1. AILET & CLAT | Overview & Background
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs for admission to 24 National Law Universities across India | covering 3,000+ UG seats in BA LLB programmes. AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is conducted exclusively by NLU Delhi for admission to its own programmes | approximately 120 seats for BA LLB (Hons.) and 70 seats for LLM. Both are annual, national-level law entrance exams. The key strategic answer for most aspirants: appear for both. The syllabus overlap is 80–85%, and serious preparation for one effectively prepares you for the other with minor adjustments.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of law aspirants across India face a fundamental strategic question: should I prepare for CLAT, AILET, or both? The answer, almost universally, is both | but understanding exactly how these two exams differ is essential for allocating your preparation time correctly and setting realistic admission targets.
CLAT was established in 2008 by a consortium of National Law Universities to create a unified, single entrance test for law admission across all participating NLUs. Today, it is India's most prominent law entrance exam, accepted by 24 NLUs from NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad to NLUO Cuttack and CNLU Patna. A single CLAT score unlocks admission possibilities across institutions in multiple states.
AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is conducted by National Law University, Delhi (NLU-D) | one of the two NLUs (along with NLU Meghalaya) that are not part of the CLAT Consortium. NLU Delhi conducts its own independent entrance examination for its BA LLB (Hons.), LLM, and PhD programmes. Despite being exclusively for one institution, AILET draws enormous competition because NLU Delhi is consistently ranked among India's top 2–3 law schools.
| Conducting Body | NLU Delhi |
| UG Questions | 150 MCQs |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| UG Seats | ~120 seats |
| Mode | Offline (OMR) |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 per wrong |
| Legal Reasoning | Not in UG exam |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of NLUs |
| UG Questions | 120 MCQs |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| UG Seats | 3,000+ seats (24 NLUs) |
| Mode | Offline (pen & paper) |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 per wrong |
| Legal Reasoning | Yes | ~35 questions |
2. AILET vs CLAT | Master Comparison Table 2026
The most complete side-by-side comparison across every important parameter:
3. Exam Pattern | Section-wise Detailed Breakdown
Understanding the precise structure of each exam | the number of questions per section, marks allocation, and time pressure | is critical for planning your preparation. Both exams are 120 minutes long, but AILET packs 150 questions into the same time as CLAT's 120 questions | meaning AILET demands faster answering speed.
4. Syllabus | Section-by-Section Comparison
While both exams test similar broad knowledge areas, the emphasis and question type within each section differ significantly. Here is a precise breakdown:
| Section | AILET 2026 | Syllabus & Format | CLAT 2027 | Syllabus & Format |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 questions. Tests reading comprehension with longer passages, grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, and cloze tests. Emphasis on speed reading and language accuracy. Generally more straightforward grammar compared to CLAT. | ~22 questions. Passage-based comprehension (300–450 word passages). Tests ability to draw inferences, identify main points, and understand tone/purpose | more analytical than AILET's English. |
| Current Affairs & GK | 30 questions. Broad GK format | statements, one-liners, and factual questions on national/international events, Indian history, polity, economy, science, and awards. Direct factual recall is tested more heavily. | ~23 questions. Passage-based current affairs | extracts from news, reports, or policy documents. Questions test analytical understanding of events, not just factual recall. More nuanced than AILET's GK format. |
| Logical Reasoning | 70 questions (47% of paper). This is AILET's defining section. Covers syllogisms, logical sequences, blood relations, direction sense, coding-decoding, number series, analytical puzzles, and critical reasoning. Far more intensive than CLAT's LR section. | ~28 questions (~23%). Passage-based logical reasoning | extracts presenting arguments, conclusions, or scenarios. Tests ability to identify flaws, strengthen/weaken arguments, and identify assumptions. More analytical than AILET's puzzle-based LR. |
| Legal Reasoning | NOT INCLUDED in AILET UG exam. No legal aptitude or principle-application questions for BA LLB admission. Legal knowledge is tested in AILET LLM (PG), not UG. | ~35 questions (29%). Principle-application based questions | given a legal principle and a factual scenario, apply the principle. Tests legal aptitude without requiring prior legal knowledge. The most distinctive section of CLAT. |
| Quantitative Techniques | NOT INCLUDED in AILET exam. | ~12 questions (10%). Elementary maths | arithmetic, algebra, data interpretation (graphs, charts, tables). Based on Class 10 level. Not heavily weighted but requires specific preparation. |
What This Means for Your Preparation
The most strategically important insight from this syllabus comparison:
- If you prepare well for CLAT's 5-section syllabus, you are 80–85% prepared for AILET | since English, GK, and LR are common. You only need additional AILET-specific practice for: (a) its heavier Logical Reasoning volume (70 Qs), and (b) the faster answering speed required.
