CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT 2027: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation
CLAT, AILET and SLAT are three major entrance exams for admission to five-year integrated law programmes in India. However, they differ in the number of questions, section-wise weightage, test duration and admission options. CLAT 2027 will have 120 questions, AILET 2027 will have 150 questions, and SLAT 2027 will have 60 questions.
Last Updated on 03 Nov 2026
CLAT is scheduled for December 6, 2026, while AILET will take place on December 13, 2026. SLAT offers two test dates: December 19 and December 26, 2026. Understanding the CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT 2027 differences can help candidates choose suitable exams and plan their preparation around each test's requirements.
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Jump to sectionCLAT vs AILET vs SLAT 2027: Key Differences
The main difference between these examinations lies in their admission options and paper structure. CLAT scores are accepted by participating NLUs and other universities, while AILET is used for admission to NLU Delhi and SLAT is accepted by participating Symbiosis Law Schools.
| Particulars | CLAT 2027 | AILET 2027 | SLAT 2027 |
| Full form | Common Law Admission Test | All India Law Entrance Test | Symbiosis Law Admission Test |
| Conducting body | Consortium of NLUs | National Law University Delhi | Symbiosis International (Deemed University) |
| Exam date | December 6, 2026 | December 13, 2026 | December 19 and 26, 2026 |
| Exam mode | Offline | Offline | Computer-based test |
| Total questions | 120 | 150 | 60 |
| Maximum marks | 120 | 150 | 60 |
| Exam duration | 120 minutes | 120 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0.25 mark per incorrect answer | 0.25 mark per incorrect answer | No negative marking |
| Main admission options | 27 NLUs and other participating institutions | NLU Delhi | SLS Pune, Hyderabad, Noida and Nagpur |
| Main sections | Five | Three | Five |
CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT Exam Pattern
The CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT exam pattern comparison explains how these three law entrance exams differ in how they assess candidates. CLAT distributes questions across reading, current affairs, legal reasoning, logical reasoning and quantitative techniques. AILET places the highest weight on logical reasoning, while SLAT gives equal weight to all five sections.
CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern
CLAT has five sections, with Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs carrying the largest approximate shares of the paper. English and Logical Reasoning together make up a significant share of the total questions. Quantitative Techniques has fewer questions. But candidates still need to prepare for data interpretation and basic mathematical problems.
| Section | Expected Questions | Approximate Weightage |
| English Language | 22-26 | 20% |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 28-32 | 25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 28-32 | 25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 22-26 | 20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10-14 | 10% |
| Total | 120 | 100% |
AILET 2027 Exam Pattern
AILET is divided into three sections, with Logical Reasoning carrying close to 50% of the total marks. This makes reasoning practice particularly important. Candidates also need strong reading skills and regular current affairs revision to perform well in the remaining sections.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
| English Language | 50 | 50 |
| Current Affairs and General Knowledge | 30 | 30 |
| Logical Reasoning | 70 | 70 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
SLAT 2027 Exam Pattern
SLAT consists of five sections, each containing 12 questions and carrying equal weight. Candidates have 60 minutes to complete the test, giving them roughly one minute per question.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
| Logical Reasoning | 12 | 12 |
| Legal Reasoning | 12 | 12 |
| Analytical Reasoning | 12 | 12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 12 | 12 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 12 |
| Total | 60 | 60 |
CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT Syllabus: Section-Wise Comparison
The CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT syllabus comparison shows some common areas, including English, reasoning, current affairs and legal concepts. However, the three exams group the subjects differently. Candidates should prepare shared topics first and then cover the areas specific to each test.
