10 Things You Should Know About CLAT 2018
Your quick guide to CLAT 2018 notification, eligibility, age limit, pattern, important dates and lots more
Its official, CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) 2018 will be conducted by the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS)- Kochi on 13th May, 2018. CLAT 2018 is going to be the most significant step that you’ll be taking towards your dream National Law School.
Of course, you’ve got your hands full with board exams, college exams and work. We’re making sure that you don’t miss out on the important dates, syllabus or pattern changes, eligibility criteria, etc. So we’ve created an easy, fuss-free, and a simple list of 10 things that you should know and should keep in mind about CLAT 2018.
Let’s begin!
1. CLAT 2018 Notification
The official notification is not out yet. CLAT 2018 will be notified on the official website of National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS)- Kochi, during the last week of December, 2017.
2. No age limit for CLAT 2018
The Supreme Court of India has removed the age limit cap for CLAT 2018. Consequently a general category student who is above 20 years and reserved category student who is above 22 years in age will also be able to take Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2018.
The Supreme Court of India has passed a stay order on the Bar Council of India’s notification that had imposed an age limit for those appearing in CLAT 2017. The Supreme Court has made it very clear that no age limits will be applied on law aspirants in India.
3. CLAT 2018 Timeline
These happen to be the most important dates for CLAT 2018. Make sure you have these dates printed and pasted somewhere in your room.
- CLAT 2018 Notification– Last week of December 2017
- Online application forms for CLAT 2018 will be available from– Beginning of January to end of March, 2018
- Admit cards for CLAT 2018 will be available from – Second week of April, 2018
- CLAT 2018 will be held on– 13th May, 2018
- CLAT 2018’s rank and result list will be released – During the third week of May, 2018
- Counseling and Seat allotment for CLAT 2018– First week of June to first week of July, 2018
4. CLAT 2018 will be conducted online
No changes here. CLAT 2018 will be an online exam which simply means that you’ll be locking in the chosen answers by clicking on a computer screen instead of manually marking the correct option on an OMR sheet with a pen/pencil.
CLAT 2018 will be held between 3 p.m to 5 p.m on 13th May, 2018.
5. CLAT 2018 will be conducted in the English medium only
It’s a common query –whether CLAT is also conducted in the Hindi or any of the regional languages. Ever since CLAT’s inception in 2008, the CLAT committee has stuck to conducting the exam in the English language only and CLAT 2018 will be conducted on the same line.
6. CLAT 2018’s pattern will test your speed and accuracy
You will be required to answer 200 multiple choice questions within 120 minutes. So, even if you take a minute to solve 1 MCQ, you’ll be left with 80 unattempted questions. CLAT 2018 will be testing you on two things mainly – SPEED & ACCURACY. If you are thinking about making those last minute “inky-pinky-ponky” guesses to improve your chances, think again, because CLAT 2018 will also have a negative marking.
7. Master these 5 subject areas to ace CLAT 2018
- English language and Reading Comprehension
- Legal Aptitude
- General Knowledge and Awareness
- Elementary Mathematics
- Logical Reasoning
Of the 5 subject areas mentioned above, pick the ones you are good at and the ones you’ll need to go an extra mile for, and accordingly chalk out a time-table that suits you.
Trust me you don’t have to be a grammar nazi or a maths whizard to ace CLAT 2018. However you’ll be required to brush up the fundamentals of all the mentioned subject areas.
8. Are you eligible for CLAT 2018?
By now you know that the age criteria has been removed by the Supreme Court of India for CLAT 2018. However, the CLAT committee is sticking to the following eligibility standards for CLAT 2018:
- You should have passed 10+2 or an equivalent exam with 45% marks if you belong to the General/OBC/Specially-abled Persons category (SAP)
OR
- You should have passed 10+2 or an equivalent exam with 40% marks if you belong to the SC/ST category
- Even if you’ll be appearing in the 10+2 Board examination in April/May 2018, you’ll be eligible to take CLAT 2018. However, you should be able to produce sufficient evidence to prove that you have passed 10+2 at the time of admission to your dream National Law School
9. CLAT 2018 is an Eliminating Exam
Of the 60,000 CLAT aspirants who are expected to appear in CLAT 2018 only 2252 will reach a National Law School. Which clearly means that you’ll be required to bring your best game forward on the day of the exam. Make sure you are consistent in your efforts during this final run to CLAT 2018.
Seek a mentor, guidance, coaching- whatever works for you and stay focused.
10. There is no short cut to CLAT 2018
Disciplined practice, a positive frame of mind with just about the right amount of confidence will take you to your dream National Law School. Make sure you have a strategy in place and you execute it. Please do not confuse CLAT with a school or a college semester exam which you could pass with just a few hours of studying. Consistent practice and smart work will sail you through to CLAT 2018.
