CLAT vs SLAT is the most debatable question in the law world. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and the Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) are two of the most sought after entrance exams for admissions into top law colleges in India for undergraduate law programs.
Many students appear for CLAT and SLAT entrance examination simultaneously. But a student should be well aware of difference between them. Both SLAT and CLAT will help you to get admission into most prestigious colleges in India. Majority of the law students appear for CLAT as well as SLAT.
Both CLAT and SLAT serves different purposes. Although the aim of the both the exams is same which is to assess candidates’ knowledge, there are some major point of difference such as eligibility criteria, syllabus, difficulty level, and selection process, before deciding CLAT vs SLAT.
In this article we will compare CLAT vs SLAT. Explain difference between them. Exam pattern, exam schedule, eligibility criteria, application process, question paper, syllabus, participating institutes and Difficulty
CLAT vs SLAT Difference
What is CLAT?
CLAT is one of the most-competitive entrance exams for admissions to law courses including five-year integrated LLB and one-year LLM courses in law colleges of India. CLAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. CLAT 2025 will be conducted for admissions to the five year integrated BA, LLB (Hons) and LLM programmes that commence in the academic year 2025-2026. The entrance test will be conducted at the 22 participating National Law Universities (NLUs). CLAT 2025 Exam Date will be in December 2024 tentatively.
What is SLAT?
SLAT also known as The Symbiosis Law Entrance Test is a common entrance exam organized by Symbiosis International University, aimed at students seeking admission into its legal education programs. SLAT examination is for getting admission in 4 Symbiosis Law Schools which are SLS Pune, SLS Noida, SLS Hyderabad and SLS Nagpur. The courses for which admission is offered are BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons), BA LLB and BBA LLB.
CLAT vs SLAT Exam Schedule
It is imperative to understand CLAT vs SLAT exam schedule. Both CLAT and SLAT have different exam schedule. The exam schedules differs in such a way that students can appear for both SLAT and CLAT in the same year.
CLAT Exam Schedule
Details | DATES (Tentative) |
CLAT 2025 Application Date | July, 2024 |
Last Date of CLAT 2025 Application | November, 2024 |
CLAT 2025 Admit Cards | November 2024 (Last week) or December 2024 (First week) |
CLAT 2025 Exam Date | December, 2024 (Offline) |
Release of CLAT Answer Key | December 2024 |
CLAT 2025 Results | December 2024 |
CLAT 2025 counselling | January 2025 |
SLAT Exam Schedule
Event | SLAT Dates |
SLAT Registration 2024 Start Date | 13 December 2023 |
SLAT Registration 2024 Last Date | 12 April 2024 |
SLAT Admit Card Release Date (Test 01) | 25 April 2024 |
SLAT Admit Card Release Date (Test 02) | 30 April 2024 |
SLAT 2024 Exam Date (Test 01) | 5 May 2024 (09.00 am to 10.00 am) |
SLAT 2024 Exam Date (Test 02) | 11 May 2024 (09.00 am to 10.00 am) |
Announcement of SLAT Result 2024 | 22 May 2024 |
CLAT vs SLAT Exam Pattern
Students should be well familiarised with CLAT vs SLAT exam pattern. This will help the students to understand the paper better. Candidates will get a gist about how the actual paper will look like and also get all the relevant information related to the paper
Below mentioned is the comparison between CLAT vs SLAT Exam Pattern
Exam Pattern | CLAT | SLAT |
Mode of Exam | Pen-and-Paper Exam (Offline) | Online (Computer-based) |
Duration | 2 hours | 1 hour |
Number of Questions | 120 | 60 |
Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
Exam Medium | English | English |
Marks | +1 for every correct answer | 1 mark for every correct answer |
Negative Marking | -0.25 for every incorrect answer | None |
Total Marks | 120 | 60 |
CLAT vs SLAT Eligibility Criteria
Students should be well aware about CLAT vs SLAT Eligibility Criteria. In order to appear for any exam, a student should be eligible to appear for it. Check the eligibility criteria of CLAT and SLAT thoroughly
CLAT Eligibility Criteria
- The UG exam of CLAT is the entrance examination for Undergraduate Courses, i.e., Bachelor of Legislative Law. You must satisfy the following eligibility criteria to apply for the 3-year BA LLB program of CLAT
- Candidates must secure the following minimum percentage of marks in their qualifying examination (i.e., 10+2 or an equivalent examination):
- Forty-five percent (45%) marks or its equivalent grade in case of candidates belonging to General / OBC / PWD / NRI / PIO / OCI categories
- Forty Percent (40%) marks or equivalent in the case of candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.
- Candidates who may be appearing for their qualifying examination in March/ April 2024 are also eligible to appear for the CLAT However, they shall be required to produce evidence of their passing the qualifying examination at the time of admission, failing which they shall lose their right to be considered for admission”
SLAT Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates applying for SLAT must have passed Class (10+2) completed from any recognized state or national exam boards with compulsory English as a subject.
- Minimum of 45% marks or equivalent grade (40% marks or equivalent grade for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes). Candidates who appeared for Class 12 exam or are pursuing class 12 can also apply for SLAT 2024. But they need their class 12 results at the time of admission to 5 year LLB course through SLAT 2024.
- SLAT is open to Indian nationals as well as international students and non-resident Indians
- There is generally no specific upper limit for candidates applying for SLAT.
CLAT vs SLAT Application Process
Students should be aware of CLAT vs SLAT Application Process, Both CLAT and SLAT follow different application process. Please go through the below mention CLAT vs SLAT Application Process
CLAT Application Process
| Steps for Application Process |
Step 1 | Visit the official website of CLAT, i.e., clatconsortiumofnlus.ac.in |
Step 2 | On the Home page, click the link “register” and complete the registration process by entering the name and mobile number and setting a password. |
Step 3 | Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number. This completes the registration process. |
Step 4 | Log in to the portal using the registered mobile number and password. |
Step 5 | Complete the application form by entering all the correct details. |
Step 6 | Upload necessary scanned images, documents, and signatures in the specified format. |
Step 7 | Pay the fee through the different online payment modes to complete the application process |
SLAT Application Process
| Steps for Application Process |
Step 1 | Visit the official website of SLAT 2024 set-test.org |
Step 2 | Click “Register” and fill out the registration form |
Step 3 | Upload the scanned images |
Step 4 | Click on ‘Save and Continue’ |
Step 5 | Candidates will receive an ID and Password on their registered email id and mobile number |
Step 6 | After this candidates have to fill out the application form |
Step 7 | Then make the payment |
CLAT vs SLAT Question Paper
Sections | CLAT | SLAT |
English language | 24 | 12 |
Current affairs – general knowledge | 28 | 12 |
Legal reasoning | 32 | 12 |
Logical reasoning | 24 | 12 |
Quantitative technique/Analytical reasoning | 12 | 12 |
Total questions | 120 | 60 |
CLAT vs SLAT Syllabus
CLAT vs SLAT syllabus has many overlapping topics. Therefore, it becomes easier for students to prepare for CLAT and SLAT simultaneously. The syllabus of CLAT and SLAT consists of 5 subjects each. One of the major differences between the questions asked in the exam is that CLAT focuses more on passage-based questions.
CLAT Syllabus
English language:
- Meaning of words
- The central theme of the passage
- Concluding paragraphs
Current affairs including general knowledge:
- Institutions
- Recent events, awards, and organizations
- Historical events
Legal reasoning:
- Objective behind paragraph
- Supreme Court verdicts
- Basic legal terminologies
- Concluding the passage
Logical reasoning:
- Draw relationships and analogies
- Marking true statement based on the passage
Quantitative technique
- Percentage
- Average
- Ratio
SLAT Syllabus
Reading comprehension:
- Tenses
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
- Sentence improvement
General knowledge
- Recent events in India
- Recent news of international affairs
Legal reasoning:
- Legal terms
- Fundamental rights
- Important laws and acts
- Legal aptitude
Logical reasoning
- Arguments and conclusions
- Syllogisms
- Puzzles
Analytical reasoning
- Data interpretations
- Addition
- Multiplication
- Complete the series
CLAT vs SLAT Participating Institutes
CLAT and SLAT have completely different participating institutes. By appearing for SLAT examination students can get admission into top Symbiosis colleges. And a student wants to get admission into top NLUs of India, he/she should appear for CLAT.
CLAT participating universities
The list of colleges and institutes that accept the CLAT exam is given below:
- National Law School of India University, Bengaluru
- National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad
- National Law Institute University, Bhopal
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
- National Law University, Jodhpur
- Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
- Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
- Gujarat National Law University, Silvassa
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala
- Chanakya National Law University, Patna
- National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi
- National Law University, Cuttack
- National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi
- National Law University and Judicial Academy, Guwahati
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam
- Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirappalli
- Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai
- Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur
- Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad
- Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla
- Dharamashastra National Law University, Jabalpur
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat
- National Law University, Tripura
SLAT Participating Schools
Four colleges accept SLAT scores of students, for their law course admission. The list of SLAT-participating law schools is given below.
- Symbiosis Law School, Pune
- Symbiosis Law School, Noida
- Symbiosis Law School, Nagpur
- Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad
CLAT vs SLAT Difficulty
CLAT is often labelled as comparatively more difficult than SLAT. The number of students attempting CLAT is more than those attempting SLAT. This makes it more difficult because of the competition. Although the level of difficulty depends upon various factors. The major part affecting the difficult level is the weakness and strengths of a particular candidate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
CLAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities
SLAT full form is Symbiosis Law Entrance Test
CLAT is comparatively more difficult
The duration of CLAT examination is 2 hours