What is CLAT?

CLAT stands for the Common Law Admission Test, which is a national-level exam conducted by the Consortium of NLUs for admission to 5-year integrated LLB and one-year LLM courses offered by member NLUs. In addition, CLAT scores are also used by self-financed law colleges and by PSUs for recruitment. 

e the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)

The NLUs have around 3000 seats at the undergraduate level, and around 1000 seats for the LLM program. Currently, five-year LLB is available at all the 22 participating NLUs, but only 19 of the participating NLUs offer the LLM program.

CLAT 2023 Exam Highlights

The key features of CLAT 2023 can be understood from the table given below:

Features	Details
Full name of the entrance exam	Common Law Admission Test
Common name	CLAT
Conducting Body	Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs)
Frequency of Conduct	Once a year
CLAT 2023 exam date	December 18, 2022
Exam Level	National Level Exam
How to apply	Online
Application Fee	INR 4,000
Mode of Exam	Pen-and-paper mode
Medium of exam	English
Purpose of the exam	CLAT 2023 scores will be accepted  by: 22 participating NLUs Private and self-financed colleges PSUs for recruitment
Duration of the exam	2 hours
Number of Seats	Approx seats: UG program - 3,000 PG program - 1,000

CLAT Application Form 2023

Candidates who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria need to duly fill the form and submit it before the last date. Note that one must only use genuine and verifiable information, as all details will be checked at the time of document verification, which is a part of CLAT 2023 counselling and seat allotment process.

How to fill the CLAT 2023 application form 

1. Registration - In this step the candidate will have to get registered using their email id and valid mobile number. On successful registration, an applicant account will be created.
2. Fill in the form - Login to the newly created account and enter personal, academic, and contact details. Also, select any THREE exam centres in the order of priority.
3. Upload documents - In this step, upload scanned copies of a photograph and a signature as per the specified specifications. 
4. Pay the application fee - The fee has to be paid online.
5. Submit the form - Ensure that the CLAT application form 2023 is complete in all respects before submitting it.

CLAT 2023 Application Fee and Mode of Payment

Category	Fee
General, OBC, and PwD	INR 4,000
SC and ST	INR 3,500

Mode of payment of CLAT application fee:

• The fee has to be paid in online mode using netbanking, debit or credit cards.
• Fees paid in any other modes will not be accepted.
• Also, no applications will be considered unless the relevant fee has been paid.

CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2023

The NLUs offer 5-year integrated LLB and one-year LLM courses. The CLAT 2023 eligibility criteria is course-specific, so the applicant needs to refer to the program they are seeking admission to. 

CLAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria for 5-year LLB and One-year LLM courses is as under:

Factors	CLAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria for 5-year LLB	CLAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria for One-year LLM
Age limit	There is no upper age limit for admission to 5-year LLB courses.	There is no upper age limit.
Qualifying exam	The candidate must have passed 10+2 exam	The candidate must have passed an LLB degree or an equivalent exam.
Minimum marks in qualifying exam	General - 45%  SC/ST - 40%	General - 50% SC/ST - 45%
Appearing in qualifying exam	Such candidates may also apply subject to passing the qualifying exam at the time of admission.	Such candidates may also apply.

CLAT Exam Dates 2023

The Consortium of NLUs has released the schedule of CLAT 2023 exam as under:

Event	Dates
Release of early admission notification	14-Nov-2021
CLAT 2023 application and exam notification	01-Aug-2022
Online registration starts	08-Aug-2022
Last date of application	13-Nov-2022
Issue of CLAT admit cards	First week of December 2022
CLAT 2023 exam (Announced)	18-Dec-2022
Official CLAT answer key releases	18-Dec-2022 to 22-Dec-2022
Release of final answer key	22-Dec-2022 to 25-Dec-2022
Declaration of CLAT 2023 results	22-Dec-2022 to 25-Dec-2022
Commencement of counselling	January 2023

CLAT 2023 Syllabus

Before starting your preparation, the first thing you should do is go through the CLAT exam syllabus carefully. Take note of the subjects you need to prepare for the exam, especially the section-wise topics. More often than not, there is always some subtle, and at times, major changes implemented to the syllabus. This is done to keep up with the changing times and stay up to date. If any of the sort happens, you need to be aware and change your CLAT exam preparation accordingly.

