Are you wondering what the CLAT cut off for 2025 might be and how to target a safe score?
The cut-off marks vary significantly across NLUs and categories like General, OBC, SC/ST, and even domicile. For example, a General category student scoring 65-70 may not get into a top NLU, while SC/ST students can secure a seat with 60-65 marks.
The difficulty level of the paper also impacts the CLAT cut-off. In CLAT 2025, if the paper is moderate, a safe score for top NLUs would be around 85+ out of 120.
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Let’s get into details and understand everything about it in simple terms.
What is CLAT Cut-Off?
The CLAT cut off is the minimum score a candidate needs to secure admission into various National Law Universities (NLUs). The cut-off varies based on factors like category (General, OBC, SC/ST), NLU, and whether the student has domicile reservations.
The difficulty level of the exam also impacts the cut-off. Difficult papers generally have lower cut-offs, while moderate papers result in higher cut-offs.
CLAT 2025 Cut-Off (Expected)
The expected cut-off of CLAT 2025 will depend on the difficulty level of the exam.
| Paper Difficulty | For Top 10 NLUs | For Mid/Lower-tier NLUs | Remarks |
| Moderate Paper | 95+ marks | 85-87 marks | Safe score for top 10 NLUs would be 95+, and for mid-tier NLUs, 85-87 marks. |
| Difficult Paper | 85-90 marks | 78-80 marks | In a difficult paper, the cut-off would drop, with 85-90 marks being a safe score for top NLUs. |
This prediction is based on the trends of the past years and the difficulty level of the paper.
CLAT Cut-Off 2025 (Category-Wise)
Let’s understand the CLAT expected cut-off 2025 for all categories:
| Category | Top 10 NLUs Cut-off | Other NLUs Cut-off |
| General/OBC | 85-95+ marks | 70-85 marks |
| SC/ST | 60-65 marks | 50-60 marks |
| EWS | 70-85 marks | 60-70 marks |
| PwD | 55-65 marks | 50-55 marks |
| Domicile (General/OBC) | 80-90 marks | 65-80 marks |
Read About: NIRF NLU Ranking
Factors Affecting CLAT Cut-off Marks
Following are the key factors that affect the Cut-off of CLAT exam:
1. Difficulty Level of the Exam
The difficulty level of the CLAT paper plays a significant role in determining the cut-off. In a tough paper, the cut-off tends to be lower, while in a moderate paper, the cut-off is higher.
For example, CLAT 2023, the most difficult exam in recent years, had lower cut-offs compared to CLAT 2021, which was lengthy but moderate.
2. Number of Candidates Appearing
The number of candidates taking the exam directly impacts the CLAT cut-off marks. A higher number of applicants increases competition, which results in higher cut-off marks.
The number of applicants for CLAT 2025 will be around 60,000.
3. Number of Seats Available
The total number of seats in NLUs for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs affects the CLAT cut-off marks. Fewer seats lead to a higher cut-off due to increased competition for limited slots.
The total NLU seats for 2025 is around 3700.
Checkout: NLSIU Bangalore Seats
4. Performance of the Candidates
If a large percentage of students perform well, the CLAT cut-off will naturally rise. Conversely, if overall performance is lower, the cut-off decreases.
5. Reservation Policies
Category-based reservations (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, etc.) affect the CLAT cut-off as each category has different qualifying marks based on the number of reserved seats.
6. Domicile Quotas
Certain NLUs offer domicile-based reservations, where candidates from the home state have a lower cut-off compared to out-of-state candidates.
7. NLU Preference
Cut-offs vary by university, with top-tier NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and NUJS Kolkata having higher cut-offs due to greater demand, while mid and lower-tier NLUs have relatively lower cut-offs.
