With thousands of applicants vying for seats in prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs), it’s natural for myths and misconceptions to surround the exam. These myths can mislead candidates, creating unnecessary anxiety or pushing them in the wrong direction during their preparation. It’s important to separate fact from fiction to ensure you’re on the right track.
1. Myth: You Can Ace CLAT by Relying on Coaching Alone
Many students believe that enrolling in a reputed coaching institute is enough to crack CLAT. While coaching can provide structure and resources, it’s not a magic solution. You’ll still need self-discipline, hard work, and consistent personal effort to succeed.
Reality:
Self-study plays a crucial role in CLAT preparation. Coaching can guide you with the right approach, but it cannot replace the effort you need to put in to internalize concepts and practice regularly. Focus on improving your weaker areas, revising concepts, and taking mock tests on your own. Use coaching as a supplement to self-study rather than your primary reliance.
2. Myth: Only Students with Strong English Skills Can Succeed in CLAT
It’s common to hear that students with a strong command of the English language have a significant advantage in CLAT, especially given the exam’s heavy reliance on comprehension, grammar, and critical reasoning. This belief often discourages students who feel they aren’t proficient in English.
Reality:
Anyone can improve their English with the right strategy and consistent practice. While English is a crucial section, it’s just one part of the exam. With regular reading, vocabulary building, and solving comprehension exercises, you can significantly enhance your English skills. The key is to practice reading diverse content—newspapers, novels, and opinion pieces—to improve both speed and comprehension. Don’t let fear of English proficiency hold you back from preparing confidently.
3. Myth: You Must Attempt All Questions to Score High
A misconception that causes many candidates to falter in CLAT is the belief that attempting all questions will increase their chances of scoring high. This myth often leads to poor time management and guesswork, especially since CLAT includes negative marking.
Reality:
Accuracy matters more than attempting all questions. CLAT has negative marking, with a deduction of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. Instead of attempting all questions blindly, focus on ensuring accuracy. Practice smart guessing by eliminating options and attempting only those questions where you’re reasonably confident. Answering fewer questions with higher accuracy will give you a better score than guessing and risking penalties from incorrect answers.
4. Myth: You Don’t Need to Study Math if You’re Weak in It
Many CLAT aspirants fear the Quantitative Techniques (Math) section and assume they can skip it, believing they can make up for it in other sections. This myth leads to an imbalanced preparation strategy that can hurt overall performance.
Reality:
The math section may not carry the most weightage, but every section counts. CLAT math focuses on basic quantitative reasoning and problem-solving skills, often based on Class 10-level concepts. Ignoring this section is a mistake. With consistent practice, even students weak in math can improve. Focus on the basics—percentages, averages, ratios, and data interpretation—and practice regularly to strengthen your confidence in this area.
5. Myth: CLAT is All About Speed
While CLAT is a timed test and speed is certainly a factor, there’s a myth that being able to answer questions quickly is the key to success. Some students may prioritize speed over understanding, leading to careless mistakes.
Reality:
Speed without accuracy can cost you marks. CLAT is as much about comprehension, critical thinking, and reasoning as it is about speed. Instead of rushing through the paper, focus on reading carefully, analyzing questions, and then responding accurately. Time management is critical, but it should go hand in hand with accuracy. Develop a balance by practicing under timed conditions but emphasizing both speed and precision.
6. Myth: The More Study Materials You Have, the Better Prepared You’ll Be
With an abundance of study materials, guides, and online resources available, many students believe that collecting and using multiple sources will make them more prepared. This myth often leads to information overload and confusion.
Reality:
Quality over quantity should be your approach when it comes to study materials. Instead of using too many resources, select a few trusted books and guides and stick to them. Consistency in using the same materials ensures better understanding and retention. Refer to additional sources only when necessary for clarification. Focusing on a well-curated set of materials will keep your preparation structured and manageable.
7. Myth: Solving Previous Year Papers Alone Is Enough
Another myth is that solving previous year papers is the only preparation you need to crack CLAT. While practicing past papers is crucial, relying solely on them without covering the basics or working on mock tests can leave you underprepared.
Reality:
Solving previous year papers helps you understand the exam pattern and familiarizes you with the types of questions asked. However, this should be just one part of your overall strategy. You need to focus on conceptual clarity, strengthen your reasoning and legal aptitude skills, and take multiple mock tests under timed conditions to simulate the real exam experience.
8. Myth: You Can Skip Reading the Newspaper and Rely on Study Material
For many candidates, reading the newspaper daily seems like a chore, especially with an overwhelming amount of material to cover. They often think they can rely solely on static study materials for General Knowledge (GK) and Current Affairs sections.
Reality:
Relying only on static study material isn’t enough for the GK section, especially since CLAT questions are increasingly current-affairs based. Reading a quality newspaper like The Hindu or The Indian Express helps you stay updated on important events and political developments. It also strengthens your reading comprehension, which is essential for legal and logical reasoning sections.
9. Myth: You Don’t Need to Analyze Your Mock Tests
Some aspirants believe that taking mock tests is sufficient to gauge their readiness for the exam and don’t feel the need to analyze their performance. This myth can prevent students from identifying their mistakes and learning from them.
Reality:
Analyzing your mock tests is just as important as taking them. After each mock test, review your mistakes, understand why you got certain questions wrong, and identify your weaker areas. Focus on improving your time management, accuracy, and speed. This reflection process will allow you to tailor your preparation and make continuous improvements.
10. Myth: Law is Only for Students from Humanities Backgrounds
Many students from science or commerce backgrounds feel hesitant about preparing for CLAT because they believe that law is a domain best suited for those who come from a humanities background.
Reality:
CLAT is designed to test reasoning, comprehension, and aptitude rather than specialized knowledge in a particular field. Students from any background—science, commerce, or humanities—can crack CLAT with the right preparation. Law as a field requires critical thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning skills, which are not limited to any specific stream. In fact, many successful law professionals come from diverse academic backgrounds.
Conclusion
Debunking the myths and misconceptions around CLAT can help you prepare more effectively and with a clearer mind. Rather than being swayed by popular beliefs, focus on understanding the exam’s real requirements, creating a balanced study plan, and putting in consistent effort. CLAT success isn’t about magic formulas or shortcuts—it’s about dedication, smart work, and learning from your mistakes.
