There is still time to prepare for CLAT’20
Anil Sharma
The legal profession is a rewarding and revered career option for students from all streams. If you are keen on pursuing law, then you should know the first milestone to target is the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). This exam is the gateway to the country’s 21 National Law Universities (NLUs), except that of Delhi. Last year more than 60,000 students appeared for the CLAT exam seeking admission in some of the top NLUs such as NALSAR Hyderabad, NLSIU Bangalore, WBNUJS Kolkata, etc.
The New CLAT Pattern
The CLAT exam is a two-hour test comprising five sections — English, Current Affairs & GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques. These sections correspond closely to the qualities required in a lawyer, i.e., excellent communication skills, a logical and analytical bent of mind and stronghold on the country’s laws and rules.
The notification for CLAT 2020 was released in December 2019. Some notable changes have been introduced in the exam pattern. First, the total number of questions has been reduced to 150 from earlier 200. And second, the exam will now test students through ‘comprehension-based questions’, designed to assess a candidate’s reading skills and deductive abilities more categorically.
Strategy for the exam
Many entrance exams, including CLAT 2020, have been postponed but there is no reason for a student to be discouraged or procrastinate. This is the time one must carefully plan and strategize his/her preparation. Thankfully the CLAT exam does not entail the rigour of JEE. While it is advisable to prepare for 1-2 years to give yourself the best chance, a smart short bust may still open a window to attempt exam with bright prospects.
To begin with, you need to understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly. It will help you not only know what to study but also understand the relative importance of each section, define the perimeters of your preparation and determine the time you need to dedicate to every area. For instance, you will see that both the current affairs and the legal reasoning section carry more number of questions compared to others.
Additionally, you must supplement your studies with mock-tests, previous year test papers and sample papers. This step is very crucial to your success. Going through past papers will aid your know-how of the kind of questions asked, the level of difficulty and the areas of your strength or improvement. Moreover, solving these papers will uplift your confidence.
Lastly, if the COVID disaster is not contained anytime soon, the consortium of NLUs, like other exams’ conducting bodies, may have to resort to an online test. The spreading disease has compelled students to shift from traditional ways of studies to internet-based networked platforms. Therefore, one must embrace the wave of online education and test preparation, considering we are looking at a digital future.
Section-wise Preparation Tips
For an effective study plan, you should break it up into different sections and devise a prudent strategy for each of them separately. For some, you may have to work on conceptual knowledge, while for others; you would require more practice and testing.
Here are some section-wise CLAT preparation tips to get you started:
1. English Language: Read newspapers and magazines, and in particular the editorial section. Read diverse genres. Ideal reading speed for passage should be 7-8 minutes. Try to gauge the central idea and chalk out relevant inferences. Use the 5W strategy to identify important points.
2. GK and Current Affairs: An enduring habit of newspaper reading is recommended. Try to understand the different perspectives of any event, especially the legal aspect. You can use GK journals, current affair magazines, yearbooks, etc. to assist in your preparation. And remember; avoid reckless guesswork in the examination.
3. Legal Reasoning: Develop the skill of identifying relevant legal principles and facts separately in a given passage. This will help in analysing and understanding the question better. One needs to be aware of legal and social issues in India. Read newspapers and law journals regularly.
4. Logical Reasoning: Analytical thinking and ability to identify patterns, trends, sequences, analogies, syllogisms, etc. is the key here. Try to find the hidden inference or argument in a passage and logically derive relationships or parallels with it.
5. Quantitative Techniques: Good news for those with a maths phobia. Only Class X level standard mathematics knowledge is required. Learn to use short-cuts and tricks for faster calculations and data/graph interpretations.
Remember, perseverance drives passion. All the best!
— The writer is Vice President at Hitbullseye.com
