The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) releases official CLAT sample papers annually to aid candidates in understanding the latest exam pattern, difficulty level, and question types. These model tests, distinct from previous year papers, are designed to mirror the format of the upcoming examination, providing a preview of the actual test day experience. Access to these resources is typically free, though specific release timelines and the number of papers vary each year. Aspiring law students often combine these sample papers with mock tests, previous year questions, and preparation books to build a comprehensive study strategy.
Understanding CLAT Sample Papers
A CLAT sample paper is an official practice test released by the Consortium of NLUs ahead of the actual CLAT exam. These papers follow the same question style as the real test, giving candidates a preview of what to expect on exam day. Unlike previous year papers of CLAT, which contain actual past exam questions, sample papers are model tests prepared for the upcoming exam. They are designed to match the difficulty level and pattern of the real exam. In some cases, a sample paper of the CLAT exam might even be slightly tougher to prepare students better.
The official CLAT sample papers are released by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) on their website. The Consortium releases each official sample paper of the CLAT exam for free. The number of papers varies each year. For example, there were 2 for CLAT 2025, 4 for CLAT 2024, 3 for CLAT 2023, and 3 for CLAT 2020.
CLAT 2027 Sample Papers
The official sample papers for CLAT 2027 have not been released yet by the Consortium of National Law Universities. These sample papers are usually made available closer to the examination date to help candidates understand the updated exam pattern, question format, and difficulty level. The CLAT 2027 sample papers are expected to be released by the Consortium in mid-September 2026. Once available, students can download each CLAT sample paper with answers to start practising. Till then, aspirants are advised to practice previous years’ CLAT sample papers and mock tests to build familiarity with the exam structure and improve time management skills.
CLAT 2026 Sample Papers
CLAT Mock Test 2026 will be released by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) on its official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Candidates who have already registered and paid the fees can access the official CLAT sample paper 2026 by using their login credentials. It should be noted that the CLAT 2026 exam will take place on December 7, 2025. Candidates can take a practice online CLAT 2026 mock test to gauge their level of exam readiness. The reasoning behind this is that by completing practice tests, a candidate can accurately assess their level of CLAT 2026 preparation, pinpoint their areas of weakness, and determine how fast they should respond to questions.
There are 2 official sample papers for CLAT 2026. The CLAT 2026 sample paper clearly reinforces the exam’s reading-oriented structure, with all three released sections fully passage-based. The section details for CLAT 2026 Sample Paper-I are as follows:
- English Language: 5 passages, 25 questions, 25 total marks.
- Legal Reasoning: 6 passages, 30 questions, 30 total marks.
- Logical Reasoning: 5 passages, 25 questions, 25 total marks.
CLAT 2025 Sample Papers
For CLAT 2025, the Consortium released 2 official sample papers. These papers were designed strictly as per the revised CLAT exam pattern, with passage-based questions spread across all five sections.
CLAT 2024 Sample Papers
For CLAT 2024, the Consortium released 4 official sample papers. The key highlights of the CLAT Sample Paper 2024 include: * Varied difficulty levels across the set, helping students prepare for both easier and trickier passages. * A good mix of contemporary topics and conceptual reasoning. * Balanced question distribution, allowing you to practice time allocation per section.
The four sample papers for CLAT 2024 are: * CLAT 2024 Sample Paper-I * CLAT 2024 Sample Paper-II * CLAT 2024 Sample Paper-III * CLAT 2024 Sample Paper-IV
CLAT 2023 Sample Papers
For CLAT 2023, the Consortium released three official sample papers to guide aspirants in understanding the revised paper pattern. These were particularly useful because 2023 was among the first few years after the major format change in CLAT, making practice with updated material essential. The key highlights for CLAT 2023 sample papers include: * Total Papers: 3 * The sample question paper of CLAT followed the passage-based question format across all sections. * Questions tested both reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. * Balanced representation of law-related passages, current affairs, and logical puzzles.
The three sample papers for CLAT 2023 are: * CLAT 2023 Sample Paper-I * CLAT 2023 Sample Paper-II * CLAT 2023 Sample Paper-III
CLAT 2020 Sample Papers
CLAT 2020 marked a major shift in the exam pattern, introducing the now-familiar passage-based questions across all sections. The Consortium released 3 official sample papers for CLAT 2020. These papers were designed strictly as per the revised CLAT Exam pattern, with passage-based questions spread across all five sections.
How to Access and Use Sample Papers
The official CLAT sample papers are released by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) on their website. For free downloads, candidates can follow the steps mentioned on relevant websites: * Simply click on the full-length or sectional practice exam. * Enter your information, including your name, phone number, email address, and more. * Aspirants can immediately access the other tests after registering.
You can print the official PDFs or get them in coaching materials. They’re perfect for benchmarking your performance and spotting recurring question trends over the years. While sample papers are essential, they should be combined with mock tests, previous year papers, and targeted practice from CLAT preparation books for complete readiness.
Complementary Preparation Resources
To help you prepare effectively and be ready for the CLAT exam date 2027, you can use the collection of CLAT previous year papers. These papers provide valuable insights into the exam format and types of questions asked, helping you refine your study strategy.
A high-quality CLAT mock test series offers complete exam simulations, which is a step beyond individual sample papers. Regularly attempting mocks alongside CLAT sample papers with answers helps you master time management, build exam stamina, and develop effective answering strategies across all sections.
For focused skill-building, use recommended CLAT preparation books. These books provide section-wise exercises for English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Combining them with your sample paper of CLAT exam practice ensures you’re strengthening concepts while improving test performance.
Guidelines to Assess the CLAT Mock Test
The important guidelines you must follow after solving the CLAT Mock test to assess your preparation are: * Give many mock tests to assess the answers, record the incorrect ones and detect a pattern to work on improvement. * Use a notepad to pinpoint your persistent weak points and set aside some time to focus on strengthening them. * To get accustomed to actual test conditions, schedule yourself, sit at a study table, and set up a fake exam atmosphere. * You can identify their areas of weakness and learn how to increase speed and accuracy with regular practice. * Try offering sectional mock tests occasionally to concentrate on your weaker areas rather than giving full mock tests.
Conclusion
Official CLAT sample papers are a critical component of exam preparation, offering free, authentic practice material that mirrors the current exam format. The availability of these papers varies by year, with the Consortium of NLUs typically releasing them closer to the examination date. For the upcoming CLAT 2027 exam, sample papers are expected in mid-September 2026. Until then, candidates are advised to utilise previous years' sample papers and mock tests. A balanced preparation strategy that integrates sample papers, mock tests, previous year papers, and dedicated study books is recommended for comprehensive readiness.