CLAT 2027 Safe Score for SC and ST Categories: Minimum Marks Required

A safe score for SC category students in CLAT 2027 is around 70 to 78 marks out of 120, while ST category students targeting top NLUs should aim for at least 58 to 68 marks, based on CLAT 2024 and 2025 closing score trends.

CLAT 2027 is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs for admission to five-year integrated LLB programs across 24 National Law Universities. SC and ST categories have reserved seats at every NLU, and their closing scores are considerably lower than the general category. Knowing what score is safe for your category helps you set a realistic preparation goal and choose the right NLUs during counselling.

• CLAT 2027 total marks: 120 marks (120 questions × 1 mark; –0.25 for wrong answers)
• SC category safe score for top 5 NLUs: 70–78 marks (based on 2024–2025 trends)
• ST category safe score for top 5 NLUs: 58–68 marks (based on 2024–2025 trends)
• SC and ST reserved seats are available at all 24 NLUs under the All India Quota
• For NLUs ranked 11–24, even 50–62 marks for SC and 38–50 marks for ST may secure a seat

---

CLAT 2027 Total Marks and Scoring Pattern

CLAT 2027 will carry a maximum of 120 marks across 120 objective-type questions. Every correct answer earns 1 mark and every wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. Understanding this structure is essential before interpreting what a safe score means for SC and ST students.

---

CLAT 2027 Safe Score for SC Category

SC category students should target at least 70 to 78 marks in CLAT 2027 to secure a seat in one of the top five NLUs. For NLUs ranked between 6 and 10, a score of 62 to 70 marks is generally considered safe, and for NLUs ranked 11 and below, even 50 to 62 marks can be sufficient, based on trends from CLAT 2024 and 2025.

The SC cutoff varies across NLUs depending on the number of reserved seats, the total SC applicant pool in that cycle, and the overall paper difficulty. Higher-ranked NLUs in major cities consistently attract more qualified SC applicants, which keeps their cutoffs higher relative to other NLUs.

All figures above are expected ranges based on CLAT 2024–2025 trends. Actual CLAT 2027 cutoffs will be officially published by the Consortium of NLUs after result declaration.

---

CLAT 2027 Safe Score for ST Category

ST category students targeting top NLUs in CLAT 2027 should aim for a safe score of 58 to 68 marks out of 120. For mid-tier NLUs (ranked 6–10), scoring between 50 and 58 marks is generally sufficient, and for NLUs ranked 11 and below, scores as low as 38 to 50 marks may secure an ST category seat.

ST category cutoffs are typically lower than both general and SC category cutoffs because ST seats are fewer in number at each NLU and the qualifying ST applicant pool is smaller. However, competition among ST students has grown in recent CLAT cycles as outreach improves and more students from tribal communities appear for the exam.

All values above are expected estimates based on CLAT 2024–2025 data and should be used for planning purposes only.

---

CLAT Previous Year SC and ST Cutoffs (2024–2025)

Reviewing closing scores from past CLAT cycles gives you a reliable benchmark for preparation. The table below shows approximate NLU-wise closing scores for SC and ST categories from CLAT 2024 and CLAT 2025. All figures are approximate and based on publicly available post-result data.

CLAT 2027 cutoffs will follow a similar pattern. A rising trend of 2–3 marks per year is visible at top NLUs, which means scoring well above the 2025 closing score gives you a safe margin for the 2027 cycle.

---

Factors Affecting CLAT Cutoff for SC and ST

The following factors determine whether your score in CLAT 2027 will be enough to secure a seat under your reserved category:

• Total applicants in your category: A larger SC or ST applicant pool increases competition and can push cutoffs upward by 2–4 marks in a given year.
• Overall paper difficulty: A tougher CLAT paper lowers average scores across all categories, which tends to bring cutoffs down for that cycle.
• Number of reserved seats at each NLU: NLUs with more SC or ST reserved seats tend to have lower closing scores compared to those with fewer seats under each category.
• Seat withdrawal and upgraded allotments: Students who get allotted a seat but withdraw during counselling open up seats for the next rank, which can change effective closing scores across rounds.
• No score normalisation: CLAT does not normalise scores across sessions. Your raw score is your final score, so accuracy and negative-mark management matter equally.

---

How to Calculate Your CLAT Score

You can calculate your expected CLAT score using this formula:

CLAT Score = (Correct Answers × 1) – (Wrong Answers × 0.25)

Use this during mock tests to track whether your score is on track for the SC or ST safe score target you have set. The table below shows sample score calculations:

For SC students targeting top NLUs, your mock test score should consistently stay above 70 marks before the exam. For ST students, a consistent score above 60 marks offers a strong safety margin.