The CLAT 2027 exam is on Sunday, 6 December 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, in offline (pen-and-paper) mode. In the last cycle, the Consortium let candidates into the centre from 1:00 pm, required them to be seated by 1:30 pm and allowed no entry after 2:15 pm. Carry your admit card, an original government photo ID, black or blue ballpoint pens, a transparent water bottle and an analogue watch. Phones, smartwatches, calculators and bags are not allowed.
Important: As of 27 October 2026, the Consortium has not yet published the CLAT 2027 test-day instructions. The rules below come from the Consortium’s official CLAT 2025 Test Day Instructions, and the same timings were followed for CLAT 2026. The instructions printed on your CLAT 2027 admit card are final. If anything there differs from this guide, follow the admit card.
CLAT 2027 Exam at a Glance
| Detail | CLAT 2027 (UG) |
|---|---|
| Exam date | Sunday, 6 December 2026 |
| Exam time | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
| PwD candidates | 2:00 pm – 4:40 pm (40 extra minutes) |
| Mode | Offline (pen and paper) |
| Questions | 120 multiple-choice questions |
| Marking | +1 for each correct answer, −0.25 for each wrong answer, 0 for unanswered |
| Application deadline | 31 October 2026, 11:59 pm |
| Admit card | Release date to be announced by the Consortium. It is downloaded from your CLAT login. |
Source: Consortium of NLUs – CLAT 2027 UG Instructions and CLAT 2027 press release.
For a section-wise breakdown of the paper, read our CLAT 2027 syllabus and exam pattern guide.
CLAT 2027 Exam Day Timeline (Bell Timings)
These timings are from the Consortium’s last official test-day instructions. Expect the same schedule for CLAT 2027, but confirm it on your admit card.
| Time | Bell | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 pm | – | Entry to the test centre opens. ID and admit card checks begin. |
| 1:30 pm | Long bell | Candidates enter the exam hall and must be seated. |
| 1:50 pm | Short bell | Sealed envelopes are handed out. Invigilators read out instructions. |
| 2:00 pm | Long bell | The test begins. You may open the sealed envelope. |
| 2:15 pm | Short bell | Last entry. No one is let into the hall after this. |
| 2:30 / 3:00 / 3:30 pm | Short bells | 30 minutes, 1 hour and 1.5 hours are over. |
| 3:50 pm | Short bell | 10 minutes left. |
| 4:00 pm | Long bell | The test ends. Stop writing on the OMR sheet and question booklet. |
Two rules students often miss: once the test begins, you cannot use the washroom, and you cannot leave the hall before 4:00 pm.
CLAT 2027 Exam Day Checklist: What to Carry
| Item | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT 2027 admit card (printed) | Mandatory | Take two printouts and keep one spare. |
| Original government photo ID | Mandatory | Bring the original, not a photocopy or phone photo. See the accepted list below. |
| Self-attested passport-size photo | Only if needed | Needed if the photo on your admit card is unclear. Keep one anyway. |
| Black or blue ballpoint pens | Mandatory | Carry two or three that you’ve tested. No gel or fountain pens. |
| Transparent water bottle | Allowed | Remove the label so it is fully see-through. |
| Analogue watch | Allowed | Digital watches and smartwatches are banned. |
| Original disability certificate | PwD candidates only | Required to get the extra 40 minutes. |
| Prescribed medicines | If needed | Carry any medication you need. |
Accepted Photo ID Proofs
Under the Consortium’s last official instructions, any one of these is accepted as long as it is an original, clear document:
| Aadhaar card | Passport |
| PAN card | Voter ID card |
| Driving licence | Ration card / PDS photo card |
| Photo ID from a recognised school or college | Photo bank ATM card |
| Kisan photo passbook | CGHS / ECHS photo card |
| Department of Posts address card with photo | Identity certificate with photo from a Gazetted Officer or Tehsildar |
| Disability ID card or certificate issued by a State/UT authority | |
Tip: Aadhaar is the safest choice for most students. Check that the name on your ID matches the name on your admit card.
Items Not Allowed at the CLAT 2027 Exam Centre
Anything that is not on the permitted list is not allowed. Centres usually have no safe storage, so leave these items at home or with a parent outside.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Electronic devices | Mobile phones, smartwatches, digital watches, fitness bands, earphones, Bluetooth devices |
| Calculation aids | Calculators of any kind |
| Study material | Notes, books, printed sheets, loose paper |
| Bags and cases | Bags, pouches, pencil boxes, wallets |
| Writing tools | Pencils, gel pens, highlighters, correction fluid |
Want the real exam to feel familiar? Take your CLAT mocks at 2:00 pm with only a pen, an analogue watch and a water bottle. Start with today’s Daily Mini CLAT.
Inside the Exam Hall: CLAT 2027 Code of Conduct
Question Booklet Rules
- Check that the name, photo and admit card number printed on the question booklet are yours.
