NLSAT Exam Pattern 2027: Check Section-wise Format, Mode, Marking Scheme & Weightage

National Law School Admission Test 2026 ( NLSAT )

Aashish Jha
Updated on Sep 1, 2026 14:49 IST

By Aashish Jha, Senior Executive- Content

NLSAT Exam Pattern 2027: NLSAT exam has a single paper that is divided into two parts. The examination is held in offline mode once every year. These two question paper sections are Part A and Part B. Part A will include 75 multiple-choice questions, whereas Part B consists of subjective questions. This part also has a weightage of 75 marks. Candidates are required to provide short answers as well as write an essay in Part B. The total exam duration of NLSAT exam 2027 will be 150 minutes. NLSAT 2027 exam is expected to be held in April 2027.

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) will soon begin registration process for NLSAT. The examination authority also releases all dates along with the latest syllabus and exam pattern before registration. NLSAT exam pattern 2027 is expected to remain similar to last year. Candidates can check detailed NLSAT pattern on this page to begin their exam preparation.

Table of contents
  • NLSAT 2027 Exam Pattern Highlights
  • NLSAT Exam Pattern: Part A vs Part B
  • NLSAT 2027 Section-wise Weightage
  • NLSAT Marking Scheme 2027
  • NLSAT Section-Wise Important Topics
  • NLSAT Exam Pattern FAQs 2027
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NLSAT 2027 Exam Pattern Highlights

Candidates preparing for NLSAT 2027 exam can check the table below to know key pattern highlights:

Features  Exam Pattern Details
Exam mode Pen-paper based test mode (offline)
Papers Single question paper in two parts - Part A and Part B
Test medium  English only
Total Subjects  5 subjects 
Type of questions  MCQs for Part A, and subjective (short answer type and Essay) for Part B of the question paper
Duration of exam 2 hour 30 minutes
Total questions  75 questions for Part A and 11 questions for Part B
Total marks 150 marks
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NLSAT Exam Pattern: Part A vs Part B

Students should know difference between question types asked in NLSAT Part A as well as Part B sections. The NLSAT 2027 exam pattern for both Part A & Part B has been provided below:

Feature 

Part A (Objective)

Part B (Subjective)

Total Marks

75 Marks

75 Marks

Question Type

75 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

10 Short Answers + 1 Essay

Subjects

Reading Comprehension, Current Affairs, Critical Reasoning

Legal Aptitude/Reasoning, Analytical Essay

Negative Marking

-0.25 for wrong answers

No negative marking in this section

Role

First-stage qualifier/screening round

Final selection & tie-breaker

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is there negative marking in NLSAT Part B section?
A: 

No mark is deducted for wrong answers in the Part B question paper section of NLSAT. 

Q:   Is NLSAT online or offline?
A: 

The mode of examination is offline. As per the pattern the exam will be conducted in two parts. The part A of the exam will carry objective questions while second part will have subjective based questions. 

Q:   How many NLSAT preparation books are required to crack the test?
A: 

You can refer to any book you want there is no restrictions on it. The focus should be on quality preparation. You should solve old question papers and take lots of practise tests in addition to consulting the well known literature.

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NLSAT 2027 Section-wise Weightage

Candidates should know pattern of each part of NLSAT 2027 question paper. It includes knowing about number of questions as well as marks. Check subject-wise weightage of each part below:

NLSAT 2027 Sectional Weightage for Part A

NLSAT 2027 Part A question paper includes objective questions. Check table below for more details on in this section:

Subjects

Questions per section

Marks per section

English Comprehension

25 questions 

25 marks 

Current Affairs

25 questions 

25 marks 

Critical Reasoning (including logical reasoning and legal aptitude)

25 questions 

25 marks 

Total 

75 questions 

75 marks 

NLSAT 2027 Sectional Weightage for Part B

The second part (i.e. Part B of NLSAT 2027) will have subjective questions. The sectional weightage will be as under:

Subjects

Questions per section

Marks per section

Legal Aptitude and Reasoning 

10 questions 

50 marks 

Analytical Ability

1 essay-based question 

15 marks 

Total 

11 questions 

75 marks 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How many hours should I study to crack NLSAT Exam?
A: 

If you have enrolled in a coaching centre and already preparing for entrance exams then it is enough to crack NLSAT. For self-preparation, you need to have at least 1-1.5 months time which will be available as the NLSAT test comes at last only.
You need to keep an eye on the complete syllabus and practice as many problems as you can with the time limit as NLSAT requires speed and accuracy.

