CLAT vs AILET 2028: Key Differences, Exam Pattern & Which Exam Should You Choose?
Introduction
Every year, thousands of law aspirants across India face a common dilemma: Should they focus on CLAT or AILET 2028? Both are prestigious gateways to the country's top National Law Universities, but they are fundamentally different in their approach, structure, and the opportunities they unlock .
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) opens doors to 26+ National Law Universities across India, while the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) is your exclusive ticket to the coveted National Law University Delhi . Understanding these differences isn't just academic—it's the difference between a scattered preparation strategy and a focused, winning approach.
What is CLAT 2028?
The Common Law Admission Test is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. It serves as the primary admission test for 26 National Law Universities across India, including prestigious institutions like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata.
CLAT is a passage-based comprehension exam where most questions are derived from reading passages that test your understanding, reasoning, and interpretation skills rather than rote memorization . This format was introduced post-2020 to shift the focus from factual recall to analytical ability.
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance:
| Feature |
Details |
| Conducting Body |
Consortium of NLUs |
| Mode |
Offline (Pen & Paper) |
|
Duration
|
2 hours |
| Total Questions |
120 |
| Total Marks |
120 |
| Marking Scheme |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect |
|
Sections
|
English, Current Affairs & GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques
|
The sections are weighted as follows:
- English Language: 22-26 questions
- Current Affairs including GK: 28-32 questions
- Legal Reasoning: 28-32 questions
- Logical Reasoning: 22-26 questions
- Quantitative Techniques: 10-14 questions
What is AILET 2026?
The All India Law Entrance Test is conducted exclusively by National Law University Delhi for admission to its undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral law programmes. Unlike CLAT, AILET serves only one institution- but what an institution it is..! NLU Delhi consistently ranks among the top three law schools in India.
AILET is known for its higher difficulty level and intense competition. With only around 130 seats for the BA LLB programme and over 20,000 aspirants, the acceptance rate is less than 1%.
AILET 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance:
| Feature |
Details |
| Conducting Body |
National Law University Delhi |
| Mode |
Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Duration |
2 hours |
|
Total Questions
|
150 |
| Total Marks |
150 |
| Marking Scheme |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect |
| Sections |
English Language (50 Qs), Current Affairs & GK (30 Qs), Logical Reasoning (70 Qs) |
Key point: AILET does NOT have a separate Legal Reasoning or Quantitative Techniques section. However, the Logical Reasoning section carries nearly 47% of the total marks, making it the make-or-break section of the paper.
CLAT vs AILET 2027: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Parameter |
CLAT 2027 |
AILET 2027 |
| Conducting Body |
Consortium of NLUs |
NLU Delhi |
| Institutes Covered |
26+ NLUs across India Only |
NLU Delhi |
| Exam Mode |
Offline (Pen & Paper) |
Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Duration |
2 hours |
2 hours |
| Total Questions |
120 |
150 |
|
Total Marks
|
120 |
150 |
| Negative Marking |
-0.25 per wrong answer |
-0.25 per wrong answer |
| Sections |
5 sections |
3 sections |
| Legal Reasoning |
✅ Included |
❌ Not included |
| Quantitative Techniques |
✅ Included |
❌ Not included |
| Logical Reasoning Weight |
Moderate |
Highest (70 questions) |
| Question Style |
Passage-based comprehension |
Direct + analytical |
| Difficulty Level |
Moderate |
Higher |
| UG Seats Available |
~3,500+ across NLUs |
~130 (only NLU Delhi) |
The Most Important Differences Explained
1. Conducting Authority and Participating Institutions
CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities and is accepted by 26+ NLUs across India . This means even if you don't get your dream NLU, you still have multiple options.
AILET is conducted exclusively by NLU Delhi and is accepted by no other institution . It's all or nothing- you either crack NLU Delhi or you don't.
2. Question Format and Syllabus Focus
CLAT is predominantly passage-based. You read a passage and answer questions based on it. This tests your comprehension, critical thinking, and application skills rather than factual recall .
AILET includes more direct, factual questions- especially in the General Knowledge section. You need to know current affairs and static GK facts rather than just interpreting them from a passage .
