CLAT Vs SLAT: Differences, Accepting Colleges, Difficulty Level
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Every heard about the popular Law entrance exams, CLAT and SLAT? Regarding these two top law entrance exams, if you have doubts about them, then this article is for you. Get details about the differences between CLAT and SLAT based on their exam patterns, application processes, syllabuses, accepting colleges, and courses offered through them here.
CLAT Vs SLAT
CLAT Vs SLAT Exam: CLAT and SLAT are two important law entrance exams. If you have just finished your Class 12 and want to study law, then this is the right time to compare and find out the difference between CLAT and SLAT exams.
Both exams open doors to good law colleges, but they are not the same. So, before you start preparing, it’s better to understand how CLAT and SLAT are different from each other. They might struggle to determine which law entrance exam is right for them. To help in this situation, this article explains the differences between the CLAT exam and the SLAT exam by focusing on specific parameters such as exam pattern, application process, syllabus, colleges accepting the two entrance exams, and courses offered through them. Moreover, this article is also for readers who want to know more about CLAT 2026 and SLAT exam.
- CLAT vs SLAT: Exam Date
- What is CLAT Exam?
- What is SLAT Exam?
- CLAT Vs SLAT: Basic Differences
- CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
- SLAT Exam Pattern
- CLAT Application Process 2026
- SLAT Application Process 2027
- CLAT Syllabus 2026
- SLAT Syllabus 2027
- SLAT 2027: Colleges and Courses
- CLAT 2026: Colleges and Courses
- Which is easier, CLAT or SLAT?
- Which Exam Should I Take: CLAT or SLAT?
CLAT vs SLAT: Exam Date
The CLAT 2026 will be conducted in December first week at the CLAT test centres allotted to candidates. However, the SLAT 2027 is expected to be held in the third week of December 2027 at different SLAT test centres in India.
Commonly asked questions
There is no maximum time limit to start preparation. Candidates can start preparing for the SLAT exam any time when they decide to sit for it. You can refer to previous year papers for the exam overview.
The number of SLAT practise sets depends on the number of practise sets an aspirant solves. If you want to solve fewer practise sets, then one month is enough to practise them. However, if you want to solve 30–40 practise sets of SLAT, then you need 2-3 months to do so. This much time will allow you to solve one practise set multiple times. As a result, you will learn about almost all the important concepts and topics from which questions are asked in the SLAT exam. Aspirants preparing for the SLAT also need to know the SLAT syllabus and practise topics related to it to score well in the entrance exam.
The Symbiosis Law Admission Test authority does not provide subtle details about the SLAT syllabus. Thus, the syllabus for SLAT cannot be specified accurately. The exam authority only shares the details associated with the sections related to the SLAT question paper, which are Analytical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, General English, and General Knowledge. Thus, candidates only study to prepare for relevant sections along with mathematics (of level up to Class 10) and current affairs to prepare for SLAT.
As per NIRF ranking 2025, NLSIU Bangalore is the No. 1 ranked NLU colleges in India. The table below has other NLUs in India rankwise.
Top NLUs in India | NIRF 2023 | NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | |
2 | 2 | 2 | |
4 | 4 | 4 | |
7 | 8 | 5 | |
18 | 21 | 27 | |
24 | 22 | 30 | |
30 | 26 | 15 | |
28 | 27 | 35 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.
What is CLAT Exam?
The CLAT entrance exam is the most important law entrance exam for a law aspirant. Learn about the CLAT exam here:
CLAT Full Form - Common Law Admission Test
- CLAT, or Common Law Admission Test, is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law courses offered by National Law Universities, or NLUs, other than NLU Delhi and other affiliate colleges.
- CLAT is conducted for admission to 5-year integrated LLB, LLB (3-year LLB) and LLM courses.
- A total of 24 NLUs accept CLAT scores for admission to 5-year LLB courses. However, 21 NLUs offer admission to PG law courses or LLB and LLM through the entrance exam.
