The CLAT exam is one of the most prestigious law exams and the students must be preparing by now. While CLAT preparation may seem easy, some aspirants end up taking this lightly and take it for granted. Now while they take it lightly, candidates often make mistakes while preparing for CLAT which can cost them an entire year of preparation and career.
In this article we aim to highlight the 6 most common mistakes that the students make and a guide on how to solve these mistakes. This will help the CLAT aspirants enhance their CLAT preparation strategy and will help them improve their CLAT exam scores as well.
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Not Reviewing and Analysing Mock Tests
The first and the most common mistake that students make is not reviewing the mock tests properly. Candidates often just take the mock test and do not take the effort to analyse their mock scores. This can lead to repeated mistakes and aspirants will not be able to resolve their mistakes. This can also impact their long term CLAT performance and affect their CLAT scores.
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Not Giving Equal Time to All Subjects
Another common mistake that aspirants make is not giving enough or equal time to all sections and subjects. Candidates in this neglect either end up giving too much time to one topic or do not give any time to particular topics. This can often lead to overconfidence and hamper the overall CLAT performance of the candidates.
Using too Many Resources
When preparing for CLAT, some candidates use too many resources like books, online apps, coaching institutes, and more. This can lead to confusion and candidates often do not understand which resource to refer to or which source to discard. Also, some candidates often get confused when different sources view answers from a different perspective. This confusion can lead to mental stress for aspirants and it becomes difficult to find the correct or appropriate answers.
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Ignoring the Weak Sections
To score well in the exam, most students tend to focus on their strong areas and master those. However, they often fail to understand that it is equally important to devote time to their weak areas. Candidates often see a fall in their overall CLAT score when these weaker areas are neglected.
Ignoring Time Management for OMR Sheet
Despite the CLAT being an offline test, many aspirants, especially those accustomed to online practice, overlook the importance of the OMR sheet. Some even leave filling the sheet to the last moment, risking errors due to hasty input. OMR sheets require precision and concentration. An error in filling a single bubble can disrupt the entire answer sequence. Filling the OMR sheet in the last 10-15 minutes has proven problematic for many, leading to unnecessary mistakes.
Not Taking Help from Peers
CLAT exam is a tough exam and most students often do not take any help from peers or mentors. They tend to do everything alone which leads to stress and confusion. With this, their wrong logic remains unchallenged and they are unable to rectify their mistakes.
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How to Solve and Rectify these Errors
Now that we have discussed the common mistakes, let us also identify ways to solve these errors. Check out the below table to understand the solutions to these problems.
Problem | Why It’s Harmful | Solution |
Not Reviewing and Analysing Mock Tests | Leads to repeated mistakes, poor learning from errors, and stagnant scores | After every mock test, spend at least 1–2 hours reviewing. Identify incorrect answers, categorize mistakes (conceptual, careless, time pressure), and create a correction notebook for future revision. |
Not Giving Equal Time to All Subjects | Creates imbalance in preparation; weaker sections remain neglected | Follow a balanced study plan. Use a weekly timetable ensuring each section (English, Legal, GK, Logical, Quant) gets proportionate focus. Rotate subjects daily to avoid monotony. |
Using Too Many Resources | Causes confusion, conflicting answers, and stress | Select one standard book/resource per subject and stick to it. Supplement with mock tests and past papers. Avoid switching materials frequently. |
Ignoring the Weak Sections | Lowers overall score since weaker areas can pull down percentile | Identify weak areas from mocks and dedicate fixed practice slots to them. Seek help from mentors or peers to clarify doubts. Revise regularly until accuracy improves. |
Ignoring Time Management for OMR Sheet | Errors in bubbling answers can ruin the entire attempt | Practice filling OMR sheets during mocks. Mark answers alongside solving questions instead of at the end. Keep 5–7 minutes buffer for OMR filling. |
Not Taking Help from Peers | Leads to stress, wrong logic going uncorrected, and lack of new perspectives | Form a small study group. Discuss doubts, exchange notes, and take peer feedback. Seek guidance from mentors/coaches when stuck. |
