CLAT Syllabus: The Complete Breakdown
All five sections, what each covers, and how much it is worth. A map rather than a wall of text — each section links out to its own guide.
Part of the CLAT 2027 guide
The CLAT syllabus is defined less by topics than by skills. The Consortium does not publish a chapter list the way a board exam does; it publishes the five areas the paper tests and the approximate weight of each.
That distinction matters. Use the published areas to organise learning, then keep practising and revising the skills and knowledge they require.
The five sections
English Language — 22–26 questions, ~20%
Comprehension from passages of about 450 words: main idea, inference, tone, vocabulary in context and structure. → What is the English section in CLAT? · English topics
Current Affairs including General Knowledge — 28–32 questions, ~25%
News and other non-fiction passages, with current affairs, arts and culture, international affairs and historical events of continuing significance. There is no official fixed month window. → What is Current Affairs & GK in CLAT? · GK topics
Legal Reasoning — 28–32 questions, ~25%
A principle and a fact situation; apply one to the other. No prior legal knowledge is required; awareness of contemporary legal and moral issues can help understanding. → What is Legal Reasoning in CLAT? · Legal Reasoning topics
Logical Reasoning — 22–26 questions, ~20%
Argument analysis: conclusions, assumptions, strengthen and weaken, flaws. Use the published passage-based skills to guide preparation. → What is Logical Reasoning in CLAT? · Logical Reasoning syllabus
Quantitative Techniques — 10–14 questions, ~10%
Numerical interpretation using Class 10 operations, including ratios, basic algebra, mensuration and statistical estimation. → What are Quantitative Techniques in CLAT? · Maths topics
The through-line
Every section is comprehension-led. The syllabus does not fix a total number of passages; numerical sets may also be shorter than prose passages. A candidate who reads well and carefully has an advantage in all five sections; knowledge, reasoning and calculation also need their own practice.
This is why we keep pointing back at reading. It is not a stylistic preference — it is where the marks are.
What is not on the syllabus
The published focus is comprehension and reasoning, with Class 10 mathematics. It does not prescribe memorising legal case citations or a generic catalogue of puzzle types. Avoid treating an unofficial exclusion list as a guarantee about every future question.
For English, include fiction and non-fiction. For GK, include relevant background and history rather than restricting every topic to recent headlines.
Where to go next
- CLAT exam pattern — marks, timing, the rules
- How to start preparing for CLAT
- What type of questions are asked in CLAT?
- How many questions are there in CLAT?
- Is maths necessary for CLAT?
Sources and scope
Official references checked on 18 September 2026. Study routines and teaching examples are editorial suggestions, not official requirements.