CLAT vs. CAT: Exploring the Differences Between Law and Management Entrance Exams

Exam mode

Computer-based test mode / Online proctored (To be confirmed)

Exam level

National level exam

Test duration

60 minutes

Test medium

English

Subjects

• Logical Reasoning
• Legal Reasoning
• Analytical Reasoning
• Reading Comprehension
• General Knowledge

Type of questions

Multiple choices questions

Total questions

60 questions

Total marks

60 marks

Mode of CAT exam

Computer Based Test 

Duration of exam

• 120 minutes 
• 40 minutes per section

CAT exam slots

• Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
• Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
• Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Number of questions

66

CAT total marks

198

Language of question paper

English

Number of answer choices

4

Question Type

MCQ and non-MCQ

Passage-based questions

• Length - Each passage will be around 450 words.
• Source - The passages will be derived from contemporary or historically significant fiction and non-fiction writing.
• Estimated time needed to read a passage - 5-7 minutes.  
• Questions - Each passage will be followed by a series of questions  

• Comprehension and language skills.
• Ability to read and comprehend the arguments and viewpoints discussed in the passage.
• The capacity to draw inferences and conclusions
• The ability to summarise a passage.
• The ability to compare and contrast various arguments or viewpoints
• Comprehension of words and phrases.

May cover various topics, including technical and scientific matters.

No prior knowledge is needed.

Passage-based questions

• Length - Each passage will be around 450 words.
• Source - The passages will be derived from news, journalistic sources, and other non-fiction writing.
• Prior knowledge of law subjects - While questions may include examination of legal information or knowledge, you don't need any prior knowledge to answer these questions. The answers to each question will be hidden in the passage.   
• Estimated time needed to read a passage - 5-7 minutes.  
• Questions - Each passage will be followed by a series of questions  

Awareness of various aspects of current affairs and GK, including

• Contemporary events of national and international significance
• Arts and culture
• International affairs
• Historical events of continuing significance

- News, journalistic sources, and other non-fiction writing

- Intended to test your depth of understanding of issues and events of significance, rather than mere fact or trivia-based knowledge of such issues and events.

Questions may ask you to:

• Fill in missing information in blanks
• Identify causes and consequences of the events described in the passages
• Answer questions about personalities and events associated with the events in the passage
• Answer questions about awards, recognitions, and other events of significance associated with persons mentioned in the passage.
• Answer questions related to laws and other events of legal significance (such as judgments) associated with events mentioned in the passage.
• Questions may also relate to matters associated with events mentioned in the passage. 

While the focus will be on recent and current events, some questions with historical significance may also be asked. These questions will gauge your understanding of the causes of such events.

The section will include:

• Short sets of facts or propositions
• Graphs
• Other textual material
• Pictorial or diagrammatic representations of numerical information

These items will be followed by a series of questions  

The section will test the candidate's ability to:

• Derive, infer, and manipulate numerical information
• Apply 10th standard mathematical operation, including ratios and proportions, basic algebra, mensuration, and statistical estimation.

Number theory and basic arithmetic

Averages and Percentages

Ratio and Proportion

Mixtures and alligations

Time and work

Time, distance, and speed

Fractions and equations

Monetary evaluations

Probability

Permutation and combinations

Passage-based questions

• Length - Each passage will be around 450 words.
• Source - The passages may relate to fact situations or scenarios involving legal matters, public policy questions, or moral philosophical inquiries. 
• Prior knowledge of law - No prior knowledge is needed to answer these passage-based questions. The answers will be hidden in the passage.   
  • However, general awareness of contemporary legal and moral issues may help you better apply general principles or propositions to the given fact scenarios.
• Estimated time needed to read a passage - 5-7 minutes.  
• Questions - Each passage will be followed by a series of questions  

• Identify and infer the rules and principles set out in the passage
• Apply such rules and principles to various fact situations; and
• Understand how changes to the rules or principles may alter their application to various fact situations.

Questions will be based on:

- News articles and books associated with topics of law

- Certain passages will be created specifically for the exam

- the candidate has to find the facts and applicable rules. Until 2019, the proposition and factual context were clearly presented.

- The purpose is not to test the knowledge of law but the application of rules to a factual context based on the constraints presented to you.

Passage-based questions. 

• Length - Each passage will be around 300 words.
• Questions - Each passage will be followed by a series of questions  

• Recognize an argument, its premises, and conclusions;
• Read and identify the arguments set out in the passage;
• Critically analyze patterns of reasoning, and assess how conclusions may depend on particular premises or evidence;
• Infer what follows from the passage and apply these inferences to new situations;
• Draw relationships and analogies, identify contradictions and equivalence and assess the effectiveness of arguments. 

Sources include opinion and editorial pieces from newspapers and magazines, and essays on moral philosophy available online and in various books. Some passages will be created specifically for the exam.

Examples of source material include:

• Ethics in the real world - 82 brief essays on Things That Matter by Peter Singer
• Articles and Editorials taken from The Economist, a leading international newspaper
• History for Health published by the Telegraph
• Where I am - An editorial published in the Indian Express. 

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Law (BA LLB)  Hons.

NLU Delhi, NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Hyderabad, NUJS West Bengal, HNLU Raipur, GNLU Gandhinagar, RMNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUJAA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, DNLU Jabalpur, Dr B R Ambedkar NLU Sonepat, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Tripura, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Silvassa, NUALS Kochi

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) LLB Hons. 

NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, CNLU Patna, NLU Odisha, HPNLU Shimla, NLU Aurangabad, NLU Nagpur, 

Bachelor of Science (BSc) LLB

NUJS West Bengal, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Bhopal

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) LLB

GNLU Gandhinagar, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli 

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) LLB

GNLU Gandhinagar