What Is CLAT Exam? Complete Guide to CLAT 2027 (Eligibility, Syllabus, Age Limit, Pattern, Date & Fees)
What is CLAT exam? The Common Law Admission Test, or CLAT, is the national entrance exam for five-year integrated law degrees and one-year LLM programmes at National Law Universities (NLUs). The Consortium of NLUs runs it once a year. CLAT 2027 will be held on Sunday, 6 December 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, in offline mode.
Here is what this guide covers: who can sit for it, how it is scored, what it costs, and how to use the weeks you have left.
CLAT Exam Overview
| Detail | CLAT 2027 |
|---|---|
| Full form | Common Law Admission Test |
| Conducted by | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| Courses | 5-year integrated UG law programmes, LLM (PG) |
| Exam date | Sunday, 6 December 2026 |
| Timing | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| Mode | Offline (pen and paper) |
| Registration window | 3 August – 31 October 2026 |
| Application fee | ₹4,000 (General/OBC), ₹3,500 (SC/ST/BPL/PwD) |
| UG eligibility | 10+2 with 45% (40% for SC/ST/PwD) |
| Upper age limit (UG) | None |
| Questions | 120 MCQs, 120 marks |
| Negative marking | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Official website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
What Is CLAT Exam? A Simple Explanation
CLAT is a single entrance test that lets students apply to many top law schools at once. Before it existed, each NLU ran its own exam. That meant separate forms, separate fees and separate preparation. CLAT began in 2008 to bring this into one common process.
The Consortium describes the UG paper as a test of comprehension and reasoning skills rather than prior legal knowledge. Some general awareness can occasionally help in the Current Affairs section. So you don’t need to study law before Class 12 to do well.
The Consortium’s brochure refers to 26 NLUs whose details are published on its website. Many private law colleges also accept CLAT scores, so it is worth checking each college’s admission page. One exception is NLU Delhi, which conducts its own entrance test, AILET, and does not use CLAT.
What Is CLAT Exam Eligibility?
The official UG criteria for CLAT 2027 are:
- Qualification: You need a pass in 10+2 or an equivalent exam with at least 45% marks, or 40% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
- Class 12 appearing students: Candidates sitting the qualifying exam in March/April 2027 can apply, but must show proof of passing at the time of admission, or they lose their right to be considered.
- Nationality: Indian nationals, NRIs, PIO and OCI card holders can appear for UG. Foreign nationals cannot appear in CLAT and must approach the NLUs directly.
- Stream: The official criteria don’t restrict by stream, so Science, Commerce and Arts students can all apply.
For the PG (LLM) exam, you need an LLB or equivalent degree with a minimum percentage. Check the PG eligibility page on the Consortium’s website for the exact category-wise marks.
What Is CLAT Exam Age Limit?
There is no upper age limit for candidates appearing for the UG programme in CLAT 2027. This means gap-year students and droppers can apply as long as they meet the marks requirement. The rules don’t set a minimum age either. In practice, the Class 12 requirement decides who can apply.
What Is CLAT Exam Date?
CLAT is held once a year, usually in early December. Here is the 2027 timeline:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 22 July 2026 |
| Registration opens | 3 August 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 31 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Admit card | Tentatively 2–3 weeks before the exam (November) |
| CLAT 2027 exam | 6 December 2026 |
| Result and counselling | Expected in December 2026 (tentative) |
The application dates and exam date come from the Consortium’s UG instructions. The rows marked tentative are based on past years, so verify them on the official website. The instructions also say candidates download the admit card by logging into their account, and the Consortium will announce the exact date on its site.
Timing note: Candidates with a PwD certificate get extra time. Their paper runs from 2:00 PM to 4:40 PM.
What Is CLAT Exam Fees?
The application fee is paid online only:
- General/OBC: ₹4,000
- SC/ST/BPL/PwD: ₹3,500
Previous years’ question papers cost ₹500 and are not included in these fees. Candidates bear the bank transaction charges, and the application fee is non-refundable and non-adjustable.
The official instructions also say that if you submit more than one form, only the last one is considered, and the earlier fee is not refunded. Submit one carefully filled form.
What Is CLAT Exam Pattern?
CLAT UG 2027 has 120 multiple-choice questions of one mark each, for a total of 120 marks, in a 2-hour paper. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. Unattempted questions carry no penalty, so accuracy matters more than attempting everything.
| Section | Approx. questions | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 | ~20% |
| Current Affairs including GK | 28–32 | ~25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | ~25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | ~20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | ~10% |
Almost every question is passage-based. Passages are around 450 words, so reading speed and comprehension decide your score more than memory.
