CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

The National Law Universities (NLUs) Consortium will release the CLAT 2026 exam pattern along with the notification, most likely in July 2026. The CLAT 2026 syllabus comprises 5 sections:
 
 
The two-hour test will consist of 120 questions. According to the CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme for both UG and PG exams, each multiple-choice question is worth one mark, and incorrect answers cost you 0.25 points.
 
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
 

Overview of the CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The CLAT 2026 exam pattern is the blueprint of the CLAT exam, providing students a roadmap for preparation. It is published by the NLU Consortium every year. By familiarizing themeself with the CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern, the applicants will have a thorough grasp of the exam format, marking method, sectional weighting, and any negative marking (if applicable). 
 
It will also help you understand the subject-specific subjects you need to study for your CLAT. In a nutshell, the CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern is the most important tool that will help you study the subjects of importance. The CLAT 2026 exam pattern for PG consists of 2 sections, which are as follows:
 
 
However, the CLAT PG Exam Pattern is divided into two sections: constitutional law and other legal disciplines. Getting a thorough understanding of the CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern may be a necessary first step in improving exam performance.
 

CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights

Section

Description

Exam Name

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)

Conducting Body

Consortium of National Law Universities

Exam Conducted For

Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG)

CLAT UG Exam 2026

Total Questions

120

Duration of the Exam

2 hours

Exam Mode

Offline (Pen and Paper)

Exam Medium

English

Question Type

Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

Marking Scheme

1 mark for each correct answer

Total Marks

120

Negative Marking

0.25 marks for each wrong answer

CLAT PG Exam 2026

Total Questions

120

Duration of the Exam

2 hours

Exam Mode

Offline (Pen and Paper)

Exam Medium

English

Types of Questions

Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

Marking Scheme

Each question carries 1 mark.

Total Marks

120

Negative Marking

0.25 marks for each wrong answer

 
 

Current CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern 

The Consortium of National Law Universities changed the CLAT exam pattern in 2024, which continued in 2025 and 2026, and is likely to remain the same in 2027. The test was administered offline in 2026, allowing candidates to use paper and pen. Instead of 150 questions, the CLAT UG exam had 120 questions, and the time duration was two hours to finish. The CLAT 2027 exam pattern is expected to remain the same this year.
 
One mark is awarded for each correct response to the question, while 0.25 points are deducted for each wrong response. The same marking standards apply to the 120 questions in the CLAT PG exam. The curriculum is divided into parts, each of which has a specific weighting and number of questions.
 
For students who wish to apply for undergraduate legal courses like B.A.LL.B., B.Com LL.B., etc., we have described the last year’s distribution of subjects/topics, the number of questions for each part, and its percentage weightage in the table below for reference. Let's investigate.
 

CLAT Section-Wise Weightage 2026

Section

Number of Questions

Percentage Weightage (Approx.)

English Language

22-26

20%

Current Affairs including General Knowledge

28-32

25%

Legal Reasoning

28-32

25%

Logical Reasoning

22-26

20%

Quantitative Techniques

10-14

10%

 

Constitutional law, jurisprudence, administrative law, contract law, family law, criminal law, property law, company law, tax, international law, labor law, and industrial law are among the undergraduate courses that will be tested in CLAT PG.

Subjects/Sections

Questions

Marks

Constitutional Law

60

60

Other Law Subjects such as Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Jurisprudence, Family Law, etc.


60


60

Current Issues

 

CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme

Last year, the CLAT UG exam had a total of 120 questions. This year, the number of questions is expected to remain the same. Students will receive one score for each right answer, for a total of 120 marks. It is the same for the CLAT PG exam pattern – a total of 120 questions with 1+mark granted for each correct answer and a deduction of -0.25 marks for each wrong answer, for a total of 120 marks.
 

Answer

Result

Correct Answer

+1 Mark

Wrong Answer

-0.25 Mark

Unanswered

0 Mark

 

Takeaway
 
As we previously discussed, the CLAT 2027 exam pattern has not been released yet. Last year, the exam pattern was modified by the Consortium of NLUs. The exam pattern provides important information such as the exam format, number of questions, CLAT 2027 marking system, etc. As a result, before beginning their exam preparation, applicants should carefully review the CLAT 2027 exam pattern.
 
According to last year’s pattern, the CLAT 2027 question paper will consist of 120 questions. Students taking the CLAT entrance tests were first required to answer 150 questions in 2024, which was changed in 2025, and remained the same in 2026. You can improve your score by having a thorough understanding of the CLAT 2027 exam structure and material. Additionally, you can make the best possible plans if you are familiar with the CLAT syllabus and exam pattern.
 
The CLAT 2026 exam is the first step on your success journey in the legal sector. 
 

CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme FAQs

Q1. What is the CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern?
Important components such as question types, marking schemes, subjects, section-wise weighting, and other information will be included in the CLAT exam pattern for undergraduate courses. 
 
  • English Language - 28-32 questions
  • Current Affairs including General Knowledge - 35-39 questions
  • Logical Reasoning - 28-32 questions
  • Legal Reasoning - 35-39 question
  • Quantitative Techniques - 13-17 questions
 
Q2. What is CLAT Exam Analysis used for?
A CLAT exam analysis is essential for comprehending the exam's trends, patterns, and degree of difficulty. It offers information about the main subjects addressed, the kinds of questions that will be asked, and the general format of the test.
 
Q3. Will there be changes in the CLAT 2026 exam pattern?
A few changes were made to the CLAT 2024 exam pattern by the CLAT Consortium, which continued till 2026. This year, the CLAT 2027 exam pattern is likely to remain the same. Therefore, it is anticipated that the CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern would not change. The CLAT UG question paper will have 120 questions in accordance with the CLAT Exam pattern. 
 
Q4. In what mode will the CLAT 2026 be conducted?
The CLAT 2026 exam style is pen-and-paper based. 
 
Q5. What subjects are covered in the CLAT 2026 exam?
CLAT 2026 will have 120 multiple-choice questions covering English, Current Affairs (including General Knowledge), Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. 
 
Q6. Will there be a negative score for CLAT 2027?
There will be a 0.25 mark deduction for CLAT 2027. However, candidates will receive one mark for each correct response.
 
Q7. What is the CLAT UG total score?
The CLAT 2027 will have 120 points.
 
Q8. Can I take the CLAT 2027 after the 12th?
You can apply for CLAT 2027 if you are taking Class 12th or any equivalent exam. Candidates must, however, meet the minimum qualifying score requirements.
 
Q9. What is the age restriction for CLAT?
The CLAT has no upper age restriction.
 
Q10. How to prepare for the CLAT 2027?
One can prepare for CLAT 2027 at home or join a coaching centre. However, students need to thoroughly review the exam pattern and syllabus to better prepare their study plan.