- If you prepare primarily for AILET, you are missing CLAT's Legal Reasoning section (~29% of the paper) and Quantitative Techniques (~10%). These require dedicated preparation | particularly Legal Reasoning, which is a skill-based section with a distinctive question style.
- Recommendation: Use CLAT as your primary preparation framework (all 5 sections), then layer in AILET-specific Logical Reasoning practice and speed-building for the 150-question format.
5. Difficulty Level | Which is Harder, AILET or CLAT?
AILET is more competitive than CLAT | but not necessarily "harder" in terms of individual question difficulty. The reason AILET feels harder is that only 120 seats are available at NLU Delhi, meaning the effective cutoff score required is extremely high (120+/150 for General category). CLAT's 3,000+ seats across 24 NLUs allow a wider range of scores to result in admission. Additionally, AILET's Logical Reasoning section (70 questions | 47% of the paper) is more volume-intensive than CLAT's LR section.
| Difficulty Factor | AILET 2026 | CLAT 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Competition Intensity | Very High (fewer seats) | High (more seats, more aspirants) |
| Time Pressure (per question) | 48 seconds/question (harder) | 60 seconds/question |
| Logical Reasoning Intensity | Very High (70 Qs = 47%) | Moderate (~28 Qs = 23%) |
| Question Style | Statement/MCQ | tests speed and accuracy | Passage-based | tests reading and analysis |
| GK Format Difficulty | Factual recall | can be prepared with static GK | Passage-based | tests analytical GK understanding |
| Legal Reasoning Required | Not required (no section) | Yes | ~29% of paper (unique skill needed) |
| Maths Required | Not required | Basic Class 10 maths (~10%) |
| Effective Cutoff Score | 120+/150 for top NLU (very high) | 90–100/120 for NLSIU; lower for other NLUs |
6. Cutoff Marks & Ranks | AILET vs CLAT 2026
| Exam & College | Category | Expected Cutoff Score | Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AILET | NLU Delhi (BA LLB) | General | 120–130+ / 150 | ~60–65 |
| AILET | NLU Delhi (BA LLB) | SC | 90–100 / 150 | ~500–600 |
| AILET | NLU Delhi (BA LLB) | ST | 80–90 / 150 | ~900–1,000 |
| AILET | NLU Delhi (LLM) | General | 100–110 / 150 | ~70–80 |
| CLAT | NLSIU Bangalore | General AI | 90–100 / 120 | ~100–200 |
| CLAT | NALSAR Hyderabad | General AI | 88–96 / 120 | ~300–500 |
| CLAT | NUJS Kolkata | General AI | 86–94 / 120 | ~500–700 |
| CLAT | GNLU Gandhinagar | General AI | 82–90 / 120 | ~700–900 |
| CLAT | NLUO Cuttack | General AI | 78–86 / 120 | ~800–1,200 |
| CLAT | CNLU Patna | General AI | 68–76 / 120 | ~2,000–3,000 |
7. Seats, Fees & Eligibility
| Parameter | AILET 2026 | CLAT 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| UG Seats Total | ~120 seats (BA LLB at NLU Delhi) | 3,000+ seats (across 24 NLUs) |
| PG Seats | ~70 seats (LLM at NLU Delhi) | ~1,000+ LLM seats (24 NLUs) |
| Application Fee (General) | ₹3,500 | ₹4,000 |
| Application Fee (SC/ST/PwD) | ₹1,500 (lower) | ₹3,500 |
| UG Eligibility (General) | Class 12 with 45% aggregate | Class 12 with 45% aggregate |
| UG Eligibility (SC/ST) | Class 12 with 40% aggregate | Class 12 with 40% aggregate |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit | No upper age limit (BCI, 2017) |
| Stream Requirement (12th) | Any stream (Arts/Science/Commerce) | Any stream (Arts/Science/Commerce) |
| Counselling Mode | Online (NLU Delhi merit lists) | Online (Consortium CAP rounds) |
| Annual LLB Fee (approx.) | ₹1.5–2.5 Lakh / year (NLU Delhi) | ₹1.5–3 Lakh / year (varies by NLU) |
8. NLU Delhi vs Top CLAT NLUs | Which College is Better?
AILET's sole destination is NLU Delhi. CLAT's top destination is NLSIU Bangalore (consistently ranked #1 in NIRF Law). Here's how these elite institutions compare | because ultimately, the exam is a means to a college admission, and the college decision matters as much as the exam choice.
