CLAT UG vs CLAT PG: The differences in the examination pattern

CLAT UG and CLAT PG are competitive Common Law Admission Tests that are held for the purpose of admission into under graduate and post graduate in law. ILT and PGDEd tests are designed to check the candidate’s ability of English, current affairs, legal thinking as well as general knowledge with different level of toughness and having different pass requirements.

Common law admission test or CLAT is the first step to more commonly, entry to top law colleges in India. It is conducted at two levels: UG: Undergraduate and PG: Post graduated. Though both exams come under the CLAT comprehensive, the conceptual foundation, specifications of the pattern as well as prerequisites have a lot of variance. In this article, let’s discuss the differences between CLAT UG and CLAT PG- the exam format, course structure and more.

Purpose and Eligibility

CLAT UG

This exam is intended for those students who want to join an integrated law course duration of 5 years like BA LLB, BBA LLB, or BCom LLB. Candidates must have passed their 10+2 examination and must secured a minimum of forty five percent(45) marks in aggregate for general category candidates and forty percent(40) marks for SC/ST categories.

CLAT PG

This test is for the candidates wishing to enter a Master of Laws (LLM) course. To qualify, an applicant must have a degree of LLB from a recognized University with 50% marks for General Category, and 45% marks for SC/ST.

Syllabus Comparison

The syllabus for CLAT UG and CLAT PG reflects the difference in the academic levels and areas of focus:

CLAT UG

1. English Language: In the case of language acquisition they include reading, counting and distinguishing between nouns and verbs.
2. Current Affairs and General Knowledge: Important political, social, economic and cultural occurrences nationally and internationally.
3. Legal Reasoning: Rules of law, the legal thesis, as well as the concrete law.
4. Logical Reasoning: Logic, problem solving, and school-related and academic abilities.
5. Quantitative Techniques: Arithmetical operations with numbers, number ratios, percentages and simple data analysis procedures.

CLAT PG

1. Constitutional Law: Basic structure, provisions, judiciary and amendments.
2. Jurisprudence: Forms, ideas, and concepts in schools of thought, legal systems, and theories.
3. Core Law Subjects: Subjects from Contract Law, Criminal Law, International Law, and many others underpinned courses and investigations in legal careers.

Difficulty Level

The difficulty levels of the two exams align with their purposes:

• CLAT UG lies in basic understanding, logical and evaluative aptitude commensurate with the learning level expected of the high school pass outs.
• CLAT PG focuses on the professional and higher learning vision, perception, and prognosis demanded for a law graduate.

Application Process

While the registration processes of both examinations are done online through the CLAT Consortium website. In their turn, they need to register, complete the questionnaire, upload scans of documents, and pay for the application form. Both levels have similar fees, and the only difference is with those reserved for certain categories.

Preparation Strategies

Given the differences in their focus and syllabus, preparation strategies for CLAT UG and CLAT PG also vary:

CLAT UG

1. Lay a good base of English and mathematics.
2. Keep on reading newspapers and magazines, Watching television and other means.
3. Take sample papers to be able focus on time management and how accurate you are in answering the questions.

CLAT PG:

1. Broaden your knowledge on the selected subjects of laws.
2. Pay close attention to Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence as they count a great deal.
3. Leaf through the previous years’ question papers so as to detect what is being consistently asked.

Career Prospects

CLAT UG

This examination makes it possible for students to be admitted to prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) for the undergraduate law programs. These graduates can join corporations to practice law, litigate, work in judiciary or be appointed to academic institutions and public offices.

CLAT PG

CLAT PG’s success makes candidates specialized in fields that include Corporate Law, International Law, or Human Rights. It also opens doors in in academia, judiciary, or research it also opens doors to a lot of enhanced opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• Target Audience: CLAT UG stands for the Common Law Admission Test Under Graduate and CLAT PG is the Common Law Admission Test Post Graduate, the former tests the students who finished high school and the latter tests the students who finished law school.
• Exam Pattern: Both consist of 120 MCQs but vary in the subjects it covers and its concentration.
• Syllabus: Generally, CLAT UG shall contain general and reasoning portions and CLAT PG contain other advanced legal portions.
• Preparation: Efficient preparation requires you align your study schedule and the content of the exam.
• Outcome: While both examinations pave way to admission in NLUs, it offers it at two different levels with different career prospects.

By understanding these distinctions, the ambitions candidates will be armed with the right knowledge for exam selection and preparation. If you are a fresher or considering your career growth, a proper pattern and planning can help you secure success in the CLAT exams. 

By understanding these distinctions, the ambitions candidates will be armed with the right knowledge for exam selection and preparation. If you are a fresher or considering your career growth, a proper pattern and planning can help you secure success in the CLAT exams.