CLAT or AILET? A Complete Guide to Choosing and Preparing Smartly

CLAT is taken by thousands each year by around 60,000 students for about 3,000 undergraduate seats across 26 National Law Universities (NLUs). It's a two-hour paper with 120 multiple-choice questions covering five areas:

English, General Knowledge, Logical and Legal Reasoning, and some maths. AILET, on the other hand, is for NLU Delhi alone. It’s also two hours long but has 150 questions concentrated in English, Reasoning, and GK. Since there are only about 110 seats for maybe 15–18,000 hopeful candidates, the competition is very high i.e. around 100 competitors per seat versus 20 for CLAT.

CLAT is broad and balanced, while AILET is narrow but intense. CLAT asks some math and legal reasoning, but AILET gives more questions into the same time and dives deeper into English and logic. AILET questions are often trickier, needing you to think faster and know more facts and legal concepts.

Looking at the time pressure, CLAT gives you around a minute per question. AILET puts more questions into the same two hours, resulting in even less time per question, so the paper looks more rushed. People who’ve done both often say AILET is “random,” unpredictable, and full of speed challenges. But CLAT is no less, with long reading passages that test your comprehension.

Setting the strategy?

If your dream is NLU Delhi, you’ll want AILET in your plan. But since that’s your only goal, many suggest keeping CLAT as a backup too. People also say you can prep smart, use CLAT study to cover basics and layer extra GK and logic prep for AILET.

In terms of difficulty, most students and experts agree: AILET edges ahead in challenge. Higher question load, tighter time, and deeper logic make it feel tougher. But CLAT is also not easy, it’s long, demanding, and tests a wider range of skills.

So what should you do? If you want options and aren’t set only on NLU Delhi, CLAT is a good starting point. But if you’re laser-focused on NLU Delhi, prep for AILET alongside CLAT to be ready for its speed and depth. Many students start with CLAT study and then sharpen their prep for AILET.

Both exams are tough in their own way. CLAT gives you more chances and tests breadth, while AILET demands speed, focus, and deep reasoning. With smart prep, mock tests and understanding your strengths, you can aim for both as that’s the best strategy.

Preparing for exams like CLAT and AILET, it requires hard work with smart work. It demands a clear strategy, strong fundamentals and consistent practice. That’s where Flames CLAT helps you to provide a structured curriculum, experienced faculty and a student friendly environment.

Flames CLAT ensures that aspirants are not only covering the syllabus but also building skills that will help them excel in mocks and the ultimate D-Day. From mastering reading comprehensions, sharpening logical reasoning and staying updated with the current affairs in form of GK Sure shots, the institute provides personalized guidance and regular mock tests that mirror real exam condition, helping students gain confidence and improve.

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