AILET 2025 Topper Interview: Anirban Dutta AIR 40 "My passion for debating led me to consider a career in Law"

Anirban Dutta from Durgapur, West Bengal secured AIR 40 in AILET 2025 with 121 marks in the recently concluded AILET 2025 exam. Anirban also topped the CLAT 2025 and secured AIR 135. Hard work, self-study, and persistence are the real keys to his success. Careers360 caught up with Anirban to talk about his recent success. Read the full interview with the AILET 2025 topper here.

Hello Anirban,

Congratulations on securing AIR 40 in AILET 2025 and AIR 135 in CLAT UG 2025!

Q. What is your overall AILET 2025 score and sectional score?

Ans: I scored 121.00 in AILET UG 2025, with sectional scores of:

• English: 47.5/50

• General Knowledge (GK): 18.5/30

• Logical Reasoning: 55/70

Q. How did you feel when you checked your AILET 2025 result? Were you expecting this rank?

Ans: After the AILET 2025 exam, I was confident about securing a good rank. However, the provisional answer key had many objections, which made me unsure of my score. On the night the results were declared, I was preparing for my school practical the next day. As part of my daily habit, I visited the temple in my house and decided to check the website one last time. To my surprise, the results were visible. My first reaction was uncontrollable happiness, though I was momentarily puzzled at securing AIR 40 in AILET UG 2025 with 121 marks. Later, I understood that the cutoff this year was extremely high. I also secured AIR 135 in CLAT UG 2025.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about your background - your education, your family?

Ans: I completed my schooling at St. Xavier's School, Durgapur, and I am currently pursuing Class 12 at Zoom International School, Durgapur. I come from a humble family background- my father Kartik Dutta works in government service under the Government of West Bengal, and my mother Indrani Dutta is a homemaker.

I have been fortunate to receive unwavering support from my parents. They encouraged me to pursue my dreams and never forced their aspirations on me. I am deeply grateful for their belief in me.

Initially, I aspired to become an IAS officer because my father, working in administration, often shared stories that inspired me. However, upon realising that graduation was a prerequisite for UPSC, I began exploring my options. My passion for debating- having participated in state-level debates- naturally led me to consider a career in Law.

Q. What made you choose law?

Ans: A friend once joked that I would make a great lawyer and that lighthearted comment gave me the first real impression of law as a career path. A relative then introduced me to CLAT and AILET, which strengthened my resolve.

Q. Can you share any preparation strategies with our readers? When should one start their preparation for AILET? How to schedule study time and make timetables?

Ans: I started preparing for AILET and CLAT in Class 11. Though the fundamental concepts of both exams are similar, the paper structure and approach differ:

• AILET: 150 questions in 120 minutes.

• CLAT: 120 questions in 120 minutes.

Key Strategies:

1. Speed and Accuracy:

• I focused on improving my reading speed through the book "How to Read Better and Faster" by Norman Lewis.

• For English and Logical Reasoning, I emphasised solving questions quickly and accurately.

2. Mocks and Analysis:

• I took regular mock tests and analysed them thoroughly. This helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses and improved my exam temperament.

• Analysing past year's papers repeatedly was crucial. Since AILET is conducted by NLU Delhi, understanding the mindset of the exam setters is key. Repeatedly solving previous papers helped me identify recurring patterns and the level of difficulty to expect.

3. Time Management in Exam:

• For the first 45 minutes, I aimed to solve about 85-90 questions with high accuracy.

• For the remaining time, I maintained a speed of 1 minute per question. This strategy, refined through regular mocks, ensured I completed the paper comfortably.

4. Study Hours:

• Initially, I devoted 3-4 hours per day.

• As the exam neared, I increased my study hours to 10-12 hours daily.

5. Dynamic Study Schedule:

• I did not follow a fixed timetable. Instead, I prioritised tasks based on their importance and the stage of my preparation. I ensured that every activity during my day was either directly or indirectly related to preparation.

Q. Have you taken any coaching? If yes- from where? How did it help?

Ans: I took coaching primarily from LegalEdge by Toprankers, which provided me with guidance, materials, and structure. However, I believe coaching only plays a minor role-the major effort must come from the e aspirant. Hard work, self-study, and persistence are the real keys to success. I also used some materials and guidance from Flames CLAT.

Q. What was the toughest aspect of your AILET preparation?

Ans: The toughest aspects of AILET preparation were:

• Maintaining calmness under pressure.

• Staying consistent with preparation.

• Managing time effectively during preparation and the actual exam.

Q. Which books did you follow for AILET preparation? Please name some very important must-read books for AILET.

Ans: The books that I follow for AILET preparation are:

• "How to Read Better and Faster" by Norman Lewis (for improving reading speed and vocabulary).

• I used materials and mock tests from LegalEdge and other coaching platforms.

• Repeated analysis of past year's AILET papers was an essential part of my preparation.

I also maintained:

• A mistake copy to log errors from mocks and revise them.

• An Excel sheet to track my mock scores and measure progress.

Q. What are your other interests and hobbies?

Ans: Balancing preparation with hobbies is important to avoid burnout. My hobbies include:

• Traveling: Exploring new places with friends.

• Eating Out: Trying new foods.

• Debating: A passion that led me to law.

• Reading: Especially non-fiction and legal books.

• Playing Tabla: A creative outlet that helped me relax.

Q. What would be your message for future law aspirants who will be appearing for AILET in the future?

Ans: My message for future law aspirants would be that:

• Be Consistent: Success comes from daily effort. Even small, consistent progress matters more than last-minute cramming.

• Mock Tests and Analysis: Take regular mocks and analyse them in detail. Revisit your mistakes and learn from them.

• Understand the Exam: Solve past year AILET papers repeatedly. Since the paper is set by NLU Delhi, understanding their mindset is crucial. Recognise recurring patterns and themes.

• Start Early: The earlier you start, the better your chances. However, there’s no "perfect time." Success depends on strategy, hard work, and self-discipline.

• Feedback Mechanism: Keep track of your progress. Report to a mentor or yourself regularly-be it daily, weekly, or monthly. Maintain tools like mock score sheets and mistake copies to stay focused.