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SupportNLSAT 2026 Question Paper: PDF, Answer Key, Analysis
The NLSAT 2026 question paper was conducted on April 26, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM for admission to NLSIU’s 3-Year LL.B. programme. The exam was held for 120 seats and was considered tough overall. Part A was difficult, with 8 passages and 75 questions, while Part B was moderate.
Last Updated on 25 Aug 2026
Time management emerged as one of the biggest challenges, with at least one student reporting that he could not complete the paper within the available time. Negative marking also added pressure during Part A.
If you are preparing for NLSAT 2027, the NLSAT question paper 2026 is one of the most useful papers to solve because it shows the latest question style, reading load, time pressure, marking scheme and level of competition.
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NLSAT 2026 Question Paper: PDF, Answer Key, Analysis
The NLSAT 2026 question paper was conducted on April 26, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM for admission to NLSIU’s 3-Year LL.B. programme. The exam was held for 120 seats and was considered tough overall. Part A was difficult, with 8 passages and 75 questions, while Part B was moderate.
Time management emerged as one of the biggest challenges, with at least one student reporting that he could not complete the paper within the available time. Negative marking also added pressure during Part A.
If you are preparing for NLSAT 2027, the NLSAT question paper 2026 is one of the most useful papers to solve because it shows the latest question style, reading load, time pressure, marking scheme and level of competition.
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NLSAT 2026 Question Paper PDF
Download the NLSAT 2026 question paper with answer key below. Attempt the paper under the original 150-minute time limit before checking the answers. This will help you measure your reading speed, Part A accuracy, time allocation and overall readiness for future NLSAT exams.
NLSAT 2026 Exam Paper: Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NLSAT-LLB 2026 |
| Conducting University | NLSIU Bengaluru |
| Exam Date | April 26, 2026 |
| Exam Time | 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Total Duration | 150 Minutes |
| Course | 3-Year LL.B. |
| Total Seats | 120 |
| Number of Parts | Part A and Part B |
| Part A Questions | 75 |
| Part A Passages | 8 |
| Part A Difficulty | Difficult |
| Part B Difficulty | Moderate |
| Overall Difficulty | Tough |
| Major Challenge | Time management and negative marking |
Checkout our other blogs:
| NLSAT Exam: All details | NLSAT Exam Pattern |
| NLSAT Eligibility | NLSAT previous year papers |
NLSAT 2026 Question Paper: Analysis
The NLSAT 2026 question paper was tough overall, mainly because of the difficulty and reading load of Part A. Part A contained 75 questions built around 8 passages, requiring you to maintain both speed and accuracy. Part B was comparatively moderate, but candidates still had to manage it within the same overall 150-minute exam duration. Time pressure and negative marking made the paper more demanding.
Quick Observations from NLSAT 2026 Paper:
- Part A was difficult.
- Part B was moderate.
- Overall paper difficulty was tough.
- Part A had 8 passages and 75 questions.
- Reading speed played an important role in Part A.
- Candidates had to manage both parts within 150 minutes.
- Negative marking increased pressure while attempting Part A.
- At least one student reported being unable to complete the paper on time.
- The paper rewarded candidates who could balance speed, accuracy and written responses.
NLSAT Question Paper 2026: Part A Analysis
Part A was the tougher section of the NLSAT 2026 paper. Candidates had to process a large amount of information within a limited time. The section demanded sustained reading, quick reasoning and careful attempt decisions because negative marking made careless responses costly.
| Particular | NLSAT 2026 Part A Analysis |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level | Difficult |
| Total Questions | 75 |
| Total Passages | 8 |
| Question Type | Objective |
| Major Challenge | Heavy reading load |
| Time Pressure | High |
| Negative Marking | Yes |
| Key Skill Required | Reading speed with accuracy |
| Another Important Skill | Quick decision-making between options |
| Effect on Candidates | Some candidates struggled to complete the paper on time |
| Role in Selection | Important for Part B shortlisting and final score |
NLSAT 2026 Question Paper: Part B Analysis
Part B was moderate compared with Part A. It tested subjective legal reasoning and analytical ability, requiring candidates to write structured responses instead of selecting options. Although the section itself was not considered as difficult as Part A, candidates who spent excessive time on the objective section could still struggle to complete Part B properly.
| Particular | NLSAT 2026 Part B Analysis |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Question Nature | Subjective |
| Major Areas | Legal Aptitude/Reasoning and Analytical Ability |
| Response Type | Written Answers |
| Main Requirement | Clear reasoning and structured writing |
| Prior Legal Knowledge | Not required |
| Major Challenge | Completing quality answers after a demanding Part A |
| Time Management | Important because both parts shared the total exam duration |
| Role in Final Selection | Included in final combined score |
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| NLSIU Bangalore Placements | NLSIU Bangalore Ranking |
| NLSIU Bangalore Cut Off | NLSIU Bangalore Seats |
| NLSIU Bangalore Fee Structure | NLSIU Bangalore Admission Process |
NLSAT 2026 Exam Paper: Difficulty Level
NLSAT 2026 was considered a tough paper overall. Part A created most of the difficulty because candidates had to work through eight passages and 75 questions while managing negative marking. Part B was comparatively moderate, but the common 150-minute duration meant that time spent on Part A directly affected the time available for subjective answers.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Part A | Difficult |
| Part B | Moderate |
| Overall NLSAT 2026 Paper | Tough |
Why Aspirants Found NLSAT 2026 Question Paper Tough?
