CLAT Vs SLAT: Differences, Eligibility, Accepting Colleges, Syllabus, Difficulty Level
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  • CLAT Vs SLAT: Differences, Eligibility, Accepting Colleges, Syllabus, Difficulty Level

CLAT Vs SLAT: Differences, Eligibility, Accepting Colleges, Syllabus, Difficulty Level

Ongoing Event

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

Team Careers360Updated on 25 Aug 2025, 12:25 PM IST

Among the law entrance exams conducted in India, CLAT and SLAT are among the most popular exams. The basic difference between CLAT and SLAT is that the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is conducted for admission to 24 prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs), whereas Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) is accepted by four law schools of Symbiosis International University (SIU). Both CLAT and SLAT are considered gateways to some of the top law schools in India. As per the NIRF law rankings 2024, three of India's five top law colleges are NLUs that are part of the CLAT 2026 admissions process, with NLSIU Bengaluru ranked at the top. SLS Pune occupies the fifth position.

This Story also Contains

  1. What are the key differences between CLAT and SLAT?
  2. Eligibility Criteria of CLAT and SLAT
  3. CLAT and SLAT: Syllabus
  4. CLAT vs SLAT: Which exam is more difficult?
  5. CLAT vs SLAT: Selection process for admission
  6. Previous year’s question paper analysis: CLAT vs SLAT
  7. Participating institutes in CLAT and SLAT
  8. CLAT vs SLAT: Exam schedule
CLAT Vs SLAT: Differences, Eligibility, Accepting Colleges, Syllabus, Difficulty Level
CLAT vs SLAT | Image by Freepik

The upcoming CLAT 2026 will be held on December 7, 2025. Whereas SLAT 2026 will be held in two phases on December 20 (Phase 1) and December 28, 2025 (Phase 2) in online mode. Students looking for admission to top law schools can simultaneously prepare for both examinations due to overlapping subjects. While the syllabi of both exams overlap with each other, there are many key differences between them in terms of difficulty level, mode of examination, exam pattern, and selection process. This article discusses the differences between the CLAT and SLAT in detail for better student understanding.

What are the key differences between CLAT and SLAT?

Differences

CLATSLAT

Conducting body

Consortium of NLUs

Symbiosis International (deemed university)

Mode of examination

Offline (pen and paper)

Online (computer-based)

Difficulty level

Very difficult

Moderately difficult

Exam duration

2 hours

1 hour

No. of questions asked

120

60

Total marks

120

60

Negative marking

-0.25

No negative marking

Seats available

3,243

1,080

Frequency of examination

Once a year

Twice a year

Selection process

Two-stage:

  • CLAT exam

  • Counselling

Three stage

  • SLAT exam

  • Written Aptitude Test (WAT)

  • Personal Interview (PI)

Infographics - Between CLAT and SLAT

Between CLAT and SLAT

Eligibility Criteria of CLAT and SLAT

The eligibility criteria for CLAT 2026 and SLAT are the same. The difference between CLAT and SLAT lies in the institutions accepting the scores. The criteria are mentioned below:

  • The students should have completed their 12th class.

  • Students who are currently in 12 standard and are due to pass out in

  • The passing percentage of the 12th standard should be 45% for the general category and 40% for the SC/ST category.

  • There is no age limit to appear in the examination.

ICFAI-LAW School BA-LLB / BBA-LLB Admissions 2025

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CLAT Cut-offs

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CLAT and SLAT: Syllabus

The syllabus of CLAT and SLAT 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.

CLAT syllabus

SLAT syllabus

English language:

  • Meaning of words

  • The central theme of the passage

  • Concluding paragraphs

Reading comprehension:

  • Tenses

  • Prepositions

  • Conjunctions

  • Sentence improvement

Current affairs including general knowledge:

  • Institutions

  • Recent events, awards, and organisations

  • Historical events

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

  • Arguments and conclusions

  • Syllogisms

  • Puzzles

Quantitative technique:

  • Percentage

  • Average

  • Ratio

(Basic 10th standard maths)

Analytical reasoning

  • Data interpretations

  • Addition

  • Multiplication

  • Complete the series

CLAT vs SLAT: Which exam is more difficult?

