CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Section-wise Question Paper Review, Expected Cutoff & Difficulty Level
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The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 is one of the most awaited law entrance exams in India. This article provides a complete analysis right after the exam ends.
You'll find a section-wise breakdown, comparison with CLAT 2025, and important takeaways. The CLAT 2026 exam runs in a single slot from 2 pm to 4 pm.
It's conducted at more than 140 test centers across India for both UG and PG courses.
You'll get insights on the overall difficulty level and CLAT 2026 expected cutoff. The official CLAT Answer Key 2026 should be out within a few hours after the exam. This will help you evaluate your performance quickly.
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CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Overview
Here are the key highlights of the CLAT 2026 exam analysis:
| Component | Expected Insights | What It Means for Students |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate | Manageable with steady practice; no major surprises expected |
| Sectional Difficulty | Easy–Moderate | English, GK, Legal easy; LR & QT slightly time-consuming |
| Paper Structure | 120 MCQs | Similar to 2024–2025 with balanced passage distribution |
| Expected Cut-off Trend | Slightly higher than 2025 | Moderately easy sections may push scores upward |
| Student Feedback | Predictable & concept-heavy | Familiar question style for well-prepared candidates |
| Expert View | Focus on comprehension + reasoning | Depth over memory-based learning |
Section-Wise CLAT 2026 Analysis
Here's the detailed sectional analysis of the CLAT 2026 question paper:
| Section | Difficulty | Nature of Questions | Comparison with CLAT 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | Easy–Moderate | Passage-based, inference-driven, moderate vocabulary | Similar difficulty; slightly deeper inference |
| Current Affairs & GK | Easy | Mostly straightforward, contemporary issues-focused | Easier than 2025 |
| Legal Reasoning | Moderate | Principle + fact, comprehension-heavy | Similar, predictable structure |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate | Multi-step reasoning, lengthier arguments | Slightly tougher than 2025 |
| Quantitative Techniques | Moderate | DI sets + arithmetic, multi-step calculations | Similar difficulty, possibly more time-consuming |
CLAT 2026 Analysis for English Language
The English section in CLAT 2026 is expected to be easy to moderate. Passages will likely cover contemporary themes like social change, environment, public policy, and human behaviour. This is similar to what we saw in CLAT 2025.
Vocabulary should stay moderate. The focus will be on contextual usage rather than difficult words. The real challenge lies in inference-based questions. You'll need to read carefully and understand the author's tone and intent.
Students who've practiced reading comprehension regularly will find this section predictable. Compared to 2025, the comprehension depth may increase slightly. But the overall structure remains student-friendly. This section offers a good opportunity to score high marks.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 24 |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate |
| Good Score | 20 |
| Good Attempt | 16-18 |
CLAT 2026 Analysis for Current Affairs & GK
GK is expected to be the most scoring section in CLAT 2026. Most questions will focus on recent events rather than obscure static topics.
Students who followed monthly CLAT current affairs consistently will find most questions familiar. Expected topics include Operation Sindoor, India–Nepal protests, G20 & SCO Summits, Article 200/201 (Governor issues), and the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Since GK carries high weightage and takes less time, it's a great score booster. The difficulty is expected to be easy. Well-prepared students can achieve near-perfect accuracy here.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 28 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Good Score | 25 |
| Good Attempt | 23-24 |
CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis for Legal Reasoning
Legal Reasoning will test your comprehension and analytical skills. You don't need prior legal knowledge to crack this section. Passages may cover constitutional themes, fundamental rights, basic tort principles, and everyday legal scenarios.
The difficulty won't be too high. However, passages may be slightly longer. You'll need a stable reading speed to manage time well. The key is to identify the core principle in each passage and apply it correctly. Regular mock test practice helps build this skill.
Compared to 2025, the structure remains almost identical. There may be minor increases in reasoning depth. Your accuracy depends on avoiding emotional reasoning and staying strictly principle-focused.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 30 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Good Score | 28 |
| Good Attempt | 24-26 |
CLAT 2026 Analysis for Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning may be the trickiest section in CLAT 2026. Passages could be slightly longer with multi-layered arguments. You'll need sharper inference skills to tackle them.
The question style remains familiar. But the cognitive load could be higher than CLAT 2025. Expect questions on strengthen/weaken arguments, assumptions, conclusions, and inferences. Students who practiced timed LR mocks will handle this section smoothly. Others may feel time pressure building up.
Your accuracy depends heavily on eliminating extreme or emotionally appealing options. Overall, LR is moderate but slightly more demanding than previous years.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 26 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Good Score | 20 |
| Good Attempt | 16-18 |
CLAT 2026 Analysis for Quantitative Techniques
QT is expected to stay moderate. You'll see a mix of arithmetic problems and graph/table interpretations. Many questions may need two-step or three-step calculations. This makes time management crucial.
Students with strong fundamentals will find this section manageable. Others may struggle with time. Compared to CLAT 2025, no major structural changes are expected. This section rewards accuracy and calmness over speed.
Practicing DI sets and percentage-based problems beforehand will boost your confidence. QT will likely maintain its role as a moderate-difficulty section.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 12 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Good Score | 10 |
| Good Attempt | 6-8 |
CLAT 2026 Expected Cutoff Marks for Top NLUs
If you're aiming for admission in a top NLU, here's what you can expect for CLAT 2026 cutoff marks:
| Marks Range (CLAT 2026) | CLAT Rank Range | What It Usually Means |
|---|---|---|
| 95+ | AIR 1 – 50 | Almost certain NLSIU/NALSAR zone |
| 90 – 95 | AIR 50 – 500 | Strong chances for top 5 NLUs |
| 85 – 90 | AIR 500 – 1,500 | Good chances for top 10 NLUs |
| 80 – 85 | AIR 1,500 – 3,000 | Decent chances in mid-tier NLUs |
| 75 – 80 | AIR 3,000 – 5,000 | Newer NLUs become possible |
| 70 – 75 | AIR 5,000 – 7,000 | Lower NLUs + state colleges |
| 65 – 70 | AIR 7,000 – 10,000 | Limited NLU chances |
| Below 60 | AIR 12,000+ | Explore private universities |
CLAT Exam Analysis 2026 – What High Scorers Did Right
1. Smart Passage Selection
Top scorers didn't waste time on long or confusing passages. They picked high-scoring ones first. This saved precious minutes for LR and QT sections.
2. Controlled Attempt Strategy
They only attempted questions they were confident about. This helped them avoid the trap of over-attempting and losing marks to negative marking.
3. Consistent Mock Test Practice
Regular CLAT mock tests helped them spot weak areas. They learned to manage time effectively and anticipate question patterns that appeared in CLAT 2026.
4. Strong Reading Discipline
Reading editorials, articles, and reports daily built their comprehension skills. This proved essential for English, Legal Reasoning, LR, and even QT sections.
5. Staying Calm Under Pressure
Top performers maintained accuracy by staying composed. They didn't panic even when facing tricky LR or QT sets.
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