CLAT 2027 · Exam Pattern
CLAT Exam Pattern 2027
Marks, Sections & Scheme
CLAT 2027 has 120 multiple-choice questions of one mark each in a 2-hour paper, with 0.25 mark deducted for each wrong answer, per the Consortium of NLUs. Each question is based on a passage. Understanding the pattern is the first step to a sound preparation plan.
Updated
Section-wise Pattern
Marking Scheme
Correct answer
One mark awarded per correct response
Incorrect answer
Quarter mark deducted per wrong response
Unanswered
No penalty for skipped questions
Implication: With +1 for a correct answer and −0.25 for a wrong one, even a blind guess among all four options has a positive expected value (+0.0625 per guess) — the breakeven probability is 1 in 5, and a blind guess beats that at 1 in 4. Eliminate one option and it rises to +0.1667 (3 left); eliminate two and it's +0.375 (2 left). The strategy is clear: never leave a question blank unless you have no idea at all — and prioritise elimination on questions where you can narrow it to two or three options.
Section-wise Strategy
English Language
Passages test comprehension: main points, inferences, summaries, comparing viewpoints and the meaning of words in context. Build reading speed and practise inference. Do not rely on memorised word lists.
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
Read a newspaper daily. The section is passage-based and covers contemporary events of significance from India and the world, arts and culture, international affairs and historically important events.
Legal Reasoning
Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs carry equal weight, each about 25% of the paper, the highest of the five sections. Read the passage for the legal principle, then apply it to the fact pattern. No prior legal knowledge is needed; answer from the passage.
Logical Reasoning
Identify argument structure: premise → conclusion. Practise strengthening and weakening arguments, spotting assumptions and drawing analogies.
Quantitative Techniques
Questions follow passages or other textual or tabular numerical information, and use Class 10 level mathematics: ratios, proportions, algebra, mensuration and statistical estimation. Do not skip this section.
Changes from CLAT 2026
As of 19 September 2026, the Consortium has not announced a pattern change for CLAT 2027. Reform proposals from the expert committee target CLAT 2028 and are unconfirmed. Key points for CLAT 2027:
- —Five sections, each passage-based
- —120 questions, 120 marks, 2-hour duration (PwD candidates: until 4:40 pm)
- —Negative marking of -0.25 per wrong answer
- —Offline mode, per the Consortium UG instructions
- —Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs carry equal weight, the highest of the five sections
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the marking scheme for CLAT 2027?
CLAT 2027 awards +1 mark for each correct answer and deducts 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. Unanswered questions carry no penalty. The total paper is 120 questions for 120 marks.
How many sections are there in CLAT 2027?
CLAT 2027 has five sections: English Language, Current Affairs & General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. The Consortium describes passage-based questions in every section.
Is CLAT 2027 online or offline?
The Consortium's CLAT 2027 UG instructions state that the exam is in offline mode, on Sunday, 6 December 2026, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (PwD candidates 2:00 pm to 4:40 pm).
What has changed in CLAT 2027 compared to 2026?
As of 19 September 2026, the Consortium has not announced a pattern change for CLAT 2027; the pattern page states 120 questions of one mark each, five sections and a 0.25 penalty per wrong answer. Reform proposals from the expert committee target CLAT 2028 and are unconfirmed.
Is CLAT 2027 MCQ based?
Yes, the Consortium describes CLAT 2027 as 120 multiple-choice questions of one mark each, each based on a passage of up to about 450 words.
What is the passing mark for CLAT 2027?
We have not found a fixed qualifying score for CLAT in the Consortium pages we read. Admission is by merit rank, and your rank determines which NLUs you can get. See the NLU cutoff page for closing ranks rather than a marks target.
How long is the CLAT 2027 exam?
CLAT 2027 is 2 hours long (PwD candidates get until 4:40 pm). With 120 questions, that averages one minute per question, so time management across sections matters.
Can I use a calculator in CLAT 2027?
Being verified — check consortiumofnlus.ac.in. We have not read the CLAT 2027 test-day instructions yet. The Quantitative Techniques section uses Class 10 level mathematics.
Is CLAT 2027 conducted in languages other than English?
The pattern and syllabus pages we read describe English-language passages. Reading comprehension matters in all five sections, not just English Language. Check the Consortium notification for any language provisions.
Know the pattern. Now start preparing.
What is not confirmed yet, as at 20 September 2026: whether calculators or electronic devices are permitted, the language of the paper, and whether there is a qualifying score. What will settle it: the Consortium’s CLAT 2027 test-day instructions. We re-check this page when the test-day instructions are published, usually with the admit card in November.
