CLAT Marking Scheme: What You Need to Know for 2025

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) remains one of the most coveted law entrance exams in India, serving as a gateway to the country’s prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs). With intense competition and evolving patterns, a thorough understanding of the CLAT marking scheme is crucial for success.

What is the CLAT Exam?

The CLAT is a national-level entrance examination conducted for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs across various NLUs in India. The exam is known for its rigorous nature, testing candidates on multiple fronts, including English proficiency, logical reasoning, legal aptitude, and quantitative skills.

For those aspiring to join undergraduate law courses (LLB), CLAT evaluates skills through five core sections:

• English Language

• Current Affairs including General Knowledge

• Legal Reasoning

• Logical Reasoning

• Quantitative Techniques
  

Each section contributes a specific weight to the CLAT total marks of the exam, and understanding this breakdown is key to crafting a well-rounded preparation strategy.

CLAT 2025: Key Highlights

• CLAT Total Marks: 120

• Total Questions: 120 (Multiple Choice Questions - MCQs)

• Exam Duration: 2 hours

• Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer

• Correct Answer: 1 mark awarded for each correct answer

The UG CLAT exam primarily focuses on testing your reading comprehension, critical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge, especially in a legal context. As a comprehension-based test, you’ll encounter passages and data-driven questions, making it essential to enhance not only your theoretical knowledge but also your interpretive and analytical skills.

CLAT Marking Scheme 2025: Section-wise Breakdown

The CLAT UG exam consists of five sections, each of which tests different skills and contributes toward your overall score. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the marking scheme for each section, along with tips on how to perform well.

1. English Language

• Total Questions: 22-26 (Roughly 20% of the paper)

• Marking Scheme: 1 mark per correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer.

• Question Type: Passage-based questions focusing on comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary.
  

The English Language section tests your ability to comprehend and analyze written content. Passages range from 450 to 500 words and are typically followed by multiple-choice questions. These questions assess your understanding of the passage, including its theme, main arguments, vocabulary, and grammar usage.

Scoring Tip: To excel in this section, focus on improving your reading speed and comprehension. Regularly reading newspapers, editorials, and literary articles can help you develop the ability to quickly understand the essence of a passage. Practice solving questions related to vocabulary, grammar, and critical reasoning to build accuracy and speed .

2. Current Affairs Including General Knowledge

• Total Questions: 28-32 (Roughly 25% of the paper)

• Marking Scheme: 1 mark per correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer.

• Question Type: Passage-based questions on current events and static GK.
  

This section assesses your knowledge of both contemporary events and historical topics. The questions are passage-based, meaning you’ll be required to read a passage and then answer questions related to the events or topics discussed. Topics often cover recent international and national events, historical milestones, and important government policies.

Scoring Tip: Staying updated with daily current affairs is crucial for this section. Subscribe to reputable news sources, read monthly current affairs magazines, and revise important historical events regularly. Make use of online quizzes and apps to test your knowledge and stay sharp.

3. Legal Reasoning

• Total Questions: 28-32 (Roughly 25% of the paper)

• Marking Scheme: 1 mark per correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer.

• Question Type: Passage-based questions testing legal principles and their application.
  

The Legal Reasoning section is designed to evaluate your understanding of law-related principles and your ability to apply them to specific situations. You’ll be presented with passages that discuss legal matters, followed by questions that require you to apply legal principles to reach logical conclusions.

Scoring Tip: Given that this section makes up about 25% of the paper, it’s important to focus on understanding key legal principles, such as contracts, torts, criminal law, and constitutional law. Practice solving legal reasoning questions regularly to become familiar with the structure and logic of the section.

4. Logical Reasoning

• Total Questions: 22-26 (Roughly 20% of the paper)

• Marking Scheme: 1 mark per correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer.

• Question Type: Passage-based questions involving logical arguments.
  

Logical Reasoning tests your ability to understand, analyze, and draw conclusions from a given argument or set of premises. This section may involve identifying the strengths and weaknesses of arguments, drawing inferences, or solving puzzles based on logic.

Scoring Tip: Focus on practicing different types of logical reasoning questions, such as syllogisms, analogies, cause-and-effect relationships, and argument analysis. Developing a methodical approach to solving these questions will improve your accuracy.

5. Quantitative Techniques

• Total Questions: 10-14 (Roughly 10% of the paper)

• Marking Scheme: 1 mark per correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer.

• Question Type: Numerical data-based questions involving graphs, charts, and problem-solving.
  

The Quantitative Techniques section is essentially a test of basic mathematical skills. The questions are data-driven, requiring candidates to analyze and interpret numerical data presented in graphs, charts, and tables. Topics include percentages, ratios, algebra, mensuration, and basic arithmetic.

Scoring Tip: To score well in this section, brush up on basic math concepts and practice solving data interpretation problems. Speed and accuracy are key in this section, so regular practice with mock questions is recommended.

Understanding CLAT’s Negative Marking System

The presence of negative marking in CLAT can have a significant impact on your final score. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks are deducted from your total. This means that attempting all questions without proper consideration may backfire, resulting in a lower overall score.

Here’s how you can avoid losing marks due to negative markings:

1. Avoid Blind Guessing

It’s tempting to attempt all questions, but making random guesses can reduce your score significantly due to the 0.25 deduction for each wrong answer. Instead, be strategic. If you’re unsure of an answer, consider skipping the question rather than guessing blindly.

2. Use the Process of Elimination

When you’re unsure of an answer, use the process of elimination to increase your chances of guessing correctly. Narrow down your options to two or three possible answers, and then make an educated guess.

3. Time Management

Time management is critical in CLAT, especially given that the exam consists of 120 questions to be solved in two hours. Avoid spending too much time on one question. If you’re stuck, move on and return to it later if you have time.

How to Maximize Your Score in CLAT 2025

To achieve a high score in CLAT 2025, you need to approach the exam strategically, focusing on maximizing your performance in high-weightage sections and improving your accuracy. Here’s a roadmap to help you succeed:

1. Create a Balanced Study Plan

Ensure that your study plan covers all sections of the CLAT syllabus. While it’s important to focus on high-weightage sections like Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs, don’t neglect the other sections. Allocate time for each section based on its importance and your comfort level.

2. Practice Passage-Based Questions

Since most of the CLAT exam is passage-based, it’s important to get used to reading and analyzing long passages quickly. Regular practice will help you improve your reading speed, comprehension, and ability to identify important information.

3. Take Mock Tests Regularly

Mock tests are a crucial part of CLAT preparation. They help you get used to the exam’s format, time limits, and pressure. More importantly, they help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to focus on areas where improvement is needed.

4. Revise Current Affairs Regularly

For the Current Affairs section, consistency is key. Dedicate time each day to reading and revising current events, and make sure to follow a monthly revision schedule. Regularly revisiting important topics will help you retain information better.

5. Analyze Your Mistakes

After every mock test, analyze the questions you got wrong. Understanding why you made a mistake and learning from it is just as important as answering correctly.

6. Leverage Online Resources

Take advantage of online resources like mock tests, sample papers, and video tutorials from platforms like Law Prep Tutorial and Legal Edge. These platforms offer valuable insights into exam patterns, sectional strategies, and time management techniques.

Read More: Understanding CLAT Scoring: How Total Marks Affect Your Rank

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the CLAT marking scheme for 2025 is essential to crafting an effective preparation strategy. With 120 questions spread across five sections and a two-hour limit, the exam demands not just knowledge but also speed, accuracy, and the ability to analyze information quickly. By focusing on high-weightage sections, managing your time wisely, and practicing regularly, you can maximize your chances of achieving a high score and securing a spot in a top NLU.