- Many law colleges accept CLAT UG and CLAT PG for admission.
Note: For admission to National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi), aspirants need to appear in AILET exam.
Also Read:
What is SLAT Exam?
SLAT is also a good choice for students who want to develop a career in the field of law. Learn about this law entrance exam below:
SLAT Full Form - Symbiosis Law Admission Test
- SLAT, or Symbiosis Law Admission Test, is a common entrance exam for law conducted by Symbiosis International University for admission to BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons), BA LLB and BBA LLB courses offered by its four law schools, Symbiosis Law School Pune (SLS Pune), Symbiosis Law School Hyderabad (SLS Hyderabad), Symbiosis Law School Noida (SLS Noida), and Symbiosis Law School Nagpur (SLS Nagpur).
- Few colleges other than SLSs accept SLAT scores for admission to integrated law courses.
Commonly asked questions
The important topics for the different sections of the SLAT exam are different. The important topics are Reading Comprehension, Synonyms, Antonyms, Foreign Words/Phrase, International events, UN bodies, Major developments in the areas of sports, geopolitics, and important environmental agreements, Current affairs, Eminent personalities, Sports, and Awards and honours. The important topics related to the SLAT Legal Reasoning section are Legal terms, Indian Constitution and its structure, sections and schedules, Contracts and Constitutional Law, Torts, Vicarious Liability, Contracts and Constitutional Law, IPC and the CrPC, Strict Liability, Law of Crimes, International Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Legal Awareness covering Constitutional Law and Politics.
Some of the SLAT 2027 preparation tips are given below.
- Knowing the SLAT syllabus & exam pattern.
- Choose the correct SLAT preparation books.
- Prepare a good study plan.
- Attempt mock test and previous year question papers.
- Revise as much as possible.
To prepare for this section, read the SLAT question banks from prior years. Try to stay focused as you practise SLAT mock exams and sample papers. Go through the Analytical Reasoning section important topics.
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CLAT Vs SLAT: Basic Differences
Look below to know the basic differences between CLAT and SLAT:
The CLAT exam is mainly held for admission into UG and PG law courses offered by 24 NLUs and other law colleges linked with them. On the other hand, the SLAT exam is mostly conducted for admission into Symbiosis Law Schools (SLSs).
CLAT takes place in an offline mode using pen and paper, while SLAT happens online in computer-based mode at the test centres given to each candidate.
Besides these basic differences between the CLAT exam and SLAT exam, there are also other variations in their exam pattern, syllabus, application process, and the list of colleges that accept their scores. You can check those detailed differences in the next part of this article.
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CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The exam pattern of CLAT 2026 has been mentioned as follows:
| Exam Features |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode |
Computer-based test mode / Online proctored (To be confirmed) |
| Exam level |
National-level exam |
| Test duration |
60 minutes |
| Test medium |
English |
| Subjects |
|
| Type of questions |
Multiple choices questions |
| Total questions |
60 questions |
| Total marks |
60 marks |
Also Read:
All the Details about CLAT Pattern
Commonly asked questions
Preparing current affairs for SLAT preparation require legal and general knowledge of events happened in recent years. You can refer to the previous year papers to know the kind of questions asked.
To prepare for SLAT Logical Reasoning, candidates need to understand basic concepts related to the "Logical Reasoning." People who understand the basics of a particular subject thoroughly can also understand the advanced concepts related to it. Thus, to comprehend the problems or questions related to Logical Reasoning in the SLAT question paper, candidates must clear the basic concepts related to Logical Reasoning topics of the SLAT exam. Knowing the basic concepts of Logical Reasoning will help them achieve expertise in the subject. To learn the fundamentals of Logical Reasoning, candidates can refer to the books mentioned below.
