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CLAT Previous Year Question Paper

The Common Law Admission Test is conducted every year in India to gain admission into undergraduate law programs at various universities.

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If you are planning to take this examination, then thorough preparation is very necessary. You will be able to do this by solving the CLAT previous year question paper which is available free of cost on the educational website of SelfStudys.

The CLAT previous year paper will not only help you to get familiar with the environment of the exam but also assist you in noticing your strengths and weaknesses. When you revisit the past questions, you can observe any trends, focus on the topics that are asked frequently, and enhance your overall strategy for the exam. 

Format Of The Common Law Admission Test

In the table below, we have described the format of the questions that are covered in the Common Law Admission Test. You should have a look at it to understand the format properly.

ASPECT DETAILS

Mode of the Examination

Offline - Pen and Paper based test 

Examination Medium 

English 

Total Duration of the Examination

2 hours (120 minutes)

Total Number of Questions 

120 questions

Types of Questions 

Multiple-choice questions

Marking Scheme 

  • +1 mark for every right answer.
  • -0.25 mark for every wrong answer. 

Subjects Areas

  • English Language
  • Current Affairs with General Knowledge
  • Legal Reasoning
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Quantitative Techniques

Approximate Number of Questions in Every Subject 

  • English Language: 22 to 26 questions (20% of the paper)
  • Current Affairs with General Knowledge: 28 to 32 questions (25% of the paper)
  • Legal Reasoning: 28 to 32 questions (25% of the paper)
  • Logical Reasoning: 22 to 26 questions (20% of the paper)
  • Quantitative Techniques: 10 to 14 questions (10% of the paper)

CLAT Previous Year Paper For Various Years

The expert team of SelfStudys has collected the CLAT PYQs for a number of years. You can explore these papers to understand the changes in trends and focus your study efforts on the major areas. The practice of the various past papers will also enhance your problem-solving as well as analytical skills effectively for the upcoming examination. We have placed the links for the papers below so that you can access them without any hassle. 

Solutions Provided For The CLAT PYQs

After getting the previous year CLAT question paper​ from the official sources, our team spends countless hours analyzing each question and preparing their correct solutions. They further include detailed explanations of the solutions. By doing so, we make sure that you can understand the underlying principles of the solutions and notice the areas where you are making mistakes. With this knowledge, you can make changes in your study plan and have focused practice sessions. 

Eligibility Criteria For The Common Law Admission Test

Some important factors regarding exam eligibility that you should be aware of are mentioned in the points below. 

CLAT previous year question paper

  • For appearing in the Common Law Admission Test, there is no limit of upper age.
  • You should have passed 10+2 or an equivalent examination with a minimum of 45% of marks. If you belong to the SC/ ST/ PwD categories, then you should have 40% marks in this exam. 
  • You can apply for the CLAT even if you are appearing in the 10+2 exam during the same year. You just have to provide evidence of you passing class 12th at the time of admission. 
  • If an equal number of marks are scored by you as well as some other candidates in the Common Law Admission Test, then the break of the tie will be as follows:
    • Higher marks in the component/section on Legal Aptitude in the CLAT 2025 exam;
    • Higher age;
    • Computerized draw of lots

Process To Solve The Previous Year CLAT Question Paper At SelfStudys​

For your benefit, we have provided the step-by-step process for accessing the CLAT exam previous year question paper​ and solving it on our platform for free. 

CLAT previous year paper- 

  • There, your first click needs to be on the ‘Navigation’ bar from the elements on the homepage. 
  • This bar will showcase a variety of categories from where you should select the ‘CLAT’ icon.

CLAT PYQs 

  • Now, all the study materials regarding this exam will be visible and you can tap on the ‘CLAT PYQs’ option. 

previous year CLAT question paper 

  • Soon, your screen will open up a new web page that has the CLAT previous year question paper PDF​ for several years. 