| Parameter | NLU Delhi (AILET) | NLSIU Bangalore (CLAT) | NALSAR Hyderabad (CLAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF Law Rank 2025 | #2–3 | #1 | #2–4 |
| Location | New Delhi (capital advantage) | Bengaluru (legal + tech hub) | Hyderabad (Southern India) |
| Established | 2008 | 1987 (India's first NLU) | 1998 |
| Avg Placement (Tier-1 Firms) | ₹15–22 LPA | ₹15–25 LPA | ₹14–20 LPA |
| CLAT Closing Rank | Not applicable (AILET only) | ~100–200 (Gen AI) | ~300–500 (Gen AI) |
| AILET Closing Rank | ~60–65 (Gen) | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Campus Location Advantage | Supreme Court, HCs, Law Firms proximity | Tech ecosystem, startup legal work | Good High Court access |
| Known For | Constitutional law, corporate law, proximity to national institutions | All-round legal education, India's oldest NLU legacy | Criminal law, Constitutional law research |
9. Preparation Strategy | Preparing for AILET and CLAT Together
The most effective strategy for 95% of law aspirants is to prepare for both CLAT and AILET simultaneously. Here is how to structure your preparation:
| Section | AILET Weight | CLAT Weight | Recommended Prep Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 33% (50 Qs) | 18% (22 Qs) | 20% of total prep time |
| Current Affairs & GK | 20% (30 Qs) | 19% (23 Qs) | 15% + daily current affairs habit |
| Logical Reasoning | 47% (70 Qs) | 23% (28 Qs) | 30% of total prep time |
| Legal Reasoning | 0% (CLAT only) | 29% (35 Qs) | 25% of total prep time (CLAT only) |
| Quantitative Techniques | 0% (CLAT only) | 10% (12 Qs) | 10% of total prep time (CLAT only) |
10. Which Should You Target | AILET, CLAT, or Both?
- ▸Your primary goal is specifically NLU Delhi | its location in the capital, constitutional law research, or proximity to Supreme Court
- ▸You are exceptionally strong in Logical Reasoning and analytical puzzles | AILET's 70-question LR section heavily rewards this skill
- ▸You are weak in Legal Reasoning | AILET gives you a fair shot without this CLAT-specific section
- ▸You prefer factual GK questions over passage-based current affairs analysis
- ▸You are confident in English accuracy (50 questions is a large chunk)
- ▸You are prepared for extremely high competition | only ~60–65 General category ranks get admission
- ▸You want multiple college options | 24 NLUs across India, from NLSIU Bangalore to NLUO Cuttack
- ▸You have strong analytical reading and comprehension skills | CLAT rewards this across all 5 sections
- ▸You are interested in developing legal aptitude and legal reasoning | CLAT's Legal Reasoning section is uniquely valuable career preparation
- ▸You prefer a balanced exam across multiple skill areas rather than a LR-heavy format
- ▸You are comfortable with basic Class 10 mathematics | Quant is small (~10%) but needs some preparation
- ▸Your fallback plan needs options | CLAT's 3,000+ seats give you multiple admission possibilities
11. Key Similarities Between AILET and CLAT
Despite their differences, AILET and CLAT share more in common than most aspirants realise. Understanding these similarities is what makes combined preparation effective:
| Feature | AILET | CLAT | Prep Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Month | December | December | Same preparation cycle | no timing conflict |
| Mode | Offline (OMR / pen-paper) | Offline (pen-paper) | Same physical format | same test-taking skills |
| Eligibility | Class 12, 45% (Gen) | Class 12, 45% (Gen) | Identical eligibility | no conflict |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 per wrong | -0.25 per wrong | Same accuracy strategy | don't guess blindly |
| English Language | 50 questions (tested) | ~22 questions (tested) | Shared section | prepare once for both |
| Current Affairs & GK | 30 questions (tested) | ~23 questions (tested) | Shared content | same daily habit of reading |
| Logical Reasoning | 70 questions (tested) | ~28 questions (tested) | Shared section | LR prep helps both exams |
| UG Course | BA LLB (Hons.) | BA LLB / BBA LLB (Hons.) | Same target degree | same career path |
| BCI Recognition | Yes (NLU Delhi) | Yes (all 24 NLUs) | Both lead to identical professional rights |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit | No upper age limit | Open to all ages | lifelong learning pathway |
12. Frequently Asked Questions | AILET vs CLAT
What is the main difference between AILET and CLAT? ▾
The fundamental difference is scope vs exclusivity. CLAT provides access to 24 NLUs (3,000+ seats); AILET provides access only to NLU Delhi (120 seats). In exam structure: AILET has 150 questions across 3 sections (English, GK, Logical Reasoning | no Legal Reasoning, no Quant); CLAT has 120 questions across 5 sections (adding Legal Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques). Both are offline, 120-minute exams with -0.25 negative marking.