Read About: Top 5 NLUs
Marks of Previous Year CLAT Toppers
| Year | Topper Score | Total Marks | Insights |
| CLAT 2020 | 127.25 | 150 | High score due to a relatively moderate paper. |
| CLAT 2021 | 125.5 | 150 | The paper was lengthy, but still moderate in difficulty, leading to a high topper score. |
| CLAT 2022 | 121 | 150 | Slightly tougher paper compared to previous years, causing a drop in the top score. |
| CLAT 2023 | 116.75 | 150 | The most difficult paper in the last five years, resulting in a significant drop in the topper score. |
| CLAT 2024 | 108 | 120 | The pattern changed, making the paper more difficult; Jai Bohara secured AIR 1 with a lower score. |
- Over the last five years, the topper scores have gradually decreased, reflecting an increase in the difficulty level of the CLAT exam.
- CLAT 2023 had the most challenging paper, leading to a notable dip in the top score compared to previous years.
- The CLAT 2024 pattern change brought a shift in scoring, with the top score significantly lower due to the complexity of the paper and the reduction in total marks from 150 to 120.
CLAT Previous Year Papers
To help you prepare effectively, we have shared the collection of CLAT previous year papers. These papers provide valuable insights into the exam format and types of questions asked, helping you refine your study strategy.
Checkout CLAT previous Year papers of 15 years.
Minimum Marks to Crack CLAT 2025
The minimum marks required to secure admission into any National Law University (NLU):
| Category | NLUs Minimum Marks |
| General | 78-85 marks |
| OBC | 70-75 marks |
| SC/ST | 55-60 marks |
| EWS | 65-75 marks |
| PwD | 50-55 marks |
CLAT Cut-Off 2024
Check the CLAT 2024 cut-off category-wise (opening and closing ranks):
| NLU | General (Opening – Closing Rank) | OBC (Opening – Closing Rank) | SC (Opening – Closing Rank) | ST (Opening – Closing Rank) |
| NLSIU Bangalore | 1 – 102 | 107 – 971 | 372 – 3007 | 224 – 7487 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 4 – 167 | 189 – 1116 | 319 – 3574 | 263 – 6083 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 140 – 279 | — | 2056 – 4503 | 2856 – 8860 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 159 – 452 | 879 – 1315 | 3161 – 5178 | 8860 – 11527 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 112 – 379 | 487 – 1424 | 3574 – 5178 | 4411 – 8960 |
| HNLU Raipur | 413 – 791 | 1858 – 2069 | 5192 – 6765 | 9218 – 12035 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 8 – 464 | 1284 – 1858 | 4988 – 6175 | 7712 – 11580 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 357 – 764 | — | 3234 – 10253 | — |
| RGNUL Punjab | 220 – 1250 | — | 3234 – 10253 | 9562 – 16875 |
| CNLU Patna | 790 – 1358 | — | Reserved for Domicile | — |
| NUALS Kochi | 231 – 1136 | — | Reserved for Domicile | — |
| NLU Odisha | 591 – 1205 | — | 5997 – 9869 | 11580 – 16676 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 637 – 1594 | 1943 – 3005 | 5972 – 11124 | 16875 – 19635 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | 806 – 1628 | 1672 – 3135 | 10681 – 11289 | Reserved for Domicile |
| DSNLU Vishakhapatnam | 656 – 1390 | 2068 – 2940 | 8057 – 10568 | 12009 – 18342 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 222 – 590 | Reserved for Maharashtra Domicile | Reserved for Maharashtra Domicile | Reserved for Maharashtra Domicile |
CLAT Cut-Off 2023
Check the CLAT cut-off category-wise in 2023 exam:
| NLU | General (Open – Close Rank) | EWS (Open – Close Rank) | OBC (Open – Close Rank) | SC (Open – Close Rank) | ST (Open – Close Rank) |
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 1 – 114 | 129 – 510 | 171 – 923 | 181 – 2674 | 1781 – 2835 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 25 – 177 | 365 – 680 | 931 – 1116 | 702 – 3388 | 3375 – 6174 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 136 – 260 | — | 1397 – 7119 | 588 – 4217 | 6121 – 7792 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 186 – 463 | 796 – 1290 | 591 – 1268 | 4505 – 5311 | 8143 – 10960 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 70 – 383 | — | — | 2360 – 4457 | 6689 – 8076 |
