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What Are Sectional Mocks in CLAT and How to Use Them Right?

  • Writer: Himanshi Goyal
    Himanshi Goyal
  • Jul 21
  • 6 min read
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When preparing for the CLAT exam, students often hear about full-length mock tests. These are important, no doubt. But there’s another powerful tool that many aspirants ignore - sectional mocks. These are smaller, more focused mock tests that help you become better in each part of the CLAT exam.

Think of it like this - if CLAT were a cricket match, then full-length mocks would be practice matches, and sectional mocks would be net practice for each skill. You need both to perform well.

In this blog, let’s understand what sectional mocks are, why they’re important, when you should start using them, and how to use them in the smartest way during your CLAT preparation.



1. What Are Sectional Mocks in CLAT?


Sectional mocks are practice tests that focus on just one section of the CLAT paper instead of all five. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) has the following five sections:


  • English Language

  • Current Affairs including General Knowledge

  • Legal Reasoning

  • Logical Reasoning

  • Quantitative Techniques


A sectional mock test will give you questions only from one of these sections. For example, a Legal Reasoning sectional mock may include 4–5 passages with questions related to legal principles. A Quantitative Techniques sectional mock will include pie charts, bar graphs, and data-based questions only.

These tests usually take 30 to 45 minutes to complete and are meant for targeted practice. Instead of waiting to improve through full mocks alone, sectional mocks allow you to focus and improve one subject at a time.



2. Why Are Sectional Mocks Important for CLAT?


You might ask, “Why do I need sectional mocks when I’m already solving full mocks?”

Here’s why:


  • Focused Practice: Sometimes, a student might be good at English and Legal Reasoning but weak in Logical Reasoning. In that case, full mocks won’t be enough because you’re only getting a few passages from Logical Reasoning in them. With sectional mocks, you can practice 25–30 Logical questions at once and improve much faster.

  • Time-Saving: A full mock test takes 2 hours. But what if you only have 30 minutes today? That’s where sectional mocks help. You can still study effectively without needing to block out too much time.

  • Helps Improve Weak Areas: If you find a section difficult, solving 2–3 sectional mocks every week from that section will help you build confidence and accuracy.

  • Reduces Fear and Pressure: Some students feel scared seeing the full paper. Doing one section at a time helps you feel less stressed and more in control.

  • Boosts Confidence: Getting a good score in even one section can give you a confidence boost for the whole day. And that positivity pushes you to work harder.


So yes, sectional mocks are not just useful-they are essential.



3. When Should You Start Taking Sectional Mocks?


You don’t need to wait until you complete the whole syllabus to start sectional mocks. In fact, the earlier you begin, the better.

Here’s a basic plan you can follow:


  • Month 1: Learn the basic concepts from all five sections.

  • Month 2 & 3: Start taking 2–3 sectional mocks every week.

  • Month 4 & 5: Increase difficulty and focus more on weaker sections.

  • Month 6 (last month): Start combining sectional and full mocks for revision.


Starting early gives you enough time to practice and improve. Many students delay mock practice and later regret it when there’s too little time left. Don’t make that mistake.



4. How to Attempt a Sectional Mock Properly?


Just attempting a sectional mock is not enough. You have to attempt it in the right way. Follow these steps:


  • Pick the Right Section: Select the section you want to focus on. It could be your weak area or even your strong area (to stay sharp).

  • Set a Timer: Set a proper timer depending on the section. For example: 30 minutes for Logical Reasoning; 35-40 minutes for English Language and 20-25 minutes for Quantitative Techniques. Always practise with a timer to build speed and time management.

  • Avoid Distractions: Don’t keep your phone next to you. Sit at a table, use a notebook or rough sheet, and behave like you’re giving the real test.

  • Don’t Guess Randomly: Try your best to eliminate wrong options logically. This builds better decision-making skills. Random guessing doesn’t help in learning.


Consider joining CLAT Coaching in Prayagraj or any reputable institute nearby for expert guidance and effective preparation.


