AILET 2024 Topper: “My eclectic reading habit was the foundation of my preparation” - Diya Agarwal AIR 1

Diya Agarwal secured AIR 1 in the recently concluded AILET 2024. A science student with a fascination for linguistics, she also enjoys reading Sherlock Holmes. Diya believes one can make a difference in people’s lives through the legal profession. Read the full interview here as she shares her success story with Careers360.

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Hi Diya, Congratulations on securing AIR 1 in AILET 2024! Were you expecting this rank in AILET 2024? What was the feeling when you saw the result?

After the exam, I was happy with my performance in the paper and was confident of securing a good rank, but I had never imagined that I would rank first! The result was a pleasant surprise, and I am super thrilled and grateful for all the support I have received from my school, friends, teachers and family along the way.

Tell us more about yourself, your educational background, and your family background.

I am a 17-year-old from Bangalore, studying in National Public School, Koramangala. I am fascinated by the field of linguistics – yes, the same linguistics that featured in one of the AILET 2024 passages. I also play the flute and enjoy all kinds of sports. My interest in biology led me to study science (PCMB) in 11th and 12th grade.

When did you start taking interest in law? What motivated you to take up legal studies?

Law has always captured my imagination. I began considering law as a career option last year after I scored well in the SAT exam last year. This made me realise that reading and logically analysing a melange of facts, opinions and arguments, which lies at the heart of law, is one of my strengths. I also enjoy watching and reading deductive- reasoning classics Perry Mason, Poirot and Sherlock Holmes.

To me, law includes making logical inferences and deductions, and applying them to real world situations. I like how law is an all-encompassing field, open to all students irrespective of their subjects or stream. To top it all, one can make a difference in the lives of people through the legal profession.

Coming to your preparation, how and when did you start AILET preparation?

I started preparing around the beginning of this year. At first, it took a little while to find my feet, but as I talked to my peers and seniors, I was able to work out my plan of action.

What was your daily preparation schedule? How many hours did you practise each day?

My preparation schedule began with a daily reading of the newspaper. I would set myself a to-do list with periodic targets. This ensured that my glide path was flexible yet planned, so that my preparation was consistent throughout the year.

Which section of the AILET exam did you find the most challenging?

There were three sections in the AILET 2024 paper: English, Current Affairs and General Knowledge and Logical Reasoning. The Logical Reasoning section was my favourite, because of the sheer diversity in the nature of questions in this section.

There were inference and assumption-based questions, syllogisms, sequence and arrangement questions, coding-decoding questions and questions involving application of legal principles, to name a few. These multifarious questions made the Logical Reasoning section an intriguing brain exercise where I could play to my strengths, but it also made it the most challenging section of the paper.

Tell us about the books or study materials you followed for AILET preparation?

I read newspapers every day and supplemented my general contextual awareness with current affairs magazines and other publications. Contrary to popular perception, general awareness contributes to improving ability in not just the Current Affairs section, but also acts as a force multiplier in improving one’s comprehension, legal and critical reasoning abilities. Mock tests served as a gym to exercise my preparation. Overall, my preparation was enhanced by a well-rounded multitude of resources both in terms of study material and practice material. Career Launcher’s mock tests were an important element of my prep.

Did you solve sample papers and mock tests? If yes, how important do you think the mock tests are for AILET preparation?

Yes, I did solve mock tests from a multitude of sources. Of equal significance as solving mocks is retracing your steps to figure out where you went wrong and fill conceptual gaps. I found it especially constructive to discuss practice questions with my peers, as this brought multiple perspectives to the table.

How did you find the revised AILET pattern? Is it still a lengthy paper?

I enjoyed solving this year’s AILET paper. The added 30 minutes in this year’s revised pattern meant I could solve the paper at a quick but more comfortable pace than papers adhering to the old pattern.

What was your time-management strategy on the day of the exam?

On the day of the exam, I had a section-wise time-management plan in place. However, this plan was not rigid, and I was able to rework my strategy to adapt during the exam.

Did you appear for CLAT 2024 as well? If so, what was your rank? And are you targeting any other NLU as well besides NLU Delhi?

Yes, I appeared for CLAT and secured an All India Rank of 344. I will be deciding in due course.

What are your future aspirations?

Go to law school, make new friends, learn a new language, watch Suits. I haven’t decided much further out yet.

Any tips or suggestions for AILET aspirants appearing next year?

First, maintain a diverse reading habit. My eclectic reading habit – including fiction, non- fiction, magazines, novels, newspapers, and comics – was the foundation of my preparation. If you are not an avid reader, it’s never too late to start. If you are, improving your reading skills might be a little more intuitive. Read anything you can get your hands on, not just from the perspective of law or law entrance exams.

Second, prefer print-and-paper material to digital material. Practically all resources I used were on paper. You are far less likely to get distracted and have higher retention of what you read on paper. I read all newspapers in print and took all practice tests on paper. Plus, it’s a nice feeling to see the huge piles of material you’ve worked with. I went through 30 kg of printouts!

And finally, solve past years’ papers. Even though the paper pattern has changed over the years, I suggest solving past years’ papers towards the end of your preparation. I solved past AILET papers from 2019 onwards in the run-up to AILET 2024, and this added a diverse element to my preparation.