- Part A contained a large reading load.
- 75 questions had to be attempted across 8 passages.
- Negative marking increased the cost of careless attempts.
- Candidates had to decide quickly whether to spend more time on difficult questions.
- Part A and Part B had to be managed within the same 150-minute window.
- A slow Part A attempt could leave insufficient time for Part B.
- Subjective answers still needed proper reasoning and structure after completing the objective section.
NLSAT 2026 Paper Pattern
The NLSAT 2026 paper had two parts. Part A tested objective reading, awareness and reasoning skills, while Part B tested subjective legal reasoning and analytical writing.
| Part | Question Type | Major Areas | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Objective | Reading & Comprehension, General Awareness, Critical Reasoning | 75 |
| Part B | Subjective | Legal Aptitude/Reasoning, Analytical Ability | 75 |
| Total | Objective + Subjective | Complete NLSAT Paper | 150 |
NLSAT 2026 Marking Scheme
The marking scheme made Part A particularly important because both incorrect and unanswered questions could reduce the candidate’s score.
| Response Type | Part A | Part B |
|---|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +1 Mark | Based on quality and correctness of response |
| Incorrect Answer | -0.25 Mark | No MCQ-style negative marking |
| Unanswered Question | -0.25 Mark | No MCQ-style negative marking |
| Total Marks | 75 | 75 |
| Negative Marking | Yes | No objective negative marking |
NLSAT 2026 Question Paper: Cut-Off
The following category-wise cut-offs were applied for provisional admission offers after NLSAT 2026.
| Category | All India Cut-Off | Karnataka (25% HC) Cut-Off |
|---|---|---|
| General | 96.25 | 87.5 |
| Scheduled Castes (15%) | 66.5 | 66.5 |
| Scheduled Tribes (7.5%) | 62.5 | 62.5 |
| OBC – Non-Creamy Layer (27%) | 80.25 | 75.5 |
| Economically Weaker Section (10%) | 84.75 | 84.5 |
| Persons with Disability (5% H) | 63.5 | 63.5 |
| Women (30% H) | 96.25 | 96.25 |
- H stands for Horizontal Reservation.
- HC stands for Horizontal Compartmentalised Reservation.
PWD and Women are horizontal reservation categories, so their cut-offs should be read in the context of the applicable reservation structure rather than as separate vertical categories.
What Was a Good Score in NLSAT 2026?
A good NLSAT 2026 score depended heavily on your category and reservation status. For General All India candidates, 96.25 was the provisional admission cut-off, while the Karnataka General cut-off was 87.5. OBC-NCL stood at 80.25 All India, EWS at 84.75, SC at 66.5, and ST at 62.5.
Therefore, there was no single score that could be called “good” for everyone. The most useful benchmark is the category-wise provisional admission cut-off rather than an arbitrary score range.
How to Use NLSAT 2026 Question Paper for Your Preparation?
1. Attempt All 8 Passages in One Timed Sitting
Do not solve the 75 Part A questions passage by passage over several days. Attempt all eight passages under timed conditions so you can test whether your reading speed remains stable across the complete paper.
2. Track Time Spent on Every Passage
Record how many minutes each passage takes. If one passage consumes far more time than the others, identify whether the problem is passage complexity, rereading, difficult options or slow decision-making. This is more useful than looking only at your total score.
3. Apply the Exact Negative-Marking Rule
When calculating Part A performance, deduct 0.25 mark for wrong and unanswered questions. Then separate the marks lost through incorrect attempts from marks lost because you ran out of time. These two problems require different solutions.
4. Practise Part B Immediately After Part A
Do not take a break after completing Part A when using the paper for preparation. Start Part B immediately. The real challenge is whether you can still write clearly after completing a demanding objective section.
5. Compare Your Score With the 2026 Cut-Off Carefully
Use the 2026 category-wise cut-offs as a historical benchmark, not as a prediction of the NLSAT 2027 cut-off. If your score is far below the relevant 2026 figure, identify exactly where the gap comes from before taking another full paper.
6. Create a Paper-Specific Error Log
After the attempt, divide mistakes into:
- Passage misunderstood
- Incorrect inference
- Weak critical reasoning
- Current-affairs gap
- Poor option elimination
- Time-pressure mistake
- Part B structure problem
Your next preparation cycle should focus on the two or three error types that cost you the most marks.
For current affairs preparation, use these free resources:
FAQs About NLSAT 2026 Question Paper
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