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Best Way to Read Editorials for CLAT Without Wasting Time

  • Writer: Himanshi Goyal
    Himanshi Goyal
  • 2 minutes ago
  • 6 min read
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CLAT preparation comes with its own set of advice, and one suggestion that you will hear from almost every mentor, topper, or coaching institute is this, read newspaper editorials regularly. It sounds simple, but students often feel lost about how to actually do it.

Many spend too much time reading, some get bored, and some just give up because they don’t see quick results.


But when done correctly, editorials can help you boost your performance in not just one, but three CLAT sections, English, Current Affairs, and Logical Reasoning. This blog will show you how to make the most of editorials without wasting time. You will find a clear, practical method to follow, one that is simple, time-saving, and designed for real CLAT success.



1. Know Why You Are Reading Editorials


  • The first step is not reading, but knowing the purpose. Editorials are not random articles. They help your CLAT preparation in multiple ways.

  • You get better at reading comprehension because the articles are usually serious, structured, and full of arguments. You also build vocabulary by seeing new words in context. When you come across facts, legal developments, or issues being discussed in detail, it sharpens your current affairs understanding too.

  • Editorials also improve your ability to follow an argument, evaluate both sides, and think logically-skills tested heavily in CLAT’s Logical Reasoning section. To use them properly, you need to have clear concepts on how to prepare for CLAT, and understand that every well-read editorial can boost your performance across multiple sections.

  • So, every time you read one editorial with full focus, you’re actually preparing for multiple parts of the exam.



2. Choose One Newspaper and Stick to It


  • You don’t need to read five different newspapers or apps. That wastes time and builds confusion. Select one reliable source, preferably either The Hindu or The Indian Express.

  • The Hindu is more serious and rich in language. The Indian Express has a slightly lighter tone but covers strong opinions and explanations.

  • Both papers are more than enough. Choose whichever suits your comfort level. Reading just one consistently is better than jumping between sources and losing track.

  • Also, avoid wasting time on unverified blogs or articles with weak opinions. Stay focused on newspapers with strong editorial standards.



3. Limit Your Reading to Editorial and Opinion Pages


It’s not important to read every section of the newspaper. You don’t need to know what happened in the sports world or who won a reality show. For CLAT, your focus should be on:

  • The Editorial Page: This has the newspaper’s main articles and opinions.

  • The Op-Ed Page: This contains guest columns from experts, which help you understand multiple sides of national or global issues.

Reading these two pages a day is more than enough. One or two good articles per day can teach you more than an entire newspaper if you read them with the right intention.

Editorials offer serious discussions, structured thoughts, and balanced arguments, exactly the type of content CLAT passages are based on.



4. Fix a 30 to 40 Minute Time Limit


Reading editorials should never turn into a 2-hour activity. That’s where most students lose time. Reading smartly matters more than reading for long hours.

Give yourself 30 to 40 minutes max, and within this time:

  • Select 1-2 useful editorials

  • Read them with attention

  • Make quick notes (we’ll talk about this below)

  • Reflect on the key takeaway

This also trains your brain to read and process information within a time limit, which helps you a lot during the real CLAT exam.

The goal is not to read slowly and finish every line. The goal is to read efficiently and take away something useful.



5. Use the Skim-and-Choose Method First


Open the editorial and opinion pages. Spend the first 2–3 minutes skimming the headlines. This quick scan helps you decide which editorials are worth reading today.

Pick those that discuss:

  • A major Supreme Court or High Court judgment

  • Important social or legal issues

  • Constitutional debates

  • International events with legal or policy impact

  • Governance and policy reforms

Skip articles that are too technical, too local, or don’t connect with CLAT topics. Once selected, read those 1–2 editorials with full concentration. Along with improving your understanding of issues, this habit also helps you stay updated on all relevant details about the CLAT exam for better preparation.

This small habit saves you from wasting time on irrelevant content.



6. Make Short Notes in Your Own Words


Making notes is not about copying paragraphs. It’s about summarising what you learned, in your own words.

Write just 4–5 bullet points per editorial:

  • The central issue discussed

  • The main argument or opinion

  • Any important law, article, policy, or fact mentioned

  • 2–3 new words you learned with their meanings

  • Your reflection or takeaway from the article

These notes become your personal revision journal. You can quickly revise them before the exam or during mock prep.

Also, when you write in your own words, your memory becomes stronger. Copying text does not help in retention.



7. Build Vocabulary Naturally, Not Forcefully


  • Editorials are filled with high-level English words. But don’t let that scare you. Your goal is not to understand every single word but to grasp the overall meaning.

  • Try to guess the meaning of tough words from the sentence. After reading, note down 3 to 5 useful words. Focus only on those which are used again and again or seem important for law or opinion writing.

  • Learn the meaning, usage, and maybe one synonym. That’s enough.

  • No need to prepare long vocabulary lists separately. Editorial reading improves your vocabulary naturally over time, and that’s the best way to learn words for CLAT.



8. Use Editorials to Improve All Three Major Sections


This is the part most students don’t notice. One smart editorial can help you prepare for three CLAT sections at the same time.

  • For English, you get natural reading practice and new vocabulary.

  • For GK, you learn real facts, recent events, policies, and their background.

  • For Logical Reasoning, you understand how opinions are structured, how arguments are built, and how to spot bias or missing links.

So instead of doing three separate exercises, reading one well-chosen editorial helps you build all these skills together.

It’s an example of smart study, getting more output with less effort.



9. Read Three to Four Times a Week, Not Every Day


Many students get tired trying to read editorials daily. Then they feel guilty when they miss a day and stop reading altogether.

Here’s the truth, you don’t need to read every single day. Reading three to four times a week is enough, if you do it properly.

Make it a fixed part of your weekly schedule. For example:

  • Monday: Read and make notes

  • Wednesday: Read and focus on vocabulary

  • Friday: Read and reflect

  • Sunday: Revise the notes of the week

This rhythm helps you stay consistent without getting bored or feeling overloaded.

Editorials give their full benefit only when they become a regular habit - not a burden.




10. Be Consistent and Trust the Process


Editorial reading is not something that shows results in a week. But within two or three months, you will start noticing changes:

  • You will read English passages faster and understand them better

  • You will remember current affairs with greater depth

  • You will feel more confident in Logical Reasoning

  • You will stop feeling afraid of long or unfamiliar passages in mocks

This habit builds the exact reading stamina and analysis mindset that CLAT expects from you.

Also, it’s not just about marks. Reading serious editorials makes you a more informed, logical, and aware citizen - and a better future lawyer.

So even when results are slow, trust the process and stay consistent.



Final Thoughts


Reading editorials for CLAT doesn’t have to feel like climbing a mountain. It’s more like sharpening a knife-daily, with focus. By choosing the right newspaper, limiting the number of articles, and building a simple routine, you can get real results without wasting time.

Even if you feel slow or confused in the beginning, that’s part of the process. Most toppers didn’t master editorials in one week-they built it over time.

So don’t aim for perfection. Aim for progress. One editorial a day, done the right way, can go a long way in boosting your CLAT score.

Start today. One article. 30 minutes. No stress. Just growth.

 
 
 

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