How to Attempt All 120 CLAT Questions Without Panic
- Himanshi Goyal
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
CLAT is an exam that checks not just your knowledge, but also your ability to manage time and stay calm under pressure. The paper has 120 questions to be completed in 120 minutes. That’s one minute per question. But don't worry - the goal is not to solve each question in exactly 60 seconds, but to manage your time smartly, so you can attempt all questions with focus and clarity.
Many students worry about whether they’ll be able to complete the full paper. Some start panicking midway, others get stuck in one section for too long. This blog will guide you with practical steps to attempt all questions without losing control or confidence. Just follow these 10 simple strategies, and you'll see the difference in your mocks and actual CLAT paper.
1. Understand the Paper Format Properly
A good performance starts with knowing exactly what you're dealing with. CLAT is divided into five sections:
English Language (22-26 questions)
Current Affairs including General Knowledge (28-32 questions)
Legal Reasoning (28-32 questions)
Logical Reasoning (22-26 questions)
Quantitative Techniques (10-14 questions)
The number of questions may vary slightly, but the total will always be 120. These are passage-based questions, not one-liners. That means you have to read and understand a passage before answering the questions related to it.
So instead of rushing through, learn to manage time based on passage length and your comfort with the section. Once you are familiar with the paper pattern and section types, your nervousness automatically reduces. Also, make sure to stay updated on all details about the CLAT exam, including changes in pattern, timing, and question trends - this helps in shaping your preparation more effectively.
2. Decide a Fixed Order for Attempting Sections
Changing your section order in every mock or on exam day can confuse your mind. It’s better to decide your section order in advance. Always begin with the section you feel most confident in. Some students prefer English, others feel Legal Reasoning is their strongest area.
Starting with your strong section boosts your confidence in the first 20-30 minutes. Once your mind feels relaxed, you can attempt even the tricky sections better.
If you're unsure which section to start with, try different orders in your mocks. Then finalize the one that gives you your best score with less stress.
3. Divide Time Section-Wise and Stick to It
Time management is everything in CLAT. Instead of solving all 120 questions randomly, divide the two hours section-wise. You can follow this simple time allocation plan:
English Language: 22 mins
GK/Current Affairs: 15 mins
Legal Reasoning: 30 mins
Logical Reasoning: 23 mins
Quantitative Techniques: 10 mins
Review and Leftover Time: 20 mins
Keep a digital watch on your table (analog watches are less helpful when calculating remaining minutes). If a section takes longer than the time you fixed, leave the remaining questions and move on. You can come back to them in the last 20 minutes.
This way, all sections get their fair share of attention.
4. Avoid Spending Too Much Time on One Passage
Many students lose a lot of time because they keep reading the same passage or question again and again. If a passage looks too long or confusing, move on to the next. Time is more valuable than any one passage.
If you feel you are getting stuck, mark the question for review and come back to it later. Spending five minutes on a single passage can cost you 4-5 questions in another section.
You can’t afford to do that in a paper like CLAT. So train yourself to quickly identify such questions and skip them on your first attempt.
5. Practice With a Timer Every Single Day
Mock tests are important, but regular daily practice under a timer is just as important. Practice one passage from each section with a timer running - for example, give yourself 7-8 minutes for a legal reasoning passage with 5 questions.
Use stopwatch mode on your phone or use websites with in-built timers. After a few weeks, your brain will start working in exam mode automatically. You’ll also learn to read faster and make better decisions in less time.
If you're serious about improving your attempt rate, you must also understand how to prepare for CLAT the smart way - and that includes building time awareness during every practice session. This habit can improve your overall score even without increasing your subject knowledge.
6. Focus on Reading Speed and Understanding
CLAT is a reading-based test. If your reading speed is slow or if you don’t understand what you’re reading, you’ll fall behind. That's why improving reading is a daily task.
Try these habits:
Read editorials from The Hindu or Indian Express
Read online articles on law, politics, or social issues
Try summarizing what you read in 3-4 lines
This will help in two ways - first, you'll read faster. Second, you'll understand the author's point clearly, which is essential for answering inference-based questions in English and Legal sections.
Better reading = better score.
7. Learn to Eliminate Wrong Options First
Sometimes the correct answer is not clear, but the wrong options are obvious. That’s where the elimination method helps.
In multiple-choice questions, especially in English, Legal, and Logical Reasoning, remove the options that clearly:
Go beyond what is stated
Don’t match the tone of the passage
Are extreme (using words like always, never, must)
Seem unrelated to the main idea
Once you remove 2-3 options, you're often left with only one or two choices. That makes it much easier to take a logical guess, even if you’re not 100% sure.
With practice, this method becomes fast and natural.
8. Don’t Panic If a Section Feels Difficult
There are times in the paper when you feel that nothing is going your way. A passage seems too long, or all options look similar. That’s normal. It happens even to toppers.
What matters is what you do at that moment. Do you freeze or do you move on?
The right approach is to accept it and move forward. One tough section doesn't mean your paper is ruined. Focus on what you can solve next. Many times, an easier section is waiting right after.
Keep your emotions out of the exam. Stay focused on solving, not overthinking.
9. Use the Last 20 Minutes Smartly
Your review time at the end of the paper is like a bonus round. Use it wisely. In these 20 minutes, you should:
Revisit marked questions
Attempt skipped passages
Double-check silly errors
Take calculated guesses if needed
Make sure to save time for this in your time plan. A lot of students regret not leaving time for review, especially when they realize they could have answered 5 more questions easily.
Even 5–6 extra correct answers in the last 20 minutes can push your rank up by hundreds or thousands.
Also checkout Best Mock Test Strategy for CLAT
10. Practice Mocks, But Focus More on Analysis
Giving 30 mocks without analysis is less helpful than giving 10 mocks with proper review.
After every mock, ask yourself:
Which sections took more time?
Where did I get stuck?
Which questions could I have solved faster?
Did I panic anywhere?
Also note how many questions you attempted in each section, and how many were correct. Based on this, adjust your time plan for the next mock.
With every new mock, your strategy becomes stronger. That’s how you build the ability to attempt 120 questions confidently.
Final Thoughts
Attempting all 120 questions in CLAT is not just possible - it’s achievable for anyone who uses a smart approach. You don’t need to be a super-fast reader or a genius at law. You need to be calm, consistent, and aware of your own strategy.
Avoid panic by trusting your preparation and following your time plan. Every section will have some easy and some tough questions. Don’t let a few tricky ones shake your confidence.
Treat the CLAT paper like a game - your job is not to win every round, but to keep playing till the end and use your best moves. With practice and proper strategy, you will reach a point where attempting all questions becomes natural, not stressful.
So start practicing smartly, improve your reading, and believe in your plan. You’re more ready than you think.
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