1. A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning 2023-24 by Dr R S Aggarwal
2. Universal’s Guide to Logical Reasoning for CLAT, LSAT, and Other Law Entrance Exams by Jain Prateek
Learning Logical Reasoning tricks and techniques from free social media platforms, such as YouTube can also help SLAT aspirants with the preparation of the Analytical Reasoning section.
Candidates can prepare for SLAT from Class 11 by practising topics from which questions are asked in the exam. The topics of subjects from which questions are asked in SLAT are Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension (English), and General Knowledge. Under the General Knowledge subject, SLAT aspirants also need to study static GK related to History, Geography, Indian and International Politics, and United Nations Organisation (UNO) and its bodies, and current affairs. To study the mentioned subjects for SLAT preparation from Class 11, candidates can purchase books containing sample papers, practice tests, and mock tests based on the SLAT syllabus and pattern. They can devote 1-2 hours every day to SALT preparation. Preparing for the SLAT from Class 12 can provide aspirants with a competitive edge because they will have more than a year to prepare for the entrance exam effectively.
The SLAT merit list for a particular year is a list containing the name, registration number, and roll number of the candidates who achieved marks equal to or higher than the SLAT cut-off for the SLAT entrance exam conducted in the same year. The SLAT cut-off is made up of scores secured by candidates in the SLAT exam, PI and What. A merit list includes the name, roll number, registration number, collective marks secured by them in SLAT What, and PI their merit rank, and category. Based on the selection of candidates in the SLAT merit lists for a particular 5-year LL.B. Programme, seats are offered to each candidate. They need to book their respective seats by paying the admission before the due date ascertained by the SLS from whose merit list they get selected.
SLAT Exam Pattern
Check out the SLAT exam pattern as highlighted below:
| Particulars | SLAT Exam Pattern Highlights |
|---|---|
| Exam mode |
Pen-and-paper exam |
| Exam duration |
Two hours |
| Test language |
English |
| Type of questions |
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Exam subjects |
Five (English Language, Current Affairs & GK, Legal & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques) |
| Total questions |
120 MCQs |
| Maximum marks |
150 marks |
| Marking scheme |
+1 for correct answer -0.25 for incorrect answer |
Also Read:
Everything about the SLAT Pattern
CLAT Application Process 2026
To fill out the CLAT application form 2026, candidates need to use the following steps:
- Visit the official website of the Consortium of NLUs.
| Consortium of NLUs Website Link |
consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026/ |
| CLAT Consortium of NLUs Direct Link |
consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026/participating_universities.html |
- Register online for CLAT
- Fill out the CLAT application form
- Update your preference regarding NLUs
- Pay CLAT application fee 2026
CLAT Application Fee 2026
| Category |
CLAT Application Fee (in INR) |
Mode of Payment |
|---|---|---|
| General/OBC/PwD/NRI/PIO/OCI |
4,000 |
Online:
|
| SC/ST/BPL |
3,500 |
|
| Previous years CLAT question papers |
500 |
- Review the application form and then submit it
Commonly asked questions
Candidates can check the overall difficulty level of all sections below for the question papers of SLAT Test 1 and SLAT Test 2 conducted in 2023:
| Sections | Test 1 | Test 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning | Easy | Easy to moderate |
| Legal Reasoning | Easy | Easy to moderate |
| Analytical Reasoning | Moderate | Easy to moderate |
| Reading Comprehension | Easy | Moderate |
| General Knowledge | Moderate to difficult | Moderate |
A bad rank in CLAT is relative and depends on factors like your category, the NLUs you target, and overall competition. For general category candidates, ranks above 15,000 to 20,000 are typically considered weak, reducing chances of admission into top or even mid-tier National Law Universities. For reserved categories, the threshold might be higher, but still, a rank significantly above the cutoff range may be viewed unfavorably. Ultimately, a "bad rank" hampers your chances of securing a coveted seat and may force you to consider alternative law schools or reattempt the exam in subsequent years. Improving your score remains essential.
