What is this CLAT EXAM
This time we are covering about a different exam. It is not a medical or engineering entrance exam, but it is a law entrance exam. Today we are discussing about an entrance exam called as the Common Law entrance test. This is the most reputed entrance examination for Law to get admission in to the various top Law colleges which are there in India. So, you can say that CLAT is just like CAT, AIIMS OR IIT JEE but for the law courses. Currently this entrance examination is conducted by seven top Law colleges of government. And every year different colleges set the paper just like the IIM’s or IIT jee. Here I would like to mention the top Law schools which are there in India. They are namely: NLSIU, Bangalore; NUJS, Kolkata; NLSIU, Bhopal; HNLU, Raipur, NLU Jodhpur; NALSAR, Hyderabad and GNLU, Ahmadabad. So you can say that they are only 7 top law schools in India. So these 7 colleges set the paper every year. Actually CLAT exam is given for admission in to undergraduate and Post graduate course in the field of LAW. The under graduate course is called as the LLB and the post graduate course is called as the LLM.
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But there are other private colleges too, in India who accepts the score of CLAT like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University and many others. Although the numbers of students going for the law courses in India are less as compared to those who are going for the medical or engineering, but the competition here too is strong. Since good colleges are less, so this leads to tough competition. Before 2008 there was nothing like CLAT, but in 2008 CLAT was formed and this was made to have a common exam for all law colleges. Otherwise earlier it used to happen that every law college had its own entrance examination. But now we have a common entrance for all the top Law colleges which are there in India.
You can read this post to know How to Get CLAT Forms and check out the Seat Availability in various colleges.
Eligibility criteria for Common Law admission test (CLAT)
An Eligibility Common Law admission testcriterion is given below and it is discussed in much detail.
For undergraduate applicants:
- You should have a valid degree from a recognized college or university. For general students, the minimum percentage criterion is 50% in 10+2 level. For SC/ST and OBC students the percentage of marks is 45 %. For physically disabled people the criteria of marks is also 45%. Person found with fake document will be eliminated from the exam and may not be allowed ever to take this examination.
- Age limit for the general candidates is 20 years and for the SC/ST, OBC and Physically handicapped students age limit is 22 years.
- Students currently studying in the 12th class can also give this exam. They just have to fill the form same as they fill other entrance exams.
For Post graduate applicants:
- Students should have got L.L.B or B.L degree from a recognized college or university and should have scored at least 55% aggregate in that. For SC/ST or OBC and Physically handicapped students the minimum percentage criteria is 50%.
- Students studying in their final year of graduation can also give this exam. Students with carryovers in the last year can also give but they have to clear these carry over before taking admission through CLAT exam.
So on whole we can see that the eligibility criterion of the CLAT is very simple and lucid. From where you have done LLB mattes a lot while giving this exam. Because there are some top law schools who takes interview before admission and your Alma mater of past college matters a lot.
Exam pattern of Common law admission test (CLAT): It is better your take some mock test, before actually taking this examination. There are various coaching institutes available for these exams. But it is your choice whether to go for coaching or not. The best thing about coaching is that you get best experiences about how will you give paper.
Sections in the exam paper (For undergraduate admission):
English including Comprehension (40 marks) – This section is for testing the English language of the candidates. Your grammar should be good enough to write answers and know what has been asked in the exam. Reading speed should be good for completing this section on time.
General Knowledge/ Current Affairs (50 marks) – Keep yourself update about the latest happening. You should be at least aware of the recent happening in the past six months before the examination will be conducted. Keep reading the newspaper and this will help you to remain aware about the various happening around the world. Yearbooks will help you in learning about the Static GK.
Elementary Mathematics-numerical Ability (20 marks)- You will judged on the basis of your mathematical knowledge. You will only be asked math’s up to the standard of 10th class only. So keep your 10th class maths good.
Legal Aptitude (50 marks)- This is very important section and a different one too. You will be checked about your legal knowledge. Actually you don’t have to read the law books. Everything will be given clearly in the question paper. If any term which is related to law comes, then the explanation of those terms will be given on the question paper itself. You just have to read about the question and answer it.
Logical Reasoning (40 marks) – This sections includes question which contains patterns and you have to tell which one is the next. Common logical reasoning question are also being asked in this examination. Prepare some question on logical reasoning like bank papers and you will get an idea about it.
Number of question: 200 questions
Time duration: 120 minutes
Marking scheme: One mark for each question.
Syllabus: As per the guidelines given in the prospectus or site.
Sections in the exam paper (For Post graduate admission):
They mainly asks question which are related to these subjects, which are namely as follows:
ü Law Contracts,
ü Criminal Law
ü Legal theory
ü Constitutional Law
ü Law of Torts
Number of question: 200 questions, there will 10 shorts question of one mark each.
Time duration: 120 minutes
Marking scheme: As per CLAT entrance examination cell.
Syllabus: As per the guidelines given in the prospectus or site.
The questions which are being asked in CLAT exam are objective type questions. You are given around 120 minutes for completing all the questions for both post graduate and Graduate examination. As you can see that number of question asked are more than the time available for solving them. So you need to be quick in solving the question. The section called as the ‘Legal Aptitiute’ is a little new to students, so it is advisable to you that take mock test for it. You cannot leave this section as this account for too much weight age in the paper. You have to be really sound enough in the day today current affair because the general knowledge section too accounts for major portion of the paper.
Note: If you mark two answers of same question, then you will not get marks for that question and that will be treated as a wrong question.