The CLAT 2026 sample paper has been officially released on 26 November 2025, giving aspirants the first clear look at the type of questions and passage style expected in the upcoming exam.
This CLAT sample paper 2026 includes only three sections—English Language, Legal Reasoning, and Logical Reasoning—covering 25 English questions (5 passages), 30 Legal questions (6 passages), and 25 Logical Reasoning questions (5 passages).
This sample paper is designed to help students understand the format, difficulty level, and reasoning-based approach of CLAT 2026. It is not a previous year’s paper but an official model to guide your preparation with clarity and confidence.
CLAT 2026 Sample Paper: Details
| Section Name | Passages | Questions | Total Marks |
| English Language | 5 | 25 | 25 |
| Legal Reasoning | 6 | 30 | 30 |
| Logical Reasoning | 5 | 25 | 25 |
The CLAT 2026 sample paper clearly reinforces the exam’s reading-oriented structure, with all three released sections fully passage-based. It highlights the Consortium’s continued focus on comprehension, reasoning, and inference skills.
Aspirants must prepare for dense passages, subtle options, and time-bound analysis rather than rote learning or direct factual recall.
📥 Download CLAT 2026 Sample Paper (Free PDF)
Get the official CLAT 2026 sample paper PDF for free and start practicing in an exam-like format. This model paper helps you understand the question style, difficulty level, and passage structure expected in the actual exam.
CLAT 2026 Sample Paper: Solution
Upcoming CLAT Exams:
Section-Wise Breakdown of CLAT Sample Paper 2026
1. English Language (25 Questions, 5 Passages)
| Element | Details |
| Total Passages | 5 |
| Total Questions | 25 |
| Passage Style | Contemporary issues, opinions, literary non-fiction |
| Question Types | Main idea, inference, tone, vocabulary-in-context, comparison |
| Skills Tested | Reading speed, comprehension accuracy, analytical reasoning |
| Recommended Strategy | Prioritize scanning for structure, identify author viewpoint, avoid overthinking vocabulary, and manage time by not spending more than 6–7 minutes per passage. |
2. Legal Reasoning (30 Questions, 5 Passages)
| Element | Details |
| Total Passages | 5 |
| Total Questions | 30 |
| Passage Style | Case-style narratives, principle-based reasoning, public policy issues |
| Question Types | Application of principles, identifying precedents, reasoning-based analysis |
| Skills Tested | Principle application, factual understanding, ability to distinguish similar options |
| Recommended Strategy | First read the principle clearly, map it to facts, eliminate options based on logic, and avoid assumptions not stated in the passage. |
3. Logical Reasoning (25 Questions, 5 Passages)
| Element | Details |
| Total Passages | 5 |
| Total Questions | 25 |
| Passage Style | Argument-based, editorial-style reasoning, abstract ideas |
| Question Types | Strengthen/weaken, assumption, inference, conclusion, flaw detection |
| Skills Tested | Critical thinking, identifying logic gaps, argument analysis |
| Recommended Strategy | Read the argument once for structure, underline premises and conclusions, and use elimination to remove vague or extreme options. |
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Overview
Before you attempt the CLAT 2026 sample paper, it’s important to understand the official exam structure. The Consortium follows a passage-based format where each section has a fixed weightage, and questions are designed to test comprehension, reasoning, and application skills.
| Section | Approx. No. of Questions | Weightage | Marks per Question | Negative Marking |
| English Language | 22–26 | ~20% | +1 | -0.25 |
| Current Affairs (including GK) | 28–32 | ~25% | +1 | -0.25 |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | ~25% | +1 | -0.25 |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | ~20% | +1 | -0.25 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | ~10% | +1 | -0.25 |
| Total | 120 | 100% |
Learn more about CLAT marking scheme in detail.
How to Use CLAT Sample Paper 2026 Effectively?
1. Understand the Format Difference
A CLAT 2026 sample paper does not contain the full 120 questions of the actual exam. Instead, it includes only a few passages and a limited number of questions, designed to familiarise you with the latest question style and difficulty level. Keep this in mind so you don’t mistake it for a complete mock test.
2. Simulate the Real Exam Environment
Even though the sample paper has fewer questions, attempt it in a focused, distraction-free setting. Set a timer proportional to the number of questions so you can still practise CLAT time management effectively. This will help you carry the same discipline into full-length mocks.
3. Complete the Paper Before Checking Answers
Don’t check solutions midway. Attempt the paper in one go and then review your performance. Once done, use the CLAT sample paper 2026 with solution to understand correct answers and identify mistakes.
4. Analyse Your Mistakes Thoroughly
Check if errors were due to knowledge gaps, misreading a passage, or rushing through answers. This detailed review will guide your revision so that similar mistakes aren’t repeated in the actual exam.
5. Revise and Reattempt
After working on your weak areas, try the same CLAT 2026 sample paper again after a few days. The improvement between attempts will indicate how well you’ve addressed those weaknesses.
6. Track Your Progress
Record your scores, accuracy, and time taken for each sample paper. Even though these papers are shorter, consistent improvement in them is a good sign that you’re building the skills needed for the full CLAT exam.
Important Resources After CLAT Exam:
Benefits of Solving CLAT 2026 Sample Paper
1. Familiarity with the Latest Pattern
A CLAT 2026 sample paper follows the updated question style and difficulty level set by the Consortium. Even though it contains fewer questions than the actual exam, it helps you understand the passage-based format in detail.
2. Early Identification of Weak Areas
By reviewing your performance with the CLAT sample paper 2026 with solution, you can spot problem areas early in your preparation and focus on improving them before the actual exam.
3. Practice with Official Question Style
Since the sample papers are created by the Consortium of NLUs, they give you an authentic sense of how questions are framed, which topics are tested, and how passages are structured.
4. Improved Comprehension and Reasoning Skills
Repeatedly solving these papers sharpens your reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and logical reasoning — skills that directly influence your CLAT score.
5. Low-Stress, High-Value Practice
Because the papers are shorter than a full mock test, they allow you to focus on quality practice without the fatigue of a full-length exam, making them perfect for targeted preparation sessions.
Follow this effective CLAT Preparation timetable 2026.
Additional CLAT Preparation Resources
CLAT Previous Year Papers
Once you’ve solved the CLAT 2026 sample paper, the next step is to attempt actual CLAT previous year papers. These will give you an exact idea of past difficulty levels, question trends, and the competitive nature of the exam. They’re ideal for benchmarking your current preparation.
CLAT Mock Test Series
Unlike the shorter sample papers, a full CLAT mock test replicates the entire CLAT exam format with 120 questions. Regularly attempting mocks alongside the CLAT sample paper 2026 with solution helps you build exam stamina, refine time management, and practise strategy execution under realistic conditions.
CLAT Preparation Books
To strengthen your foundation, use recommended CLAT preparation books for each section — English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. These books provide targeted exercises, which, when combined with sample paper and mock test practice, ensure all-round readiness.
FAQs About CLAT 2026 Sample Papers
The CLAT 2026 sample paper was released on 26 November 2025 by the Consortium of NLUs.
The sample paper includes three sections: English Language, Legal Reasoning, and Logical Reasoning.
No. The released sample paper includes only three sections. GK and Quant will still be part of the actual CLAT 2026 exam, even though they are not shown in the sample.
The Consortium often shares sample papers to demonstrate question style and reasoning patterns, not the full paper layout. This sample paper is meant to show the expected difficulty and passage-based approach.
The style and difficulty are similar, but the number of questions and section distribution in the actual exam may differ.
The Consortium may release additional sample papers before the exam, usually 2–3 in total, depending on internal schedules.
Free CLAT Study Material for You:
| CLAT Previous Year Papers PDF | CLAT Sample Papers |
| CLAT Syllabus PDF | Free CLAT Coaching |
| CLAT Current Affairs | CLAT Topper Interviews |
| CLAT Videos | CLAT Mock Tests |
Must Know for Every CLAT Aspirant: