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Summary
CLAT and AILET are two premier law entrance exams in India. CLAT covers 24+ NLUs, while AILET is the gateway specifically to NLU Delhi. Both exams share overlap, but they differ in pattern, syllabus, difficulty, and seat competitiveness.
This guide helps you compare CLAT 2026 vs AILET 2026 on all critical parameters so you can decide which one aligns better with your strengths and goals.
Best CLAT Online Coaching 2026 – 2027 by NLTI
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs for admission into 5-year integrated law and LLM courses across multiple National Law Universities in India.
AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is conducted by NLU Delhi; its scores are used for admission only into NLU Delhi’s BA-LLB, LLM (and other law programmes) for the 2026 cycle.
Both are offline mode exams, both use MCQs, and both have a negative marking of -0.25 for each wrong answer.
Read More : How to Analyze Your CLAT 2026 Mocks Like a Topper : Expert Strategy
AILET 2026 exam date was revised: the application window opens on August 7, 2025, and exam is scheduled for December 14, 2025 (2 PM–4 PM) for AILET.
CLAT 2026 exam date is December 7, 2025 (2 PM–4 PM) as per Consortium of NLUs.
The date clash between CLAT and AILET 2026 has been resolved. While both were initially scheduled for December 7, 2025 from 2-4 PM, NLU Delhi postponed AILET to December 14, 2025 to avoid the overlap.
Here are some decision points to decide whether to focus more on CLAT or AILET (or both):
If Quantitative Techniques is strong for you, CLAT gives you reward for that skill.
If you prefer reasoning + GK + English without dealing with quant, AILET’s pattern might suit you better.
If your goal is NLU Delhi only, AILET is essential, since that is its domain.
If you want options beyond one university, CLAT gives you a wide spread of NLUs.
Because of fewer seats and a focused exam, AILET tends to be more competitive per seat.
CLAT has a broader applicant base, and while there is broader competition, there are more seats and more NLUs to apply through.
Build a core syllabus overlap: English, GK/CA, logical reasoning are common. Master those first.
Then layer quant practice for CLAT separately.
Use past year papers of both exams to understand differences in question style (e.g., one-liners vs passage based GK, speed vs depth).
Time management practice: since AILET has more questions (150), you need faster pace per question if you're attempting both.
Read More : How to Score 28+ in CLAT 2026 GK: Daily & Monthly Preparation Strategy
Choosing between CLAT 2026 and AILET is not about which exam is harder, but which aligns better with your goals. CLAT gives access to 24 NLUs, while AILET is the sole gateway to NLU Delhi. If flexibility matters, CLAT should be your anchor. If NLU Delhi is your dream, then AILET deserves sharper focus.
The smart path is integrated prep: build comprehension strength for CLAT, then fine-tune reasoning and vocabulary for AILET. This way, you’re not doubling effort but keeping both doors open.
At NLTI, we guide students through this exact choice and strategy:
We conduct pattern-comparison workshops, showing detailed past CLAT vs AILET papers to spot nuances.
Our mentors help you map your strengths (quant, reasoning, GK) and recommend which exam to lean more on initially.
We provide dual-mock courses structured to simulate both CLAT and AILET, so you build adaptability.
Our study plans allocate time for quant only for those targeting CLAT, while ensuring everyone gets solid GK, reasoning, and English coverage.
This helps aspirants avoid wasted effort, maximize strengths, and make choices that align with their goals whether that’s NLU Delhi or broader NLUs across India.
Read More : CLAT 2026 Logical Reasoning: Master Critical Inference
1. Can I use the same mock test series for CLAT and AILET 2026?
Not fully. While English, GK, and reasoning overlap, CLAT mocks focus on comprehension-based questions, while AILET requires practice with one-liners and speed-heavy sets.
2. Which exam has higher cutoffs, CLAT or AILET?
AILET cutoffs tend to be higher because of fewer seats, but CLAT’s top NLUs like NLSIU and NALSAR also demand very high ranks.
3. Do both CLAT and AILET accept the same GK sources?
Yes, but AILET often uses more factual, direct GK, while CLAT prefers comprehension-based GK passages. Candidates must adjust their revision style accordingly.
4. How many hours of preparation should I dedicate if targeting both exams?
Most aspirants spend 5–6 hours daily, dividing 70% on common syllabus and 30% on unique areas (like quant for CLAT).
5. Can a strong legal reasoning student skip quant and still crack CLAT?
No. Quant, though only 10% of the paper, can create a rank difference of hundreds. Even basic preparation is necessary.
6. Which exam rewards speed more, CLAT or AILET?
AILET. With 150 questions in 120 minutes, it requires quicker attempts per question compared to CLAT’s 120 questions.
7. Do CLAT and AILET have different negative marking schemes?
No, both deduct 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.
8. Should a student from a humanities background prefer AILET?
Possibly, since AILET skips quantitative techniques, but overall strengths in comprehension and reasoning matter more than academic stream.
9. How far back should I prepare for current affairs for both exams?
At least 12 months before the exam date. CLAT frames CA into passages, while AILET may directly test older facts too.
10. Can I rely on CLAT coaching material alone to prepare for AILET?
Not completely. While there’s overlap, AILET’s pattern demands additional practice for speed, factual GK, and one-liner style questions.
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