How and When To Start CLAT Preparation 2027/2028?

Reader's Digest: Preparing for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a significant step towards a career in law. The preparation strategy and timeline can vary depending on your academic standing and study habits. Here's a guide to help you get started.

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As we all know, the CLAT is one of the highly competitive law exams conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. Every year, nearly 1 Lakh aspirants compete in the entrance exam to secure admission to 26 National Law Universities nationwide.

The pressure to prepare for such a competitive entrance exam is quite overwhelming. But remember, you cannot determine what the ultimate result of the exam is going to be just by worrying about it.

Instead, it would be best to try to work out what is within your control and let all other things fall into place as they are supposed to. 

Being a sought-after national-level competitive exam, one wonders what an appropriate amount of time is to devote to its preparation to increase one's chances of securing admission to the targeted NLUs. 

You can follow all the tips below and plan your preparation accordingly for better results.

When to Start the CLAT Preparation 2027/2028?

Many of you might be appearing for the CLAT 2027 exam but are unsure when to start preparing.

Whether you’re in Class 10, 11, or 12 — or taking a drop year — your CLAT preparation journey should align with your available time, academic load, and learning pace. Here’s how to time it right based on where you are now:

If You’re in Class 10: Focus on Building Foundations

Ideal Start Window: 18–24 months before CLAT

Recommended Weekly Prep Time: 2–4 hours

This is the perfect time to begin CLAT prep gradually. You don’t need to dive into mocks or advanced legal reasoning yet — instead:

• Start reading newspapers daily to build vocabulary and GK
• Improve your reading speed and comprehension
• Practice logical puzzles and basic critical thinking exercises
• Build habits: consistency > intensity

Suggested Activities:

• Read 1 editorial daily (The Hindu, Indian Express)
• Maintain a current affairs journal (2–3 key points per day)
• Solve 2–3 reasoning questions daily
• Watch legal news summaries or basic law explainer videos (YouTube)

Why it matters: Students who start in Class 10 are often better prepared for Class 11 workloads and face less exam stress.

Remember, each person's grasping power and understanding capacity may vary. Therefore, it is advised that you start your CLAT preparation at least six months to one year before the exam.

If You’re in Class 11: Begin Structured CLAT Preparation

Ideal Start Window: 12–18 months before CLAT

Recommended Weekly Prep Time: 5–7 hours

This is when serious prep should begin. Class 11 offers relatively more time than Class 12, making it ideal for:

• Completing CLAT basics across all sections
• Understanding the exam pattern deeply
• Taking topic-wise tests
• Starting regular static GK + current affairs tracking

Study Plan Example:

• Monday: Legal Reasoning (1 hr) + Editorial Reading (30 mins)
• Tuesday: Logical Reasoning + GK notes update
• Wednesday: English grammar + Quant basics
• Saturday: Topic test (1 hr) + review (30 mins)
• Sunday: CLAT news updates + revision

Smart Tip: Join a foundation coaching course or structured online program if you need more accountability and pacing.

If You’re in Class 12: Accelerate Your Prep with a Strategy

Ideal Start Window: 6–12 months before CLAT

Recommended Weekly Prep Time: 12–15 hours

Class 12 brings board exam pressure, but it's still possible to crack CLAT with a smart, high-intensity schedule.

Focus Areas:

• Prioritize mock tests and performance tracking
• Cut low-yield activities — focus on what gives you marks
• Use weekend blocks for legal reasoning and current affairs
•  Allocate GK and reading to short daily slots

Time Management Framework:

• Weekdays: 1.5 hours/day (rotating subjects)
• Weekends: Full-length mock + review (3–4 hours)

Topper Insight: “Starting in Class 12 is tough but doable. I used my phone only for reading The Hindu and practicing mock apps. That helped me stay focused.” 

If You’re a Dropper or Starting Late: Opt for a Power Plan

Ideal Start Window: 3–6 months before CLAT

Recommended Weekly Prep Time: 20–25 hours

You need a high-discipline, crash-course approach. No time to waste, every week must include:

• Full mock test + review
• Daily legal reasoning drills
• 1–2 hours of GK + current affairs
• Targeted revision + weak area focus

Checklist:

• Previous year papers (PYQs)
• Weekly mock schedule
• Limited, high-quality resources only
• Eliminate distractions entirely

Pro Tip: Create a reverse countdown calendar and stick to a fixed daily routine — and consider mentorship or fast-track coaching for structure.