| HNLU Raipur | 481 – 805 | — | 2031 – 2061 | 6997 – 7137 | 10117 – 11277 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 147 – 462 | 488 – 1210 | 1150 – 1878 | 3680 – 5683 | 8790 – 10837 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 432 – 749 | 1432 – 1845 | 772 – 3088 | 6014 – 9582 | 18980 – 27764 |
| RGNUL Patiala | 563 – 1307 | — | — | 5693 – 8856 | 10300 – 15585 |
| CNLU Patna | 628 – 1541 | 2002 – 2501 | 1511 – 5260 | 7741 – 13369 | 20004 – — |
| NUALS Kochi | 638 – 1461 | 5660 – 41647 | — | 6498 – 26009 | 27055 – 28147 |
| NLU Odisha | 504 – 1207 | — | — | 6147 – 7957 | 13445 – 16910 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 939 – 1895 | 2332 – 2688 | 2248 – 2756 | 7695 – 10032 | 14248 – 18477 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirapalli | 704 – 2045 | — | 2509 – 4119 | 6192 – 10557 | 14452 – — |
| DSNLU Vishakhapatnam | 538 – 2080 | 2477 – 3285 | 7113 – 16077 | 9337 – 17282 | 13295 – — |
| MNLU Mumbai | 325 – 590 | 2034 – 4878 | 3078 – 9880 | 5963 – 8923 | 17578 – 32870 |
| MNLU Nagpur | 878 – 2102 | 2710 – 14738 | 7420 – 22745 | 4921 – 21215 | 23125 – 39121 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 1824 – 2655 | 13589 – — | 12558 – 24704 | 21626 – 26769 | 37995 – — |
| NLUJA Assam | 1375 – 2569 | — | 4913 – 38136 | 15318 – 31993 | 25618 – 42731 |
| HPNLU Shimla | 822 – 2816 | — | — | 8337 – 11982 | 13021 – 20699 |
| DNLU Jabalpur | 1696 – 2698 | 2969 – 3513 | 3905 – 4318 | 10030 – 12073 | 17883 – 23002 |
| DBRANLU Sonipat | 767 – 2713 | 2584 – 3412 | 2533 – 4515 | 9611 – 11010 | 10923 – 21673 |
| GNLU Silvassa Campus | 810 – 1820 | 1863 – 2984 | 2435 – 3992 | 8339 – 10104 | 13276 – 14846 |
Check: CLAT Exam Centers
CLAT Cut-Off 2022
Check CLAT cut-off ranks in 2022:
| NLU | General | OBC | SC | ST | ||||
| Open Rank | Close Rank | Open Rank | Close Rank | Open Rank | Close Rank | Open Rank | Close Rank | |
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 1 | 85 | 88 | 638 | 431 | 2224 | 554 | 3428 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 8 | 162 | 505 | 7849 | 1252 | 2761 | 3818 | 5158 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 117 | 257 | 1989 | 11472 | 2503 | 4933 | 5084 | 7238 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 241 | 451 | 774 | 1510 | 3618 | 4793 | 6076 | 10189 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 155 | 378 | – | – | 2318 | 5881 | 1727 | 7620 |
| HNLU Raipur | 430 | 756 | 1721 | 1980 | 4918 | 8797 | 11785 | 12027 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 175 | 430 | 752 | 1747 | 3779 | 6527 | 6155 | 12014 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 377 | 756 | 902 | 3568 | 4565 | 10476 | 15889 | 19504 |
| RGNUL Patiala | 437 | 1184 | – | – | 6134 | 9434 | 6449 | 16179 |
| CNLU Patna | 932 | 1498 | 1882 | 9085 | 9825 | 18386 | 29956 | 29956 |
| NUALS Kochi | 413 | 1315 | 2114 | 20999 | 8411 | 25640 | 16977 | 16977 |
| NLUO Odisha | 470 | 1191 | – | – | 5800 | 9726 | 13361 | 17417 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 933 | 1603 | 1386 | 2698 | 3540 | 21084 | 13311 | 31604 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirapalli | 807 | 1816 | 1770 | 3789 | 6909 | 12015 | 15682 | 16880 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | 1002 | 1589 | 8881 | 11160 | 10847 | 10847 | 24160 | 24160 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 64 | 548 | 1310 | 8987 | 4874 | 16251 | 14752 | 43608 |
| MNLU Nagpur | 999 | 1657 | 6293 | 18196 | 16251 | 36646 | 30004 | 30479 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 1390 | 2323 | 19850 | 34225 | 20505 | 45669 | 44623 | 46061 |
| NLUJA Assam | 1131 | 1979 | 5542 | 39724 | 25357 | 41911 | 16817 | 40718 |
| HPNLU Shimla | 1056 | 2302 | – | – | 7229 | 12507 | 12778 | 22145 |
| DNLU Jabalpur | 1314 | 2262 | 1647 | 3489 | 10967 | 12925 | 15638 | 22762 |
| DBRANLU Sonipat | 1094 | 2333 | 1917 | 4018 | 6448 | 12213 | 12177 | 23212 |
Read About : Is NLU Worth It?
