CLAT 2010 Analysis

The Common Law Admission Test or CLAT-2010 was conducted by NLIU, Bhopal. This was the third CLAT exam; the first was conducted by the NLSIU, Bangalore, in 2008 year, second by NALSAR and CLAT-2010 by NLIU Bhopal on behalf of the 11 participating National Law Universities of NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NUJS Kolkata, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, HNLU Raipur, CNLU Patna, RMLNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Patiala and NUALS Cochin.

A total of 1102 seats (subject to reservations), in their 5-year integrated LL.B. course, have been offered by these 11 National Law Universities to students who have passed or have appeared in the 12th standard exam this year. The CLAT is conducted by participating law schools on a rotational basis.
The test was held on 9th May 2010 and was taken by over 17,000 students in 16 cities across the country. A total of over 17,000 students applied for CLAT-2010 exam. This is a significant increase over last year’s figure; the number of applicants for the Under Graduate programme, in 2009, was 13,358.

The question paper was on expected lines and in keeping with the announcement made by the CLAT committee. Crack CLAT Tutorials students would have been comfortable, as the pattern of questions in the paper was similar to that presented in the mock tests administered before the exam. The paper had five sections covering five test-areas. In the legal aptitude section most of the questions were on legal general knowledge. Legal Reasoning was shifted to logical reasoning, only 5 questions for 1 mark each.

Section-Wise Analysis

English

This section was quite easy. Questions of reading comprehension, grammar, parajumbles and vocabulary formed this section of the paper. The Comprehension passage and 10 questions in it were easy. Vocabulary questions included synonyms, antonyms, Latin terms, idioms and phrases and spelling corrections. The grammar questions tested ability with sentence correction, appropriate use of prepositions, etc.

G.K

The GK section, with 50 questions, had the most marks (50 out of 200) among the sections. Except for a few questions, most were moderate to difficult to answer. Static G.K. including history (Yes, questions about Shah Jaha, Akbar, Gazhnvi, etc.!) formed the majority of the GK paper. There were very few questions on current GK.

Mathematics

This section was also a cakewalk for most of the students. All the 20 questions were from the area of elementary mathematics as announced by CLAT committee. These were percentages, profit and loss, ratio, averages, time and work, time and distance, etc.

Logical Reasoning

This section was a little challenging for the students. It provided a judicious mix of analytical and logical reasoning questions, as well as questions on mathematics based reasoning. There were questions on logical reasoning like inference, assumptions, course of action, strengthening and weakening of arguments, etc. There were questions on analogies, number series and arrangement in order of ascending probability. Five questions were based on blood-relations. All areas were well covered in Crack CLAT study material, class handouts and mock tests. Legal Reasoning was shifted to logical reasoning, only 5 questions for 1 mark each.

Legal Aptitude

This part of the paper could be adjudged as ‘moderate to difficult’. In the legal aptitude section most of the questions were on legal general knowledge The main areas from where questions were asked were: Important laws of India, Constitution and polity, Legal terms and concepts, Important commissions and committees, Important Cases. Some unexpected questions were asked from fields like IPR, forensic, taxation laws etc.