CLAT Syllabus 2023 - Section-wise weightage, marks, and questions

Subjects	Number of Questions	Marks	Weightage (%)
Current Affairs, including GK	35-39	35 - 39	23.33 - 26
English	28-32	28 - 32	18.66 - 21.33
Logical Reasoning	28-32	28 - 32	18.66 - 21.33
Quantitative Techniques	13-17	13 - 17	8.66 - 11.33
Legal Reasoning	35-39	35 - 39	23.33 - 26
Total	150	150	100

 A brief analysis of CLAT syllabus 2023

1. Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs are the most important sections. Each carries 23.33 - 26 % weightage.
2. English and Logical Reasoning are the second-most important sections
3. Quantitative techniques carry the least weightage among the five sections.
4. To get a higher score in CLAT 2023, you need to focus more on the sections that carry more weightage.
5. But do ensure that you don’t end up neglecting the sections with lesser weightage, because these sections may end up as scoring options. 

As far as CLAT PG 2023 is concerned, the exam syllabus will include questions from LLB graduation subjects like Constitutional Law, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence and more. 

CLAT Exam Pattern 2023

Any updates related to the CLAT exam pattern will be updated on this page. Note that since COVID-pandemic isn’t over yet, the mode of exam is typically the most common question in the mind of candidates. Currently, the exam is being held in pen-and-paper mode at various exam centres in the country. Read key points related to the exam pattern below.

CLAT 2023 Exam Pattern 

CLAT Exam Features	5-year LLB	One-year LLM
Exam mode	Pen-and-paper mode	Pen-and-paper mode
Exam duration	2 hours	2 hours
Type of questions	Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)	Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total questions	150	120
Maximum marks	150	120
Marking scheme	+1 for correct answer -0.25 for incorrect answer	+1 for correct answer -0.25 for incorrect answer
Test language	English	English

CLAT Cutoff 2023

The cutoff for a participating NLU is the minimum CLAT 2023 score (or rank) one needs to secure in one’s category for admission to the institute. Any candidate who manages to secure a score or rank equal to the CLAT 2023 cut-off decided for a round will get admission in that round. Those missing out may be considered in subsequent rounds. However, if a candidate fails to meet CLAT cutoff for the last round of seat allotment, he or she is unlikely to get admission.

CLAT cutoff 2022 for UG program

CLAT 2022 Participating NLUs	Opening Rank	Closing Ranks
National Law School of India University, Bangalore	1	13869
NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad	8	16269
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata	117	12809
National Law Institute University, Bhopal	217	17826
	422	27962
National Law University, Jodhpur	155	7467
Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar	33	10805
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow	184	20391
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala	401	25179
Chanakya National Law University Patna	932	33540
National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi	413	28235
National Law University Odisha, Cuttack	470	34635
National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi	933	40538
National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam	1047	48523
Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) Visakhapatnam	1002	38481
The Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirapalli	807	44427
Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai	64	43608
Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur	796	40090
	999	46384
Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad	1390	46407
Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla	1056	38853
Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur	1314	48558
Dr B R Ambedkar National Law University Sonipat, Haryana	1094	25003
Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur	417	37952

How to prepare for the CLAT 2023 exam?

Since you are appearing in the CLAT 2023 entrance exam, you have almost a month in your hands for exam preparation. Whatever way you look at it, it is sufficient time to cover the entire CLAT syllabus, solve sample papers, take mock tests, and do holistic exam preparation. But the problem is while it is easy to make plans, execution is altogether a different kettle of fish!

So, here we have outlined some CLAT 2023 exam preparation plans that will help you glide over different phases of the exam preparation with ease and confidence.