CLAT exam previous year question paper​ 

  • You can choose any year to get its CLAT previous year question papers with answers PDF download​. 
  • Finally, you have the option to solve the CLAT previous year question paper online or download the file for free. 

Note: Make sure to Log In or Sign Up with your Gmail ID to download the CLAT previous year paper from SelfStudys.  

Syllabus For The Common Law Admission Test

The table given below represents all the topics across different subjects that are a part of the Common Law Admission Test syllabus. 

CLAT previous year question paper PDF​

SUBJECT TOPICS COVERED  DETAILS

English Language 

Reading Comprehension

Passages based on contemporary or historical topics with questions testing comprehension, inference, vocabulary, and tone.

Vocabulary

Synonyms, antonyms, word usage, idioms, and phrases.

Grammar

Sentence correction, error spotting, fill in the blanks.

Inference-based Questions

Drawing conclusions from the given text.

Contextual Meaning

Understanding the meaning of words in context.

Current Affairs including General Knowledge

National and International Events

Important news and updates from the past 6 to 12 months.

Awards and Honours

National/international recognitions, Nobel prizes, etc.

Sports

Major tournaments, winners, records.

Government Schemes and Policies

Central/ state schemes, economic programs.

Science and Technology

Recent developments, ISRO, and DRDO updates.

Historical Events

Important historical milestones linked to current events.

Static GK

Important books and authors, geography, political facts

Legal Reasoning

Legal Principles and Facts

Questions based on legal maxims, principles, and case-based scenarios.

Legal GK

Supreme Court judgments, constitutional amendments.

Torts, Contracts, Criminal Law

Basic understanding tested through hypothetical situations.

Legal Aptitude

Application of laws to new situations.

Legal Current Affairs

Recent legal developments, major cases.

Logical Reasoning

Critical Reasoning

Strengthening/weakening arguments, assumption, conclusion.

Analytical Reasoning

Puzzles, seating arrangement, blood relations. 

Arguments and Conclusions

Identify valid arguments, drawing logical conclusions.

Syllogisms

Statement and conclusion-based questions.

Statement and Assumption

Inference and logical connectives.

Quantitative Techniques

Data Interpretation

Pie charts, bar graphs, line charts, tables.

Arithmetic

Percentages, ratio, and proportion, averages, profi,t, and loss.

Number Systems

Basic number properties, factors, multiples.

Algebra

Simple linear equations

Mensuration

Area, perimeter, and volume of geometrical figures.

Time, Speed, Distance, and Time and Work

Problem-solving using basic formulas

Why Practice The CLAT Exam Previous Year Question Paper? 

Solving the previous year CLAT question paper​ is important to add value to your exam preparation. Some points on why you should practice this resource are mentioned in detail below. 

  • With the practice of the CLAT exam previous year question paper​, you will get a clear picture of the pattern of the actual exam. It will include section-wise question distribution, question formats, weightage of topics, and so on. With the PYPs, you will see what appeared in the exams actually which will enhance your preparation strategy for sure. 
  • By analyzing the CLAT previous year question paper PDF​, you can easily spot the themes and topics that reoccur. For example, certain types of law cases might appear again and again in the Legal Reasoning section. So, with the focus on them, you will be able to enhance your preparation. 
  • In the Common Law Admission Test, knowledge as well as speed, and accuracy have equal importance. Engaging with the CLAT previous year question papers with answers PDF download​ under timed conditions, you can train your brain to allot time across every section in an efficient manner. For this, you can also attempt the CLAT sample paper on our platform. 
  • When you attempt multiple CLAT previous year question papers, you can track your progress by using the metrics for the real exam. These can be score trends, accuracy rates, time per question, etc. Then, with this data, you will be able to refine your strategies on the basis of the evidence and not just guesswork. 
  • By solving the CLAT previous year paper on a regular basis, you will build a good sense of the logic behind the question. It can be useful, especially in the Logical and Legal Reasoning sections. As you start to sense what the examiner is looking for, you can solve the questions much more confidently. 