Yes, CLAT is considered one of the most difficult law entrance exams. Candidates must note that the CLAT Exam is conducted for admission to NLUs across the country except NLU Delhi. Hence, the level of difficulty of CLAT Exam is tough.
SLAT Application Process 2027
To fill out the SLAT application form 2027, the following steps must be followed:
- Visit the website of the Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT)
SLAT application form can also be filled on the websites of SLSs.
| SLAT Website Link |
slat-test.org/ |
| SLS Pune Website Link |
symlaw.ac.in/ |
| SLS Nagpur Website Link |
slsnagpur.edu.in/ |
| SLS Noida Website Link |
symlaw.edu.in/ |
| SLS Hyderabad Link |
slsh.edu.in/ |
- Register for SLAT and create SLAT Login ID and Password
- Login using SLAT ID and Password
- Fill out SLAT application form
- Pay SLAT application fee 2026 and institute (SLS fee)
SLAT Fee 2027
| Category |
Fee (in INR) |
|---|---|
| SLAT registration fee |
INR 2250 |
| The programme fee for each programme |
INR 1000 |
- Review your form and then submit it
CLAT Syllabus 2026
The Consortium of NLUs has provided the syllabus for CLAT UG 2026 and CLAT PG 2026. Candidates who want to appear in CLAT 2026 can check the CLAT syllabus for their respective courses below:
CLAT Syllabus 2026 for English Language
CLAT UG syllabus for English Languages has been mentioned below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions asked | 28-32 |
| Weightage | 18.66 - 21.33 % |
| Type of questions asked | Passage-based questions
|
| Skills tested |
|
| Question areas | May cover various topics, including technical and scientific matters. No prior knowledge is needed. |
| Difficulty level | 12th Standard |
Important topics
- Correcting Incorrect Grammar Sentences
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Tenses
- Fill in the Blanks
- Spotting Grammatical Errors
- Active & Passive Voice
Also Read:
CLAT Syllabus 2026 for Currents Affairs & GK
Check out the CLAT Syllabus for Current Affairs and General Knowledge below:
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions asked | 35-39 |
| Weightage | 23.33 - 26 % |
| Type of questions asked | Passage-based questions
|
| Skills tested | Awareness of various aspects of current affairs and GK, including
|
| Question areas | - 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:
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. |
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Quantitative Techniques
The details about the syllabus of Quantitative Techniques for CLAT 2026 have been provided below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions asked | 13 - 17 |
| Weightage | 8.66 - 11.33% |
| Type of questions asked | The section will include:
These items will be followed by a series of questions |
| Skills tested | The section will test the candidate's ability to:
|
| Question areas | 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 |
| Difficulty level | 10th standard |
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Legal Reasoning
Refer to the following syllabus to prepared for the Legal Reasoning section of CLAT:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions asked | 35-39 |
| Weightage | 23.33 - 26 % |
| Type of questions asked | Passage-based questions
|
| Skills tested |
|
| Question areas | 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. |
| Difficulty level | 12th Standard |
CLAT Legal Reasoning Important topics
- Legal Maxims
- Important Supreme Court Judgments
- Legal GK
- Indian Constitution
- Important Acts and Amendments of the Legislature
- Current Affairs
CLAT Syllabus 2026 for Logical Reasoning
The syllabus for the Logical Reasoning section of the CLAT exam has been provided below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions asked | 28-32 |
| Weightage | 18.66 - 21.33 % |
| Type of questions asked | Passage-based questions.
