Students scoring approximately 90–95 out of 120 in CLAT 2027 can expect a rank within the top 500, putting six reputed NLUs directly within reach for General category students.
CLAT 2027, conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities, determines admission to five-year integrated law programs across 24 NLUs in India. A rank under 500 places you among the top 0.7% of approximately 70,000 CLAT aspirants. While NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and NLIU Bhopal require ranks well below 200 for General category, institutions like GNLU Gandhinagar, HNLU Raipur, MNLU Mumbai, and RMLNLU Lucknow are comfortably accessible for students who secure a solid mid-range score. This article maps expected closing ranks and score benchmarks based on CLAT 2024 and 2025 result trends.
- CLAT UG total marks: 120 (120 objective questions, 1 mark each, –0.25 negative marking per wrong answer).
- Score for rank under 500 (General): approximately 90–95 out of 120, based on CLAT 2024–25 trends.
- NLUs within reach at rank under 500 (General): NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, MNLU Mumbai, HNLU Raipur, NUALS Kochi, and RMLNLU Lucknow.
- SC/ST and OBC-NCL students with a rank under 500 may also qualify at NLIU Bhopal and WBNUJS Kolkata through reserved seats, based on past year data.
| Direct Link — CLAT 2027 Official Portal (Apply / Login) consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
CLAT Score vs Rank for the Top 500
CLAT UG carries a maximum of 120 marks. Securing a rank under 500 requires consistent accuracy above 90 marks, as the top 500 ranks are typically compressed within a 15–20 mark band at the upper end of the score distribution. The table below maps expected score ranges to rank brackets, based on CLAT 2024 and 2025 result patterns.
| Score Range (out of 120) | Expected CLAT Rank (General) | Likely NLU Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 105–120 | 1–80 | NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad |
| 100–104 | 81–200 | NLIU Bhopal, WBNUJS Kolkata |
| 95–99 | 201–350 | NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar |
| 90–94 | 351–500 | HNLU Raipur, MNLU Mumbai, RMLNLU Lucknow |
| 84–89 | 501–1,000 | RGNUL Patiala, CNLU Patna, NLUO Odisha |
| 75–83 | 1,001–2,500 | DBRANLU Sonipat, NLU Tripura, others |
These figures are expected ranges based on CLAT 2024–25 trends and may shift in CLAT 2027 depending on paper difficulty and applicant volume. At this score range, a single mark difference can move rank by 30–60 positions, so every question matters.
NLUs Accessible with Rank Under 500 (General Category)
Based on CLAT 2024 and 2025 counselling data, the NLUs below typically close for General category students within the top 500 ranks. All closing rank figures are expected for CLAT 2027 and are derived from recent counselling trends. Actual allotments depend on the number of applicants, seat intake revisions, and round-wise withdrawals.
| NLU | State | Program | Expected Closing Rank 2027 (General) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLU Jodhpur | Rajasthan | BA LLB (Hons) | ~270–320 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | Gujarat | BA LLB (Hons) / BBA LLB (Hons) | ~310–380 |
| MNLU Mumbai | Maharashtra | BA LLB (Hons) | ~330–400 |
| HNLU Raipur | Chhattisgarh | BA LLB (Hons) | ~360–430 |
| NUALS Kochi | Kerala | BA LLB (Hons) | ~390–460 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | BA LLB (Hons) | ~420–490 |
NLU Jodhpur is the most competitive of this group, with closing ranks that sometimes dip below 300. GNLU Gandhinagar and MNLU Mumbai are reliably accessible for students ranked under 400. For students ranked between 400 and 500, NUALS Kochi and RMLNLU Lucknow are the most realistic first-preference targets. Students should fill all six institutions in their preference list to maximize allotment chances across counselling rounds.