How to Set Your Target Cut-Off for CLAT 2025?
Setting a realistic and strategic target score is crucial for maximizing your chances of getting into a top National Law University (NLU).
1. Analyze Previous Year CLAT Cut-offs
Begin by studying the cut-off trends from previous CLAT exams, especially the last 3-5 years.
For example, the top 10 NLU cut-offs for general category candidates have been around 85-95 marks in recent years. Use this data to gauge the score range you need to aim for.
2. Consider the Paper Difficulty Level
Keep in mind that the paper difficulty plays a major role in determining the cut-off. Adjust your target score based on whether the paper is expected to be moderate or difficult.
3. Category-Based Target Score for CLAT 2025
Set your target score according to your category:
- General Category: Aim for at least 90-100 marks for top-tier NLUs and 80-90 marks for mid/lower-tier NLUs.
- OBC Category: Target a score of 75-85 marks for top-tier NLUs.
- SC/ST Categories: Set a target of 60-65 marks for top-tier NLUs and 55-60 marks for mid-tier NLUs.
- EWS: Aim for 70-85 marks depending on your preferred NLU.
- PwD: Target 55-65 marks for top-tier NLUs.
4. Account for Safety Margin
Always set a safety margin of 5-10 marks above the expected CLAT 2025 cut-off. For example, if you expect the cut-off for top-tier NLUs to be around 85 marks, aim for at least 90-95 marks to ensure you have a buffer in case the cut-off is higher than expected.
5. Assess Mock Test Performance
Use CLAT mock tests to assess your current performance and identify how far you are from your target score. Regularly compare your mock scores with your target and analyze your performance to make necessary adjustments in your study plan.
6. Plan for Incremental Improvement
If your mock test scores are significantly below your target, set incremental goals. For example, if you are currently scoring 60 marks, aim to improve by 10 marks over the next month. Gradual improvement will help you reach your final target score.
Expected CLAT 2025 Cut-Off (Watch Video)
FAQs About CLAT Cut-off
For General category, the expected cut-off for top NLUs is 85-95 marks if the paper is moderate. For SC/ST candidates, it could be 60-65 marks.
Yes, cut-offs vary by category. General category candidates usually have higher cut-offs, while SC/ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates have lower cut-offs due to reservation policies.
The CLAT 2024 cut-off for top NLUs ranged from 85-95 marks for General category, and around 60-65 marks for SC/ST categories.
For General category, the minimum score required for admission to lower-tier NLUs could be around 78-85 marks, while SC/ST candidates may secure admission with 55-65 marks.
It depends on the difficulty level of the paper. If CLAT 2025 is moderate, the cut-off might be similar or slightly higher than CLAT 2024.
No, AILET and CLAT have separate cut-offs as they are different exams with distinct structures and difficulty levels.
SC/ST candidates may secure a seat in top NLUs with 60-65 marks, depending on the paper difficulty.
OBC candidates may need 75-85 marks for top-tier NLUs and around 70-75 marks for mid-tier NLUs, depending on the paper difficulty.
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