CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT: Key Differences & Similarities

CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT: Key Differences & Similarities

Ongoing Event

CLAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 31 Oct' 25

Ritika JonwalUpdated on 05 Sep 2025, 06:09 PM IST

CLAT, AILET, and SLAT are the three biggest law entrance exams in India. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 offers admission to 24+ NLUs, AILET is the key to NLU Delhi, and Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) opens doors to Symbiosis Law Schools. While all three test your aptitude for Legal Studies, they differ in exam pattern, difficulty level, and the kind of opportunities they unlock. In this article, we break down CLAT v/s AILET v/s SLAT 2026 so you can decide which path suits your goals best.

CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT: Key Differences & Similarities
CLAT v/s AILET v/s SLAT

CLAT v/s AILET v/s SLAT 2026 - Exam Syllabus

The syllabus of CLAT and SLAT 2026 consists of 5 subjects each. The syllabus of both exams are quite similar, but the patterns of the questions asked differ. One of the major differences between the questions asked in the exam is that CLAT focuses more on passage-based questions. Check the table for a detailed syllabus of CLAT v/s AILET v/s SLAT 2026.

CLAT syllabus

AILET syllabus

SLAT syllabus

English language:

  • Meaning of words

  • The central theme of the passage

  • Concluding paragraphs

English language:

  • Comprehension

  • Grammar, sentence correction and vocabulary

Reading comprehension:

  • Tenses

  • Prepositions

  • Conjunctions

  • Sentence improvement

Current affairs including general knowledge:

  • Institutions

  • Recent events, awards, and organisations

  • Historical events

Current affairs including general knowledge:

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

General knowledge:

  • Recent events in India

  • Recent news of international affairs

Legal reasoning:

  • Objective behind paragraph

  • Supreme Court verdicts

  • Basic legal terminologies

  • Concluding the passage

-

Legal reasoning:

  • Legal terms

  • Fundamental rights

  • Important laws and acts

  • Legal aptitude

Logical reasoning:

  • Draw relationships and analogies

  • Marking true statement based on the passage

Logical Reasoning

  • Logical Skills

  • Analytical reasoning skills

Logical reasoning

  • Arguments and conclusions

  • Syllogisms

  • Puzzles

Quantitative technique:

  • Percentage

  • Average

  • Ratio

(Basic 10th standard maths)

-

Analytical reasoning

  • Data interpretations

  • Addition

  • Multiplication

  • Complete the series

CLAT v/s AILET v/s SLAT: Exam Overview

Here’s a comparison table for CLAT 2026 v/s AILET 2026 v/s SLAT 2026 in tabular format.

Differences

CLAT

AILET

SLAT

Conducting body

Consortium of NLUs

NLU Delhi

Symbiosis International (deemed university)

Mode of examination

Offline (pen and paper)

Offline

Online (computer-based)

Difficulty level

Very difficult

Difficult

Moderately difficult

Exam duration

2 hours

2 hours

1 hour

No. of questions asked

120

150

60

Total marks

120

150

60

Negative marking

-0.25

-0.25

No negative marking

CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT 2026: Preparation Comparison Table

Given below is the Comparative Preparation table for CLAT v/s AILET v/s SLAT 2026. It highlights the focus areas, difficulty level and important Key Tips.

Exam

Key Focus Areas

Difficulty Level

Ideal Prep Hours/Day

Tips

CLAT 2026

Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning (passage-based), Current Affairs with context

Very Difficult (Speed + Accuracy)

5–6 hrs

Focus on time-bound mocks

AILET 2026

Legal Knowledge (Constitution, Torts, Contracts), Fact-based GK, Logical Reasoning Sets, Advanced Quant

Difficult (Law + Knowledge heavy)

6–7 hrs

Extra focus on Legal Doctrines

SLAT 2026

Aptitude + Communication Skills, Basic Legal Reasoning, GK Mix, Logical Puzzles

Moderate (Balanced aptitude)

3–4 hrs

Prepare for WAT + PI (writing & speaking practice)

CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT 2026: Similarities

  • Core Subjects: English/Verbal Ability, GK & Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quant/Analytical Ability.