Universities That Participate In The Common Law Admission Test And Offered Programs

Over 26 universities have participated in the past Common Law Admission Test. For your reference, we have mentioned the names of these universities with the programs that they offer to the qualified candidates. 

NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY

OFFERED PROGRAMS

National Law School of India University, Bengaluru

  • BA LLB (Hons) Program
  • LLM Program
  • Elective Courses
  • Clinical and Experiential Learning

NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

  • Course on Indian Constitution in Telugu (Online)
  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)
  • Elective Courses: Approaching Nationalisms: Origins and Forms, Banking and Finance Laws, Civil Agitations and Constitutional Developments (1885-1942), Civil Remedies, Climate Change Law and Climate Ethics, Constitutional Policy and Practice of Election Laws, Corporate Taxation: Law and Practice, Criminal Litigation: Practical Perspectives on Procedure, Criminology and Restorative Justice, Goods and Services Tax, Indian Copyright and Related Rights Law, International Investment Law, International Space Law and the Cosmic Code, International Trade Law, Introduction to Private International Law, Introduction to Sports Law, Law of Armed Conflict, Legal Construction of the Transgender Identity, Legal Language and Approach, Legal Taboos, Privileged Class Deviance, Securities Laws and Capital Market, The Ethics of Existence: Characters in the Mahabharata, Tracing Patterns in Acts of Resistance
  • Clinic Courses: Academic Writing Tutorship, Access to Justice from Prisons Clinic- 2, Animal Law Clinic-2, Family Law Clinic, Land Rights Clinic Page 5 of 15, Language and Justice Clinic, Law and Education 101-Clinic, Legal Aid and Legal Awareness Clinic, Prison Legal Education Clinic, Transgender Rights Clinic 
  • Seminar Courses: Artificial Intelligence - Governance and Applications in Law (Both), Bribery and Anti-Corruption Laws (LLB), Child Protection and Juvenile Justice, Civil Litigation - Practice and Procedure, Climate Change and Human Rights (Both), Crimescapes: Mapping the Intersection of Media and Criminality, Criminal Law Practice and Procedure, CSR: From Practice to Precept (Both), Cyber Crimes and Cyber Security: Law and Policy (Both), Cyber-Crimes and Laws: The Emerging Technologies, Data Protection Laws in India, International Commercial Arbitration, International Investment Law (Both), Law and Music for Change, Law, Technology and Regulation: Global and Indian Perspectives, Rethinking Criminal Justice and Procedure (LLB), Supreme Court in Search of a ‘Nation’ – A Rough Guide to Rights Protection in India, The Law’s Publics, Understanding Equity: its History and Development in the Chancery Courts, Water Disputes Law 
  • One-year LL.M. Program
  • Two-Year LL.M. (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Laws)
  • 2 Year M.B.A. Program
  • 5-year BBA MBA Program (IPM)

National Law Institute University, Bhopal 

  • B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)
  • B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) [Cyber Security]
  • LL.M
  • Master of Cyber Law and Information Security (MCLIS)
  • Ph.D. in Law
  • Post Graduate Diploma courses through Distance Education Mode (Cyber Law and Cyber Security)

The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata

  • B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)
  • B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) in Criminology and Forensic Science
  • LLM with specialized streams on
    • Corporate and Commercial Law
    • International Law and Comparative Law
    • Criminal and Security Laws
    • Intellectual Property Law
    • Law and Technology
  • 2-year LLM in Data Science and Data Protection Law
  • LLD Degree Program
  • M. Sc. in Forensic Sciences 

National Law University, Jodhpur 

  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 
  • B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)
  • One-year LLM Program in 
    • Corporate Laws
    • IPR Laws
    • International Trade Laws
    • Public Laws
    • Law and Technology 

Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
  • LL.M. (Master of Laws)

Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar 

  • B.A. LL.B(Hons.)
  • B.Com LLB(Hons.)
  • B.Sc LLB (Hons.)
  • B.B.A LL.B(Hons)
  • B.S.W LL.B(Hons)
  • LL.M Program
    • Corporate and Business Law
    • Constitutional and Administrative Law
    • Criminal and Security Law
    • Intellectual Property Law

Gujarat National Law University, Silvassa Campus

  • B.A.LL.B. (Hons) 
  • Ph.D. Program

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
  • LL.M. One Year Program

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab

  • B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)
  • LL.M. (One-Year Post Graduation) Degree Program
  • Research Degree Programme 
    • Ph.D. (Law) 
    • Ph.D. in Social Sciences, Humanities, and English Language and Literature
    • Post-Doctoral Research in Law (LL.D.
  • PG Diploma in Prison Administration

Chanakya National Law University, Patna

  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)
  • B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)
  • Elective Courses in Law: Indian Federalism, Indian Federalism, Criminology, Penology and Victimology, Interpretation of Statutes and Principles of Legislation, Law and Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence and Law, Land Laws, Shipping and Maritime Law, Law of the Sea, Comparative Constitution, Merger and Acquisition and Competition Law, Forensic Science, Gender Justice and Feminist Jurisprudence, Law of Banking, International Criminal Law, Service Law, Right to Information, Water Law, Press and Media Law, Law of Insurance, Comparative Criminal Procedure, Election Laws, Insolvency and Bankruptcy, Information Technology Law, Conflict of Laws, Cross-Border Investment, Cybersecurity Laws, International Organization, Civil Society and Public Grievance, WTO Laws, Human Rights, International Trade Law, White Collar Crimes, Health Law, Law Relating to Investment and Corporate Finance, Offences Against Child and Juvenile Justice, Aviation Law, law of Carriage, Space Law, International Humanitarian Law and Refugee Law, Citizenship and Emigration Law, Law and Technology

The National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) Degree Course
  • One Year LL.M. Degree Course
  • Post-graduate Diploma Courses in
    • Medical Laws and Ethics
    • Cyber Law
    • Banking Law
    • Insurance Law
    • Education Laws and Management
  • Research in Law. (Ph.D.)
  • Integrated LL.M. Ph.D. Degree Programme 
  • Three-Year Executive LL.M. Degree Programme

National Law University, Odisha 

  • B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)
  • B.B.A.LL.B (Hons.)
  • One-Year LL.M. Degree Program 
  • B.A. (Law) Program
  • Three-year LL.B. Program 
  • Online certificate course on Climate Change: Law, Justice and the Global South
  • NLUO Constitutional Law Society Annual Certificate Course
  • Online Certificate Course in Cyber Law and Cyber Security

National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi, Jharkhand

  • B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)
  • B.B.A.LL.B (Hons.)
  •  LL.M. in
    • Business Laws
    • Intellectual Property Rights
    • Constitutional Law and Criminal Law
  • One Year Executive LLM
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Child Rights and Child Protection
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Mines & Minerals Law
  • Post Graduate Diploma in IPR
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Health Law
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Law
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Law
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Tribal Law

National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam

  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) Five-Year Integrated Course
  • One-Year LL.M. Degree Program
  • Ph.D. Program

Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam

  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) Program
  • One-year LL.M. Program
  • Ph.D. and LL.D. Programs

Tamil Nadu National Law University, Tiruchirappalli

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
  • B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.)
  • Optional /Elective Courses
  • One-Year LLM Degree Program

Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai 

  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) Program
  • LL.M. Regular Program
  • Ph.D. Program in Law
  •  

Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur

  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 
  • B.A. LL.B. (Honors in Adjudication and Justicing) 
  • B.B.A LL.B (Hons.)
  • One-Year LL.M. Program
  • Ph.D. Program
  • One-Year LL.M. Degree Course for Executives
  • Two-Year LL.M. Degree Course on Administration of Justice for Professional
  •  

