Difference Between AILET and CLAT: Which Law Entrance Exam Should You Choose?

CL Team March 22 2025
5 min read

For students aspiring to enter the top law schools in India, the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) and Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) are the two primary entrance exams. Both exams serve as a gateway to prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) and other top law institutions. However, they differ in terms of exam structure, syllabus, difficulty level, and admission criteria. If you are preparing for either AILET or CLAT, Career Launcher Sector 65 Gurgaon, one of the top coaching centers for AILET and CLAT in Gurgaon, can help you achieve your dream law school admission.

 

Key Differences Between AILET and CLAT

1. Conducting Body and Participating Institutes

  • AILET: Conducted by National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) for admissions to its BA LLB, LLM, and PhD programs. NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT scores.
  • CLAT: Conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) and is accepted by 22 NLUs and several private law colleges across India.

2. Exam Pattern

  • AILET:
    • Total Questions: 150
    • Sections: English, Logical Reasoning, and General Knowledge & Current Affairs
    • Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
    • Marking Scheme: +1 for correct answer, -0.25 for incorrect answer
  • CLAT:
    • Total Questions: 120
    • Sections: English Language, Current Affairs & General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques
    • Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
    • Marking Scheme: +1 for correct answer, -0.25 for incorrect answer

3. Syllabus Comparison

Section

AILET

CLAT

English

Yes

Yes

Logical Reasoning

Yes

Yes

General Knowledge & Current Affairs

Yes

Yes

Legal Reasoning

No

Yes

Quantitative Techniques

No

Yes

AILET does not include Legal Reasoning or Quantitative Techniques, making it slightly different from CLAT. However, the Logical Reasoning section in AILET is more extensive than in CLAT.

4. Difficulty Level

  • AILET is considered more challenging because of its higher competition and more extensive Logical Reasoning section.
  • CLAT requires more legal knowledge and quantitative aptitude, which can be tricky for students with a non-mathematical background.

5. Admission Criteria & Seats Available

  • AILET: Only 110 seats for BA LLB at NLU Delhi, making it highly competitive.
  • CLAT: Over 3,000 seats across 22 NLUs, giving students more options.

6. Career Prospects and Accepting Colleges

  • AILET: Accepted only at NLU Delhi.
  • CLAT: Accepted by 22 NLUs and private universities such as OP Jindal Global University, NMIMS School of Law, etc.

Which Exam Should You Choose?

  • Choose AILET if your target is NLU Delhi and you excel in Logical Reasoning.
  • Choose CLAT if you want more options and are comfortable with Legal Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques.
  • If possible, prepare for both exams to maximize your chances of admission.

 

Summary:

Both AILET and CLAT open doors to top law universities in India. Your choice should depend on your strengths, preferred subjects, and career goals. To boost your preparation, Career Launcher Sector 65 Gurgaon, one of the best coaching centers for AILET and CLAT in Gurgaon, provides expert guidance, mock tests, and personalized coaching to help students achieve success in both exams. Start your journey today and secure admission to your dream law school!