Q:   Is it hard to crack NLSAT exam for average student?
A: 

NLSAT is one of the highly competitive law exams and is considered to be one of the toughest exams to clear. However, aspirants should not worry, as with the right preparation and attitude you can definitely ace in the NLSAT exam. The toppers of NLSAT have suggested that aspirants should trust NCERT books and a habit to read newspaper daily to crack the exam. The difficulty level of NLSAT paper is usually moderate. For complete insights on NLSAT paper difficulty level, check analysis for current and previous years above. 

Q:   Is the NLSAT 2027 exam MCQ type?
A: 

The mode of examination is offline. As per the pattern the exam will be conducted in two parts. The part A of the exam will carry objective questions while second part will have subjective based questions. Yes, the NLSAT exam question paper will be in offline mode. It will be MCQ based. It will be conducted in two parts. The first section will be of objective type and second part will be of subjective type.

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NLSAT Marking Scheme 2027

Since NLSAT 2027 exam is divided into two parts, the marking scheme for both parts of question paper is different. Candidates can check marking scheme for 3-year LLB National Law School Admission Test entrance exam below:  

Part A:

  • Each question carries 1 mark
  • 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect attempt
  • No marks to be deducted for unattempted questions

Part B: 

  • Short Answer type questions for Legal Aptitude and Reasoning will carry 10 marks each
  • Essay-based question for Analytical Ability will carry 15 marks
  • No negative marking applicable for NLSAT Part B

Also Read: NLSAT Question Paper Analysis

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the total score in NLSAT?
A: 

Total marks in the NLSAT Exam are 150. It is divided into two parts: A & B. The NLSAT Part A exam is conducted for 75 marks. Part B is also held for 75 marks.

Q:   Is 'Legal Aptitude' section removed from the NLSAT question paper?
A: 

As per the NLSAT exam pattern released by the NLSIU, Legal Reasoning remains a part of the question paper along with Quantitative Techniques, English Current Affairs including General Knowledge and Logical Reasoning. If the exam authority decides to remove any of the sections, then it will inform the candidates in admission notification itself, so that candidates can prepare for the exam accordingly. 

Q:   Is there negative marking in NLSAT Exam?
A: 

Yes, the NLSAT exam has negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong attempt. Unanswered questions have no negative marking. Candidates must select questions to solve very carefully in the NLSAT exam. They should solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately.

  • For every correct answer, candidates are awarded one mark

  • For every wrong attempt, 0.25 marks are deducted from their total score 

  • No marks are awarded or deducted for questions not left un-attempted

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NLSAT Section-Wise Important Topics

NLSAT syllabus 2027 is yet to be released officially. Candidates can check table below to know NLSAT section-wise important topics. Questions from these topics are asked in exam on a regular basis.

Section Name Important Topics
Reading Comprehension Academic passages
Current Affairs & GK Focuses on politics, law, economics and landmark Supreme Court judgements
Critical Reasoning and Legal Aptitude Logical puzzles, seating arrangements, argument evaluation and assumption-conclusion relationships
Quantitative Reasoning Percentages, ratios, averages, and data interpretation

 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How much is the weightage of NLSAT Part A Syllabus?
A: 

The NLSAT Part A syllabus carries a weightage of 75 marks with 75 MCQs. It makes up exactly 50% of the total 150 marks in NLSAT.

Q:   What is the official website for NLSAT?
A: 

You can get all important information regarding the exam on nls.ac.in. You should not forget the login id and password as it will be required for admission process.

