How is CLAT different from AILET? Key differences in Pattern, Syllabus, Difficulty Level
Candidates seeking admission into prominent law colleges in India are well aware of the fact that they have to appear and qualify the entrance exams accepted by the colleges. In India, the National Law Universities (NLUs) are among the top-tiered law colleges to study law and, at present, the total number of NLUs in India is 25. For admission to these NLUs (excluding NLU Delhi), candidates have to appear in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). Admission to NLU Delhi is through the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET). In this article, we have shared differences in key features of CLAT and AILET exams including exam pattern, difficulty level, and admission criteria.
Also Read: CLAT Questions for Practice with Solutions: Free PDF Download
As a relief to law aspirants, both the law entrance exams have similar test patterns for UG law programmes i.e.
- The question papers of CLAT are based on subjects including English, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Elementary Mathematics (Quantitative Techniques), Legal Aptitude & Reasoning and Logical Reasoning.
- This year, the Consortium of NLUs announced some notable changes in the exam pattern of CLAT by reducing the number of questions to 120 from that of 150.
- The exam pattern of AILET has been changed as well since NLU Delhi removed Elementary Mathematics and Legal Aptitude section from the question paper. This changed the section-wise weightage of AILET question paper. Other than this, AILET exam mode, duration, and pattern remains the same.
Let us understand, the key features of both the law entrance exams on this page below.
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Difference between CLAT UG and AILET UG Exam Pattern
The major differences and similarities in key features of AILET and CLAT exam pattern 2026 are as under:
| Subject |
Features of CLAT 2026 |
Features of AILET 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Exam mode | CLAT is conducted in a paper-based test mode. | AILET is also conducted in a paper-based test mode. |
| Exam timings | 2:00-4:00 PM. | 10:00-11:30 AM. |
| Test duration |
120 minutes |
90 minutes |
| Type of questions |
Objective-type of question-based on Reading Comprehension passages of about 300-450 words. |
The questions are completely multiple-choice based in all sections. |
| Total questions |
120 | There are 150 MCQs in total. |
| Negative Marking |
+1 for a correct answer |
+1 for a correct answer |
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Section-wise Weightage of Questions and Marks
| Subjects |
Question and Marks for CLAT |
Question and Marks for AILET |
|---|---|---|
| 28-32 questions of 1 mark each |
50 questions of 1 mark each |
|
| 35-39 questions of 1 mark each | 30 questions of 1 mark each |
|
| 13-17 questions of 1 mark each |
Removed |
|
| 35-39 questions of 1 mark each |
Removed |
|
| 28-32 questions of 1 mark each |
70 questions of 1 mark each |
|
| Total |
120 questions and marks |
150 questions and marks |
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Difference between CLAT LLM and AILET LLM Exam Pattern
In case of PG courses of AILET and CLAT for LLM course, the exam pattern is distinct from each other. Check below the difference in CLAT LLM and AILET LLM paper as under:
| Features |
CLAT LLM Pattern |
AILET LLM Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Exam mode |
Pen-paper mode |
Pen-paper mode |
| Exam duration |
2 hours |
1 hour 30 minutes |
| Subjects |
Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, other law subjects including contemporary issues |
Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Law of Contract, Jurisprudence, Law of Tort and International Law |
| Type of questions |
Objective as well as subjective questions |
Multiple-choice questions |
| Total questions |
120 multiple-choice questions |
102 questions
|
| Total marks |
120 marks |
150 marks |
| Marking scheme |
|
Multiple-choice questions:
Descriptive questions:
|
The difference in CLAT and AILET Application Fees
There is a huge difference in the application form fees of AILET and CLAT and it can be understood from the table below:
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| Categories | CLAT application fees | AILET application fees |
|---|---|---|
| General/Other Backward Class (OBC)/ Persons with Disability (PwD)/ Non-Resident Indians (NRI)/ Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)/ Overseas citizens (OCI)/ Kashmiri Migrant | INR 4,000 | INR 3,050 |
| Scheduled Class (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) | INR 3,500 | INR 1,050 |
| BPL candidates from SC and ST categories | INR 3,500 | Exempted |
Which is tougher – CLAT or AILET?
Before appearing for the law entrance exams, the aspirants want to know which one is difficult to crack. If you compare the number of applicants per seat then definitely AILET is a tougher exam as compared to CLAT. It can be confirmed as under:
- More than 60,000 candidates appear in CLAT admission to 2,644 UG seats and 914 PG seats
- Approximately 19,000 candidates appear for 110 seats - BA LLB, 70 seats - LLM, and 18 seats - PhD
Thus, in CLAT approximately 20 candidates compete for a seat at CLAT participating NLUs, whereas in AILET around 100 candidates are competing for a seat at NLU, Delhi.
