CLAT(Common Law Entrance Exam), one of the most prestigious national-level competitive exams, opens up the door of admission in the NLUs (National Law Universities) across the country. To gain a good score in the CLAT exam, strategic planning and setting a target are necessary. Having a clear concept of the marking scheme and scoring system is essential to achieve the desired rank. This blog highlights the importance of a good score in CLAT and the required score to take admission in the different NLUs.
Understanding the scoring system
In CLAT 2026, you will get a total of 120 questions from five different sectors, and the sectors are:
- English language
- Legal Reasoning
- Logical reasoning
- Quantitative Technique
- GK and current affairs
You can get 1 mark for each correct answer, and a wrong answer will reduce 0.25. After completing the exam, you can get a CLAT score card showing your score and all-India rank(AIR).
CLAT section-wise marks
| Section | MCQs per section | Maximum marks |
| English language | 28-32 | 28-32 |
| Legal Reasoning | 35-39 | 35-39 |
| Logical reasoning | 28-32 | 28-32 |
| Quantitative Technique | 13-17 | 13-17 |
| GK and current affairs | 35-39 | 35-39 |
What is a good score in CLAT?
You can secure a seat in one of the top NLUs by achieving a Good score in CLAT.
- 95+ out of 120 marks is considered an excellent mark to take admission in the top 3 NLUs.
- You can get admission in other NLUs with a score of 85 to 94 marks.
- You can take admission in mid-tier NLUs by obtaining 70 to 80 marks.
How is the score calculated?
The score in the CLAT exam is being calculated based on your performance in different sectors such as English language, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques, and Current Affairs, including GK. A standardized scoring system is followed in the CLAT exam. You can secure 1 mark for a correct answer and 0.25 will be deducted as negative marking for each wrong answer. Your raw score can be converted into the scaled score by following the normalization process.
Importance of a good score in CLAT
A good score in CLAT has significant importance for your future career in law. In the following points, the scope after achieving a good score in CLAT has been discussed:
- Enter the top law schools
A good score in CLAT increases the possibilities of getting admission in NLUs and other renowned law schools.
- Scholarship facility
You can get a financial reward with an excellent score in the CLAT exam. Many institutes provide scholarships to students based on their score in the CLAT exam.
- Career opportunity
Securing a good score on the national-level exam CLAT unlocks the door to various job opportunities as well as new possibilities in the field of law.
Target score for NLUs
The cut-offs of the last year and an estimated cut-off for 2026 have been provided in the following passages:
Target score for NLSIU Bangalore
To get admission in NLSIU Bangalore, you must take the following scores:
- 2024 cut-offs- 100.25 marks
- 2025 expected – 99-102 marks
- 2026 Target score – 100+ marks
Target score for NALSAR Hyderabad
This is one of the most renowned law schools. The target is as follows:
- 2024 cut-offs- 97 marks
- 2025 expected – 96-99 marks
- 2026 Target score – 97-100
Target score for WBNUNS Kolkata
WBNUNS Kolkata is reputed for placement and academic excellence.
- 2024 cut-offs- 94.75 marks
- 2025 expected – 94-97 marks
- 2026 Target score – 95-98 marks
Target score for other NLUs
| NLU | Cut-off 2024 (General) | Target score for 2026 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 90.5 marks | 92-95 marks |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 88.75 marks | 90-94 marks |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 91 marks | 93-96 marks |
| HNLU Raipur | 86 marks | 88-92 marks |
| NLU Odisha | 83.5 marks | 86-90 marks |
Minimum score and category-wise cutoff
- General category
You need to score 90+ if you are a general category student, and about 110 marks are required for top NLUs.
- SC/ST category
A good score for the SC/ST category in the range of 60-70 and 60%-65% marks is sufficient for the lower-ranked NLUs.
- Personal target
Your aim and preference help you to set a target score for yourself. You should set a higher target to ensure a chance of admission to your desired NLU.
How to score good in CLAT?
A good score in CLAT requires structured preparation and dedication. The recommended ways to score well are as follows:
- Familiarising yourself with the exam pattern, marking scheme, and syllabus is essential to prepare a well-structured study plan.
- Practice previous years’ question papers and practice sets is required to enhance time management skills and accuracy.
- Staying updated with the current affairs regarding law, economics, and politics is necessary to improve your score.
- You need to develop several effective skills, such as analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills.
- Enrolling yourself in a reputable coaching institute can be beneficial to gain a good score in CLAT.
If you are a CLAT aspirant and aim to get a good score in the CLAT exam, you can join us at AKAD, one of the reputed institutes for CLAT in Bengaluru, which offers systematic guidance for the CLAT exam. Our team of expert and experienced educators shares effective strategies, combined with an exam-oriented study plan, for cracking the CLAT exam with a good score. We emphasize enhancing your skills, exploring your potential, and improving your capability in the field of law.
Join us today to make a step towards your desired legal career.
Conclusion
Achieving a Good score in CLAT is much more than passing the exam; it can be considered as the gateway to exploring the world of new possibilities in the field of law. In this article the target scores required for entering the different NLUs have been included to help the students to set their goal while preparing for this competitive entrance exam. The students with a good score in CLAT can get many job opportunities in law firms and corporate firms.
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