CLAT Exam 2023 - Preparation Tips

1. Get started without any delay - Don’t sit idle thinking that there is a lot of time left, as if you aren’t mindful, time would fly by just like that. So, sit down and start your preparation in earnest today, and now!!
2. Check what is in the CLAT exam syllabus - If you didn’t know already, CLAT 2023 syllabus and board syllabus aren’t exactly mirror copies. So, find out the common topics and also that are unique to the two exams. This way you will be able to distinguish the two exams and make better exam preparation. 
3. Get familiar with the CLAT exam pattern - The exam pattern, along with the syllabus, will determine how you structure and layout your preparation. For example, CLAT 2023 exam will include only multiple-choice questions, so you need to not only understand the subject, but must take note of small tid-bits of information, as a few questions may be related to, say, as judgement passed by the SC. This doesn’t mean that you need to memorise things, just that you need to pay a bit more attention to smaller details in addition to having a summary understanding of the topic.
4. Allocation of study time - This is more or less a subjective thing, as what may find easy, some others may find them jawbreaking difficult. Depending on which topic you find easy, make time allocations. But make sure that you follow a sequence, and don’t jump around topics, as many times topics are interlinked. So, unless you complete a previous topic, the current topic may look alien!
5. Do timely revision - Unless you revise what you have read, you won’t be able to retain more or less anything. Make sure that you revise the topics regularly. A trick of successful revision is to revise the topic while it is still fresh in the memory; in contrast, if the revision time is longer, it might feel like reading it for the first time. If this happens, you might lose all the edge you gained by starting your preparation early. 
6. Solve sample papers - In the initial stages, you may make do with problem sets given at the end of chapters, but as you move along, for advanced preparation, include CLAT sample papers in the routine. This way you can evaluate your preparedness and whether you are on track, or the study plan needs to be tweaked. CLAT 2023 sample papers, in addition, will help you tap scoring opportunities, plug holes, and get acquainted with the question paper.
7. Take mock tests - Unlike sample papers, mocks are taken closer to the exam and are in effect demo tests that offer an exam-like ambience. CLAT 2023 mock tests will thus help candidates to get tuned to the exam and get an exam-like vibe, understand exam pressure, learn time management, and other such key nuggets which can’t be acquired or learned in a normal setting.

FAQs for CLAT 2023

Here are some commonly asked questions for CLAT 2023 exam:

Q. When will the CLAT 2023 exam be conducted?

A. The pen-and-paper based CLAT 2023 exam will be conducted on December 18, 2022.

Q. Who is the conducting body of CLAT 2023?

A. The Consortium of NLUs, which represents the 22 participating NLUs, will conduct the national-level CLAT 2023 exam.

Q. In what mode will the CLAT 2023 exam be conducted?

A. The CLAT 2023 exam will be conducted in offline mode, wherein candidates have to mark their answers on OMR sheets.

Q. When will the application form of CLAT 2023 be available?

A.  The consortium has released the CLAT 2023 application form on August 08, and the last date to apply is November 13, 2022. 

Q. What will be covered in the CLAT 2023 syllabus?

A. The CLAT syllabus for the undergraduate program will include questions from five subjects - English, Current Affairs and GK, Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Questions will typically be asked from given passages and will be comprehension-based.

Q. Who is eligible for CLAT 2023?

A. Admission to 5-year integrated LLB courses at the NLUs is open to candidates who have completed 10+2 securing minimum 45% marks (SC/ST candidates need 40% marks). PG applicants need a minimum of 50% marks (SC/ST candidates need 45% marks).

Q. What is the age limit for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses at NLUs through CLAT 2023?

A.  There is no upper age limit for admission to UG and PG law programs at the NLUs. Note, CLAT 2023 scores will be considered for admission to these courses.

Q. How many times will the CLAT exam be conducted in 2022?

A. The consortium decided to conduct two CLAT examinations in 2022. CLAT 2022 exam was conducted on June 19. Now it will conduct CLAT 2023 on December 18.

Q. How do I register for the CLAT 2023 exam?

A. The application form of CLAT 2023 has started from August 08 onwards, The application can be filled in online mode. To fill the CLAT application form 2023, you need a valid email id and working mobile number. First get registered, and then enter academic, personal and contact details. You also have to upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature as per prescribed specification. Finally, pay the application fee and submit the form.

Q. Can I appear for CLAT 2023 after graduation?

A. The minimum qualification for an undergraduate program is 10+2 with at least 45% marks. Also, there is no age limit. So, yes, if you have completed graduation, you are eligible for admission and can take the CLAT 2023 exam.

Q. What is the scope of CLAT?

A. Candidates who have qualified CLAT 2023 can get admission to the NLUs. Further, CLAT scores are also accepted by private and self-financed colleges for admission. Meanwhile, many PSUs consider CLAT PG scores for recruitment purposes.

Q. What is the seat intake for 5-year LLB programs at the NLUs?

A. There are around 3,000 seats at the undergraduate level at the 22 participating NLUs.