Prepare for CLAT 2021- One Month Strategy and Tips

The new date for the CLAT 2021 exam has been announced. According to the official notification on the CLAT Consortium website, the much awaited exam will now be held on July 23. The pattern of the CLAT 2021 exam will be pen and paper based in physical centres. With the new date here, it is now time to put in new energy into your preparation for the exam. 

Here is a broad one month strategy with tips to make the best use of this one month’s time that can help you ace CLAT:

No, we are not giving you the run off the mill, vague “time management” advice. We are telling you exactly how you should be breaking down your time. And the best way to do this is by employing the Pomodoro technique. 

This technique is ridiculously simple and employs the usage of a timer for individuals to work (and take a break) effectively.

Here’s the technique. if you have to study a topic for 2 hours, you should be breaking it down into smaller chunks of 25 minutes. So for 25 minutes your complete focus should be on the topic that you are studying- you can set a timer for the same. Then, for the next 5 minutes you should take a break. 

Why this technique works is because it allows you to predefine the amount of work you will do in a certain ‘pomodoro’ of 25 minutes. When you work with a goal in mind, you are much more likely to achieve it. The ticking timer will also keep the urge to check your phone in check. 

The Pomodoro technique can prove to be an effective strategy when it comes to studying for entrance exams, including CLAT.

Also, through the Pomodoro technique, you get an instant reward- a 5 minute break. You probably can’t keep your phone away for 5 hours. But 25 minutes? Much more manageable. This will help you keep track of time and enjoy the best of both. 

You can use this break to maybe walk around the house a little, check social media or even tidy up a small corner in your room. But hey, don’t get carried away- 5 minutes only.

The logic behind this technique is that our brain retains information better when it is focused for shorter periods of time because the level of concentration increases conversely.  When you are studying using this method, you will be racing against the clock and the competitive spirit in you will rise up to the challenge and help you achieve this goal effortlessly.

Remember when Prof. Feynman said, “If you want to master something, teach it.” Well, he wasn’t wrong. The best way to ensure you have truly learned a topic is to teach it to someone else. It could be your friends, your family or even yourself. While you are studying, imagine you are explaining the topic to someone, even if no one is around. This technique will truly benefit you in enriching your understanding of important CLAT related concepts. 

Another great way to understand something is to write about them. If you wish to write on any CLAT topic get in touch at mrinaal.datt@lawctopus.com.

With the days building up to the exam, you might be wanting to revise the same thing again and again, thinking that you will forget them. However, this can quickly grow monotonous and tiresome. 

It may even make you doubt your preparation for the exam altogether. A better way to go about it is to revise all sections of the CLAT exam while keeping a special focus on the components which require more practice. This will not only help you with revision but also bring variety to the topics that you are studying which, in turn, will keep the boredom away. 

So if you feel like you need more practice in logical reasoning, spend one hour studying the same while utilizing the next half hour to maybe revise some general knowledge questions or even solve a reading comprehension. 

Therefore, to keep yourself motivated and positively engaged in preparation, keep switching between all the subjects for the CLAT exam. Whether it is learning more or simply revisiting a topic, ensure that you give sufficient time to each component in this last month before the exam. 

You have been preparing for CLAT for a while now. So you already know the importance of taking practice tests. They familiarize you with the types of questions to expect, the pattern of the exam and even help you identify your weak spots. 

However, with a little while to go for the exam, try taking these practice tests under similar test conditions. Set up a timer, ensure there is no disruption and attempt a test in the same manner as you will during the actual exam. This will help you gauge your time management skills as well. 

Practice makes a person perfect. So draw out those pencils and get to work. Most studies show that individuals who spend their time doing practice tests are more likely to perform better in the actual exam. With just a month to go for the CLAT exam, your focus should be on attempting atleast one mock test/previous paper each day

(You can check our free mock tests here). 

Attempting these mock tests carry various advantages. This will not only familiarize you with the kind of questions you should expect, but also help you identify the areas which take up a bigger chunk of your time or the types of questions you might be struggling with. You can adjust your further preparation strategy accordingly. 

Also, practicing mock tests is a great way to revise. Instead of going through your notes over and over again, put your knowledge gained from these notes into practice. This will give you a true representation of the level of your readiness for the exam. 

After you are done attempting the paper, don’t just look at the final score. But also try to break down each section and type of question to analyse your performance, identify the weak spots and work on them more. 

Perhaps every piece of advice that you will read will carry this point but how many times do you actually follow it? Burning the midnight oil will only keep you sleep deprived and thus, tired. 

A proper night’s sleep helps your brain to function at its full potential and also keeps your level of energy high throughout the day. This, in turn, helps with your concentration levels and you retain information better. You can even consider taking a small nap during the day. This can be a good break from your studies and help you relax as well. 

Trust us, there is no glory in being a person who is constantly pulling off “all-nighters” and neglecting your health. The lack of sleep will adversely affect your brain in the long term and might even make you irritable and stressed.

Not getting adequate sleep can actually be detrimental to your preparation as well because it is only when you sleep that your brain retains information that you’ve received during the day. So don’t work harder but smarter. Study for a couple of hours but with a focussed approach. This will also help you manage your time better and get some well deserved rest. 

Entrance exams like CLAT can be an anxious time for many students. But it is important to remember that worrying about the result will not make any difference to your marks. However, doing your best certainly will. So focus on what is in your control- your efforts and preparation and leave the rest to the future. 

Good luck!