The evening after CLAT, every student asks the same two questions: "What did I score?" and "Is that enough for an NLU?" The answer key is how you find out before the results. This page explains what the Consortium publishes, in what order, and how to work out your score properly — with the -0.25 rule, which is where most self-calculations go wrong.
CLAT 2027 Answer Key Timeline
| Stage | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT 2027 exam | Sunday, 6 December 2026, 2:00–4:00 PM | Confirmed (Consortium press release) |
| Provisional answer key | After the exam, on consortiumofnlus.ac.in | Date announced by the Consortium |
| Objection window | A few days, starting with the provisional key | Dates announced with the key |
| Final answer key | After objections are reviewed | Before the results |
| Results and counselling | Expected December 2026 | Check the CLAT portal |
For reference, CLAT 2026 (exam 7 December 2025): provisional key on 10 December, objections until 12 December at ₹500 per objection (refunded if accepted), final key and results on 16 December 2025 (Careers360).
We update this table as soon as the Consortium announces each date. Do not trust "answer key released" messages on social media until the key is on the official website.
How to Check the Answer Key
- Keep your question booklet set code and the answers you marked (note them on the question booklet during the exam if the rules allow).
- Open consortiumofnlus.ac.in and log in to the CLAT 2027 portal with your registered mobile number or email.
- Open the provisional answer key notice and pick the key for your booklet set.
- Count your correct and wrong answers. Questions you left blank count as zero.
- Put the two numbers into the calculator below.
CLAT Score Calculator
CLAT has 120 questions: +1 for each correct answer, −0.25 for each wrong answer, 0 if left blank.
How to Raise an Objection
If you believe an answer in the provisional key is wrong, you can challenge it through the CLAT portal during the objection window. Each objection needs a short reason and supporting material, and carries a fee set by the Consortium (₹500 per objection in CLAT 2026, refunded when an objection was accepted). Object only when you can show the key is wrong — for example a factual error in a current-affairs question or a passage that supports two options. The Consortium's decision on objections is final and is reflected in the final answer key.
Is My Score Good Enough for an NLU?
It depends on your rank and category, not on the raw score, because difficulty changes every year. As a rough guide, ranks within roughly the top few hundred have reached the premier NLUs, while ranks inside roughly the top 2,500–3,000 have historically kept options across the middle band of NLUs. About 3,700 regular CLAT seats were offered across the 26 Consortium NLUs in the 2026 cycle. See the NLU-wise CLAT 2026 closing ranks, how many seats there are and the NLU tiers.
💡 Writing AILET or SLAT next? AILET 2027 is on 13 December 2026 (also -0.25 per wrong answer) and SLAT 2027 on 19 and 26 December 2026 (no negative marking). Do not let your CLAT score decide your effort for those papers. WhatsApp us or call 85918-50950 for a free counselling call after CLAT.
Related Reading
- CLAT 2027 Exam Guide — Dates, Pattern & Exam Day Checklist
- CLAT Negative Marking: How the -0.25 Rule Works
- CLAT Cut-off 2026: NLU-wise Closing Ranks
- CLAT 2027 Paper Analysis + CLAT 2026 Recap
- How Many Seats in CLAT 2027? NLU Seat Count Explained
- Top NLUs in India 2027: Ranking, Tiers, Fees & Cutoffs