Tie-breaking: If two candidates score the same, the Consortium looks first at marks in the legal aptitude section, then at higher age, and finally uses a computerised draw of lots.
What Is CLAT Exam Syllabus?
There is no fixed list of chapters. Each section tests a skill, and the official syllabus for 2027 describes them like this:
- English Language: Passages drawn from fiction and non-fiction, at a level a Class 12 student can read in 5–7 minutes. Questions test the main point, inferences, summarising, comparing viewpoints and word meaning in context.
- Current Affairs including GK: Passages from news and journalism. Topics include major contemporary events in India and the world, arts and culture, international affairs and historically significant events.
- Legal Reasoning: Passages on legal situations, public policy or moral questions. You need no prior knowledge of law. You identify the rules in a passage, apply them to facts, and judge how changes to the rule change the outcome.
- Logical Reasoning: Short passages testing arguments. You identify premises and conclusions, and judge how new evidence strengthens or weakens an argument.
- Quantitative Techniques: Numerical information in text or table form. The maths is at Class 10 level, covering ratios, basic algebra, mensuration and statistical estimation.
How to Apply for CLAT 2027
- Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in and register with your mobile number and email. Verify with the OTP.
- Log in and fill in your personal and academic details. Spell your name exactly as it appears on your certificates.
- Upload a recent front-facing photograph and your signature. Add category, PwD or BPL certificates if they apply. All documents must be in PDF format.
- Choose your programme (UG or PG) and category carefully. These, along with the BPL field, cannot be changed once the application is submitted and paid..
- Pay the fee online, submit the form, and save the confirmation page.
Don’t leave it to the last day. The Consortium says updates to the form are not entertained after the closing date.
Will CLAT Change in 2028?
An Expert Committee chaired by Justice Indu Malhotra (retd.) has proposed reforms. Its ideas include reducing the UG paper from five sections to three: a combined Logical Reasoning and Legal Aptitude section, Language and Comprehension, and Quantitative Techniques.
For now, this affects only future exams. The Consortium has decided that the CLAT 2027 pattern and syllabus stay the same. The recommendations will be considered for CLAT 2028 after further consultation. So prepare for the current pattern. Skills like reading, reasoning and comprehension will stay useful either way.
How to Prepare for CLAT 2027
- Read one good newspaper editorial daily. It improves English, Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs together.
- Practise passages against the clock. Aim for accuracy first, then speed.
- Take full-length mocks and review every wrong answer, not just your score.
- Revise the last 10–12 months of current affairs in a notebook.
- Skip questions you are unsure about, because of the negative marking.
Conclusion
CLAT is your entry point to India’s top National Law Universities. For 2027, the essentials are:
- exam on 6 December 2026
- registration until 31 October 2026
- 45%/40% in Class 12
- no upper age limit
- 120 questions in 2 hours
- fee of ₹4,000/₹3,500
Use the official website for final confirmation, and start preparing early.
FAQs on What Is CLAT Exam
1. What is CLAT exam in simple words?
It is the national entrance test for admission to law courses (5-year UG and LLM) at National Law Universities and other participating law schools in India.
2. Who conducts the CLAT exam?
The Consortium of National Law Universities conducts it once a year.
3. What is the CLAT 2027 exam date?
Sunday, 6 December 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
4. Is CLAT 2027 online or offline?
The exam is offline. The application is online only.
5. What is the CLAT exam age limit?
There is no upper age limit for UG candidates in CLAT 2027.
6. What are the minimum marks needed to apply for CLAT UG?
You need 45% in 10+2, or 40% if you belong to the SC/ST/PwD categories.
7. Can Class 12 students apply for CLAT 2027?
Yes. Students appearing in the March/April 2027 board exams can apply, but they must submit proof of passing at admission.
8. What is the CLAT exam fee for 2027?
₹4,000 for General/OBC candidates and ₹3,500 for SC/ST/BPL/PwD candidates. The fee is non-refundable.
9. How many questions are there in CLAT, and is there negative marking?
There are 120 MCQs of one mark each. Each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks.
10. Has the CLAT syllabus changed for 2027?
No. The pattern and syllabus are unchanged for CLAT 2027. Any reform would come from CLAT 2028 at the earliest.
11. Do I need to study law before CLAT?
No. The paper tests comprehension and reasoning, not legal knowledge.
More Useful Links:
