CLAT 2027 Negative Marking Scheme: UG Marking Rules, Score Calculation & Accuracy

CLAT 2027 Negative Marking Scheme: How Many Marks Are Deducted?

Under the CLAT 2027 Marking Scheme, candidates will be awarded 1 mark for every correct answer and a penalty for every wrong answer. There is no mark deduction for questions that are left unattempted.

Response	Marks
Correct answer	1
Wrong answer	-0.25
Unattempted	0

Therefore, four incorrect answers can reduce the score by 1 mark. Negative marking makes accuracy important because random attempts can reduce marks earned from correctly answered questions.

CLAT 2027 Marking Scheme: What Happens to Wrong Answers?

The CLAT UG Negative Marking system is based on the test-taker’s overall number of correct and incorrect answers. Since each question carries one mark, marks gained from correct answers can be offset by penalties for wrong answers.

Wrong Answers	Marks Deducted
1	0.25
2	0.5
3	0.75
4	1
5	1.25
10	2.5
20	5

CLAT UG 2027 Total Marks and Section-wise Weightage

The CLAT UG 2027 total marks shall be 120. The approximate section-wise distribution is given below:

Subject Area	Approx. Questions	Approx. Weightage
English Language	22-26	20%
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge	28-32	25%
Legal Reasoning	28-32	25%
Logical Reasoning	22-26	20%
Quantitative Techniques	10-14	10%
Total	120	100%

The question distribution is approximate, so the exact number of questions in individual sections may vary within the prescribed range.

Must Know for Every CLAT Aspirant:

CLAT exam pattern	CLAT Preparation Books
CLAT Marks vs Rank	CLAT Syllabus

How Is CLAT 2027 Score Calculated?

The CLAT 2027 score can be determined using a simple formula:

CLAT Score = Number of Correct Answers - (Number of Wrong Answers × 0.25)

Unattempted questions are not included in the calculation because they carry zero marks.

For example, a candidate with 75 correct answers and 12 incorrect answers would calculate the score as: 75 - (12 × 0.25) = 72 marks

Thus, the final score depends not only on the number of questions attempted but also on how many of those attempts are correct.

CLAT 2027 Negative Marking Scheme: When Should You Leave a Question Unattempted?

Leave a question unattempted when you lack the confidence to select an option. Since an incorrect response attracts a 0.25-mark penalty, attempting every question without considering accuracy can affect the final score.

Candidates can use the following approach during the paper:

• Attempt questions where the answer is known or reasonably clear.
• Avoid spending excessive time on a question that is taking longer to solve.
• Revisit doubtful questions if time is available.
• Leave enough time to review marked responses.
• Remember that an unattempted question results in 0 marks, while a wrong answer results in -0.25 marks.

Free CLAT Study Material for You:

CLAT Previous Year Question Paper	CLAT Sample Papers
CLAT Current Affairs	CLAT Mock Test

CLAT 2027 Score After Negative Marking: Check Sample Calculations

The effect of negative marking becomes clearer through different combinations of correct and wrong answers.

Correct Answers	Wrong Answers	Unattempted	Score
90	10	20	87.5
80	8	32	78
75	12	33	72
70	20	30	65
60	10	50	57.5

For instance, with 90 correct and 10 wrong answers, the calculation is:

90 - (10 × 0.25) = 87.50 marks

This shows why the number of wrong answers matters when calculating the final CLAT score.

CLAT 2027 Accuracy and Attempts: How They Affect Your Final Score

The number of attempts alone does not determine the CLAT score. Accuracy also has a direct impact because every wrong response reduces the score by 0.25 marks.

Consider two candidates who attempt 100 questions:

• Candidate A: 85 correct and 15 wrong = 81.25 marks
• Candidate B: 75 correct and 25 wrong = 68.75 marks

Both attempted the same number of questions, but the difference in accuracy produced different final scores.

Therefore, candidates should check attempts and accuracy during mock practice. Reviewing incorrect questions can help identify whether mistakes occur because of calculation errors, incorrect interpretation, lack of knowledge, or hurried attempts. 

Candidates can compare their attempts, correct answers, and incorrect answers during mock practice. It helps them see whether more attempts improve their score. Managing time across the five sections while maintaining accuracy will be important during the actual paper.

Useful Preparation Resources for CLAT Exam

CLAT Quantitative Techniques Questions	CLAT English Questions
CLAT Logical Reasoning Questions	CLAT Legal Reasoning Questions