AILET
The sole entrance for the BA LLB (Hons) programme at National Law University (NLU) Delhi — the one top NLU that stays outside the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) system. Also used for its LLM and PhD intakes.
Eligibility
Passed or appearing in Class 12 with a minimum of 45% marks for General category, 42% for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and 40% for SC/ST/PwD candidates. There is no upper age limit. Any stream is accepted.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Exam pattern
Offline pen-and-paper test of 2 hours with 150 multiple-choice questions of 1 mark each and 0.25 negative marking. Three sections: English Language (50 questions), Current Affairs & General Knowledge (30) and Logical Reasoning (70). Unlike CLAT there is no separate legal-reasoning or maths section — logical reasoning dominates the paper.
Syllabus at a glance
English comprehension, grammar and vocabulary; static GK plus current affairs (including legal developments); and a heavy logical-reasoning block covering critical reasoning, arguments, assumptions, syllogisms, series and analytical puzzles.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| AILET 2027 notification | Jul–Aug 2026 | expected |
| Application window | Aug – mid-Nov 2026 | expected |
| AILET 2027 exam | 13 Dec 2026 (second Sunday of December), 2–4 pm | expected |
| Result | Late Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis
- Analytical Reasoning — M.K. Pandey
- A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- Universal's Guide to LLB Entrance Examinations — LexisNexis
- Manorama Yearbook
How toppers play it
- Logical Reasoning alone is 70 of 150 marks — make critical-reasoning drills (assumption, inference, strengthen/weaken) your daily core, not an afterthought.
- AILET is harder per seat than CLAT but uses shorter, punchier questions; train with standalone reasoning questions as well as CLAT-style passages.
- The GK section mixes static and current affairs — NLU Delhi's own past papers (free on its site) are the best guide to its taste; solve at least five years' worth.
- With 150 questions in 120 minutes and −0.25 marking, fix a section order in mocks (many toppers start with English) and stick to hard time caps.
- Prepare CLAT and AILET together — the overlap is high, and the December dates one week apart make joint mock schedules efficient.