Is AILET harder than CLAT? ▾
AILET is more competitively intense than CLAT | not necessarily harder in question difficulty. With only 120 seats and many strong aspirants, the effective required score is very high (120+/150 for General category). CLAT's 3,000+ seats across 24 NLUs offer more room. Additionally, AILET's Logical Reasoning section (70 questions = 47% of the paper) requires more intensive LR practice than CLAT does. The faster time pace (48 sec/question vs 60 sec/question for CLAT) also adds pressure.
Can I prepare for CLAT and AILET together? ▾
Yes | and most serious aspirants should. The syllabus overlap is approximately 80–85%: both exams share English Language, Current Affairs & GK, and Logical Reasoning. For CLAT-specific sections, add Legal Reasoning (~29% of CLAT) and Quantitative Techniques (~10%). For AILET-specific adaptation, intensify Logical Reasoning practice (heavier volume) and build speed to handle 150 questions in 120 minutes. Use CLAT as your primary preparation framework and adapt for AILET in the final 4–6 weeks.
Does AILET have Legal Reasoning like CLAT? ▾
No. AILET's UG (BA LLB) exam has no Legal Reasoning section. The three sections are: English Language (50 Qs), Current Affairs & GK (30 Qs), and Logical Reasoning (70 Qs). CLAT, in contrast, has a dedicated Legal Reasoning section (~35 questions, 29% of the paper) testing principle-application and legal aptitude. This is one of the most significant structural differences between the two exams.
How many seats does AILET have vs CLAT? ▾
AILET 2026 has approximately 120 seats for BA LLB (Hons.) at NLU Delhi. CLAT 2027 provides access to 3,000+ UG seats across 24 participating National Law Universities. This means CLAT has roughly 25× more seats than AILET. The massive seat difference is why AILET's effective cutoff requirement is so much higher, even though the question difficulty may not be dramatically different.
Which is better | NLU Delhi (AILET) or NLSIU Bangalore (CLAT)? ▾
Both are among India's finest law schools with equivalent placement outcomes. NLSIU Bangalore ranks #1 in NIRF Law consistently and is India's oldest NLU | it carries unparalleled prestige and alumni network depth. NLU Delhi ranks #2–3 and has the unique advantage of being in the national capital | steps from the Supreme Court, Parliament, and central government legal departments. Placements are broadly equivalent (₹15–22 LPA at Tier-1 firms). Choose based on location preference, campus culture, and which exam you can crack at the required rank.
What is the application fee for AILET and CLAT? ▾
AILET 2026: ₹3,500 for General/OBC candidates; ₹1,500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. CLAT 2027: ₹4,000 for General/OBC candidates; ₹3,500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. Note that AILET's fee for reserved category candidates (₹1,500) is notably lower than CLAT's (₹3,500). If you are appearing for both (recommended), the total fee outlay is ₹7,500 for General category | a reasonable investment for access to 25 NLU admission chances.
Is the Logical Reasoning section in AILET different from CLAT? ▾
Yes | significantly. AILET's Logical Reasoning (70 questions, 47% of the paper) tests traditional puzzle-based reasoning: syllogisms, blood relations, direction sense, coding-decoding, number series, analogies, and analytical reasoning. It requires speed and pattern recognition. CLAT's Logical Reasoning (~28 questions, 23% of the paper) is passage-based | reading an argument passage and identifying flaws, strengthening/weakening arguments, or drawing logical inferences. CLAT's LR is more analytical and reading-intensive; AILET's LR is more volume-intensive and pattern-based.
Disclaimer: Exam pattern, syllabus, cutoff, and seat data are based on official AILET and CLAT notifications, merit lists, and expert analysis for 2025–2026. Figures may change annually. Always verify the latest information from the official NLU Delhi website (nationallawuniversitydelhi.in) for AILET and the Consortium of NLUs website (consortiumofnlus.ac.in) for CLAT. Last reviewed: May 2026.