The complex exam pattern and marking schemes of the CLAT make it more difficult than the SLAT examination. In the CLAT exam, students have to answer the questions from the passages given for each section. Candidates must decipher the passages before selecting the right answers, and each wrong answer carries a negative marking of 0.25. On the other hand, questions asked in the SLAT exam are direct-objective type, and there is no negative marking.

CLAT vs SLAT: Selection process for admission

Both examinations are held for admission to top law schools in India. However, there is a difference between CLAT and SLAT in terms of their selection process. The details are given below.

CLAT Selection Process

The CLAT exam is held offline in more than 130 exam centres across the country. The students have to appear in the examination. After the CLAT results are announced, the Consortium of NLU conducts CLAT counselling. The candidates are allotted seats based on their NLU preferences and rank in the merit list.

SLAT Selection Process

Whereas the SLAT selection process has two stages. The first round is the SLAT examination. It carries 70% weightage in the selection process. After the result declaration, the admission process becomes decentralized as the participating institutes conduct the SLAT counselling separately. The second phase of the SLAT selection process includes a Personal Interview (PI) conducted by each law school. Candidates can attend the interview round only for those SLSs for which they have paid the programme registration fee.

Previous year’s question paper analysis: CLAT vs SLAT

The exam pattern of CLAT and SLAT is different in terms of the number of questions asked and the weightage given to each section. As per the previous year's paper of the SLAT, the number of questions asked in each section is equal. An equal number of questions in each section denotes that each section's marks are the same.

However, according to the analysis of the previous year’s question paper of the CLAT, each section has a different number of questions and mark weightage. In the CLAT exam, legal reasoning often has the most number of questions, whereas the quantitative section has the least. Let’s take a look at the table for more clarity about the pattern of question papers of both exams.

CLAT vs SLAT: Question Paper Comparison

Sections

CLAT

SLAT

English language

24

12

Current affairs - general knowledge

28

12

Legal reasoning

32

12

Logical reasoning

24

12

Quantitative technique/Analytical reasoning

12

12

Total questions

120

60

Participating institutes in CLAT and SLAT

Students take the CLAT examination to get admission to the top-ranked NLUs of India. The SLAT examination is for candidates who want to pursue law at top Symbiosis colleges. Below is the list of institutions that accept CLAT and SLAT scores. There are 24 NLUs participating in CLAT and 4 four Symbiosis Law Schools participating in SLAT. The seat intake is given below.

You may also check

CLAT Sample Paper 2026 with Answer Key- Careers360
Download the CLAT Sample Paper 2026 PDF featuring the latest exam pattern with descriptive-type questions for effective preparation.
Download EBook

Seat matrix of CLAT and SLAT

The number of students who appear for CLAT is around 50,000 to 70,000. However, the seats are limited in the top-ranked law universities. There are around 3400+ seats in 5-year integrated LLB around 1400+ LLM seats offered through CLAT counselling. The four SLSs offer 1080 5-year LLB seats through SLAT.

CLAT participating NLUs, courses, and seats

NLU NameCourseCLAT Seats



NLSIU Bengaluru

BA LLB (Hons.)

310

NALSAR Hyderabad

BA LLB (Hons.)

132

NLIU Bhopal

BA LLB (Hons.)

104


BSc LLB (Hons.) (No Admissions for 2025-26 session)

59

WBNUJS Kolkata

BA LLB (Hons.)

108


B.Sc LLB (Hons.)

50

NLU Jodhpur

BA LLB (Hons.)

90


BBA LLB (Hons.)

30

HNLU Raipur

BA LLB (Hons.)

