CLAT Previous Year Papers: Which to Solve & How
CLAT previous year papers are available from 2008 to 2026 with answer keys — but they are not equally useful. The 2024–2026 papers match the current 120-question, passage-based pattern and should be your priority; the 2020–2023 papers (150 questions, same style) are strong extra practice; papers before 2020 follow an obsolete 200-question format.
Download CLAT Papers Year-Wise (with Answer Keys)
Each paper opens with its official question paper and final answer key. Start with the current-format papers (2024–2026) and work backwards.
Papers and final answer keys are the property of the Consortium of NLUs and are published officially on consortiumofnlus.ac.in after each exam. Pre-2020 papers (200-question format) are best mined for static GK rather than attempted as full timed papers.
Not All CLAT Papers Are Equal: the Three Pattern Eras
Most lists show every year flat. What actually matters is which papers still match the exam you will sit.
| Era | Years | Format | How to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current | 2024–2026 | 120 Qs · 2 hrs · passage-based | Priority — attempt as timed, full-length tests |
| Transitional | 2020–2023 | 150 Qs · 2 hrs · passage-based | Strong extra practice — same style, faster pace |
| Legacy | 2008–2019 | 200 Qs · knowledge-based MCQs | Skip for practice; static-GK mining only |
Why it matters: CLAT changed fundamentally in 2020 (fully passage-based) and again from CLAT 2024 (150 → 120 questions). A 2017 paper teaches you a format you will never face. Spend your timed attempts on 2024–2026, use 2020–2023 for volume, and treat the older papers as a question bank for static GK at most.
CLAT Paper Trend, Year by Year (Current Era)
Section splits from published paper analyses. Verify against the official Consortium key before relying on exact counts.
| Paper (held) | Qs | Eng | CA&GK | Legal | Logical | Quant | Difficulty* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT 2026 (7 Dec 2025) | 120 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 12 | Moderate |
| CLAT 2025 (1 Dec 2024) | 120 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 24 | 12 | Easy–moderate |
| CLAT 2024 (3 Dec 2023) | 120 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 24 | 12 | Moderate |
| CLAT 2023 (18 Dec 2022) | 150 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 30 | 15 | Moderate |
| CLAT 2022 (19 Jun 2022) | 150 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 30 | 15 | Moderate–tough |
| CLAT 2021 (23 Jul 2021) | 150 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 30 | 15 | Moderate |
*Difficulty reflects consensus from post-exam analyses and is indicative. Exact section counts vary slightly by year within the Consortium's published weightage; verify against the official question paper and final answer key on consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The stable takeaways: Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs & GK are consistently the largest sections, and recent papers reward accuracy over attempts.
How to Actually Use a CLAT Previous Year Paper
A previous paper is only worth as much as the analysis after it. This is the attempt → analyse → re-attempt method our toppers run on every paper.
- 1
Attempt it like the real exam
One sitting, two hours, OMR sheet, no pauses — ideally 2:00–4:00 PM, the real slot. Print the paper; CLAT is offline, and screen practice misses the OMR rhythm.
- 2
Tag every answer Sure or Guess
As you go. This is the single highest-value habit: it separates accuracy problems from confidence problems when you review.
- 3
Score it with the official key
+1 correct, −0.25 wrong. Record total AND section-wise scores in a log — the trend across papers matters more than any single score.
- 4
Analyse in three buckets
Wrong-but-Sure (concept gaps — fix first), wrong-but-Guess (stop guessing these), and right-but-slow (speed work). Re-read every passage you misread.
- 5
Re-attempt after 3–4 weeks
Not to inflate your score — to confirm the gaps you found are actually closed.
A good rhythm for CLAT 2027: one previous paper every 1–2 weeks from mid-preparation, switching to full mock-series intensity in the final three months — PYPs tell you what the exam was; fresh mocks simulate what it will be.
What 'good' looks like in a PYP
Recent cut-off context: top NLUs have closed around the high-90s to low-100s out of 120 in recent cycles, and a score in the 85–100 band on a timed 2024–2026 paper puts you in serious NLU contention. Treat sub-scores, not the total, as the signal — a 90 built on weak Legal + strong English needs a different plan from the reverse. (Indicative; cut-offs vary by year.)
Previous Papers, Sample Papers and Mocks: What Each Is For
Previous year papers are the real exam — the ground truth for pattern, difficulty and style; their one limit is that there are only six in the current format. Sample papers are unofficial imitations of varying quality — useful for volume, only as good as their setter. Mock tests are the bridge: fresh, exam-calibrated papers with current-affairs windows matched to YOUR cycle, rank benchmarking against other aspirants, and section analytics. The sequence that works: learn the exam from PYPs, build volume with sectional practice, then live in a proctored mock series for the final months.
Previous papers
The real exam — ground truth for pattern, difficulty and style. Limit: only six in the current format.
Sample papers
Unofficial imitations of varying quality. Useful for volume — only as good as their setter.
Mock tests
Fresh, exam-calibrated papers with current-affairs windows for your cycle, rank benchmarking and analytics.
Previous Year Papers FAQs
Turn papers into a plan
Previous year papers tell you what CLAT is; a mentor tells you what YOUR attempts mean. Get your PYP scores reviewed, find where the marks are leaking, and follow a plan built to close the gap — with a 60+ mock series in the real OMR format.
Start your CLAT 2027 journey today
CLAT 2027 is expected on 6 December 2026 — the earlier you start, the more reading and mock practice compounds. Book a free demo class at any Delhi NCR centre. No commitment: attend one session and decide.