Hey Manali!

I suggest preparing for CLAT examination from class 11th onwards will be most suitable since you will get acquainted with the concepts earlier and you will have comparatively much more practice as compared to if you start studying for it in or after class 12th. If you start now, there are more chances of you clearing the CLAT exam and getting enrolled in top National Law Universities. Also, you need not require very good grades in 12th for the CLAT eligibility. So, you need to decide which one will you give priority to, that is, 12th class or your CLAT. If it's CLAT that is your priority, then start it's preparation now as one needs to score really good marks for getting in NLUs and amid all the competition there is for getting in those few seats. And about coaching, it is not that necessary, it depends on your individual capability. If it's any topic you need to know about, you can always search for it and do with the self guide books. But taking a good coaching will surely help you. It's more about practice. If you practice with dedication daily then you need no coaching.

• To start with, you must be familiar with the test format and syllabus.
• To edify learning and enhance problem solving abilities, practice enough mock exams and sample papers.
• CLAT applicants are also urged to stick to a strict preparation schedule.
• To prepare for the test, candidates should pick books that are easy to understand, satisfy quality standards, and provide plenty of practice material.

For further information, check out the link provided below. You can check out previous years question and also you can check the format of CLAT 2022 exam, even though you won't give next year you can still familiarise yourself with the format.

https://law.careers360.com/exams/clat

All the best!

Hi,

I hope you are doing well.

The ideal time which mostly students go with and which is recommended by a lot of people is during your class 12th. Once your class 12th begins, you can simultaneously start with your CLAT preparations then, as 10-12 months alongside your 12th will give you enough and ample time to study and prepare for your CLAT exam in a calm way & will give you more time to go deep into subject, analyse and solve as many sample papers and revise everything properly as well.

Below I’ll be sharing a link which will provide you with more information on ideal time to prepare for CLAT.

https://law.careers360.com/articles/best-time-prepare-for-clat

I hope the above information helps.
All the very best.