𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆

Neeraj Kumar | CLAT Mentor | Legal Reasoning Expert | Author | Educator

My CLAT Preparation Strategy: How I Would Approach CLAT Mentoring If I Were Starting Today

If I were starting my CLAT preparation today, I would do a few things very differently from what many students do.

I would not start by buying five books.

I would not spend the first week making a timetable that looks perfect on paper.

I would not try to finish the entire Current Affairs syllabus in a month.

And I would definitely not start worrying about my final rank before I had even taken my first mock.

I have been mentoring CLAT aspirants for more than 13 years. During these years, I have seen students prepare in many different ways.

Some work very hard but in the wrong direction.

Some have excellent resources but don't use them properly.

Some solve hundreds of questions but don't analyse their mistakes.

Some read a lot but don't actually understand what they are reading.

And some start slowly, build the right habits, and improve consistently.

If I were beginning again today, I would keep my preparation simple. But I would be very deliberate about what I do every day.

The CLAT 2027 framework currently published by the Consortium is a good starting point: the UG paper is a two-hour, 120-question test with five areas—English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques—with 0.25 negative marking for each wrong answer. The Consortium also describes the exam as testing comprehension and reasoning skills rather than requiring extensive prior knowledge of law.

So, if I were starting today, this is how I would approach it.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗧 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝘁

This sounds obvious.

But many students skip this step.

They hear that CLAT has five sections and immediately start studying each section separately.

I would first sit down with the official syllabus and question-paper format.

I would understand:

• What does each section actually test?

• What kind of passages are asked?

• How much time do I have?

• How much weightage does each section carry?

• Where am I already comfortable?

• Where am I starting from zero?

The current CLAT 2027 format gives approximately 20% to English, 25% to Current Affairs/GK, 25% to Legal Reasoning, 20% to Logical Reasoning, and 10% to Quantitative Techniques.

That immediately tells me something important.

I cannot afford to ignore any section.

At the same time, I also don't need to give every section exactly the same amount of time every day.

That distinction matters.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆

I would not wait for two months of preparation before taking my first mock.

I would take one early.

Not because I expect a great score.

Quite the opposite.

I would take it to find out where I actually stand.

Maybe I am reading slowly.

Maybe I am comfortable with English but struggling with Logical Reasoning.

Maybe Legal Reasoning feels easy to me.

Maybe I am making too many calculation errors in QT.

Maybe I know Current Affairs but cannot answer passage-based questions properly.

I want to know all this before I make my preparation plan.

A first mock is not a judgement on your ability.

It is a starting point.

And I would write down the mistakes.

Not just the score.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁

If I had to choose one habit to start from Day 1, it would be reading.

Not solving 200 questions.

Not memorising 500 facts.

Reading.

Why?

Because reading is connected to almost the entire CLAT paper.

The official CLAT 2027 syllabus itself describes all five areas in a way that repeatedly requires students to read, understand, infer, apply and interpret information. The Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning sections, for example, are passage-based, while QT requires students to derive and manipulate numerical information presented through sets or textual representations.

So I would spend time every day reading.

Newspaper.

Editorials.

Good non-fiction.

Quality articles.

Important developments in India and around the world.

And I wouldn't read just to complete a page count.

I would ask myself:

What is this article actually saying?

What is the writer's argument?

What information is important?

What is the context?

Do I agree with the reasoning? Why?

That kind of reading gradually changes the way you approach passages.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗼 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸

This is important.

If I am a slow reader today, I won't suddenly become a fast reader after reading for seven days.

I would give it time.

In the beginning, I might read for 30 minutes.

Then 40.

Then perhaps an hour.

But the objective would not simply be speed.

I would first work on comprehension.

There is no point in reading 10 pages in 20 minutes if I cannot tell you what those 10 pages were about.

Speed will improve with familiarity.

Understanding has to come first.

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀: 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿

This is where many students waste a lot of time.

They start preparing for Current Affairs and immediately ask:

“Which month's Current Affairs should I study first?”

My answer would be:

Start understanding the news that is happening now.

The official CLAT 2027 FAQ does not prescribe a specific time frame for the Current Affairs, including General Knowledge, section. The syllabus says the section can cover contemporary events of significance from India and the world, arts and culture, international affairs, and historical events of continuing significance.

So if I were starting today, I would build Current Affairs in two parts.

First — daily awareness.