- At the start, write your admit card number on the first page of the booklet.
- The booklet has two blank pages for rough work. No extra sheets are given.
- Do not write anywhere else in the booklet except the space marked for working.
- You cannot ask anyone to explain a question during the test.
- If your booklet has a printing problem, ask the invigilator for a replacement. You will get a new OMR sheet with it. Don’t use the old one.
OMR Sheet Rules
| Do ✅ | Don’t ❌ |
|---|---|
| Use only a black or blue ballpoint pen | Use a pencil, gel pen or correction fluid |
| Shade each answer circle completely | Half-shade a circle (it counts as unanswered) |
| Mark only one option per question | Shade two circles (counts as a wrong answer, so −0.25) |
| Keep the sheet flat and clean | Fold, tear or crumple it, or do rough work on it |
| Sign it with the invigilator before detaching your copy | Damage the barcode or the timing marks on the edges |
| Return the original (top) sheet to the invigilator | Take the original OMR sheet out of the hall |
A damaged OMR sheet is invalid and can lead to disqualification. Taking the original sheet out of the hall can also lead to legal action.
Attendance and Unfair Means
- During the test, an attendance sheet goes around. Write your question booklet number and OMR sheet number on it and sign it.
- Copying, talking, passing material or any other unfair means leads to disqualification.
- Impersonation and fraud may be a criminal offence, on top of disqualification.
What to Take Home After the Exam
You are allowed to keep these three things. Store them safely until admissions are over.
| Item | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Admit card (signed by the invigilator) | You need it at the time of admission and counselling. |
| Question booklet | Use it to check your answers against the provisional answer key. |
| Candidate’s copy of the OMR sheet | Helps you work out your expected score and raise objections if needed. |
CLAT 2027 Dress Code: What to Wear
The Consortium’s official test-day instructions do not set a dress code. Frisking at the gate is still standard, so practical choices save time.
- Wear comfortable, simple clothes. Avoid big buttons, metal parts and lots of pockets.
- Choose sandals or simple shoes that are easy to take off if security asks.
- Keep jewellery and metal accessories to a minimum, because they slow down security checks.
- December afternoons can be cold in North India. Wear a plain jacket or sweater that you’re happy to have checked.
Instructions for PwD Candidates
- Eligible PwD candidates get 40 extra minutes, so their exam runs from 2:00 pm to 4:40 pm.
- Carry your original disability certificate along with your admit card and photo ID.
- Rules on scribes and other support are set out in the Consortium’s notifications. Read the CLAT 2027 notices and your admit card carefully, and contact the Consortium early if you need help.
- If you need an isolated room for medical reasons, the last official instructions asked candidates to tell the Centre Superintendent at least 48 hours before the exam.
Do’s and Don’ts on CLAT 2027 Exam Day
| Do ✅ | Don’t ❌ |
|---|---|
| Reach the centre by 1:00 pm | Plan to arrive close to 2:15 pm. Traffic on exam day is unpredictable. |
| Visit the centre a day or two before | Rely only on a map pin for an unfamiliar building |
| Keep the admit card and ID together in a clear folder | Carry only a photo of your admit card on your phone |
| Eat a light lunch and use the washroom before 1:30 pm | Expect a washroom break after 2:00 pm |
| Plan your section order before you enter | Experiment with a new strategy on the day |
| Fill the OMR sheet as you go, or in planned batches | Leave all OMR shading for the last 10 minutes |
| Skip a question if you can’t rule out at least two options | Guess blindly. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. |
| Keep your question booklet and OMR copy safe | Throw away your rough work before the answer key comes out |
Your Final-Week Checklist Before CLAT 2027
| When | What to Do |
|---|---|
| As soon as the admit card is out | Download it and check your name, photo, centre and roll number. Report any error to the Consortium immediately. |
| Last 7 days | Take your last full mocks at 2:00 pm. Practise shading an OMR sheet within the 120 minutes. |
| 2–3 days before | Visit the centre and check the travel time from home at around 12:30 pm. |
| Saturday, 5 December | Pack your folder: two admit card copies, original ID, photo, pens, water bottle and watch. Do a light revision and get a full night’s sleep. |
| Sunday, 6 December | Have an early lunch, leave home with a time buffer and be at the gate by 1:00 pm. |
Six weeks left and not sure your mock scores are where they should be? Talk to a CLAT Possible counsellor. They will review your recent mocks and help you plan the final weeks before 6 December. If you’re targeting CLAT 2028, explore our structured CLAT programmes.
Final Word
The CLAT 2027 exam rewards preparation, but avoidable mistakes on the day can still cost you. Most of them come down to a late arrival, a missing ID or a careless OMR sheet. Use this checklist, rehearse the 2:00 pm routine in your mocks, and read your admit card carefully when it comes out. For official updates, keep checking the Consortium of NLUs website.