INTERVIEW: Rakshandha Darak from MNLU Nagpur on Cracking CLAT PG in One Month!
Be honest—what made you think, “Yeah, I can crack CLAT in one month”?
When the idea of cracking the CLAT PG exam came to my mind, I had just finished my research assistantship and was preparing for my first attempt at the UPSC exam. It was a tough call. There was a lot of uncertainty in my mind, and that’s when the thought of cracking CLAT PG came up. In the first place, I gave this exam to test my limits, and it was a calculated risk.
I never wanted to wear my laurels on my head, but being a gold medalist and university topper in my undergraduate studies, the challenge that I gave to myself this time was unconventional. But with the right strategy and intense focus and the combination of hard work and smart work at the same time, it made it possible for me to crack the CLAT PG exam in one month.
Did this start as a serious plan or a “let’s see what happens” moment?
As I mentioned, it was a calculated risk for me, as it was a moment of testing my limits. I knew I had started late, but there was also a truth that it was still not the end. So that one month of resilience and dedication proved to be a serious plan for me.
Every day was challenging, as all that I had at that moment and all that I had achieved were at stake. So the “let’s see what happens” was never in the picture.
If your one-month prep had a movie title, what would it be?
Probably it should be “Raksha’s Quest for To Be or Not To Be.”
This is because one month was a prerogative for me, as it was that month that decided my limit to which I could push myself.
What did a typical day in your CLAT prep life look like—chaotic, disciplined, or controlled madness?
A typical day in my CLAT PG prep looked more like controlled madness. This credit goes to my mother; she made sure that in this challenge of 1 month and the time limitation I remained sane and did not get hyper with my study duration and was not hard on myself either.
My days revolved around reading current affairs, solving previous year questions, attempting mock tests and analyzing them, and revising my notes. My mother was the pillar of strength for me this month, and the entire credit for cracking CLAT PG goes to her.
Because though the preparation was intense, she made sure that I maintained my composure and was taking care of myself. There were days of doubt when I started questioning my decision because of low performance in mock tests, but she believed in me, and that made me realize my strength to perform well in the CLAT PG examination.
Any study hacks that saved you precious time (and sanity)?
There were a lot of study hacks, which saved both my precious time and sanity at the same time. Such as I had notes of my law school days, which proved to be beneficial, and I just had a task of revising them. So my study material was organized and limited at the same time; I made use of mind maps to revise the subjects, landmarks, and current cases as well.
I prioritize mock tests and analyzing them.
For example, if I had solved a mock test in 2 hours, I would analyze it for another 2 hours to understand my mistakes and to evaluate the depth of questions.
Apart from it, I revised previous-year questions daily from the view of options.
For example, if a question has the correct option as ‘A,’ I would analyze why it is not the other option and would study the situations behind it.
Did you ever feel like quitting mid-prep?
All the time. So when I fell behind on my to-do list and was unable to achieve my daily goals, I began to doubt myself. There had been days where I felt my goal with regards to this exam had been unrealistic.
But then when I looked back, I had left with nothing but to get back on track and make this unrealistic goal of mine into an achievable feat.
How did you deal with the pressure of knowing time was not on your side?
The time pressure was always there. So instead of focusing on how little time I had, I focused on making each day count. That mindset helped me stay calm and keep moving forward.
How did you feel when you found out you got into NLU?
It felt surreal. After the exam I waited for another 6 months to see my name in the list of NLU students. In the first place, I was unable to understand what had happened because after the exam and following the fiasco associated with it, I had given up my hopes on the same.
But then when I finally realized that my calculated risk had borne me the fruits of my success, it was a feeling of relief and gratitude. It will always remain as one of the memorable and emotional days of my life.
What did this one-month journey teach you about yourself?
It taught me that the sky is the limit for me. Limits are always psychological; they are never real. So always test your limits; you never know what you are meant to achieve. Just believe in yourself and your goals and be determined to achieve them, whatever circumstances it puts forward.
Do you think confidence matters as much as preparation? Why?
Yes, this is because preparation builds competence, and confidence allows you to use such competence effectively. They both go hand in hand. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel. In short, they are directly proportional to each other.
What would you say to someone who thinks it’s “too late” to start CLAT prep?
Never convince yourself that it’s too late. If you want to achieve it and you know that you have the caliber to do so, just effectively use the time, and smart preparation and consistent efforts will make the difference.
Biggest myth about CLAT preparation you’d like to bust?
The biggest myth is that you need years of preparation and dozens of study resources. But in reality, this exam is all about a combination of smart and hard work. It is about the rigor and your consistency to deal with the challenges that this exam comes up with every year.
One piece of advice for students who want to aim high but doubt themselves.
“If you want to be part of history, wait for someone to take the first step; but if you want to create history, be the first one to take the first step.”
Last but definitely not least, if CLAT were a person, what would you say to it today?
Thank you for challenging me every day of preparation time, for being intimidating, and for being unpredictable. Lastly, thank you for showing me what I am capable of.
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Adtiya Aryan
Contributing author
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