Difference Between CLAT and AILET: Exam Scheme, Purpose, Accepting Colleges, Seats

The two main exams to consider to gain admission into an NLU are AILET and CLAT. An evaluation of CLAT vs AILET would revolve around many parameters. The main difference between CLAT and AILET is that the Common Law Admission Test is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities to admit students of National Law Universities other than NLU Delhi and NLU Meghalaya. On the other hand, The All India Law Entrance Test is conducted by NLU Delhi to admit students into its law programmes.

The difference between CLAT and AILET can also be seen in their mark distribution, time duration, and syllabus. Through these two law entrance exams, candidates can gain admission into five year LLB and LLM courses. Read the full article to know everything in the AILET vs CLAT comparison.

AILET vs CLAT Overview

ParticularsCLATAILET

Conducting Body

Consortium of National Law Universities

NLU Delhi

Exam Level

National Level

National level

Frequency of Exams

Once a year

Once a year

Participating Institutes

24 NLUs and 65 participating institutes

NLU Delhi

Law Programmes Offered

5 Year LLB, LLM

BA LLB, LLM

What is the difference between CLAT and AILET?

The main difference between CLAT and AILET is in the colleges into which one can can admission after appearing for these two law entrance exams. In CLAT 2025, there are 24 participating NLUs and 65 participating institutes which are part of the examination. Through CLAT candidates will be admitted into various five-year integrated law courses and LLM. On the other hand, through AILET 2025 candidates will get admission into BA LLB and LLM courses of NLU Delhi. NLU Meghalaya is the only other remaining NLU that conducts its own entrance exam to admit students.

AILET Vs CLAT Exam Pattern

Another difference between AILET and CLAT lies in the examination pattern of both exams. The Consortium of National Law Universities and NLU Delhi both have revised the exam pattern of their law entrance examinations with a view to making the exam more student-friendly. In the CLAT exam pattern the consortium has reduced the number of questions to 120 in the UG paper. On the other hand, the AILET exam pattern now gives candidates more time than earlier to solve the same number of questions. The time duration has also now been increased to 120 minutes.

There is no change in the exam pattern of the CLAT PG exam. However, the AILET LLM will only have objective questions from different areas of law as the descriptive section has been removed. The time duration of AILET LLM has been increased to 120 minutes.

CLAT Vs AILET - Exam Pattern Overview

ParticularsCLAT 2025AILET 2025CLAT PGAILET LLM

Mode of Exam

Offline

Offline

Offline

Offline

Duration

2 hours

2 hours

2 hours

2 hours

Type of Questions

Objective

Objective

Objective

Objective

Number of Questions

120

150

120

100

Total Marks

120

150

120

100

Negative Marking

0.25 mark per question

0.25 mark per question

0.25 mark per question

0.25 mark per question

CLAT and AILET Section Wise Exam Pattern

The two tables given below provide the section wise exam pattern for CLAT 2025 and AILET 2025.

CLAT 2025 Section Wise Pattern

SectionsNo. of questionsTime

English

22-26

120 Minutes

Current Affairs including GK

28-32

Legal Reasoning

28-32

Logical Reasoning

22-26

Quantitative Techniques

10-14

AILET 2025 Section Wise Pattern

SectionNumber of questionsTime

English

50

120 Minutes

Current Affairs

30

Logical Reasoning

70

Total

150

AILET Vs CLAT Syllabus

In the CLAT vs AILET evaluation, one must also focus on the syllabus of both the law entrance exams. There is a major difference between the syllabus of CLAT 2025 and AILET 2025 syllabus. The CLAT UG syllabus has more sections and includes a quantitative techniques section which is not present in AILET. The syllabus of the PG exams for both the law entrance exams is more or less the same with the difference being only in the number of questions and time duration.

CLAT UG Syllabus 2025

SectionsTopics

English

Grammar, reading comprehension, vocabulary, fill in the blanks

Current Affairs including GK

National and international events in the field of sports, economy, politics, arts and culture.

Legal Reasoning

Current legal affairs, important judgements, constitution, law of torts, family law

Logical Reasoning

Drawing inferences and conclusions from given arguments, puzzles and seating arrangements, series and sequences

Quantitative Techniques

Basic arithmetic, mensuration, ratio and proportion, profit and loss, time and work.

AILET UG Syllabus 2025

SectionsTopics

English

Comprehension, grammar, sentence correction and vocabulary

Current Affairs

Recent national and international events of significance from various fields such as politics, business, sports, awards, arts and culture.

Logical Reasoning

Logical and analytical reasoning skills

CLAT 2025 Syllabus PG

Subjects
  1. Constitutional Law

  1. Other areas of law such as Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, and Labour & Industrial Law

AILET LLM 2025 Syllabus

Subjects

Different areas of law: (Constitutional law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, and Labour & Industrial Law)

Also Read: CLAT vs LSAT India - Difference, Colleges, Syllabus, Difficulty level

CLAT Vs AILET : Which is better?

Both CLAT and AILET are hugely popular among law aspirants. The colleges that candidates can get into through these exams are frequently ranked among the top law colleges in NIRF law college rankings. NLU Delhi, NLSIU Bengaluru, and NALSAR Hyderabad usually bag the top 3 places in the NIRF rankings for law. However, the answer to the question of CLAT or AILET- which is better, will also depend on individual perceptions of the candidate about the college. It is always advised to prepare and appear for both exams to improve one’s chances of getting into a good law college.

Is AILET tougher than CLAT?

CLAT is usually considered very tough due to its length and complexity. It is reading intensive and one of the lengthiest law entrance exams. CLAT has 5 sections while AILET has three sections. CLAT also requires the candidates to prepare for Mathematics, a section not present in AILET, which candidates may find difficult. However, it must be said that In the debate over which is tougher among AILET and CLAT, both exams are equally complex and difficult. The difficulty level of both the exams also move in sync.

The Consortium of National Law Universities revised the syllabus of CLAT by reducing the number of questions from 150 to 120 for CLAT UG exam. It was with the intention of making the exam more student-friendly.

This was followed by NLU Delhi revising its own exam pattern for both the AILET UG and AILET LLM. It has increased the time duration by a further 30 minutes for UG. While for AILET LLM, it has done away with the descriptive section of LLM and kept only MCQs about different areas of law.

CLAT Vs AILET: Similarities

The CLAT and AILET exam are similar in many ways. The points given below illustrate the convergences between the two exams -

  • Both exams have objective questions that are based on a particular passage/statement preceding them.

  • Both exams are a test of a candidate’s ability to read and comprehend quickly as both exams are reading intensive.

  • Even though CLAT has a mathematics section, it has a lesser weightage with more importance being given to the reasoning, English and GK sections which are also present in AILET.

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