CLAT UG exam-day guide
CLAT UG · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Print or download the CLAT admit card / hall ticket
Download it once the consortium's official portal makes it available and keep at least two printed copies plus a digital copy on your phone. Check that your name, photograph, signature, category, and test city match your registration. If anything is wrong, contact the organising consortium immediately rather than editing the document yourself. Confirm with the provider whether colour printing is required.
Carry the photo ID specified in the information bulletin
The bulletin normally names acceptable IDs (for example Aadhaar, passport, PAN, driving licence, or school-issued ID) and rules on photocopies versus originals. Carry the exact original document you listed, plus one spare photo ID if permitted. Confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted this cycle and whether photocopies are allowed.
Bring recent passport-size photographs
Keep two or three photographs matching the one uploaded on the application, in case of signature or attendance verification. Confirm with the provider the exact number and specification required.
Carry black/blue ballpoint pens
The test is pen-and-paper, and the OMR answer sheet must be filled with a dark ballpoint pen. Carry two or three working pens of the permitted colour. Do not use gel pens or pencils unless the bulletin explicitly allows them; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Rehearse OMR bubbling before the exam
Practise filling circles fully and darkly, and erasing or correcting mistakes cleanly, on a sample OMR sheet. Sloppy bubbling and misaligned rows are among the most avoidable score losses in a pen-and-paper exam.
Know the reporting time and gate-closing time
Reporting and gate-closing times are fixed and late entry is usually refused. Note the exact times printed on your admit card and plan to arrive well before reporting time. Confirm with the provider the reporting time for your centre.
Plan the route and a backup
Do a dry run to the centre or check the route on a map, note travel time at the same hour of day, and identify a fallback transport option. Check the previous evening for local disruptions such as road closures or public transport changes.
Read the current information bulletin on permitted and prohibited items
Items such as mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, Bluetooth devices, books, and loose paper are almost always banned inside the hall, and there may be no secure storage at the centre. Confirm with the provider the exact prohibited-items list and whether any locker facility exists.
Follow the dress and accessory instructions
Some centres restrict shoes, belts, metal accessories, or certain clothing. Check the bulletin and the admit card instructions and dress accordingly. Confirm with the provider if the dress code is not clearly stated.
Carry water and a light snack for after the exam
Consumables are usually not allowed inside the hall, so keep water and a snack in your bag for after the test. Confirm with the provider whether water bottles are allowed at your seat.
Keep a one-page revision sheet of formulas and legal maxims
Limit last-minute revision to a single sheet covering quantitative formulas, common legal maxims, and static general-knowledge facts you keep forgetting. Review it before entering the centre, then set it aside; do not try to learn new topics on exam day.
Check the official answer-key and result process
Note where the consortium will publish the provisional answer key, the objection window, and the result date. Confirm with the provider the exact dates and the objection procedure for this cycle.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidation. Take at most one full-length mock under strict timing, then spend the remaining time reviewing errors rather than chasing new material. Re-read the current affairs compilation for the past several months, revise legal-reasoning concepts and maxims, and redo quantitative formulas. Prepare your documents: print the admit card, set aside the original photo ID, and pack photographs and pens in a clear pouch. Confirm the centre address and travel plan, and adjust your sleep schedule so you are waking at the hour you will need on exam day.
Do a light revision of your one-page sheet and current affairs notes only; no new mock tests and no new topics. Visit or map the centre and confirm travel time and the gate-closing time on the admit card. Pack the pouch: admit card copies, original photo ID, photographs, permitted pens, and anything the bulletin requires. Charge your phone but plan to leave it outside the hall or with a guardian. Set two alarms, eat a normal dinner, and sleep at your usual time. Avoid discussing preparation with others, since it tends to raise anxiety without adding marks.
Eat a proper breakfast and avoid heavy or unfamiliar food. Dress per the instructions and leave metal accessories and electronics at home. Arrive well before reporting time so you clear any verification queue calmly. Use the waiting period for a brief glance at your one-page sheet, not for intense study. Once seated, listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions, verify that your booklet and OMR sheet are intact, and fill the roll number and booklet details exactly as directed.
Read the instructions on the booklet and OMR sheet before starting. Work in passes: first answer the questions you find straightforward, then return to the tougher ones. Because CLAT carries negative marking, mark an answer only when you can eliminate enough options to make it worthwhile, and skip pure guesses. Track time against the section-wise allocation you planned in mocks, and keep the last several minutes for transferring or verifying OMR entries. Check that question numbers on the OMR sheet align with the booklet, and never leave a bubble half-filled.
Rules to check
Carry only the identification document named in the bulletin, in original form, along with your admit card; entry is normally refused without them. Confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted this cycle.
Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, Bluetooth devices, and study material are prohibited inside the test hall; possession can lead to disqualification even if the device is switched off. Confirm with the provider the full prohibited-items list and any storage facility.
Follow every invigilator instruction, including signing the attendance sheet and not opening the booklet before the start signal. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test.
CLAT uses negative marking for incorrect answers, so unanswered questions score zero while wrong answers cost marks; decide your guessing threshold in advance based on mock performance. Confirm with the provider the current marking scheme.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the test; settle toilet needs before entering the hall and confirm with the provider whether any medical exception exists.
Do not tamper with the OMR sheet, booklet, or admit card, and do not carry the booklet out of the hall. Hand over all test material as directed before leaving.
If you believe a question is defective, note it and raise it through the official answer-key objection process after the exam rather than arguing with staff during the test; confirm with the provider the objection window and fee.
Report any discrepancy in your admit card details to the organising consortium before exam day, since centre staff usually cannot correct registration data on the spot.