Common Law Entrance Test (CLAT) is one of the most popular law exams in the country. This exam allows aspirants to be admitted to undergraduate and post-graduate law programs. This exam is conducted once a year and allows you to study law from an esteemed law institution in the country. Preparing for the CLAT exam takes a lot of effort. If you are also preparing for the upcoming CLAT exam but are not sure whether preparing from only the NCERT will suffice, then you have landed on the right page. This blog will help you understand how you can effectively prepare for the CLAT exam and which resources are the best to leverage. So, without any further delays let's get started!
Is NCERT Sufficient to Conquer the CLAT Exam?
No, referring only NCERT is not sufficient for the CLAT exam. NCERT will act as a great starting point to help you kickstart your preparation. It will help you make your foundation stronger. But, cracking the competition will not be possible only through the NCERT. If you want to get an edge over the competition, you need to refer to good resources that can help you exclusively prepare for the CLAT exam.
Besides that, NCERT books will provide you with a limited set of questions to broaden your horizon from a quantitative standpoint. To excel in the competitive examination, you need to consider every sphere so you can tackle a variety of questions on the day of the examination. Therefore, relying only on the NCERT books will not help you in the long run.
Read More: What is the Marking Scheme in CLAT 2026?
Why NCERT Is Not Sufficient?
This section will help you understand how NCERT is not sufficient for CLAT preparation. The CLAT exam requires additional resources as it mostly focuses on the skill set of the aspirants. This is something that is not addressed solely by the NCERT books. Besides that, some sections in the CLAT exam need dedicated preparation and an additional set of resources. Below is the given list:
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Legal reasoning
Legal reasoning is the core of the CLAT exam and you need to have a deep understanding of the legal terms and principles to clear this section. This is the primary thing that NCERT books can't suffice and you need credible and informative resources for the same.
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Logical reasoning
NCERT books cover logical reasoning at a foundational level. The CLAT exam will have a variety of logical reasoning questions. You can tackle a variety of questions only if you have practised enough with a wide variety of questions. Therefore, you need additional resources to prepare for the same.
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Current affairs
Current affairs is such a vast topic that it can't be completely prepared from a single resource. You need to stay updated with the current events to tackle this section. Referring only NCERT will not help you stay on top of current events that you may encounter on the day of the examination.
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English
NCERT books will help you with the basic understanding of grammar and you will understand how to implement different rules. But, English is not only about this. You need to have great speed in reading comprehension as well as good vocabulary. This will be developed over time. If you stay stuck with the NCERT, you will not evolve and your language knowledge will be limited.
How to Prepare for the CLAT Exam?
This section will help you understand how you can effectively prepare for the CLAT exam and get an edge. So, let's have a look!
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Understand the syllabus and exam pattern
Before rushing for the CLAT books for preparation you must be well-versed with the syllabus and exam pattern. The CLAT exam will be conducted for a duration of 2 hours with 120 multiple-choice questions. There will be negative marking in the examination. For every correct answer, you will be awarded +1 mark and for every incorrect answer, -0.25 will be deducted. This is a very important aspect that you need to understand before starting with your exam preparation journey.
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Leverage previous year papers
The CLAT previous year question paper is the best way to understand the type of questions being asked in the examination from previous years. This will help you understand the trends and give an idea of whether you are preparing in the right direction or not. Apart from that, you will also understand whether you have conceptual clarity or not to tackle different types of questions from a wide array of topics.
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Design a meticulous study plan
To conquer the CLAT exam with flying colours, you must focus on designing a meticulous study plan to achieve your goals. A study plan will help you bifurcate the topics and syllabus in such a way that you will not only have sufficient time for revision but also for practice sessions. An achievable study plan will help you set the milestones in such a way that you feel accomplished after reaching your goal. This will in turn boost your confidence and help you prepare extensively for the examination.
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Practice with mock test papers
Practice plays a prominent role in helping you stay on top of your preparation game. When you practice extensively, you will get a clear picture of where you stand with your preparedness levels for the examination. CLAT mock test papers are the best way to analyse your performance for the final examination. When you practice extensively, you will get a clear idea of the mistakes that you are committing. Apart from that, you will also understand your strengths and weaknesses which will help you prepare holistically for the examination.
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Time management
Managing time plays a key role in excelling in the CLAT exam. If you know the entire paper but you are not able to complete your exam well in time then there is no use for that knowledge. While preparing for the exam, I emphasised solving practice papers in a time-bound fashion. This will help you understand how you perform under pressure that you will encounter on the day of the examination. Apart from that, you will also understand whether you have a sync between speed and accuracy or not. This will make your preparation more effective for the final examination.
FAQs
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Who conducts the CLAT exam?
The CLAT exam is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) for the aspirants.
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Is the CLAT 2026 exam date announced?
Yes, CLAT 2026 will be conducted on 7th December 2025 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
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How to apply for the CLAT exam?
You can apply for the CLAT exam by visiting the official website and filling out the online application form.
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What is the last date to apply for the CLAT exam?
The registration process for the CLAT exam has started on August 1, 2025 and is expected to close by October 2025.
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How many NLUs participate in the CLAT exam?
There are overall 24 NLUs at present that will participate in the CLAT 2026 exam.
Final Thoughts
The CLAT 2026 exam is a great opportunity for the aspirants to make their dream a reality and get admission in reputed law colleges. Make sure, that you put your best efforts and hard work to make your mark in the CLAT exam. So, practice as much as you can and make your chance count.
All the Best!
