Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT) is an offline test for admissions in National Law Universities to undergraduate law programmes. There are 21 National Law Universities (NLU’s) in India. CLAT is an offline pen-paper mode test which is conducted every year. Preparing for CLAT is not as easy as it’s the most challenging entrance exam for law students.
Now, the question “What is the best time to start preparing for CLAT?” is a bit difficult to answer. But we have been researching on this topic and came up with some answers.
When to start the preparation?
Going through the syllabus of CLAT, you can see that the paper is divided into five sections. These sections are English, maths, general knowledge, legal aptitude and last but not the least, logical reasoning. So, to do well, i.e. to secure admission in one of the National Law Universities, you need to perform well in all these sections.
If a person is already well-versed with them, then it takes a lot less time to prepare for CLAT. Whereas, if you are weak even in one section, it might take you a lot more time to prepare. Therefore, if you are proficient in all these subjects, you can start your preparation in Class 12th itself. You’ll get ten months to prepare for the same, and it is more than enough. Whereas, if you do not know much about these subjects, you should start your preparation in class 11th.
Starting in 11th will give two years for preparation. You can devote the first six months for completing the syllabus. After completing it, you will have ample time of one year. In that time, you can revise the syllabus once or even twice. In the last six months, you can give mock tests.
It’s totally up to you when to start preparing for CLAT. But after you start, you should make a proper study plan, and this plan should be divided into daily, weekly, and monthly. By creating an appropriate plan of study, you will be able to focus more on your studies.
Having a strategy for time management is of paramount importance. Also, CLAT is an exam of reasoning and aptitude. It does not require preparation as that of a JEE or NEET exam. If you have a consistent approach, you can easily crack it.
How to Prepare?
Do not hesitate!
Knowing about your aims is an advantage, to develop them is intelligence, and to tackle with them is something that needs to start as soon as possible. If your objective is to secure admission in the top NLU’s, then you should not wait for the vacations to start your preparation. This would help you in your preparation, and you will get a chance to revise the syllabus twice as well.
Solve previous years papers
During preparation, you should solve the question papers of last ten years. This will assist you in interpreting the pattern of the exam and will help you identify the subjects where you are weak. Therefore, you can work on those subjects and improve. Also, the mock tests will give you the experience of how to manage time in the exam so that you can attempt all the questions.
Study from online sources
As we all know, there’s a lot of study material available on the internet today! This is a significant advantage as you do not have to go to coaching centres for preparing for the exam. It saves a lot of time. Being at home, if you face any problems, you can always take help from your elders.
Stay focused
After starting with the preparation, it is essential to concentrate. In this age, a thought might come to your mind, that you have ample time and either you can go out with your friends and party, or you can watch amazon prime and Netflix. It’s okay if you want time for yourself and want to relax. But you should fix a limit for that as well. Because if you don’t set a limitation, you sure as hell will waste a lot of time.
Make an appropriate plan
After you are done with deciding what your objective is, then you are required to make a plan. Making a plan does not mean just making it and then forgetting about it, you should stick to it. Making straightforward plans which involve strategies as per weeks will give you a head start.
Preparation of study notes
Making notes of your own is always helpful. So, while preparing for CLAT also, you should make notes. It will help you remember what you have studied, and it will also become convenient for you to revise all that you have done earlier.
On the other hand, it is mandatory to devote one hour daily for studying the current affairs as you should be aware of what is going on in the country. You can stay updated about the same by reading newspapers, magazines and social articles. But as of today, children are not much interested in reading all these. So, an alternative of the same is that you can do download some apps on your phone. For instance, Live Law.
Schedules of mock tests
Paying attention to the mock tests is an indispensable part of CLAT preparation. Giving more and more mock tests will provide you with a better understanding of the concepts. Giving mock tests encourage in assessing yourself so that you can work in the subjects where you are weak. The most common mistake that almost all CLAT aspirants make is that missing out mock tests. So, remember NOT to miss out on your mock tests.
Join a coaching centre
If you even have the slightest feeling that you cannot prepare for the exam by yourself, then, the solution is to join a coaching centre. Joining a coaching centre will help you in being regular for preparing for the exam as you would have to attend regular classes.
Attending the classes will aid you in remembering the essential points. The teachers of those centres will also help you in making an appropriate time management strategy. Focus, patience and practice are the three most crucial things in cracking CLAT. If you uphold to these three things, you will be easily able to secure admission in a National Law University (NLU).
Conclusion
It can be concluded that starting early will give you an extra edge over others. It will also give you more time to work on the subjects in which you are weak. Utilize your time in working on your weak subjects. But there is no hard and fast rule as to how you can secure admission in a National Law University. Determination and dedication are crucial. Giving more and more mock tests will help you a lot.
At last, ALL THE BEST for your exam.