I would follow important developments regularly.

Second — structured revision.

I would make sure that important issues are revised and understood.

I would not try to memorise every headline.

I would try to understand the important stories.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮

Legal Reasoning is my primary area of teaching, so I may be slightly biased here.

But after teaching it for so many years, I have seen one thing very clearly:

Students often make Legal Reasoning more complicated than it actually is.

I would not start by trying to memorise a law textbook.

I would first learn how to read a legal principle.

Then I would understand how the principle works.

Then I would apply it to facts.

The official CLAT 2027 syllabus specifically says that prior knowledge of law is not required for Legal Reasoning questions. The section is designed around identifying rules and principles, applying them to fact situations, and understanding how changes in those rules affect their application.

That is exactly how I would prepare.

Principle → Understanding → Application → Practice → Analysis.

Not:

Definition → Memorisation → Forgetting.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲

This is something I have always believed in.

When I teach Torts, for example, I don't want students to remember only a definition of negligence or nuisance.

I want them to understand what the concept looks like in real life.

I have even used scenes from Baahubali in class to make students identify a tort before introducing the formal legal concept.

Why?

Because when you can see a concept, you remember it differently.

So if I were preparing today, I would constantly ask:

“Where does this concept exist in real life?”

That question makes Legal Reasoning much more interesting.

𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲

The biggest mistake in Logical Reasoning is treating it like a collection of question types.

I would certainly learn the common concepts.

Arguments.

Premises.

Conclusions.

Assumptions.

Strengthening.

Weakening.

Inference.

Contradiction.

But I would spend more time asking:

Why is this answer correct?

The current CLAT 2027 syllabus expects students to identify arguments, analyse reasoning, assess how conclusions depend on premises or evidence, draw inferences and evaluate relationships and analogies.

So I would not be satisfied with getting an answer right.

I would want to understand why the other options are wrong.

That is where real improvement happens.

𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀: 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗕𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗳 𝗜𝘁

If I were weak in Maths, I would not ignore QT.

But I also wouldn't spend months studying advanced mathematics.

The current CLAT 2027 syllabus says QT involves numerical information presented through short sets or textual representations and requires application of 10th-standard mathematical operations, including areas such as ratios and proportions, basic algebra, mensuration and statistical estimation.

So I would first make my basics strong.

Percentages.

Ratios.

Averages.

Profit and Loss.

Time, Speed and Work.

Basic algebra.

Then I would practise reading the data.

Because in CLAT, the first problem in a QT set may not be mathematics.

It may simply be:

“Did I understand what the data is telling me?”

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆

I would not spend three months only studying theory.

Very early, I would start working with passages.

Why?

Because I want to practise the actual skill CLAT demands:

Read → Understand → Think → Answer.

The official CLAT 2027 syllabus describes roughly 450-word passages across English, Current Affairs and Legal Reasoning, and similar passage-based structures in Logical Reasoning.

So my preparation would gradually move from:

Learning concepts

to

Applying concepts

to

Applying them under time pressure.

That progression is important.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆

I don't see previous-year papers as something to solve only at the end.

I would start looking at them early.

Not necessarily to solve every paper in one sitting.

I would study them.

I would look at the language.

The length of passages.

The type of questions.

The way options are framed.

The level of difficulty.

The kind of thinking expected.

A previous-year paper tells you what the examination actually looks like.

Coaching material tells you what someone has prepared for you.

Both have value.

But I would never ignore the original paper.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸

This is one small habit I would definitely have.

Whenever I make a serious mistake, I would record it.

Not every silly mistake needs a full-page explanation.

But recurring mistakes should be written down.

For example:

“I keep rushing through Legal Reasoning passages.”

“I confuse the conclusion with the premise.”

“I don't read the last sentence carefully.”

“I know the formula but make calculation errors.”

“I attempt Current Affairs questions without understanding the passage.”

After a few weeks, patterns start appearing.

And once you can see a pattern, you can work on it.

𝗠𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀: 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲

This is a big one.

If I take a mock for two hours and then spend only ten minutes checking the result, I have wasted a major part of its value.

I would spend serious time analysing it.

I would ask:

• Which questions did I get wrong?

• Which questions did I get right by guessing?

• Which questions took too much time?

• Which section consumed my time?

• Where did I lose concentration?

• Which mistakes are recurring?

• Which questions should I have left?