5. How to Analyse Sectional Mocks Effectively?


This is the most important part. You learn the most after you’ve attempted the test.

Here’s how you can do it smartly:


  • Check Each Answer: Whether your answer was right or wrong, check the explanation. You might have chosen the correct answer for the wrong reason-and that’s a problem too.

  • Understand Your Mistakes: If you got a question wrong, ask yourself why? Did you not understand the question properly? Was your concept unclear? Did you run out of time? Identify the reason and make a note of it.

  • Use a Mistake Notebook: Create a notebook or Google Doc where you write your mistakes section-wise. After every mock, note down the: Question type (e.g., inference-based); Concept error and Correct explanation. This helps you track your weak areas clearly.

  • Reattempt Wrong Questions: Solve the incorrect questions again the next day without looking at the answer key. This shows whether you’ve actually understood the logic or not.



6. How to Use Sectional Mocks for Each CLAT Section


Let’s now see how sectional mocks can help in each subject and how to use them wisely.


1. English Language

  • Focus on Reading Comprehension (RC) passages.

  • Practise questions like tone, vocabulary, inference, and summary.

  • Use mocks to improve speed and reading skills.

  • Take 1-2 sectional mocks every week.


2. Logical Reasoning

  • Work on assumption, inference, strengthening-weakening, and conclusion-type questions.

  • Use mocks to practise solving arguments quickly and accurately.

  • Attempt 2-3 mocks per week.


3. Legal Reasoning

  • Solve passage-based questions that include principles and factual situations.

  • Learn to apply principles without bringing outside knowledge.

  • Focus on understanding rather than memory.

  • Take at least 2 mocks weekly.


4. Current Affairs & GK

  • Try daily quizzes and 1-2 sectional mocks per week.

  • Use platforms like Exam Charcha and Law Prep Tutorial to revise weekly and monthly updates.

  • Focus on understanding news issues, not just remembering facts.


5. Quantitative Techniques

  • Practice interpreting tables, graphs, and charts.

  • Don’t try to learn complex maths-focus on reading data correctly.

  • Use mocks to build accuracy and speed.

  • Attempt 1-2 mocks per week.



7. How Sectional Mocks Help You Perform Better in Full-Length Mocks


Many students make this mistake: they jump straight to full mocks without preparing each section separately. This often leads to:

  • Time pressure

  • Panic when one section is tough

  • Lower accuracy


But if you’ve already practised sections separately, you:

  • Solve questions faster

  • Understand question types better

  • Feel more confident during the full paper

  • Save time for revision in the last 10 minutes


So, the more sectional mocks you do, the better your full mocks will become.


Also, check out the CLAT 2027 Preparation Strategy for a smart study roadmap.


8. Tips to Use Sectional Mocks Smartly


Here are some useful tips to help you use sectional mocks in the best way:

  • Create a Weekly Plan: A weekly plan that keeps things smooth and structured: Monday: Legal Reasoning, Wednesday: Logical Reasoning, Friday: English Language, Saturday: GK & Current Affairs, Sunday: Full Mock. This keeps your prep structured and stress-free.

  • Don’t Take Too Many in One Day: One sectional mock a day is enough. After that, spend time reviewing it properly.

  • Use Quality Mocks: Use mocks from trusted coaching centres like Law Prep Tutorial, Exam Charcha, or your coaching material. Avoid random online PDFs.

  • Track Your Scores: Maintain a spreadsheet with: Date, Section, Time taken, Score and Mistakes. This will help you measure your progress weekly.



Conclusion: Start Small, Grow Big with Sectional Mocks


Sectional mocks may look like a small part of your CLAT preparation, but they play a big role in helping you reach your goal.

They help you focus on one subject at a time, fix your weak areas, and give you confidence. They are short, effective, and easy to fit into your schedule.

So, if you’re serious about your CLAT dream, start using sectional mocks from today. Don’t wait till the last minute. Improvement happens when you practice regularly - even one section at a time.

And remember, CLAT is not just about how much you study, but how smartly you practise.

 
 
 

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