170

GNLU Gandhinagar

5-year LLB (BA LLB(Hons.); BCom LLB(Hons.); BSc LLB (Hons.); BBA LLB(Hons) and BSW LLB(Hons)

172

GNLU Silvassa Campus

BA LLB (Hons)

66

RMNLU Luknow

BA LLB (Hons)

169

RGNUL Patiala

BA LLB (Hons)

180

CNLU Patna

BA LLB (Hons)

69


BBA LLB (Hons)

69

NUALS Kochi

BA LLB (Hons)

60

NLUO Cuttack

BA LLB (Hons)

106


BBA LLB (Hons)

53

NUSRL Ranchi

BA LLB (Hons)

120


BBA LLB (Hons)

60

NLUJA Kamrup

BA LLB (Hons)

60

DSNLU Visakhapatnam

BA LLB (Hons)

120

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli

BA LLB (Hons)

56


BCom LLB (Hons)

56

MNLU Mumbai

BA LLB (Hons)

100

MNLU Nagpur

BA LLB (Hons)

120


BA LLB (Hons in Adjudication and Justicing)

60


BBA LLB (Hons)

60

MNLU Aurangabad

BA LLB (Hons.)

60


BBA LLB (Hons)

60

HPNLU Shimla

BA LLB (Hons)

120


BBA LLB (Hons)

60

DNLU Jabalpur

BA LLB (Hons)

120

DBRANLU Sonepat

BA LLB (Hons)

120

NLU Tripura

BA LLB (Hons)

60

RPNLU PrayagrajBA LLB (Hons)60
IIULER GoaBA LLB (Hons.)
BBA LLB (Hons.)
120 (BA LLB)
60 (BBA LLB)

Total


3649


Regarding SLAT, the law schools offer 1080 seats in BA LLB and BBA LLB courses. Around 20,000 candidates appear for SLAT exam every year. Refer to the table below for more clarity about the seat matrix of SLAT.

SLAT participating SLS, courses, and seats

Name of colleges

Courses offered and seats

Total seats

Symbiosis Law School, Pune

BA LLB

120

300

BBA LLB

180

Symbiosis Law School, Noida

BA LLB

120

300

BBA LLB

180

Symbiosis Law School, Nagpur

BA LLB

120

240

BBA LLB

120

Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad

BA LLB

120

240

BBA LLB

120

Total

1080

CLAT vs SLAT: Exam schedule

The application form for the CLAT was released on August 01, and registration for the examination remains open till October 31, 2025. The CLAT examination will be conducted on December 7, 2025.

Whereas, for the SLAT exam, the commencement of the application was on August 1, 2025. SLAT will be conducted on December 20 and December 28, 2025, in two phases. The SLAT is conducted twice in the same month, and if the student appears for both of the exams, the higher marks are counted for the final percentile calculation.

Also, check - Top Law Colleges in India

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: is SLAT and CLAT syllabus same?
A:

The syllabus for SLAT and CLAT are almost the same. However, instead of Quantitative Reasoning in CLAT exam, the SLAT exam has Analytical Reasoning in its syllabus.

Q: How to get into Symbiosis Law School?
A:

The Symbiosis Law School conducts SLAT exam to offer admission to 5 year LLB and SLSAIAT exam for LLM programmes.

Q: Is SLAT more difficult than CLAT?
A:

No, CLAT is more difficult than SLAT. The higher number of candidates appear in CLAT which makes it more competitive.

Q: What are CLAT and SLAT?
A:

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) are the two entrance examinations in which candidates appear to get admission to top-rated law universities.

Q: Is CLAT easy to crack?
A:

The CLAT exam is highly competitive and tough to crack. However, with the right strategy and hard work, cracking the exam is not that difficult.

Q: Is 45 a good score for SLAT?
A:

The cut-off of the SLAT examination is different for all the four colleges that come under the exam. It varies from 35 to 48.

Q: Which is tough CLAT or CAT?
A:

CAT examination is more tough to crack in comparison to CLAT. The CAT is the most important entrance examination to get admission to top management institutes. A very high number of applicants appear for the CAT every year which makes it competitive. Apart from that, the exam is also tough to crack because of the weightage given to the quantitative section.

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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.