|
| Skills tested |
|
| Question areas | 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:
|
CLAT Logical Reasoning Important topics
- Analogies
- Relationships
- Syllogism
- Cause & Effect
- Premises & Conclusion
- Inferences
SLAT Syllabus 2027
The SET exam authority does not specify a syllabus for SLAT. Candidates can prepare for this entrance exam by referring to the SLAT exam pattern. Although they can develop a strategy for the SLAT preparation by studying the important subjects for the exam mentioned below:
SLAT is conducted for undergraduate level courses, therefore, the syllabus will of Class 12th level only. Check the syllabus for SLAT for each subject is given as under:
SLAT Syllabus for General English
- Reading Comprehension
- Word Usage
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Inference-based questions
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Foreign Words/Phrase
- Para Jumbles
SLAT Syllabus for General Knowledge
- Indian Ancient, Medieval and Modern History
- International events
- UN bodies
- Major developments in the areas of sports, geopolitics and important environmental agreements
- Current affairs
- Eminent personalities
- Sports
- Awards and honours
SLAT Syllabus for Legal Reasoning
- Legal terms
- Indian Constitution, its structure, sections and schedules
- Contracts and Constitutional Law
- Torts
- Vicarious Liability
- Contracts and Constitutional Law
- IPC and the CrPC
- Strict Liability
- Law of Crimes
- International Law
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Legal Awareness covering Constitutional Law and Polity
Also Read:
Best Books for SLAT Preparation
SLAT 2027: Colleges and Courses
The colleges that accept the scores of the SLAT have been mentioned below, along with the seat intake for each course:
| SLS | Total Number of Seats | Total Number of Course-Wise Seats |
|---|---|---|
| SLS Pune | 300 | BBA LLB - 180 BA LLB - 120 |
| SLS Nagpur | 240 | BBA LLB - 120 BA LLB - 120 |
| SLS Hyderabad | 240 | BBA LLB - 120 BA LLB - 120 |
| SLS Noida | 300 | BBA LLB - 180 BA LLB - 120 |
CLAT 2026: Colleges and Courses
Admission to different courses at NLUs is offered through CLAT UG and CLAT. Thus, check out below various UG and PG law courses offered by NLUs through CLAT 2026:
Admission to UG Courses through CLAT 2026
| UG Courses |
NLUs offering UG course |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|
| NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, CNLU Patna, NLU Odisha, HPNLU Shimla, NLU Aurangabad, NLU Nagpur, |
|
| NUJS West Bengal, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Bhopal |
|
| GNLU Gandhinagar, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli |
|
| Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) LLB |
GNLU Gandhinagar |
Admission to PG Courses through CLAT 2026
| PG courses |
NLUs offering PG courses |
|---|---|
| Three-year LLB course |
NLSIU Bangalore (Introduced in 2022), National Law University Odisha (Introducing in 2023) |
| RMNLU Lucknow, GNLU Gandhinagar, HNLU Raipur, NLU Jodhpur, NUJS West Bengal, NLIU Bhopal, NLSIU Bangalore, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, DBRANLU, Sonepat |
|
| Doctor of Law (LLD)/ PhD in Law |
HNLU Raipur, NLIU Bhopal, NLSIU Bangalore, GNLU Gandhinagar, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NLUJA Assam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, HPNLU Shimla, NUALS Kochi, MNLU Mumbai |
| NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Odisha |
Which is easier, CLAT or SLAT?
It’s clear that CLAT is tougher than SLAT because the syllabus is long and kind of hard to cover. Also, more students give the CLAT exam every year, so it becomes more competitive and tough to crack. But you should also know that the SLAT exam pattern is almost same like the CLAT exam pattern. The only thing is CLAT feels like a higher or advanced version of SLAT. If you study properly for CLAT with focus and practice, then cracking SLAT won’t be a big deal for you.
Both exams test your reading, logic, and legal reasoning skills, but CLAT goes a bit deeper. So when you prepare for CLAT, you automatically get ready for SLAT too.
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Which Exam Should I Take: CLAT or SLAT?
If you want to get admission to one of the Symbiosis Law Schools, you need to take the SLAT. On the other hand, if you want to study at an NLU or other top law colleges in India, you need to take the CLAT.
- Choose CLAT if you want a national-level, highly reputed legal education and are ready for intense competition.
- Choose SLAT if you prefer a private university environment with strong corporate exposure and a balanced academic life.
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