| Exam | Section/Subject | Topics |
| CLAT UG Syllabus | English Language | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Synonyms, Antonyms, English Grammar, Tenses, Parts of Speech, Literary Devices |
| Current Affairs, including GK | Constitution, International Relations, Indian Economy, History, Art & Culture, Current Events | |
| Legal Reasoning | Constitution, Contract Law, Tort Law, Criminal Laws, Family Law, Evidence Act, International Law | |
| Logical Reasoning | Critical Reasoning (Assumptions, Inference, Cause & Effect), Analytical Reasoning (Blood Relations, Syllogisms) | |
| Quantitative Techniques | Data Interpretation, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Mensuration, Probability | |
| AILET Syllabus 2027 | English Language | Antonyms, Synonyms, Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Idioms and Phrases, Sentence Correction, Vocabulary Enhancement, Comprehension Passages, Choosing the Correct Words, Jumbled Words and Sentences, Para Jumbles, Grammar Rules, Reading Skills |
| Logical Reasoning | Legal Propositions and Reasoning, Legal Maxims, Legal Reasoning, Legal Knowledge, Indian Constitution, Contracts and Torts, Logical and Analytical Reasoning Skills, Analogy, Syllogism, Directions, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Statement and Assumptions, Critical Reasoning, Inference & Deduction, Sequencing & Ordering | |
| Current Affairs and General Knowledge | Economics, Geography, Indian Constitution, History (Indian & World), General Science & Technology, Current Affairs (National & International), Polity & Government, Environment & Ecology, Important Days & Themes, Books & Authors, International Organisations, Legal Current Affairs | |
| SLAT Syllabus | Logical Reasoning | Assertion-Reason, Logical Consistency, Statement & Assumption, Statement & Arguments, Statement & Conclusion, Statement & Course of Action, Statement & Inference, Cause & Effect, Data Arrangement, Directions, Coding-Decoding |
| Analytical Reasoning | Figure Counting, Algebra, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Number Series, Decision Making, Time & Work, Analogy, Odd-One-Out, Arithmetic Reasoning, Blood Relations, Series (Number/Alphabet/Alphanumeric), Clock, Calendar, Distance & Directions | |
| Legal Reasoning | Indian Constitution, Law of Torts, Law of Contract, Law of Crimes, Family Law, International Law, Important Judgments, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Legal Maxims, Legal Terms | |
| General Knowledge (Static + Current Affairs) | National Affairs, International Affairs, State Affairs, Government Schemes & Plans, Awards & Honours, Books & Authors, Agreements & Deals, Sports, Science & Defence, Summits & Conferences, Current Economy, National & International Appointments | |
| Static GK | History (Ancient-Modern-World), Geography, National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries, Arts & Culture, General Science, Headquarters of Organisations, Economy, Currency, Capital | |
| Reading Comprehension (English) | Vocabulary, Grammar, Synonyms, Antonyms, Word Usage, Inference-based Questions, Foreign Words/Phrases, Para Jumbles |
English Language and Reading Comprehension
CLAT and SLAT require candidates to interpret passages and understand vocabulary in context. AILET covers comprehension alongside grammar, sentence correction and word-based questions. Candidates preparing for all three should practise passage-based questions, vocabulary and grammar, while adding more direct language exercises for AILET.
Legal Reasoning
CLAT and SLAT have a dedicated Legal Reasoning section. AILET includes legal propositions and related reasoning within its Logical Reasoning section, but candidates are not expected to possess specialised legal knowledge. Preparation should therefore focus on understanding principles, applying them to situations and identifying logical conclusions.
Logical and Analytical Reasoning
AILET places the greatest emphasis on Logical Reasoning, allocating 70 of 150 questions to it. CLAT includes both critical and analytical reasoning skills, while SLAT separates Logical Reasoning from Analytical Reasoning. Practice should cover assumptions, inference, arguments, arrangements, series, blood relations and other relevant question types.
Current Affairs and General Knowledge
All three exams require awareness of current events, but their syllabus structures differ. CLAT combines Current Affairs with General Knowledge and includes areas such as international relations, history, the economy and culture. AILET includes national and international developments alongside static subjects. SLAT also covers government schemes, awards, appointments, sports and static GK.
An approach is to maintain daily current affairs notes and revise them regularly. Study static subjects alongside news-based topics to improve recall across different question formats.
Quantitative and Analytical Topics
CLAT has a separate Quantitative Techniques section, which includes data interpretation and basic mathematical concepts. SLAT covers numerical topics through Analytical Reasoning, including percentages, ratios, profit and loss, algebra and time and work. AILET does not have a separate Quantitative Techniques section in the stated pattern.
Candidates preparing for CLAT and SLAT together should practise basic calculations and numerical reasoning. AILET preparation can leave more time for English, GK, and logical aptitude.
Find Exam-Wise Online Preparation Courses:
| Online CLAT Coaching | Online AILET Coaching |
| Online SLAT Coaching |
CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT: Marking Scheme and Exam Duration
The marking scheme affects how candidates should manage accuracy and question selection. CLAT and AILET deduct marks for incorrect responses, while SLAT does not apply negative marking.
| Particulars | CLAT 2027 | AILET 2027 | SLAT 2027 |
| Correct answer | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Incorrect answer | -0.25 | -0.25 | 0 |
| Unattempted question | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total duration | 120 minutes | 120 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Average time per question | 1 minute | 48 seconds | 1 minute |
Learn about the CLAT marking scheme in detail.
CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT Difficulty Level: Which Exam Is Tougher?
Difficulty depends on a candidate's strengths, reading speed, accuracy and familiarity with each exam's question types. The available 2026 section-wise assessments indicate different challenges across the three tests.
CLAT 2026 Difficulty Level
| Section | Difficulty Level |
| GK & Current Affairs | Moderately Easy |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate |
| English Language | Moderate |
| Quantitative Techniques | Moderately Easy |
| Legal Reasoning | Moderately Easy |
AILET 2026 Difficulty Level
| Section | Difficulty Level |
| Current Affairs & GK | Moderate |
| English Language | Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderately Easy |
SLAT 2026 Difficulty Level
| Section | Difficulty Level |
| Logical Reasoning | Easy |
| Reading Comprehension | Easy |
| Analytical Reasoning | Moderate |
| Legal Reasoning | Easy |
| General Knowledge | Easy |
CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT: Which Exam Has More Competition?
