7 Simple Steps to Enhance CLAT GK Preparation

GK in the CLAT exam, as we know, carries 50 marks and is one of the most crucial sections of the paper. This is one of the sections where scoring full marks is a genuine possibility, and since you do not need much time to tackle this section during the exam, good GK preparation is an effective weapon in your CLAT arsenal.

GK can be broadly divided into two wide categories – Static and Current. Static GK is an ocean, with a great deal to study. However, there are a few broadheads under which Static GK can be divided, and that can be gleaned by referring to past years’ papers. Current Affairs can be tackled quite easily with consistent effort spread across the year. GK

Here are a few ways you can enhance your GK preparation for CLAT:

Navigate through previous year CLAT papers – If you do not know where to start from, this is a good place. It will provide a sort of rough outline to the GK preparation. The important areas of Static GK can be figured out by going through papers.

Observe previous year trends and practice – Observing trends may help narrow down the areas of focus, but you must not rely on that, as CLAT is predictable for its unpredictability. The important thing is to focus on every aspect of a news item, and not just the headlines.

For example, look at this question from CLAT 2018: The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, France for the third time. How many years before that did the city host the Summer Olympics for the second time?

Everyone knew that Paris would host the 2024 Olympics and that it would be the third time that the city would host the Olympics. However, not many would have focussed on the fact that the previous time France hosted the Olympics was in 1924, and those who did had an edge.

Practice with mock tests – This is a given. It is important for time management, to cut down the time spent on the GK section (never more than 10 – 12 minutes, because either you know the answer or you do not). Of course, it is unlikely that you will know all answers in the section, so while analyzing the mocks, it is important to learn the answers that you did not know while giving the mock.

Go through newspapers and magazines – Goes without saying. It is amongst the most important ways of imbibing information. Sure, you can use compendiums, but newspapers and magazines provide context to information, and thus aid memory. Check every nook and cranny of the newspaper, some obscure side column may have something relevant. Do not focus only on the headlines, but learn to sift the wheat from the chaff; not everything printed is important for CLAT. Generally, national and international news from all areas must be focussed on.

Watch News Channels Regularly – Most of us tend to remember things better when watching or listening compared to reading. This is why watching news channels will help. Also, the news channels often explore the matter at hand in detail. However, it is not a replacement to regular newspaper reading, as the range of news covered on TV will not be as wide as that in newspapers or magazines.

Prepare your Own Notes to Study GK – There is a twofold benefit to making notes. One, you have something to refer to for quick revision, and two, writing something down helps freeze it in memory. By writing things down, you engage more actively with the content, and will, therefore, retain information better.

Use Apps and GK sites – Usually, our phones are our source of entertainment when we are traveling or during boring family functions. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media, you could use one of the several GK apps or websites. They mostly contain competitive exam-oriented material, and often have several quizzes which are a fun way of self-evaluation and learning.

One of the most important things that one needs while attempting to prepare for the GK section is curiosity, an eagerness to know. If you have that, you will read voraciously, and enjoy yourself when you do that. And enjoying what you study is a key factor in performing better.