CLAT vs AILET is the big choice for Class 12 students who want a five-year BA LLB at a National Law University (NLU). CLAT is one exam for 26 NLUs. AILET is the only way into NLU Delhi. The tests look alike, but they reward different skills, and many students take both.
Updated 1 November 2026: the Consortium extended the CLAT 2027 deadline to 7 November 2026. The official notice of 31 October covers UG and PG. AILET still closes on 10 November 2026.
Key takeaways
- CLAT 2027 forms close at 11:59 pm on Saturday 7 November 2026. AILET forms close on Tuesday 10 November.
- CLAT is on Sunday 6 December and AILET on Sunday 13 December 2026, both 2-4 pm. No clash.
- CLAT: 120 questions, 5 sections, with Legal Reasoning and maths. AILET: 150 questions, 3 sections, no maths.
- Both exams give +1 for a right answer and -0.25 for a wrong one.
- A CLAT score does not get you into NLU Delhi. Only AILET does.
For full detail, read our CLAT 2027 guide and AILET 2027 guide.
CLAT vs AILET: which exam should you take?
Quick answer: Take AILET if you want NLU Delhi, because it is the only route in. Take CLAT for the other 26 NLUs. Most students should take both. The forms, fees and portals are separate, and the exams are one week apart. CLAT closes on 7 November 2026 and AILET on 10 November 2026.
Who runs each exam, and which colleges does it cover?
The Consortium of National Law Universities runs CLAT for 26 NLUs. Its participating universities page lists 27 entries because GNLU's Silvassa campus has its own line. NLU Delhi is not on it.
NLU Delhi runs AILET for its own courses only. Its FAQ says you cannot get in through CLAT or LSAT.
CLAT 2027 and AILET 2027 side by side.
The Consortium of NLUs runs CLAT for 26 NLUs. NLU Delhi runs AILET for itself only. CLAT has 120 questions in 2 hours across 5 sections, including Legal Reasoning and maths. AILET has 150 questions in 2 hours across 3 sections, with no maths. Both mark +1 and -0.25. The CLAT fee is Rs 4,000 or Rs 3,500, and the AILET fee is Rs 3,000 or Rs 1,000. CLAT is offline, and AILET is offline on an OMR sheet.
How are the CLAT and AILET papers different?
CLAT gives question ranges on its question format page. AILET gives fixed numbers on its BA LLB exam details page.
| Section | CLAT 2027 (120 Qs) | AILET 2027 (150 Qs) |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22-26 Qs (~20%) | 50 Qs |
| Current Affairs and GK | 28-32 Qs (~25%) | 30 Qs |
| Legal Reasoning | 28-32 Qs (~25%) | No separate section |
| Logical Reasoning | 22-26 Qs (~20%) | 70 Qs |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10-14 Qs (~10%) | None |
CLAT uses passages of about 450 words, says the CLAT syllabus page. It tests aptitude, not legal knowledge, and the maths is Class 10 level. No pattern change has been announced for 2027. AILET may put legal principles inside Logical Reasoning, but needs no legal knowledge.
Tie-breaks show what each exam values: CLAT looks at Legal Aptitude marks first, AILET at Logical Reasoning marks. Then comes older age, then a computerised draw of lots.
How much time do you get per question?
AILET gives you less time per question than CLAT.
CLAT has 120 questions in 120 minutes. That is 1 minute per question. AILET has 150 questions in 120 minutes. That is 0.8 minutes, or 48 seconds, per question. Both exams give +1 for a right answer and take away 0.25 for a wrong one.
So AILET is faster. In both, four wrong guesses cost one full mark.
Who is eligible, and what about NRI, OCI and foreign students?
| Rule | CLAT 2027 (UG) | AILET 2027 (BA LLB) |
|---|---|---|
| Class 12 marks | 45% (40% SC/ST/PwD) | 45% (42% OBC, 40% SC/ST/PwD) |
| Class 12 in 2027 | Can apply | Can apply |
| Age limit | None | None |
| NRI / NRI-sponsored | Handled by each NLU directly | No NRI seats |
| OCI / PIO | Can sit CLAT | 5 seats, exempt from AILET, merit on Class 12 |
| Foreign nationals | Cannot sit CLAT; apply to NLUs directly | 5 seats, exempt from AILET; need 65% |
Sources: CLAT eligibility, CLAT instructions, AILET eligibility.
Foreign nationals and OCI/PIO candidates can apply to NLU Delhi until 30 April 2027. Families abroad on the IB can read our IB Diploma Programme guide.
How many seats does NLU Delhi have?
NLU Delhi's seat matrix shows 120 BA LLB seats in total:
- 110 seats on AILET merit: General 50, OBC-NCL 24, SC 17, ST 8, EWS 11. PwD has 5% horizontal reservation inside these.
- 5 Foreign National seats and 5 OCI/PIO seats. Unfilled seats in these two groups go to General.
CLAT has no official total seat count; each NLU lists its own intake.
What are the fees and key dates?
