer!!!

The new CLAT pattern introduced passage-based current affairs where a passage will discuss current events with some of the text redacted. You'll have to identify the missing facts and also facts around the event. The new Current Affairs stresses on knowing a specific event in depth rather than memorizing specific facts in general. So, if you're reading the Hindu | Indian Express, etc. every day and take specific notes pertinent to the event, you will sail through the current affairs section! Guaranteed =)

For the current events section, you can consult the following resources:

• GKToday
• The Hindu
• Pratiyogita Darpan (Pratiyogita Darpan) is a Buddhist scripture
• The Times of India
• Jagaran Josh, Danik Bhaskar
   

English

English in the new CLAT pattern is essentially focused on reading comprehension. So you will see 500-word passages and accompanying questions that can ask you questions related to the passage. Questions can be inference, tone, identifying the title, vocabulary in context, source of passage, title etc. If you want to rock this section, it is absolutely essential that you read outside of your comfort zone. Read Novels, Magazines, News Papers and consciously break down long texts to simpler versions. Try to discuss what you're reading with friends and family and cultivate a habit of enjoying reading. This apart, you should have a sharp knowledge of vocabulary and grammar too. Vocabulary and grammar are ideal to ensure that you're reading faster and better and in essence, bolsters your comprehension skills.

Quantitative Techniques - Data Interpretation

This section focuses on concepts from arithmetic tested to the 10th standard. So you will see charts, tables, cases, and other graphical representations of data with corresponding questions. Building your fundamentals on percentages, ratios, averages, time speed distance, time and work, interest, etc will definitely help you get the edge here. It's not that tough, but consistently practicing questions will definitely help. Get used to different data representations, work on calculations speed and familiarize yourself with the different question types. 

LOGICAL REASONING

Logical reasoning is critical reasoning intensive. But, questions from the other areas for Verbal and Analytical reasoning won't be uncommon. Do ensure that you're thorough with the basics in verbal reasoning before you start preparing for Critical Reasoning. Focus on Statement Conclusions, Assumptions, Courses of action, Syllogism, Forcefulness of Arguments, Assertions and Reason, Para jumbles, degree of truth and falsity etc. before you venture out to solving critical reasoning questions since these will help you create the base. Analytical reasoning questions from Logic games, number and letter series, coding-decoding, clocks and calendars, directions, relations etc can be featured in the exam too. So, it is best not to ignore them completely. Also, these are regulars for the other law entrances, so it definitely helps there plus it sharpens your brain =)

Legal Aptitude

The legal aptitude section is just a spin-off of the previous principle - fact-based questions. You are likely to see long law based passages with hidden principles. You'll have to identify them and answer questions applying those principles. In fact, CLAT 2021 features mostly directly legal principles, and the questions were the typical pre-2020 CLAT questions. You should familiarise yourself with the 4 major areas of law - Torts, Crime, Contracts and Constitution. Your coaching material is pretty comprehensive. But, it is essential to practice a heck of a lot of questions because the reasoning can be tricky and you need really good mentors who will direct you to the right answer with the most apt logic.  
 

Final Thoughts

CLAT 2022 will be more of a test of strategy than it will be of concepts. So it is crucial that you familiarize yourself with the syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly. You should take as many mocks as you can so that you're constantly exposing yourself to the test. Full Length mock tests will expose you to a wide variety of questions across topics and difficulty levels; it will help you identify shortcomings in your preparations so that you can work on those areas; it will help you manage your time better and help you speed up. These are crucial skills to ensure that you get an awesome CLAT rank. Build Fundamentals - Practice Questions (Section tests) - Pract Full Length Mock Tests - Review Full Length Mock Tests - Repeat!!!