3. Competition and Difficulty
AILET is generally considered tougher than CLAT for three reasons :
- More questions: 150 questions in 2 hours vs. CLAT's 120 questions
- Fewer seats: Only ~130 seats at NLU Delhi
- Higher competition: Top aspirants from across the country target these limited seats
CLAT, while highly competitive, offers more flexibility. You have a wider range of colleges, so the pressure per seat is relatively lower.
4. Sectional Composition
The most striking difference is in the sections:
CLAT Sections:
- English Language
- Current Affairs & General Knowledge
- Legal Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Techniques
AILET Sections:
- English Language (50 questions)
- Current Affairs & General Knowledge (30 questions)
- Logical Reasoning (70 questions)
Notice that AILET has no Legal Reasoning and no Quantitative Techniques sections. Instead, it places enormous weight on Logical Reasoning- nearly half the paper.
Which Exam Should You Choose?
Choose CLAT if:
- You want a wider range of options across multiple NLUs
- You are comfortable with passage-based questions
- Your Quantitative Techniques are decent (it's a small but important section)
- You want a safety net—even if one NLU rejects you, others may accept you
Choose AILET if:
- Your dream is NLU Delhi and you're willing to go all-in
- You excel in Logical Reasoning (it carries 70 questions)
- You are strong in factual GK and current affairs
- You can handle higher pressure and intense competition
The Smart Strategy: Prepare for Both
Most serious aspirants prepare for both exams simultaneously. Why? Because the syllabi overlap significantly in English, Logical Reasoning, and General Knowledge.
The winning approach:
- Build your foundation with common subjects- English, Logical Reasoning, and GK
- From September onwards, shift to exam-specific practice
- Take mock tests for both exams alternately
CLAT vs AILET: Syllabus Comparison
| Section |
CLAT |
AILET |
| English Language |
✅ Reading comprehension,
vocabulary, very less of grammar
|
✅ Reading comprehension,
vocabulary, grammar
|
| Logical Reasoning |
✅ Moderate weight - Analytical, Critical and
Logical Reasoning
|
✅ Highest weight (70 questions)- Analytical, Critical
and Logical Reasoning
|
| Current Affairs & GK |
✅ Passage-based, mostly of last 10 months
before the exam month
|
✅ Direct factual questions, Traditional GK like History, Geography, Economy |
| Legal Reasoning |
✅ Included (Tort, Contract, Criminal Law,
Constitutional Law, IPR, International Law,
Family Law)
|
❌ Not included |
| Quantitative Techniques |
✅ Included (10-14 questions), Mostly Percentage,
Average, Ratio
|
❌ Not included |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which exam is tougher- CLAT or AILET?
A: AILET is generally considered tougher due to more questions (150 vs. 120), fewer seats (~130 vs. 3,500+), and higher competition per seat.
Q: Can I prepare for both CLAT and AILET together?
A: Yes! The syllabi overlap significantly in English, GK, and Logical Reasoning. Focus on common subjects first, then practice exam-specific mocks from August onward.
Q: Does AILET have a Legal Reasoning section?
A: No. AILET does not have a separate Legal Reasoning section. However, the Logical Reasoning section carries 70 questions, making it the most important section.
Q: Does CLAT have Maths?
A: Yes. CLAT includes a Quantitative Techniques section with 10-14 questions based on Class 10 mathematics topics like percentages, averages, and ratios.
Q: How many seats are available through AILET?
A: NLU Delhi offers approximately 110 seats for the BA LLB programme through AILET .
Q: Which exam has more questions?
A: AILET has 150 questions, while CLAT has 120 questions. Both are 2-hour exams.
Q: Do both exams have negative marking?
A: Yes. Both CLAT and AILET have a negative marking of -0.25 for each incorrect answer.
Q: Can I get into NLU Delhi through CLAT?
A: No. NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT scores. You must appear for AILET specifically for NLU Delhi admission.
Q: Which exam should I prioritize?
A: If you want multiple options, prioritize CLAT. If NLU Delhi is your only target, prioritize AILET. Most aspirants prepare for both to maximize their chances.
Q: Is AILET only for UG admissions?
A: No. AILET is conducted for UG (BA LLB), PG (LLM), and doctoral (PhD) programmes at NLU Delhi.
