CLAT 2022 Exam Analysis: Detailed Expert Review and Predicted Cut-Offs for top NLUs

Endeavor Careers Posted on June 19, 2022

Welcome to the CLAT 2022 Exam analysis page. Select and jump to the respective exam analysis section:

CLAT 2022! A reminder of how tough it is to succeed as a lawyer…

For many years now, Endeavor has been incredibly accurate with test analysis and predictions. It is all analytics – the word that is driving the world today.

Sometimes though, it pinches to have made a prediction. As was the case with CLAT 2022.

Yes, we predicted to our students 6 weeks ago that CLAT 2022 will be tougher than the previous versions, for obvious reasons. And we were right. Sigh!

So everyone feeling frustrated or disappointed or confused after the test, read on! You will feel so much better about your chances after you have read through Endeavor’s CLAT 2022 analysis.

CLAT 2022 Exam Analysis Summary:

Nothing new in terms of structure. Whatever was new, was in terms of the difficulty level.

Section	Number of questions	Details	Difficulty Level	Recommended time	Predicted good score
English	30	6 passages, 5 questions each	Easy to Moderate	25 minutes	22 – 24
Current Affairs and GK	35	7 passages, 5 questions each	Moderate	20 minutes	25 – 27
Legal Reasoning	40	8 passages, 5 questions each	Moderate to Difficult	30 minutes	26 – 28
Logical Reasoning	30	6 passages/sets, 5 questions each	Moderate	25 minutes	20 – 22
Quantitative Techniques	15	3 data sets, 5 questions each	Moderate	20 minutes	10 – 11

The overall paper analysis just does not look very exciting, does it?

So here is something to excite you.

The predicted cut-off (General Category) for the top 5 NLUs should be 8 – 10 marks lower than the CLAT 2021 cut-off.

And because the paper was challenging, the cut-offs for lower-ranked NLUs will fall even more. So, wait for two things – the CLAT answer key (out in a few days), and the detailed Endeavor analysis (out in a few hours). Till then, enjoy the Sunday, and remind yourself that whatever the result, you gave it your best shot.

This is only the beginning. There are more hearings (exams) to attend, my dear future lawyer.

CLAT 2022 Exam Detailed Sectional Analysis:

CLAT 2022 has come and gone, officially starting the testing season for all Law school aspirants (except those who have already taken LSAT India). Next up is AILET 2022, Symbiosis Law Admission Test 2022, and so on till MHCET Law 2022. Oh yeah, CLAT will release its answer key in 7-10 days, so that too is on your list of activities ahead.

As we noted in our quick analysis, regardless of what test prep experts and gurus claim, CLAT 2022 will see a decrease in cut-offs because the paper was lengthy. Below is our detailed analysis of the paper.

Section 1 – English Language:

Overall Section Analysis: Easy to Moderate

Recommended time: 25 minutes

Good score: 22 – 24

Passage 1: Cryptocurrencies and their risks

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

A current awareness topic, familiar to many test-takers, the passage was easy to read, and not too lengthy. The questions were a mixed bag though.

Attitude of the Author – Moderate
Inference – Easy
Rhetorical Device – Moderate
Logical Structure (Best describes the passage) – Moderate
Mentioned in the passage – Easy

In 5 minutes, it was easy to answer 4 questions correctly.

Passage 2: Public Speaking and famous Speeches

Overall difficulty level: Easy

A very straightforward and kind story-like passage. Questions were majorly easy too.

Main Idea – Easy
Tone – Easy
Mentioned in the passage – Easy
Inference – Easy
Figure of speech – Moderate

If you give this 5 minutes, get all 5 correct. Else, get 4 correct in 3-4 minutes.

Passage 3: Fossil fuels over the years

Overall difficulty level: Easy

Barring a few new words, the overall passage was very easy to read, as if reading a newspaper article. Questions in this passage were probably the easiest across all passages in this section.

Main Idea – Easy
Mentioned in the passage – Easy
Inference – Easy
Meaning of the phrase – Easy
Mentioned in the passage – Easy

For those targeting top 3 NLUs, this mandated 5 attempts, 5 correct in 4 minutes.

Passage 4: The perils of using apps

Overall difficulty level: Easy

If you have never read on this topic or heard a lecture from someone ranting at your generation about your mobile usage, you truly have been living under a rock! Questions were mixed bag again, with moderate ones outnumbering easier ones this time.

Mentioned in the passage – Easy
Figure of speech – Moderate
Inference – Moderate
Inference – Easy
Tone – Moderate

Ideally, you should be able to answer 4 correctly in 5 minutes

Passage 5: Cruelty towards animals

Overall difficulty level: Moderate

The passage was a bit “heavy” to read. If you compare its tone with the others in the section, clearly this one was a mix of philosophy and sociology. This passage also had the only Difficult questions in this section, leaving just one question as Easy.

Applied Information – Moderate
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Most likely synonym – Difficult
Inference – Moderate
Inference – Moderate

It was prudent to not attempt this passage at all, or target only 1-2 questions. Otherwise, this needs a minimum of 6 minutes to get 4 correct answers.