Category-wise Closing Ranks at Mid-Tier NLUs
Reserved category students — SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and PwD — have significantly higher closing ranks at the same NLUs because reserved seats are filled from a separate merit list with a smaller competing pool. An SC or ST student with an overall CLAT rank of 500 often qualifies for NLUs ranked higher than this group. The table shows expected category-wise closing ranks for CLAT 2027, based on recent years’ counselling data.
| NLU | General | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLU Jodhpur | ~320 | ~700 | ~1,800 | ~2,500 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | ~380 | ~850 | ~2,100 | ~3,000 |
| MNLU Mumbai | ~400 | ~900 | ~2,200 | ~3,200 |
| HNLU Raipur | ~430 | ~1,000 | ~2,500 | ~3,500 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | ~490 | ~1,100 | ~2,800 | ~4,000 |
OBC-NCL students with a rank around 500 can comfortably target NLU Jodhpur and GNLU Gandhinagar, institutions that are borderline for General category students at the same rank. SC and ST students with a rank under 500 can realistically aim for NLIU Bhopal and WBNUJS Kolkata, both of which are in the top four NLUs nationally. Students should confirm their category eligibility before finalising their preference list.
How to Score 90+ in CLAT 2027
Scoring 90–95 out of 120 in CLAT requires high accuracy across all five sections. The table below shows target scores per section to land in the top 500, based on the current CLAT UG exam pattern.
| Section | Questions | Target Score (Rank Under 500) | Key Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 28–32 | 24–27 | Comprehension speed and inference questions |
| Current Affairs and GK | 35–39 | 28–32 | Legal and constitutional GK, 12-month current affairs |
| Legal Reasoning | 35–39 | 28–32 | Principle-fact application; avoid guessing |
| Logical Reasoning | 28–32 | 22–25 | Critical reasoning passages; eliminate wrong options |
| Quantitative Techniques | 13–17 | 10–13 | Data interpretation and basic arithmetic |
The –0.25 negative marking rule makes selective answering essential. Students who attempt 105–110 questions with 85–88% accuracy consistently outscore those who attempt all 120 questions with lower precision. Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs together account for over 55% of the paper — maximising these two sections is the fastest path to a rank under 500 in CLAT 2027.
CLAT 2027 NLUs Under 500 Rank FAQs
Ques. Which NLUs can I get with a CLAT rank under 500 in the General category?
Ans. Based on CLAT 2024–25 trends, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, MNLU Mumbai, HNLU Raipur, NUALS Kochi, and RMLNLU Lucknow are expected to be accessible for General category students with a rank under 500 in CLAT 2027. These are expected figures and actual allotments depend on applicant volume and counselling round outcomes.
Ques. What score out of 120 is needed for a rank under 500 in CLAT 2027?
Ans. Based on CLAT 2024 and 2025 trends, a score of approximately 90–95 out of 120 is expected to yield a rank within the top 500 for General category students. A score above 95 typically secures a rank in the top 200–350 range.
Ques. Can SC and ST students with a CLAT rank under 500 get into higher-ranked NLUs?
Ans. Yes. SC and ST closing ranks at top NLUs are significantly higher than General category closing ranks. Based on past year trends, SC and ST students with a rank under 500 can typically qualify for NLUs ranked as high as NLIU Bhopal and WBNUJS Kolkata through reserved category seats.
Ques. What is the total marks for CLAT UG 2027?
Ans. CLAT UG carries a maximum of 120 marks. The paper has 120 objective questions worth 1 mark each, with a negative marking of –0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. There is no negative marking for unattempted questions.
Ques. Is NLU Jodhpur accessible with a CLAT rank of 300?
Ans. Based on past trends, NLU Jodhpur’s General category closing rank has been approximately 270–320. A rank of 300 is borderline — you may or may not receive a seat in the first counselling round, but upgrade rounds during CLAT 2027 counselling may still result in an allotment. Confirm actual closing ranks once official CLAT 2027 counselling data is released by the Consortium.
Ques. How many total UG seats do NLUs offer through CLAT 2027?
Ans. The 24 NLUs participating in CLAT 2027 collectively offer approximately 2,600–2,800 UG seats, subject to official notification by the Consortium. Seats are distributed across General, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and PwD categories as per constitutional reservation norms.
Comments