CLAT Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme, Duration, Negative Marking

CLAT Exam Pattern 2026: Common Law Entrance Test or CLAT is a National Level Law exam attempted by applicants wanting to pursue different Law courses in undergraduate or postgraduate programs. Candidates are admitted into renowned National Law Universities (NLUs) through this admission exam. There are five sections in the paper and students get a duration of 2 hours to complete the test. Additionally, CLAT 2026 is objective which means the questions will need to be answered in Multiple Choice format. 

CLAT 2026 exam pattern will be released along with the official notification. When students are acquainted with the exam's format, they can expect what will be on the paper and thus perform well. Aligning one’s preparation with the CLAT syllabus and pattern for the exam can help maximize the test result. 

CLAT Exam Pattern 2026

As stated earlier, it is essential that candidates planning to give the exam know the test format before attempting it. Knowing the types of questions that will be asked, the exam mode, provided time frame, sections, etc. Check below to know some CLAT exam pattern highlights

• The test format will be different for CLAT UG and PG programs
• The CLAT UG question paper will include 120 questions, same as CLAT PG which will also include there 120 questions
• There are a total of 5 sections in CLAT UG and only 2 sections in CLAT PG
• The pattern indicates the sectional weightage, test structure, and marking scheme of CLAT UG and PG
• The exam will be conducted in a pen-and-paper mode, which will be an offline exam

Read on to know the detailed CLAT exam pattern for both UG and PG programs.

CLAT Exam Pattern 2026: Undergraduate

As stated in the article above, the CLAT UG pattern has been modified to make the exam-taking experience stress free for students. The following changes have been incorporated in the updated exam pattern:

• For admission to undergraduate programmes starting in the academic year 2025–2025 at the participating national law universities, CLAT UG will consist of 120 questions instead of 150  questions as in previous years. 
• The exam duration remains unchanged, hence, applicants will be provided 2 hours to complete 120 questions. 
• The 120 questions will continue to be organised into five sections, that is, English
  Language, Current Affairs Including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical
  Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.

The table below shows the CLAT UG Pattern details-

CLAT UG Exam Pattern 2026: Sectional Weightage 

Check below to know the sectional weightage and the total number of questions in each section.

CLAT UG General Instructions

• The exam will only be conducted in an offline mode
• Total of 22 participating NLUs
• Candidates must submit their application online on the official website (consortiumofnlus.ac.in)
• The exam is going to be conducted in December 2023
• Foreign nationals are not required to take the exam, but Indian nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs who are applying for admission to one of the UG programs must take CLAT
• For those NLUs where such a category is admitted through CLAT rankings and not directly by the respective Universities, all NRI Category candidates must attempt the CLAT exam 
• Before submitting an application for UG courses, as well as for NRI and foreign national seats, candidates are advised to carefully review the regulations, policies, and fee structure of the participating NLUs
• Interested students are advised to check the official website consistently as all new updates for CLAT 2025 will be given there
• Once the application for 2025 has been released, students must fill it up well in advance to avoid last-minute errors
• The registration must be done with a personal email and mobile number
• Candidates must accurately select the program (UG/PG) and category. Change of program or category requests made on the application form won't be taken into consideration
• The candidate must present the necessary documentation at the time of admission, as specified by the respective NLU and the Government of India/State Government, in order to be eligible for the benefit of reservation
• Before the final allotment, the participating National Law Universities have the option to change the total number of seats and how those seats are divided in accordance with their policies
• The fee is non-adjustable and the student's latest application form will only be considered

CLAT Exam Pattern 2026: Test Format for PG Programs

The table below shows the CLAT PG Pattern details-

CLAT PG General Instructions

• Even though the CLAT PG pattern differs from UG, most factors remain the same. The paper will be conducted in an offline format while the application will need to be filled up online
• Total of 18 participating NLUs
• The exam will be conducted in December 2023
• The Information Brochure or notification, which is accessible from both the official website of CLAT and the websites of the participating NLUs, contains information about the specifics of intake, reservation rules, the courses offered, and fee structures for the various participating National Law Universities
• Candidates are advised to often check the CLAT website for updates
• The fee is non-adjustable and non-refundable