Passage 6: The Tragedy of post-death acclaim

Overall difficulty level: Easy to moderate

It was the twist in the passage that could have surprised many test-takers. Otherwise, it was easy to read. All five questions were easy. The smartest test-takers would have targeted this passage before at least 3 other passages in this section.

Main Idea – Easy
Mentioned in the passage – Easy
Fill in the blanks – Easy
Inference – Easy
Synonym – Easy

If you had to attempt only two passages in this section, this passage would be in those two (along with Passage 3). Just like Passage 3, it is very easy to get all 5 answers correct in under 5 minutes in this passage.

Section 2 – Current Affairs and General Knowledge:

Overall Section Analysis: Moderate

Recommended time: 20 minutes

Good score: 25 – 27

Passage 1 – SAGAR vision (May 2015)

Number of questions: 5

Overall difficulty level: Moderate to Difficult

This 2015 passage was the shock factor of this section. Most of you have never read about this topic. But this topic has been discussed vigorously in UPSC circles for the last two years, owing to India’s renewed focus on maritime policy considering China’s adventures in the South China Sea. So, this was a tough one for most CLAT 2022 aspirants.

Managing 3 corrects in 3 minutes would be an outstanding effort in this.

Passage 2 – CSR policy changes subsequent to Covid-19

Number of questions: 5

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

This passage wasn’t odd, but it tends to highlight that CLAT 2022 focused on niche topics this year. Because the questions were largely around MoCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) and its policies,

It is expected that one should score at least 3 correct in 2 minutes.

Passage 3 – Patents related to green technology

Number of questions: 5

Overall difficulty level: Easy

This was the hallmark of Current Affairs on CLAT – contemporary, mandatory reading for CLAT takers.

For the big-dreaming CLAT takers, it was imperative to get at least 4 correct in this passage within 3 minutes.

Passage 4 – ISRO (again)

Number of questions: 5

Overall difficulty level: Easy

So much have test-takers seen and read about ISRO, both in their CLAT mocks and elsewhere, that ISRO feels like a part of CLAT GK syllabus.

So, minimum 4 correct in 3-4 minutes is the target.

Passage 5 – Drone Shakti

Number of questions: 5

Overall difficulty level: Easy

One more passage that was compulsory reading for CLAT 2022 aspirants. Budget 2022, bang on the money.

Same target: minimum 4 correct in 3 minutes.

Passage 6 – Russia-Ukraine conflict

Number of questions: 5

Overall difficulty level: Easy

We have always said that CLAT test creators love the last 3-4 months before CLAT. Three passages from topics between February 2022 and May 2022 prove our point. If you have not been reading about this conflict for your CLAT 2022 preparation, were you even preparing?

At least 3 correct in 3 minutes is the target for this passage.

Passage 7 – AFSPA review and repeal

Number of questions: 5

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

The six-month golden band – that is what we always tell our Endeavorians.

October 2021 to May 2022 was our golden band – the period from which current affairs were most likely to be tested on CLAT. And CLAT 2022 did not disappoint. Maybe a bit disconnected topic for some CLAT takers, not for our students though.

It was easy to get 3-4 correct in 3 minutes.

Section 3 – Legal Reasoning:

Overall Section Analysis: Moderate to Difficult

Recommended time: 30 minutes

Good score:26 – 28

Passage 1 – Public Trust according to the Constitution of India

Number of questions: 5

Overall Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

If the long answer choices did not intimidate you, this was one of the better passages in this section. Not so difficult to read, but a challenging set of questions.

One should get 3 correct in 4 minutes or 4 correct in 5 minutes in this.

Passage 2 – Fundamental Rights in the Constitution of India

Number of questions: 5

Overall Difficulty Level: Moderate

Nothing can be easier and more familiar than this, yet nothing can be trickier than this (when you see the length of the questions).

Targeting the top 5 NLUs? Skip this. Or get 3 correct in 5 minutes, and run away, never to return to this passage.

Passage 3 – Writ

Number of questions: 5

Overall Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

This passage exemplified every CLAT 2022 taker’s anguish that the paper was lengthy. Even when passages were easy, the questions were lengthy and exasperating.

So, just like the preceding passage, hit and run: get 2-3 correct in 3-4 minutes, and feel proud about it.

Passage 4 – Monism and Dualism

Number of questions: 5

Overall Difficulty Level: Moderate

Over the top? Sort of. The questions, even though lengthy, were not so difficult, so they saved the day.

Worth attempting, with a target of 3 correct in 4-5 minutes.

Passage 5 – Taxation of religion-related activities

Number of questions: 5

Overall Difficulty Level: Easy

Except for one question, all others were easy.

One has to target at least 3 correct in 5 minutes in this passage.

Passage 6 – The Contract of Marriage

Number of questions: 5

Overall Difficulty Level: Easy

Same story again – lengthy answers, but worth a shot.

Target of at least 4 correct in 5 minutes.