• Ample Time for Syllabus Completion: Starting early allows you to have sufficient time to cover the entire CLAT syllabus and ensure a thorough understanding of the topics.
• Identification and Overcoming Mistakes: Early preparation helps identify your weaknesses and mistakes, giving you ample time to work on them and develop strategies to overcome them effectively.
• Skill Development: With sufficient time, you can focus on developing the core skills required to excel in the CLAT exam, such as critical thinking, logical reasoning, and analytical abilities.
• Success in Both CLAT and Board Exams: Effective time management skills cultivated through early preparation can benefit you in CLAT and your board exams, helping you achieve better overall scores.
• Consistency and Score Improvement: Starting early enables you to maintain consistent study habits and practice regularly, leading to steady progress and improvement in your performance.
• Practical Study Routine: By starting early, you can create a practical study routine that doesn't overwhelm you with excessive study hours, ensuring a balanced approach to your CLAT preparation.

How to Start CLAT 2027/2028 Preparation?

Most of you are not fortunate to know about your goals while in school, while a few plan it early! If you have set your goal to get admission to one of the top NLUs like NLSIU, Bangalore, you must start early and smartly!

The inability and difficulty of dividing your time between CLAT preparation and school studies can sometimes cause you to lose confidence, affecting your overall performance.

So, if you decide to prepare for the Common Law Admission Test from class 12, creating a proper study plan that helps manage board exams and CLAT preparation together is essential.

It is perfectly possible to juggle CLAT preparation and board preparation as boards will take place almost two months after CLAT, during which you can prepare with full attention.

A common question running through all your minds is how and when to start CLAT 2027 preparation. To smooth out your preparation, we have curated the best tips to help you prepare well for the upcoming law entrance exam.

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Know the CLAT Pattern and Syllabus 2027

Before starting your preparation, you must go through the detailed CLAT exam pattern and syllabus of the Common Law Admission Test.

Knowing the detailed paper pattern will let you understand the exam structure, mode of exam, and type of questions, whereas the CLAT Syllabus will help you know the important topics from the exam point of view.

Do go through the past papers so you can figure out the pattern and understand how to attempt it, and get a better understanding of the skills you should have to have a better chance at clearing the exam.

It will also help you manage your time and estimate the approximate time needed to crack the CLAT.

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Prepare a Study Routine

Once you know the pattern and syllabus, the next step is creating a study plan. A good preparation strategy will help you effortlessly deal with more complicated topics. 

• CLAT preparation requires a consistent approach, which can only be maintained by following a study routine.
• Divide the topics from most important to least important as per the weightage of each subject.
• You must give equal importance to all the subjects in your CLAT study plan.
• If you are already well versed in any topic, give yourself less time. Instead, allot more time for the topic you are weak in.
• Devote some time to reviewing old mocks and learning from errors you made.
• Ensure you have time allocated for reading and GK.

Download FREE Previous Year Question Papers for CLAT

Be Focused

• Most of you may plan your preparation early but don't focus more on the plan.
• Remember, staying focused on your goal throughout the preparation is essential.
• Do not allow distractions to affect your studies and limit your social activities.

Get Expert Guidance

If you find it difficult to independently prepare any subject or topic, you can always join the best online coaching for CLAT.

This way, you will be trained by expert faculty who shall explain concepts in-depth and help you reach your goal. Another advantage is you can access free mock tests, topic-wise tests, and full-length tests.

By attempting these tests, you can analyze your performance levels and focus on improving weaker sections.

Practice Most Important Quantitative Questions for CLAT by LegalEdge

Practice Question Papers

The phrase "practice markets man perfect" can correlate with CLAT exam question papers.

If you solve previous year's CLAT question papers with full dedication, the results can prove an excellent source of motivation. But, if you fail to attempt them with full concentration, they can make you demotivated.

Hence, it is essential to take attempt question papers seriously as they act as swords with two edges. 

Read News Paper Regularly

Make a habit of reading the newspaper for CLAT for at least 45 minutes daily, as this will help improve your vocabulary and general knowledge.

Even when preparing for board exams, don't ignore reading the newspaper.

Watch Daily Newspaper Analysis by LegalEdge

Focus on Time Management

Many of you may perform well in sectional tests, but you cannot reach the expectation when attempting a complete paper.

This is due to consuming more time for any section, and you have no time for other sections. Therefore, you should work on improving your time management skills for CLAT.

Allotting time for each section is the first step toward optimizing your time in the Common Law Admission Test.

Attempt Mock Tests

Taking mock tests is one of the best methods to test your preparation levels and analyze your performance levels in the upcoming exam.

• With the help of CLAT Mock Tests, you can improve your speed and accuracy.
• You can know in which area you are weak and put in extra effort to overcome it.
• Also, it will help build your confidence levels and help you score good marks.

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Conclusion

Here are key takeaways from the above blog:

• Begin preparation 1-2 years in advance for thorough study, but focused effort in 3-6 months can also work.
• Create a balanced and realistic schedule covering all subjects, with regular revisions.
• Use recommended books, online resources, and consider coaching for structured guidance.
• Solve past papers, take mock tests, and stay updated with current affairs.
• Maintain a regular study routine, take care of your health, and stay positive and confident.