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    Why AILET Is Tougher Than CLAT?

    Why AILET Is Tougher Than CLAT?

    Team Careers360Updated on 17 Sep 2026, 03:03 PM IST

    The All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) is one of the toughest law entrance exams in India. The All India Law Entrance Test is conducted by the National Law University (NLU), Delhi, which is different from CLAT since NLU Delhi is not part of CLAT admissions. Candidates who wish to get admitted to the BA LLB program of NLU Delhi have to take the AILET.

    Why AILET Is Tougher Than CLAT?
    Why AILET Is Tougher Than CLAT?

    As per the information for AILET 2027, NLU Delhi would provide 110 seats in BA LLB through AILET merit, while remaining seats would be reserved for Foreign Nationals and OCI/PIO. AILET can be quite tough owing to the competition.

    Only 110 AILET Seats for BA LLB

    One of the key factors leading to the fierce competition is the fact of limited intake. The total number of seats available in BA LLB at NLU Delhi is 120; however, 110 seats are allotted based on merit in AILET. The remaining seats are reserved for Foreign Nationals and OCI/PIO candidates.

    This implies that any minor variation in marks will have a huge impact on the ranking of the candidate and thus his/her chances of getting admission. In case of other examinations, a candidate may secure marks and use them for applications in various NLUs.

    AILET vs CLAT: The Competition Difference

    CLAT is recognised by 25 NLUs, as well as by some other participating institutions and therefore gives candidates several ways to enter. NLU Delhi and NLU Meghalaya do not participate in CLAT and hold their own entrance exams.

    However, AILET is held for admission to NLU Delhi only. The concentration of competition increases.

    The recent information about AILET also reflects the level of competition. For instance, in AILET 2026, more than 22,500 candidates participated in the examination for BA LLB. With 110 seats by merit for AILET 2027, this means that the number of candidates competing for one place is high. Nonetheless, it would not be accurate to say that AILET is always harder than CLAT. It all depends on the particular paper, the candidate's preparation and the competition in a particular year. The main difference between the two is the concentration of competition around one institution with a small intake.

    AILET 2027 Exam Pattern

    Questions in AILET 2027 for BA LLB will comprise 150 MCQs and shall be solved within 120 minutes. The exam will take place offline through the pen-and-paper method. One mark will be awarded for each correct question, and for wrong answers, 0.25 marks will be deducted.

    Three parts of the question paper will be:

    • English Language: 50 questions

    • Current Affairs and General Knowledge: 30 questions

    • Logical Reasoning: 70 questions

    Legal reasoning will also be included in the Logical Reasoning portion of the question paper.

    A high number of questions with a limited amount of time makes speed and accuracy equally significant. With negative marking in consideration, random selection of questions to attempt may also affect the score.

    Why AILET Requires a Different Preparation Strategy

    CLAT aspirants should not think that preparation for the AILET would automatically cover the requirements of the CLAT.

    In AILET, the weightage given to Logical Reasoning is quite high: 70 questions out of the total 150 questions asked. English and Current Affairs & General Knowledge make up the remaining 80 questions.

    Thus, candidates need to prepare for:

    1. Logical Reasoning

    One needs to practise logical reasoning problems like arguments, assumptions, conclusions, inferences, etc.

    Since this is the largest section, an improvement in it can significantly improve the score of a candidate.

    2. Improve Reading & English

    There are 50 questions in the English Section. Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Sentence Arrangement, Synonyms, Antonyms, etc are some of the topics in this area.

    3. Follow Current Affairs

    This section contains 30 questions. Thus, candidates can develop their current affairs base by reading newspapers and keeping track of national and international affairs.

    4. Take full-length AILET mocks.

    The AILET paper has 150 questions, and thus, speed is key for this exam. Mock tests can assist applicants in understanding the amount of time to devote to each section and the areas that need more work.

    AILET 2027 Date & Last Date to Apply

    The examination for NLU Delhi AILET 2027 is planned to be held on December 13, 2026, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The application process for this test started on August 7, 2026, and the last date to apply is November 10, 2026.

    Students should not wait till the last few weeks to prepare. Since there are only 110 seats of merit in the AILET, proper preparation is necessary.

    Is AILET Really Tougher Than CLAT?

    AILET is always perceived to be difficult due to the level of competition to secure a seat in NLU Delhi, and not necessarily because the questions in AILET are difficult compared to CLAT questions.

    CLAT gives you entry into various NLUs; AILET, on the other hand, is specific to one popular NLU. For that reason, a student wishing to get into NLU Delhi has to specifically prepare for AILET.

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    Questions related to AILET

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to AILET ?

    Hello Dear Student,

    For Commerce stream entrance exam question papers, you can refer to the following resources:

    These pages provide previous year papers, exam patterns, important topics, and preparation tips to help

    Hi,

    Here is a detailed guide on How to prepare for AILET 2027 with proper study plan, strategy, mock test, PYQs and other resources.

    Hello,
    With your score of 110, the chance for AILET is high for the SC category because approximately the expected cut-offs are often 48 to above 55. If you do not recive an invitation try to check the NLU Delhi portal for your rank and email.
    I will attach the

    HELLO,

    Below i am attaching the link to download ALIET PG previous year question papers from 2018 to 2024 with solutions.

    Here is the link below :-

    https://law.careers360.com/articles/ailet-pg-previous-year-question-papers

    Hope this will help you!