Application fees: CLAT costs Rs 4,000 (General/OBC) or Rs 3,500 (SC/ST/BPL/PwD), plus bank charges. AILET costs Rs 3,000 (General/OBC/EWS/Foreign Nationals) or Rs 1,000 (SC/ST/PwD). SC/ST and women candidates who are BPL pay no AILET fee.
Key dates for CLAT 2027 and AILET 2027.
Apply for CLAT by 11:59 pm on 7 November 2026. Apply for AILET by 10 November 2026. The CLAT admit card date is not yet announced. The AILET admit card comes out from 30 November 2026. CLAT is on Sunday 6 December 2026 and AILET is on Sunday 13 December 2026, both 2-4 pm. CLAT counselling is in December 2026 or January 2027. AILET counselling dates are not yet announced.
The CLAT result date is not yet announced. Eligible PwD candidates get CLAT extra time until 4:40 pm. See the CLAT press release and AILET admission notice.
Book a free demo class to plan your last five weeks with a mentor, or see our plans and fees.
How do you apply for CLAT and AILET?
You fill in two separate forms.
CLAT 2027
- Register at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Fill in your details and pick a test city. Vellore and Tiruvarur are no longer test cities.
- Pay the non-refundable fee online.
- Submit before 11:59 pm on 7 November 2026 and save a copy.
AILET 2027
- Register for BA LLB (Hons) on the NLU Delhi site.
- Pick one of 32 test cities. A city with under 200 candidates gets no centre.
- Pay online, unless you are fee-exempt.
- Submit by 10 November 2026. Corrections stay open for 3 days after.
How much does CLAT and AILET preparation overlap?
A lot. English, current affairs and logical reasoning make up all of AILET, and most of CLAT (CLAT adds Legal Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques). The differences:
- CLAT only: Legal Reasoning (about a quarter of the paper) and Quantitative Techniques (10-14 questions).
- AILET only: a much bigger Logical Reasoning load (70 of 150 questions) and a faster pace.
If you are also taking CUET for a backup BA or BCom seat, see our CUET UG 2027 guide.
What mistakes do students make?
- Thinking CLAT covers NLU Delhi. It does not.
- Using the old 31 October CLAT date. It is now 7 November.
- Skipping QT because it is "only" 10-14 questions.
- Practising AILET at CLAT speed.
- Guessing wildly. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks in both exams.
What is a 5-week plan from now to the exams?
| Week | Dates (2026) | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-8 Nov | Submit both forms. One CLAT mock, one AILET mock. List weak areas. |
| 2 | 9-15 Nov | Daily reading and current affairs. LR sets. QT: percentages, ratios, averages. |
| 3 | 16-22 Nov | Legal Reasoning passages. Two timed mocks. Review every wrong answer. |
| 4 | 23-29 Nov | Three CLAT mocks at 1 minute per question. Revise current affairs notes. |
| 5 | 30 Nov-13 Dec | Get the AILET admit card. CLAT on 6 Dec. Then switch to AILET speed: two AILET mocks before 13 Dec. |
Keep your boards in view too: see our CBSE board exams 2027 guide.
A quick way to choose CLAT, AILET or both.
If you want NLU Delhi, take AILET. If you want the other NLUs, take CLAT. If you want both, fill in two separate forms. CLAT is on 6 December and AILET is on 13 December 2026.
How 1-on-1 tutoring helps with CLAT and AILET
Asymptode teaches maths and science. We are not law coaching, and we do not teach Legal Reasoning or current affairs. Here is where we help:
- One dedicated mentor, live online 1-on-1. Your plan follows your own dates: two December exams plus your Class 12 boards.
- Quantitative Techniques, method first. The mentor watches each step of your working on percentages, ratios and data sets for CLAT's QT questions.
- Logical Reasoning method. We work on how you break down an argument or puzzle, which helps most with AILET's 70 LR questions.
- Homework and updates. Personalised homework with feedback, every class recorded, short parent updates, and a free demo class.
Facts checked against official sources on 1 November 2026.
FAQ
Can I take both CLAT and AILET?
Yes. They are separate exams with separate forms and fees. They are a week apart, so there is no clash.
Does CLAT give admission to NLU Delhi?
No. NLU Delhi admits BA LLB students only through AILET, not CLAT or LSAT.
Is AILET harder than CLAT?
AILET is faster: 48 seconds per question against 1 minute in CLAT. It has no maths or Legal Reasoning section, but 70 Logical Reasoning questions.
Is there maths in AILET?
No. AILET has English, Current Affairs and GK, and Logical Reasoning only. CLAT has 10-14 Class 10 level maths questions.
Can NRI and OCI students apply?
NRIs, PIOs and OCIs can sit CLAT; each NLU handles its own NRI seats. NLU Delhi has no NRI seats, but has 5 OCI/PIO and 5 Foreign National seats filled on Class 12 merit.
What is the last date for CLAT 2027 and AILET 2027?
CLAT 2027 closes at 11:59 pm on 7 November 2026. AILET 2027 closes on 10 November 2026, with no extension announced.
Ready to start? Book a free demo class and advisor call, or see our plans and fees.