Understanding CLAT Scoring System

The CLAT exam has a total of 120 questions, each carrying 1 mark, with a negative marking of 0.25 for every wrong answer.

This means the maximum possible score is 120, and the minimum (in theory) could go into negatives if too many answers are incorrect.

Your raw score (total marks after negative marking) is then used to calculate:

• Your All India Rank (AIR)
• Your Percentile

🔹 CLAT Score vs Rank: The Real Picture

Your CLAT rank depends on how your score compares to other test-takers. Even a small difference in marks can shift your rank by hundreds of positions due to the high competition.

Here’s an approximate CLAT Score vs Rank Analysis based on previous years’ data (CLAT 2024 & 2023 trends):

Lower-ranked NLUs or private law colleges

(Note: These are indicative ranges based on past trends and may vary slightly each year depending on paper difficulty.)

🔹 CLAT Percentile: What Does It Mean?

Your CLAT percentile reflects the percentage of candidates who scored below you.

It’s calculated using the formula:

Percentile=(1−Your RankTotal Candidates)×100\text{Percentile} = \left(1 - \frac{\text{Your Rank}}{\text{Total Candidates}}\right) \times 100Percentile=(1−Total CandidatesYour Rank​)×100

For example:

If 60,000 students appeared and your rank is 600,

Percentile=(1−60060000)×100=99.0\text{Percentile} = \left(1 - \frac{600}{60000}\right) \times 100 = 99.0Percentile=(1−60000600​)×100=99.0

This means you performed better than 99% of test-takers.

🔹 What’s a Good CLAT Score?

A “good” CLAT score depends on your target NLU:

If you’re aiming for NLSIU Bangalore or NALSAR Hyderabad, a score above 100 (99.9 percentile) is typically needed.

🔹 How to Improve Your CLAT Score

1. Master Reading Comprehension: 25–30% of CLAT is reading-based — improve speed and accuracy.
2. Focus on GK & Current Affairs: High-return section with less time consumption.
3. Strengthen Legal Reasoning: Understand principles clearly; this is a rank-deciding section.
4. Revise Quantitative Techniques: Focus on data interpretation and basic arithmetic.
5. Take Mock Tests Regularly: Analyze performance to identify weak areas.