Attempt CLAT Like a Pro: Time management and Strategic order for CLAT

• February 7, 2024
• By Vidhaan

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a critical stepping stone for aspiring law students in India. Excelling in CLAT requires not just knowledge and preparation but also a smart strategy for attempting the paper. Here’s a methodical approach to tackle the CLAT, broken down by sections and optimal time allocation:

1. General Knowledge – 10 Minutes

– Focus: Begin with the General Knowledge section. This part tests your awareness of current affairs and general knowledge and typically doesn’t require deep analytical thinking.

– Technique: Quickly scan through the questions and answer those you are confident about. Avoid spending excessive time on questions you are unsure of to save time for more challenging sections.

2. Legal Reasoning – 35 to 40 Minutes

– Priority: This section assesses your aptitude for legal reasoning, a critical aspect of the test. Allocate a significant amount of time to this part.

– Method: Read the scenarios and questions carefully but efficiently. Pay attention to identifying the legal principles and apply them logically to the given situations.

3. Reading Comprehension or Critical Reasoning – 25 Minutes

– Tactic: Choose between Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning based on your personal strength.

– For Reading Comprehension: Concentrate on grasping the main idea of each passage. Tackle questions based on direct information from the texts first, followed by inferential questions.

– For Critical Reasoning: Analyze arguments and statements critically. Pay close attention to the structure and flow of the arguments.

4. Quantitative Techniques – 15 Minutes

– Approach: This section, while not as heavily weighted, can be a quick scoring opportunity for those comfortable with numerical data.

– Strategy: Prioritize the simpler problems and employ quick solving techniques. Efficiently manage your time to maximize accuracy.

5. Critical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension – 30 Minutes

– Final Section: Now move to the section you didn’t choose earlier, either Critical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension.

– For Critical Reasoning: Focus on understanding and evaluating the logic and consistency of arguments.

– For Reading Comprehension: Read the remaining passages attentively, ensuring comprehension accuracy for the related questions.

Additional Preparation Tips:

– Practice with Mock Tests: Engage in regular practice with mock tests to familiarize yourself with the format and improve time management.

– Balanced Time Management: While attempting the mock tests, keep a strict track of the time spent on each section, ensuring no section is neglected.

– Emphasize Accuracy: While maintaining a good pace is important, accuracy is crucial to avoid negative marking.

– Maintain Composure: Stay calm and composed throughout the exam. If you encounter a challenging question, move on and return to it later if time allows.

Adopting this structured approach and incorporating consistent practice will enable you to attempt the Common Law Admission Test with greater confidence and efficiency. The key to success lies in balancing speed with accuracy and playing to your strengths throughout the examination.