The CLAT 2024 was easy if you see the English section. Still, many students couldn’t score 20+ in this section. I managed to score 100% in this section of CLAT 2024. The funny thing is that I did my schooling completely in Hindi medium! Clearly, this is something you can improve with time and practice. This post will help you understand this section for CLAT, give you some practical tips to improve you English section for CLAT 2025, and at the last will give you some cheat-codes in case you are in trouble during the exam.
In the CLAT 2025 English section will command about 20% of the marks. In fact, proficiency in English would be key to about 65% of the marks as we discussed in a previous post. With a proper preparation, it shouldn’t be very difficult to get 20+ marks in English section. As an added advantage, this preparation will help you with Legal and Logical too.
So, what should you read to get that advantage? First let us discuss the syllabus given by the Consortium on its website.
Syllabus of English for CLAT 2025
In this section of the UG-CLAT 2024, you will be provided passages of about 450 words each. These passages will be derived from contemporary or historically significant fiction and non-fiction writing, and would be of a standard that a 12th standard student may be able to read in about 5-7 minutes.
Each passage will be followed by a series of questions that will require you to demonstrate your comprehension and language skills, including your abilities to:
- Read and comprehend the main point discussed in the passage, as well as any arguments and viewpoints discussed or set out in the passage;
- Draw inferences and conclusions based on the passage;
- Summarise the passage;
- Compare and contrast the different arguments or viewpoints set out in the passage; and
- Understand the meaning of various words and phrases in the context that they are used in the passage.
So what exactly do we have to do to master this section? Let us first see the parts that make up this section.
Skills required to ace English in CLAT 2025
If you see the syllabus above and analyse, you will see that there are essentially 4 different skills required to ace English in CLAT 2025: –
- First, you should have a good reading speed. That is a non-negotiable skill for CLAT. A speed of at least 150 words per minute is desirable.
- Second, you should be able to comprehend and summarize the main points.
- Third, you need to have a good vocabulary. They do ask meanings of words and phrases and you should be well prepared for that.
- Fourth, you need to have good command over grammar. Although, they have not asked grammar questions till now, but they might in upcoming exams. Plus, this might help you in OLETs.
Proven strategies to ace English section in CLAT 2025
As I mentioned earlier, you can take some actions to improve your score in English section of CLAT. So, what are those strategies? Let us go according to the skills discussed above.
Improving reading speed
This is perhaps the most important thing you could do to increase your chances of selection in CLAT. How to do it ? I have some practical and effective tips below : –
- Firstly, you need to STOP VOCALISING while reading. Most students speak while they read. This limits the reading speed to your speed of speech! In reality, you can read much faster. This is one of the biggest steps you can take to improve reading speed, that too almost instantaneously.
- Secondly, USE A PEN/PENCIL/FINGER to point where you are reading. This serves two purposes. First, you read more closely. Secondly, you are less likely to get lost and drown in a lot of text.
- Thirdly, PRACTICE reading as much as you can. Do this every day, and vary your subjects. Newspaper provides you an opportunity to read various kinds of texts. Use that. If you read books, even better. In fact, I would provide a list of books if required. Connect with me on this whatsapp group(click here).
- Lastly, measure your progress. Measure your speed before you do any of the above. Then measure afterwards every week. You will see tremendous improvement from the first day itself.
Improving Comprehension
Comprehension means you understand the topic correctly and may be able to summarize its main points. Without it, your English section in CLAT 2025 is not getting solved! Sometimes, increase in reading speed impacts comprehension/ However, there are ways in which you can improve this skill: –
- Firstly, you need to read actively. What does that mean? You are aware of the basic questions : what, when, why, where, who, how etc. Use these questions to engage with the passage so that it makes sense to you.
- Secondly, underline wherever you get answers to above questions, underline in your question paper. That helps because now you do not have to reread after reading question!
- Thirdly, practice a variety of questions. Did I tell you that we provide daily CLAT practice passages on our whatsapp group(click here)?
Improving vocabulary
There are direct questions from vocabulary in the CLAT exam. Sometimes, they ask about phrases and their contextual meaning. To improve this aspect:-
- Firstly, get a book called Word Power Made Easy. That would help you not only for CLAT, but for any future exams that requires English. I read this book a decade ago and have recommended the same to hundreds of students over the years. Do this book religiously.
- Secondly, DO NOT do any flash cards or apps or anything. If you do step 1, you will know why.
- Thirdly, read a lot. Read fiction or non-fiction, but you will inevitably encounter some new words and phrases. Look them up. Do not note down in a copy. As you come across that same word again and again, you will automatically remember it.
Improving Grammar
To be honest, this is not much important for CLAT exam. But it can’t hurt to know grammar. I have a single point solution here : Get Wren and Martin and do that once. That should be sufficient.
Cheat Codes
Now, sometimes despite our best efforts the exam day is hard. Paper might be tough and we might need some help. So below are some tips in case you face issues during English section of CLAT: –
- The conclusion is usually found in the last or second last para of the passage. So, if you are in a hurry, start there to find the conclusion. Usually works around 70% of the times. Sometimes, it is in the first or second lines of the passage. So, keep that in mind.
- If you are very short on time and have to choose which questions to attempt, try attempting those related to vocabulary and meaning of phrases. Those usually do not need the reading of passage and thus can be done quickly.
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