How Much Time is Required to Prepare for CLAT?

The CLAT examination is set to take place on 7th December 2025. The exam is highly competitive and difficult. The examination helps students get into some of the best law colleges in the county. With 4 months of time left for the 2026 exam, students must have a good and realistic idea of what they can do within this duration of time when preparing for the CLAT exam. This article highlights key details about the importance of the time required to prepare for the CLAT examination. These details include key factors and timeline tips for students to refer to.

Factors that Determine CLAT Preparation Time

Before getting into what is estimated timeframe to prepare for the CLAT exam, it is firstly highly important for students to understand the factors that determine their preparation time. These factors can vary from one student to another who is looking to give the CLAT examination.

The factors are as follows:

• Your experience: Some students who have more experience within the field of law through curiosity or other experiences can ace the CLAT exam with less time than students with little to no experience. A student’s experience with entrance examinations is also crucial in determining their preparation time. Some students may be even giving the CLAT exam for a second time as well.
• Time Available: Some students can dedicate more time to preparing for the CLAT exam than others. Some may have to decide to prioritize this exam or their class 12th board examination or may have other law entrance exams that they wish to give for other law colleges beyond just NLUs.

Students Can Also Read: CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme

Time Required for CLAT 2026 Preparation

The time required for a thorough preparation of the CLAT 2026 examination varies from one student to another. Provided below is a general overview for students to refer to. Knowing the estimated time required can help students prepare for the CLAT examination accordingly.

The time is as follows:

Beginner (8 Months to a Year)

This is for students who have little to no experience with law or giving competitive entrance examinations. Students who are also balancing preparing for the CLAT examination as their main exam to clear for top NLUs while studying for their class 12th boards will most probably need this amount of time when preparing for the exam.

Students who need this amount of preparation will need to build a strong foundation and practice thoroughly when preparing for the CLAT examination.

Intermediate (4 to 6 Months)

Students who are more confident in their abilities for the exam will generally need this amount of time for the CLAT examination. 4 to 6 months is a sufficient amount of time if students have some experience in their preparation for CLAT and entrance examinations in general.

Structured planning is instrumental when preparing with this duration. Thorough revision will be needed for all weak topics. Mock tests are also essential in the overall preparation process.

Difficult (2 to 4 Months)

With 2 to 4 months of time to prepare, students must be highly committed to preparing for the CLAT exam. This duration requires students to invest between 7 to 9 hours of preparation per day to be able to crack the exam. Students need to not only be thorough, but highly efficient, precise and disciplined with themselves when preparing for the CLAT exam with this amount of time to prepare. Priority should be given to topics with higher volume as well. Mock tests must be given on a daily basis and all weaknesses found through these tests must be thoroughly worked on and improved.

CLAT 2026 Important Dates

Provided below is an overview of the expected dates for the CLAT 2026 exam. Students can keep up with these dates in order to know what to expect from the CLAT 2026 examination in the coming weeks and months. Keeping up with these dates ensures students are updated on all key events and dates about the CLAT examination.

The CLAT 2026 important dates are as follows:

Also Read:

• 16 Best CLAT Preparation Apps
• CLAT 2026 Best Self-Study Guide