And I would track these things over multiple mocks.

Because one mock tells me what happened once.

A series of mocks tells me about my habits.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆

This obsession with numbers sometimes worries me.

Students say:

“Sir, I solved 500 questions this week.”

My next question is:

“How many of those questions did you actually learn from?”

Quantity is easy to count.

Improvement is not.

If I solve 50 good questions and understand every mistake, that may be more useful than solving 300 questions mechanically.

So I would focus on the quality of practice.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

If I were starting today, my ordinary day would revolve around five things:

1. Reading

Newspaper, editorial, article or other good reading material.

2. Concept Building

One or two areas where I am actually learning something.

3. Passage Practice

Reading and solving CLAT-style passages.

4. Revision

Going back to what I studied earlier.

5. Analysis

Looking at my mistakes and understanding them.

Not every day would have exactly the same timetable.

But these five activities would keep appearing in my week.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀

I wouldn't try to do everything at the same intensity from Day 1.

Phase 1 — Understand and Build

I would understand the examination and strengthen basics.

Reading would become a habit.

I would begin Legal and Logical Reasoning.

I would repair my weak areas in QT.

I would start following Current Affairs.

Phase 2 — Practise

Now I would increase passage practice.

I would start taking sectional tests.

I would work more seriously on speed and accuracy.

Phase 3 — Test and Analyse

Mocks would become regular.

But every mock would be followed by analysis.

I would start identifying my ideal attempt strategy.

Phase 4 — Refine

At this stage, I would not keep adding new material.

I would revise.

Practise.

Analyse.

Improve.

And repeat.

The closer I get to the examination, the simpler my preparation should become—not more complicated.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆

This is a mistake I have seen many times.

A student gets one bad mock.

Changes the timetable.

Gets another bad mock.

Changes the coaching material.

Sees a YouTube video.

Changes the strategy again.

After three months, the student has tried five strategies but followed none of them long enough to know whether they worked.

I would give a strategy time.

If something isn't working, I would change it.

But I would change it because my analysis tells me it needs changing, not because someone on social media said they study differently.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Suppose I am very good at English.

Naturally, I will enjoy solving English.

So I keep solving English.

It feels productive.

But if QT is weak, my overall preparation doesn't improve enough.

I would therefore spend time on the areas I am uncomfortable with.

Not necessarily because I want to make them my strongest sections.

But because I don't want one weak section to become the reason I lose marks.

Strong sections should remain strong. Weak sections need attention.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗧𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

This is a skill students often underestimate.

CLAT is not just about knowing the answer.

It is also about knowing when not to spend another two minutes looking for it.

Because the current format has negative marking of 0.25 marks for a wrong answer, decision-making matters alongside knowledge.

I would practise questions with three categories:

I know it.

I can solve it with some thought.

I am not sure this is worth my time.

That third category is important.

Sometimes the best decision in an examination is to move on.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

As the exam gets closer, I would not always practise casually.

I would sit for mocks for the full duration.

I would practise on paper.

I would practise filling the OMR properly.

I would keep the phone away.

I would sit continuously for two hours.

The current CLAT 2027 examination is officially scheduled in offline mode for 6 December 2026, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, subject to revision.

So I would gradually train my mind for the actual examination environment.

The mock should not just test my knowledge.

It should test my examination behaviour.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀

This is particularly relevant to CLAT.

Patterns can change.

Question styles can change.

The balance of difficulty can change.

One year may feel different from another.

So I would keep an eye on official updates, but I would not allow every rumour to change my preparation.

For CLAT 2027, the Consortium currently publishes the five-section structure and detailed syllabus on its official website, and advises candidates to keep checking the official CLAT 2027 website for updates.

My basic preparation would remain the same:

Read well.

Understand well.

Reason well.

Apply well.

Manage time well.

Those skills don't become useless because one question looks different.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗧 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲

Every few weeks, something new appears.

A new book.

A new course.

A new PDF.

A new test series.

A new strategy.

A new “must-read” list.

I would ask one question before adding anything:

“What problem in my preparation will this solve?”

If I don't have a clear answer, I probably don't need it.

I would rather use five resources properly than collect fifty.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

This is another area where students make a mistake.

Every day they want to learn something new.

But they don't go back to what they studied last week.

Eventually, everything becomes familiar, but nothing becomes strong.

I would keep revision in my schedule from the beginning.

