CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT: Key Differences & Similarities

CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT: Key Differences & Similarities

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.

LiveCLAT 2026 Result LIVE: Consortium of NLUs Law results soon; direct linkDec 16, 2025 | 10:27 AM IST

The Consortium of NLUs has not officially announced the CLAT PG 2026 result date. Based on last year's trends, the CLAT PG result is likely to be declared today or tomorrow.

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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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Jain University, Bangalore - Law Admissions 2026

NAAC A++ Approved | Curriculum Aligned with BCI & UGC

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 ?

With 47.5 marks in CLAT 2026 under General category, chances of admission in top NLUs are very low. However, you may have a chance in lower-ranked or newer NLUs, depending on the cut-off, women reservation, and domicile rules. Final allotment depends on counselling rounds and seat availability.

Thankyou i hope this will resolve some doubt


With a CLAT 2026 score of around 59 marks, being a female candidate from the EWS category with Rajasthan domicile does give you some possibility, but it is important to keep expectations realistic.

NLU Jodhpur is one of the older and more preferred NLUs, so its general cutoff usually remains on the higher side. However, domicile reservation for Rajasthan candidates and the EWS category can slightly improve your chances, especially in later rounds of counselling such as the fourth or fifth list or spot rounds, if seats remain vacant. Female candidates may also benefit indirectly where category and domicile seats overlap.

That said, admission at this score is not guaranteed, and you should definitely keep backup options open. You may have comparatively better chances at newer or lower-ranked NLUs where EWS and domicile cutoffs are generally lower. Participating in all rounds of CLAT counselling is very important, as movement often happens due to withdrawals.

Along with NLU Jodhpur, you should also consider state law universities and reputed private law colleges as alternatives to avoid losing a year. Make sure your documents for EWS and domicile are valid and ready, as they are strictly verified during admission.

Overall, while the chances for NLU Jodhpur are limited at this score, they are not completely ruled out due to your category and domicile advantages. Stay patient during counselling and keep multiple options in hand.

All the best.

Hello

With 83 marks in CLAT 2026 under the MBC category, getting NLU Jodhpur is possible but not guaranteed.
Based on previous years’ trends, the cutoff usually falls around 82–85 marks.
If your rank lies within the cutoff range, your chances improve.
Admission often becomes more likely in the later counselling rounds.
Your category reservation and preference order will play an important role.

Hope it will help you!!!

Hello aspirant,

Your anticipated cutoff range for top and mid-tier NLUs would typically be 60–70+ marks with 58 marks in CLAT (EWS category).  Chances in Tier-1 and Tier-2 NLUs are minimal at 58.  Depending on the year, rank inflation, and EWS seat availability, you might have a slim chance in lower Tier-3 NLUs or through open seats/spot rounds.

Thank you

Hope it helps you

Hello,

With a score of 82 in CLAT 2026 under the EWS category, you do have a chance at getting into decent NLUs, but it may depend on the specific NLU and the cut-offs for this year.

Generally:

  • Top NLUs (like NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS, WBNUJS) usually have higher cut-offs, so 82 might be below their usual EWS opening rank.

  • Mid-tier NLUs (like HNLU, GNLU, RMLNLU, NLUJ) could be within reach.

  • Lower-ranked NLUs and state NLUs are more likely to accept your score.

Your best step is to check the previous years’ EWS cut-offs for each NLU to see where your rank might fit.

Hope it helps !