  • Skill Tested: Reading comprehension, critical thinking, time management, and accuracy.

  • General Knowledge & Current Affairs: All require awareness of national & international events.

  • Legal Aptitude: Each exam tests knowledge of law basics (Constitution, torts, contracts, rights).

  • Mock Test Strategy: All three demand repeated practice with timed mock tests and previous year papers.

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CLAT Cut-offs

Understand previous year cut-off trends as well as expected cut-offs for current year. Get the Ebook

CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT 2026: Difference

Here’s the decoding edge for CLAT v/s AILET v/s SLAT 2026.

Exam

Key Difference

Skill Tested

CLAT 2026

Passage-based questions dominate → comprehension + reasoning > rote knowledge

Tests speed reading and logical inference under time pressure.

AILET 2026

Legal knowledge is heavier → factual, doctrinal, and GK-driven

More emphasis on law-heavy sections and deep GK recall compared to CLAT.

SLAT 2026

Personality assessment included (WAT + PI) → not just MCQs

Judges' communication, confidence, and overall aptitude, which CLAT/AILET ignore.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Which exam includes a personality assessment?
A:

SLAT has WAT (Writing Ability Test) + PI (Personal Interview).

Q: Which exam gives more importance to legal reasoning?
A:

AILET emphasises legal reasoning and GK more than CLAT and SLAT.

Q: Which exam has the fewest questions?
A:

SLAT has 60 questions, while CLAT has 120 and AILET has 150.

Q: Which exam has negative marking?
A:

CLAT and AILET have −0.25 per wrong answer, SLAT has none.

Q: Which exam is considered toughest among CLAT, AILET, and SLAT 2026?
A:

AILET 2026 is generally tougher due to more legal and General Knowledge-heavy questions.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

It is always better to take the CLAT exam right after Class 12 if your goal is to build a career in law, because CLAT UG is specifically designed for admission into integrated five-year law programs like BA LLB, BCom LLB, or BBA LLB. Appearing after Class 12 saves you time, as you complete both graduation and law together in a single course. On the other hand, if you first complete graduation and then plan for law, you will not be eligible for CLAT UG but instead for CLAT PG, which is meant for admission into LLM programs. This path takes longer, because you first spend three or four years on graduation and then add another three years in an LLB program if you choose not to go for an integrated course. So, if you are already sure about pursuing law as your career, writing CLAT right after Class 12 is the smarter and time-saving option, while writing it after graduation makes sense only if you are considering higher studies in law or a shift in career later.

For CLAT, the most important topics are from  Legal Reasoning, Current Affairs & GK, the Indian Constitution, English Language, Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning. For a brief detail you can go through the following link: https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-important-topics

Thank You.

Hi dear candidate,

Both the colleges Maharaja Agrasen (MAIMS) or Gitarattan (GIBS) are affiliated to IP University and allows admission either by CLAT or IPU CET Law. Without either of these exams, your admission is NOT accepted there. You can try looking for management quota seats in these colleges if you have got good marks in 12th class.

BEST REGARDS

Hi dear candidate,

You can easily register yourself for CLAT exam by visiting the Consortium of NLUs official website and follow these steps:

  • Register yourself with your EMail ID, phone number and password.
  • Log in using OTP
  • Complete application form by entering details, selecting program (UG/PG) and uploading required documents mentioned there.
  • Then at last, review the application and pay the registration fees.
  • Download your confirmation slip.

Know the complete process at:

CLAT Registration 2026 (Started): Documents Required, Application Fee, Link, Steps to Apply

BEST REGARDS

Right now there is no official e-guide for CLAT 2026 released by the Consortium of NLUs. They usually provide sample questions and model papers closer to the exam, but not a complete guide at this stage.

You can still prepare using free study material available online. Many websites provide free downloadable PDFs, mock tests, and previous year papers that will help you understand the pattern and practice important topics.

If you want a structured book, there are two good options. The Oswaal CLAT & AILET guide has past year solved papers, topic-wise questions, and mock tests. The Arihant CLAT Conqueror book has more than 3000 practice questions with solutions. Both are helpful depending on whether you prefer solved papers or more practice questions.