Especially for:

• Current Affairs

• Legal concepts

• Legal principles

• Logical Reasoning concepts

• Vocabulary and reading notes

• QT formulas and methods

• Mistakes from previous tests

Learning gives you information. Revision makes it usable.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲

This is something I would tell my younger self too.

Yes, CLAT is important.

But you are still in school.

You need sleep.

You need some physical activity.

You need family time.

You need friends.

You need breaks.

A tired mind does not become more productive just because you sit at your desk for another three hours.

I would rather study seriously for a focused period and then take a proper break than remain at my desk all day feeling guilty.

Preparation requires discipline. It does not require destroying your normal life.

𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

If I were starting CLAT preparation today, I would definitely have a target.

I would know why I want to study law.

I would know which NLUs I am interested in.

I would understand that the examination is competitive.

But I would not allow the rank to become the only purpose of my preparation.

Because there is something more important happening along the way.

I am becoming a better reader.

A better thinker.

A better problem solver.

I am learning how to handle pressure.

I am learning how to make decisions.

I am learning how to identify my mistakes without running away from them.

These are abilities that will remain useful long after CLAT is over.

𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗛𝗮𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀, 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

If I were starting with six months left, I would not waste time panicking about everything I haven't done.

I would prioritise.

Month 1–2

Build basics.

Read every day.

Understand the five sections.

Start Legal and Logical Reasoning properly.

Repair QT basics.

Start Current Affairs consistently.

Begin passage practice.

Month 3–4

Increase practice.

Sectional tests.

Passage sets.

Previous-year questions.

Regular revision.

Start full-length mocks.

Month 5

Increase mock frequency.

Analyse seriously.

Identify recurring mistakes.

Work on speed and accuracy.

Strengthen weak areas.

Month 6

Refine.

Revise.

Take full-length mocks.

Work on attempt strategy.

Do not keep changing resources.

Do not start unnecessary new material.

And most importantly:

Keep your mind calm.

The last month is not the time to rebuild your entire preparation.

𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲

I would keep coming back to five questions:

Am I reading better?

Am I understanding better?

Am I solving better?

Am I making fewer mistakes?

Am I managing my time better?

If the answer to these questions is gradually becoming “yes”, I know my preparation is moving in the right direction.

I would not obsess over whether I studied for 7 hours or 8 hours today.

I would not panic because someone else scored 10 marks more than me in a mock.

I would not change my entire strategy because of one bad test.

I would simply look at my preparation honestly and ask:

What should I improve next?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗗𝗼

If I were starting today, there are also certain things I would consciously avoid.

I would not collect endless study material.

I would not blindly follow someone else's timetable.

I would not ignore reading.

I would not treat Current Affairs as a memory test.

I would not be afraid of Legal Reasoning.

I would not leave QT untouched because I dislike Maths.

I would not judge myself by one mock.

I would not keep changing resources.

I would not compare my preparation every day with someone else's.

And I would not wait for motivation to study.

These things may sound simple.

But after years of mentoring students, I can tell you that simple things, when done consistently, are often the ones that make the biggest difference.

𝗠𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲

If I were starting CLAT today, I would not try to make my preparation look impressive.

I would try to make it effective.

I would read every day.

I would understand what I read.

I would build my basics.

I would practise passages.

I would solve previous-year questions.

I would take mocks.

I would analyse those mocks.

I would revise.

I would work on my weak areas.

And then I would repeat the process.

That's it.

There is no secret formula here.

But there is one thing I have learned from watching thousands of students prepare for this examination:

The students who improve are not always the ones who start with the biggest advantage.

Many times, they are simply the ones who are willing to look at their mistakes honestly and keep working on them.

𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿

Don't try to finish everything.

Try to understand what you study.

Don't chase every resource.

Use the right ones properly.

Don't worry about your first score.

Work on your mistakes.

Don't compare your Day 10 with someone else's Day 100.

Don't wait to become perfect before you start practising.

And most importantly:

Don't prepare just to crack an examination.

Prepare to become the kind of reader, thinker, and problem-solver that a good law school will expect you to become.

That is how I would prepare for CLAT if I were starting today.

And honestly, that is also what I tell my students to do.

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About the Author

Neeraj Kumar is a CLAT Mentor, Legal Reasoning Expert, Author, and Educator with 13+ years of experience in mentoring CLAT aspirants.