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.
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 oneself 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:
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CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
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Section
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Description
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Exam Name
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Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
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Conducting Body
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Consortium of National Law Universities
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Exam Conducted For
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Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG)
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CLAT UG Exam 2026
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Total Questions
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120
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Duration of the Exam
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2 hours
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Exam Mode
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Offline (Pen and Paper)
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Exam Medium
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English
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Question Type
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Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
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Marking Scheme
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1 mark for each correct answer
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Total Marks
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120
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Negative Marking
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0.25 marks for each wrong answer
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CLAT PG Exam 2026
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Total Questions
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120
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Duration of the Exam
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2 hours
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Exam Mode
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Offline (Pen and Paper)
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Exam Medium
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English
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Types of Questions
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Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
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Marking Scheme
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Each question carries 1 mark.
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Total Marks
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120
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Negative Marking
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0.25 marks for each wrong answer
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Current CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The Consortium of National Law Universities last year changed the CLAT 2026 exam pattern. The test was administered offline, 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 2026 exam pattern will be the same as well.
One mark is awarded for each correct response to the question, while 0.25 points are deducted for each wrong response. The 120 questions in the CLAT PG test are also subject to the same marking criteria. 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 distribution of subjects/topics, the number of questions for each part, and its percentage weightage in the table below. Let's investigate.
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CLAT Section-Wise Weightage 2026
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Section
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Number of Questions
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Percentage Weightage (Approx.)
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English Language
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22-26
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20%
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Current Affairs including General Knowledge
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28-32
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25%
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Legal Reasoning
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28-32
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25%
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Logical Reasoning
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22-26
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20%
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Quantitative Techniques
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10-14
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10%
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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.
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Subjects/Sections
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Questions
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Marks
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Constitutional Law
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60
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60
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Other Law Subjects such as Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Jurisprudence, Family Law, etc.
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60
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60
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Current Issues
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CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme
For the CLAT UG exam, there will be 120 questions. 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.
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Answer
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Result
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Correct Answer
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+1 Mark
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Wrong Answer
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-0.25 Mark
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Unanswered
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0 Mark
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Takeaway
As we previously discussed, the CLAT 2026 exam pattern has been modified by the Consortium of NLUs. Additionally, it provides important information such as the exam format, number of questions, CLAT 2026 marking system, etc. As a result, before beginning their exam preparation, applicants should carefully review the CLAT 2026 exam pattern.
According to the most recent revisions, the CLAT 2026 question paper will consist of 120 questions. Students taking the CLAT entrance tests were first required to answer 150 questions. You can improve your score by having a thorough understanding of the CLAT 2026 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. As a result, the consortium has not altered the CLAT 2025 exam format. Therefore, it is anticipated that the CLAT 2026 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.