Q:   How can I prepare for NLSAT?
A: 

Candidates were advised to prepare for NLSAT by following the simple steps given below:

  • Make a monthly and weekly timetable and keep the syllabus handy
  • Do not leave any topic, make sure you cover all the topics. Do try and finish on time so you have enough time for revision
  • Pratice as many as mock tests possible. Practice the tests frequently and analyze it to recognize your weak and strong areas. This will help you to know which topic requires work.
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NLSAT Exam Pattern FAQs 2027

Carefully read the NLSAT 2027 exam pattern-related FAQs to appear for the exam here: 

Q:   Where can I check NLSAT 2027 Syllabus?
A: 

The NLSAT syllabus can be checked as follows:

  • Visit nls.ac.in
  • Click on the Admission tab
  • Choose the course for which you want to appear in the exam
  • On the particular course page, syllabus details can be seen
Q:   What is the weightage of NLSAT Part B syllabus?
A: 

NLSAT Part B syllabus has the same weightage as the Part A syllabus. This section has a weightage of 50% with 75 marks.

Q:   In which language can I give NLSAT exam?
A: 

The NLSAT Exam will be held in English. All questions and instructions will be in same language so you are expected to know the language effectively to answer the questions.

Q:   Is there negative marking in NLSAT Exam?
A: 

Yes, the NLSAT Exam (for the 3-Year LLB) has negative marking in Part A (Objective), where you get +1 for correct answers, but -0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer and also for unanswered questions, while Part B (Subjective) generally has no negative marking but requires qualifying Part A first. 

Q:   Why is NLSAT exam conducted?
A: 

The NLSAT is conducted by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore to select candidates for 3-Year LL.B. (Hons.) programme and other courses like MPP & PhD. NLSAT is conducted once a year.

Q:   Who can apply for NLSAT Exam 2027?
A: 

Candidates who meet eligibility criteria can apply for NLSAT 2027. They must hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. 

Q:   What is NLSIU Bengaluru seat intake 2027?
A: 

The total seat intake for a three-year LLB (Hons) at NLSIU Bangalore is 120. Admissions happen based on NLSAT entrance exam. The final selection process is based on the entrance test scores out of 150 marks.

Q:   Can I get admission in NLU Delhi through NLSAT score?
A: 

No, you can not get admission in NLU Delhi through NLSAT score. You need to appear for AILET Exam to get into the NLU Delhi. Candidates must note that the exam is conducted once a year. 

Q:   What is NLSAT Exam Pattern?
A: 

NLSAT Exam pattern consists of multiple-choice questions. This section will be for a total of 75 marks. Part B is subjective-based for 60 marks and analytical ability for 15 marks. Negative marking of 0.25 marks is also there.

Q:   Can I join NLSIU without CLAT?
A: 

Candidates who want to apply to the NLSIU for BA LLB (Hons) and LLM programs must take the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). However, for admissions into its three-year LLB course, Master's Programme in Public Policy, PhD (Law), and PhD (Interdisciplinary) programmes candidates have to appear for NLSAT. 

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Answered an hour ago

No mark is deducted for wrong answers in the Part B question paper section of NLSAT. 

A

Aashish Jha

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 hours ago

NLSAT Part B syllabus has the same weightage as the Part A syllabus. This section has a weightage of 50% with 75 marks.

A

Aashish Jha

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 hours ago

The NLSAT Part A syllabus carries a weightage of 75 marks with 75 MCQs. It makes up exactly 50% of the total 150 marks in NLSAT.

A

Aashish Jha

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 hours ago

NLSIU Bangalore has not yet released the official syllabus. Candidates can expect the syllabus to be released soon.

A

Aashish Jha

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Applicants can download their NLSAT hall ticket from the NLSIU Admissions Portal. The official website for this purpose is nlsatadmissions.nls.ac.in. Candidates must take a printout of the downloaded admit card for exam day.

A

Aashish Jha

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Candidates will need their username and password for the NLSAT admit card. NLSIU releases the NLSAT LLB admit card on its official website. Candidates must download their hall ticket to appear in the exam.

A

Aashish Jha

Contributor-Level 9

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