Competition depends on the number of applicants, available seats, participating institutions and the rank required for admission. The three examinations also differ in the number of universities accessible through their scores.
| Factor | CLAT | AILET | SLAT |
| Admission scope | 27 NLUs and other participating universities | NLU Delhi | Four participating Symbiosis Law Schools |
| Main challenge | Balancing performance across five sections | Scoring well in a reasoning-heavy paper | Completing all five sections within 60 minutes |
| Preparation focus | Equal attention to each section | Greater emphasis on Logical Reasoning, English and GK | Steady performance in all five sections |
CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT Preparation Strategy: Key Differences
Candidates should adapt their study plans to each exam's section weightage and time limits. A common foundation can help, but preparation for one exam does not automatically cover every requirement of the other two.
| Exam | Preparation Priority | Practice Approach |
| CLAT | Reading comprehension, Legal Reasoning, Current Affairs, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques | Practise passage-based questions, revise current affairs and solve timed full-length mocks |
| AILET | Prioritise Logical Reasoning, then English and Current Affairs | Practice reasoning questions under exam conditions along with grammar, RCs, and GK exercises |
| SLAT | Consistent preparation across five equally weighted sections | Practise short timed tests, revise static and current GK, and improve accuracy across all sections |
How to Prepare for CLAT 2027
CLAT preparation should cover all five sections because the paper distributes marks across English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques.
- English: Practise comprehension passages, vocabulary and contextual interpretation.
- Current Affairs and GK: Follow important national and international developments, and revise history, the Constitution, the economy and culture.
- Legal Reasoning: Practise applying legal principles to situations and interpreting passages carefully.
- Logical Reasoning: Work on assumptions, inferences, arguments and cause-and-effect questions.
- Quantitative Techniques: Revise percentages, profit and loss, time and work, mensuration, probability and data interpretation.
How to Prepare for AILET 2027
AILET preparation should give Logical Reasoning the largest share of practice time because it accounts for 70 of the 150 questions.
- Solve critical reasoning questions involving assumptions, inferences, deductions and arguments.
- Practise analogy, syllogisms, coding-decoding, blood relations and sequencing.
- Improve English through comprehension passages, grammar exercises, vocabulary and sentence correction.
- Revise current affairs and static GK regularly.
- Practise with timed mock tests to sharpen question selection and avoid spending too much time on challenging questions.
How to Prepare for SLAT 2027
SLAT requires candidates to maintain a steady pace because all five sections carry equal marks and the entire test lasts one hour.
- Logical Reasoning: Practise statements, assumptions, arguments, inferences and coding-decoding.
- Legal Reasoning: Revise basic legal concepts, principles, maxims and important judgments.
- Analytical Reasoning: Solve arithmetic, series, arrangements, analogy and decision-making questions.
- Reading Comprehension: Practise passage interpretation, vocabulary, grammar and inference-based questions.
- General Knowledge: Revise current affairs and static topics such as history, geography, economy and government schemes.
Explore Exam-Wise Mock Tests here:
| CLAT Mock Test Series | AILET Mock Test Series |
| SLAT Mock Test Series |
Can You Prepare for CLAT, AILET and SLAT Together?
Yes. Candidates can prepare for all three examinations together because their syllabi overlap in English, current affairs, logical reasoning and legal aptitude. However, the differences in question distribution and exam duration require separate practice. A combined preparation plan can be divided into three stages.
A weekly plan could allocate time to common subjects on most study days, followed by dedicated sessions for exam-specific topics. Candidates should also schedule full-length mocks as the respective examination dates approach.
For example, CLAT takes place on December 6 and AILET on December 13, 2026. SLAT follows on December 19 and December 26. This sequence lets candidates focus on the earlier exams while continuing to revise shared subjects for the later tests.
The key is to avoid treating three separate exams as three completely separate syllabi. Prepare common subjects together, then use individual mocks to identify the additional work required for each paper.
CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT: Which Exam Should You Choose?
Choose an exam based on your preferred law schools, your strongest skills and the test format that best matches your preparation approach.
| Your Preference | Exam to Consider | Reason |
| Admission to participating NLUs in India | CLAT | Access to 27 NLUs and other participating universities |
| Admission to NLU Delhi | AILET | Conducted for admission to NLU Delhi's BA LL.B. (Hons.) programme |
| Admission to Symbiosis Law Schools | SLAT | Used for admission to participating institutes in Pune, Hyderabad, Noida and Nagpur |
| Strong performance in reading and legal passages | CLAT | Includes dedicated English and Legal Reasoning sections |
| Strong logical reasoning skills | AILET | Logical Reasoning carries 70 out of 150 marks |
| Preference for a shorter test without negative marking | SLAT | Has 60 questions, a 60-minute duration and no negative marking |
Check other related articles:
| CLAT Previous Year Question Papers | AILET Previous Year Question Papers |
| SLAT Previous Year Question Papers |
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