However, an important fact to consider is that the majority of the applicants apply for both AILET and CLAT exams. Since NLU Delhi is ranked among the top five NLUs of India it makes it tougher to get admission in. Whereas, the difficulty level of CLAT question paper and AILET questions paper can be understood by the fact that the latter exam has tougher questions in Legal Aptitude which is based on core law topics. Moreover, now the CLAT Consortium has modified the test paper by increasing the comprehensive type of questions, to make it easier for candidates.
If you go through the pattern of CLAT exam, you will see that it is mostly general and does not involve any difficult subject. If you have basic understanding of English and have some interest in reading news and Current Affairs you are ready for two sections. The most challenging part, for most students, is Mathematics. However, it is of elementary standard and does not require special knowledge. If you did well in Math in class X, you have an edge. Only section that needs special preparation is legal aptitude. Most class XII students do not have idea about law. If you start in time and join coaching classes for help, you can get a hold of the basics in no time.
So, we can say that CLAT is easy if you have basic knowledge of topics involved and you are prepared for some hard work to hone your skills further.
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Important FAQs regarding CLAT & AILET
Q: Which is better - CLAT or AILET?
A: Both CLAT and AILET are equally good as both give opportunity to secure admission in the prestigious National Law Universities in India. However, through AILET candidates can secure admission only in NLU Delhi. On the other hand, through CLAT, candidates can secure admission in 24 NLUs in India.
Q: Which law entrance exam is more difficult - CLAT or AILET?
A: The difficulty level of AILET is usually higher than CLAT. To check complete details, click on CLAT exam analysis and AILET Exam analysis links.
Q: Can I get admission in NLU without CLAT?
A: For admission in UG-level courses (such as BA/BBA LLB) and PG-level courses (such as LLM) offered at NLUs, it is mandatory for candidates to appear for either CLAT or AILET.
Q: Is the syllabus and exam pattern for CLAT and AILET different?
A: The exam pattern and syllabus for CLAT and AILET are different. So candidates need to refer to the specific pattern and syllabus when preparing for any of these exams.
Q: Do I need to adopt different preparation strategies for CLAT and AILET?
A: You can keep the same preparation strategy for CLAT and AILET as the paper pattern and syllabus for both the exams are largely similar.
Q: What is the application fee for CLAT and AILET?
A: The application fee for CLAT is INR 4,000 for the General category and INR 3,500 for SC/ST category. On the other hand, the AILET application fee is INR 3,050 for the General category and INR 1,050 for SC/ST category.
Q: How many seats are offered through CLAT and AILET exams?
A: The seat intakes for both the law entrance exams are as follows:
CLAT 2024:
- UG courses - 2, 644 seats
- PG courses - 914 seats
AILET 2024:
- BA LLB - 110
- LLM - 70
- PhD - 18
Q: In which modes are CLAT and AILET exams conducted?
A: Both CLAT and AILET are conducted in offline mode as pen-paper tests.
Q: What is the duration of CLAT and AILET exams?
A: CLAT exam is of two hours duration while AILET is of 90 minutes duration.
Q: Is there negative marking in CLAT and AILET exams?
A: Yes, there is negative marking of 0.25 marks in both CLAT and AILET exams.
Q: How many questions are asked in CLAT and AILET exams?
A: In both the exams, total 150 questions are asked in UG level.
Q: What type of questions are asked in CLAT and AILET exams?
A: In CLAT 2024, objective-type MCQs will be asked for UG and PG admission. AILET UG will have only MCQs, but PG paper will have both objective and descriptive questions.
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The ideal time to start preparing for the CLAT exam varies from person to person and depends on several factors such as your familiarity with the subject, the level of understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus, and the amount of time and effort you can devote to the preparation. However, as a general guideline, it is recommended that you start preparing for the exam at least 6-8 months before the exam date. This will give you sufficient time to cover the entire syllabus, revise the important topics, solve mock tests and previous year papers, and identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you are already familiar with the subject and have a good understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus, you can start preparing for the exam 3-4 months before the exam date. However, if you are new to the subject or need to improve your understanding of the topics, you may need to start preparing earlier. It is important to note that the CLAT exam is a highly competitive exam, and the level of competition is increasing every year. Therefore, it is important to start preparing early and stay consistent with your preparation. With a focused approach and consistent effort, you can increase your chances of qualifying for the CLAT exam.