- Amitendra Kumar The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) has undergone significant modifications in recent years. This shift has redesigned the exam’s structure and preparation, ultimately influencing candidates' scores. As students and educators adjust to these changes, the exam now emphasizes more on critical thinking and real-world problem-solving. What's the CLAT pattern? The major shift in the CLAT syllabus shows that the number of questions has been reduced. Earlier, the test included 200 questions which changed to 150, that had to be solved in 120 min, and this format promoted the urgent approach based on knowledge memorization. However, in the CLAT 2024 paper, the total number of questions was reduced to 120 while the time limit remained the same. This shift also implies that instead of content coverage, students are supposed to be more interested in content comprehension, and each of them contains more comprehension levels. The basic five sections — English, General Awareness, Law, Logical Reasoning, and Mathematics—have been retained, but the pattern of the questions has been set afresh. For instance, English and general knowledge sections now focus majorly on passage-based questions that evaluate the candidate’s comprehension of what has been read or written and his ability to seek information. Out of the assumptions of legal aptitude, memorization of legal maxims and legal knowledge is no longer a part of this subject, as the questions framed in this subject are depicted based on real-life exercises, which in any case are based on the basic legal principles to be applied in practice. Impact on Student Scores The changes that have been carried out have affected the preparation and performance of learners to varying degrees. From memorization, critical thinking and understanding have become the focus. This has resulted in a wider spread of the scores as more students do not solely rely on cramming to achieve great scores. Adapting to the new syllabus To succeed in this new CLAT pattern, students must adjust their preparation strategies. Rote learning is no longer enough. Instead, students should devote their time to improving their reading comprehension and critical thinking abilities. Regular practice with comprehension-based mock tests can help students become familiar with the new question styles. Additionally, keeping up with current events, especially in legal and political fields, has become crucial for success in the general knowledge section. Reading newspapers regularly can help students stay informed and improve their holistic performance. The CLAT syllabus overhaul has transformed the exam into a comprehensive and skills-based test. While it may pose challenges for some students, it also provides opportunities for those who excel in critical thinking and comprehension. (The writer is a product head at Career Launcher)
