CLAT UG English Language: Preparation Strategies and Exam Format

The preparation strategies for CLAT UG English Language are suggestions and ideas to help you review and practice for the exam to familiarize you with the kind of passages asked in the exam. In order to ace, the English section regular reading is required to read the given passage within the allotted time as well as comprehend what the passage says in order to increase the candidate’s overall score.

The English Section is generally not difficult since school level language is given, however regular habit of different periodicals like magazines, newspapers, journals, reports always helps as it helps in understanding the tone of delivery of the passage. Given below are a few pointers with which the aspirant can effectively strategize the English paper.

I. Forms of Questions

• Comprehension or fact-based questions derived from the passage.
• Summarization questions where you will be required to identify the main point of the passage or determine an appropriate title for the passage.
• Compare and contrast questions that ask you to compare and contrast different viewpoints in the passage.
• Basic grammar questions and vocabulary-based questions to be asked in the context of the passage.

II. Exam Format

• Passages are of about 450 words each and the average time required to read a passage is 5-7 minutes.
• Passages are intended to test the ability to understand and analyse text that is at 12th standard level.
• Passages may be from various topics, including technical and scientific topics, but you will not need any prior knowledge of any specialised areas to understand or analyse the passages.
• Passages followed by a series of questions intended to test your ability to:
  1. Comprehend;
  2. Summarize;
  3. Compare and contrast different viewpoints of arguments set out in passage; and
  4. Understand and analyse text that is at 12th standard level.

III. Preparation Strategies for CLAT UG English Language

• Try and read some of the same sources that the question setters are using to create questions – you do not have to read the entire book if the source is a book, but keeping track of sources like newspapers and magazines would be very helpful. In particular, read the opinion and editorial sections of newspapers, as many passages are derived from such sources. (This has the added advantage that it will help your preparations for the Current Affairs and General Knowledge section of the paper as well).
• Having a study group or someone – even one or two people – with whom you can discuss various passages would be very helpful. Once you and your study partner read the same passage, try and form questions and ask them of each other – such as, what is the main point of the author in the passage, what can be inferred from the passage, what arguments would weaken or strengthen the author’s arguments in the passage.
• Practice grammar from any good 10th standard grammar textbook. Some classics, like Wren and Martin’s English Grammar and Composition, are still exceptionally good resources for preparation.
• It may not be possible to develop your vocabulary too much in the days left before the exam – but make sure you stop every time you come across a word you don’t understand – whether in the newspaper, in a textbook, or even while watching a show on the ‘net – and find out its meaning from a dictionary. Some good, free dictionaries are available on the Internet – you can even download free dictionary apps so that you always have a dictionary handy on your phone.
• Keep learning new words as well as their applications in different references and Contexts
• Make sure you go through all the practice materials and sample papers provided by the CLAT consortium – these are closest in style and level of difficulty to what you may see in the eventual UG CLAT 2021 paper; make sure you go through all the rationales provided so that you understand why a particular option is right or wrong.

---

Source: Official Website – Consortium of National Law Universities, Available Here

---

1. Law Library: Notes and Study Material for LLB, LLM, Judiciary and Entrance Exams
2. Legal Bites Academy – Ultimate Test Prep Destination