Passage 7 – Contract Law

Number of questions: 5

Overall Difficulty Level: Easy

This was the easiest passage across the eight passages –

the only one where we can see many test-takers securing all 5 correct answers in 5 minutes.

Passage 8 – Divorce related legalities

Number of questions: 5

Overall Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

If you were not tired by the time you reached this, you probably were tired by the end of the first question.

This passage could have been left un-attempted, or one could look at attempting only 2 questions and getting both correct in a 4-minute effort.

Section 4 – Logical Reasoning:

Overall Section Analysis: Moderate

Recommended time: 25 minutes

Good score: 20 – 22

Passage 1: The unintended consequence of POCSO

Overall difficulty level: Easy

The passage was easy to read, followed by easy questions except one.

Strengthen – Easy
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Inference – Moderate
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Inference – Easy

Test takers should target all 5 correct in 5 minutes.

Passage 2: The pros and cons of attending college

Overall difficulty level: Moderate

The passage had an unnecessary twist from pros to cons. And the questions weren’t very appealing either.

Inference – Easy
Mentioned in the Passage – Moderate
Assumption – Difficult
Title – Difficult
Inference – Easy

Probably 2-3 correct in 5 minutes would be a job well done in this passage.

Passage 3: Constitution and the freedom to laugh

Overall difficulty level: Moderate

The passage was not so tough; rather, it was too conversational to look like a CLAT passage. Questions were more on the Verbal Ability side than on the Logical Reasoning side (which is why the passage has been labeled Moderate instead of Easy).

Central Idea – Easy
Inference – Moderate
Inference – Moderate
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Inference – Moderate

Our recommended effort for this passage is at least 2 correct in 2-3 minutes.

Passage 4: Instructional Design Support during Covid-19 pandemic

Overall difficulty level: Moderate

The passage was probably the toughest to read in this section. The questions were also equally challenging. Considering our recommended good score of 20-22 in the Logical Reasoning section, if a test taker decided to not attempt one of the passages completely, this passage would be chosen by a large percentage of such test-takers.

Logical Purpose – Moderate
Inference – Easy
Inference – Moderate
Applied Information – Difficult
Strengthen – Difficult

A score of 3 correct in 4-5 minutes should make you feel elated here.

Passage 5: Nuclear fuels as a substitute for fossil fuels

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

The passage was moderately tough to read, but the questions compensated for the boredom in the passage.

Main Idea – Easy
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy

Like we asserted in an earlier section, any CLAT taker targeting the top 5 NLUs must secure 5 correct answers within 5 minutes in this passage.

Passage 6: Global Biodiversity Framework

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

A pretty short passage with some jargon, some data, and some didactic references. The questions too were a mixed bag, but worth a sincere attempt.

Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Mentioned in the Passage – Easy
Inference – Moderate
Main Idea – Moderate
Inference – Easy

Despite the mixed bag of questions, due to the short length of the passage, test takers must aim at securing at least 3 correct answers in less than 4 minutes.

Section 5 – Quantitative Techniques:

Overall Section Analysis: Moderate

Recommended time: 20 minutes

Good score: 10 – 11

Dataset 1: Data of students in a college

Focus of the dataset: Set Theory, Percentages, Ratio

Overall difficulty level: Moderate

Number of questions: 5

Understanding the data, simplifying it, and applying ratios were time-consuming. But once you had solved the basic relations, the questions were straightforward. Including the time to dis-entangle the data,

It is possible to get at least 4 correct in this dataset within 5-6 minutes.

Dataset 2: Data of students in a college

Focus of the dataset: Percentages, Ratio

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

Number of questions: 5

A much simpler dataset than the previous one – a must-attempt for all test-takers. Yes, the dataset was calculative but it was worth investing the time. At least 2 questions were so straightforward that you could answer them in 15 seconds if you deconstructed the dataset properly.

Definitely worth securing at least 4 correct in 5-6 minutes.

Dataset 3: Data of students in a college

Focus of the dataset: Percentages, Ratio

Overall difficulty level: Easy

Number of questions: 5

The only drawback of this dataset is that it was tedious to read. Imagine coming across this in the last 5 minutes of a 120-minute marathon. But hidden behind the clutter were 5 easy questions, undoubtedly the easiest in the last 2-3 years of CLAT history.

Worth investing 6-7 minutes to score at least 4 correct.

Parting Note

Yes, CLAT 2022 was lengthy and demanded focused reading, emotional tenacity, and the ability to maintain unwavering focus for 120 minutes. This serves as a good wake-up call for CLAT 2023 aspirants, who have merely 6 months to go.

But what about CLAT 2022 takers? Stay focused on other exams, and wait for the answer key. And keep watching this space for our more ascertained updates on expected cut-offs for different NLUs, especially the ones with domicile quotas. Good luck with everything ahead!

CLAT 2022 Exam Cut-Offs for NLUs:

Expected cut-offs for the Top 5 NLUs

Name of NLU	Expected cut-off General category (All India)
NLSIU Bangalore	98-99
NALSAR Hyderabad	94-95
WBNUJS Kolkata	92
NLU Jodhpur	89
GNLU Gandhinagar	86-87