Maharashtra National Law University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) 
  • B.B.A LL.B (Hons.)
  • LL.M
    • Constitutional Law 
    • Corporate Laws 
    • Criminal Laws 
    • Intellectual Property Rights and Artificial Intelligence

Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla 

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) 
  • B.B.A LL.B. (Hons.) 
  • LL.M. (One-Year Programme)
  • Ph.D
  • LL.D

Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur

  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 
  • LL.M
    • Business Law
    • Constitutional Law
    • Criminal Law
    • International Law
    • Intellectual Property

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat

  • B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 

The National Law University, Tripura

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) 
  • One-year LL.M Degree Program in
    • Constitutional Law
    • Corporate Laws and International Arbitration

Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj 

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) Program
  • One-year LL.M. Program 

India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa

  • B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) 
  • B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
  • LL.M

How To Effectively Use The CLAT Previous Year Question Paper PDF​?

Here are some actionable tips that are given by our subject-matter experts with which you can use the CLAT PYQs. These will surely benefit you in the upcoming Common Law Admission Test. 

CLAT previous year question papers with answers PDF download​

  • Firstly, if you want to replicate the pressure of the actual exam, you need to treat every practice session of the previous year CLAT question paper​ as a real exam. In this, you should set a timer to match the time limits, sit in a quiet place, avoid distractions, do not use any aids like books, calculators, etc. By doing so, you will get real-time practice and develop mental endurance for the exam. 
  • If you just simply solve the CLAT exam previous year question paper​, then it is not enough. It is very important that you review your performance thoroughly. You need to find your weaker areas, understand why the mistakes happened, and mark the questions that you were unsure about. Through this detailed review, you will be able to target your weaker spots, refine your strategy for the exam, as well as avoid similar mistakes in the future. 
  • The questions in the CLAT exam follow some patterns that are based on specific topics. So, after analyzing a few CLAT previous year question paper PDF​s, you should group the questions by subject and then practice these topic-wise groups to gain mastery over each concept. This method is quite effective for Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning subjects. 
  • Tracking your time management and accuracy should be included in the effective use of CLAT previous year question papers with answers PDF download​. For this, you can maintain a record of the time that you spend on every section and gradually improve your speed if needed. You should also attempt the CLAT sample paper on SelfStudys for better practice. 

Conclusion 

In your journey of Common Law Admission Test success, the CLAT previous year question paper is a strategic asset. With this resource, you get a clear view of the exam structure, evolving trends, question types that you may encounter, and so on. Make sure that you do not just solve the past papers but analyze them, learn from them, as well as use them to turn your weaknesses into strengths. You should start including this resource in your daily preparation, track your performance, and get one step closer to getting admitted into one of the top National Law Universities.

FAQs
Need answers? Find them here...

In your preparation strategy, solving the CLAT PYQs is very important. With the analysis of past papers, you can get an understanding of the exam pattern, question types, difficulty level, and so on. Their practice also helps you to improve your time management as well as boost your confidence.

It becomes quite easy to understand the pattern of the Common Law Admission Test with the help of the CLAT exam previous year question paper​. When you review these papers, you can get familiar with the exam structure like the number of sections that are included, the types of questions that are asked, and the marks distribution that is followed.

It is not mandatory that you solve all the CLAT previous year question papers with answers PDF download​. But it is very beneficial to solve as many papers as you can. In this way, you can face a variety of questions and develop a deeper understanding of the exam structure. If you have limited time, then we suggest that you prioritize solving the last 5 to 10 years of PYPs so that you can stay updated with the recent trends.

The ideal timing to start solving the CLAT previous year paper is once you have covered a major part of the prescribed syllabus. In this, you should have completed the important topics in the English Language, Current Affairs with General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques subjects.

In order to track your progress, you should maintain a record of every previous year CLAT question paper​ that you solve. In this, you need to note your total score, the time you took to solve it, as well as the areas where you made mistakes. Then, with time, you should review your scores to check if you are improving or not.

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