What Is the AILET Exam: The All India Law Entrance Test for NLU Delhi Explained

The AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is a national-level law entrance exam conducted by National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi). It is the single gateway to NLU Delhi’s five-year integrated BA LLB (Hons.), LLM, and PhD programmes. Held once a year in offline, pen-and-paper mode, the AILET exam evaluates candidates across three sections — English Language, Current Affairs & General Knowledge, and Logical Reasoning — through 150 objective questions in 120 minutes.

If you have searched “what is the AILET exam” — what it stands for, how it differs from CLAT, who can apply, and how to prepare — this guide answers every question in one place. Written by the mentors at Law Prep Tutorial Delhi NCR, it brings together the AILET full form, exam pattern, marking scheme, eligibility, application process and fee, the official AILET 2027 timeline, cut-offs, the NLU Delhi seat matrix, and a preparation roadmap, so that a first-time aspirant and a serious repeater both find exactly what they need. Every figure here reflects the most recent NLU Delhi cycle; always cross-check the year’s official brochure before you apply.

The AILET Full Form Defines the All India Law Entrance Test

The AILET full form is “All India Law Entrance Test.” The same expansion answers the closely related query “AILET exam full form.” The word “all India” signals that the test draws applicants from every state and board in the country, while “law entrance test” marks it as an admission examination for undergraduate and postgraduate legal education — not a qualifying or licensing exam.

AILET is owned and administered by National Law University, Delhi, regarded as one of India’s most selective law schools. Unlike most other National Law Universities, NLU Delhi does not admit students through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). It runs its own independent entrance — the All India Law Entrance Test — which is why the exam carries such a distinct identity in the legal-education landscape. For an aspirant, this single fact shapes everything: the syllabus, the competition, the number of seats, and the preparation strategy are all specific to one university.

AILET Is the Exclusive Admission Route to NLU Delhi

The most important thing to understand about the AILET exam is its scope. AILET is the only path to NLU Delhi, whereas CLAT is the gateway to the other National Law Universities across India. Because a single, highly reputed institution absorbs every AILET qualifier, the seat count is small and the competition per seat is intense. Tens of thousands of candidates compete for a limited intake, which is exactly why AILET is often described as tougher, seat-for-seat, than many broader entrance tests.

Programmes Offered Through the AILET Exam

• BA LLB (Hons.) – the flagship five-year integrated undergraduate law programme, entered through the AILET UG exam after Class 12.

• LLM – the one-year postgraduate master’s in law, entered through the AILET PG exam after an LLB degree.

• PhD – the doctoral research programme in law, for which AILET forms part of the admission process alongside the university’s research requirements.

Whichever level you target, remember that clearing the cut-off only makes you eligible; a seat at NLU Delhi is finally allotted on your All India Rank, not merely on crossing the qualifying line.

The AILET Exam Pattern Follows a Three-Section, 150-Question Design

The AILET exam pattern for the undergraduate BA LLB test is built around 150 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 120 minutes, in offline pen-and-paper mode. The paper is set entirely in English and is divided into three compulsory sections. There is no separate mathematics or quantitative section — it was removed after 2022 — so today the test rewards reading, awareness, and reasoning far more than calculation.

Feature snapshot — AILET UG exam pattern

The Section-Wise Weightage Places Logical Reasoning at the Centre

Understanding how the 150 questions are split is the first strategic step. Logical Reasoning carries the heaviest weight at roughly 47% of the paper, which is why NLU Delhi treats it as the rank-decider — and why it also settles ties. The table below shows the section-wise distribution for the BA LLB paper.

A few nuances matter for preparation. The English section is dominated by reading-comprehension passages rather than isolated grammar drills. The GK section leans heavily on the last twelve months of current affairs, supplemented by static general knowledge such as the Constitution and landmark cases. Logical Reasoning blends analytical, critical, and a small number of legal-reasoning questions — no prior knowledge of law is assumed, but comfort with legal principles helps. For a fuller topic-by-topic breakdown, see our detailed AILET syllabus and the accompanying AILET exam pattern guide.

AILET Marks and the Marking Scheme Reward Accuracy Over Volume

When aspirants search for “AILET exam marks,” they usually want two things: how the paper is scored, and how many marks it takes to get in. On scoring, the rule is simple and consistent every year — each correct answer earns +1 mark, each wrong answer costs −0.25 marks, and an unattempted question neither adds nor subtracts. With 150 questions carrying one mark each, the maximum possible score is 150.

This negative-marking structure changes strategy completely. Blind guessing is penalised, so a disciplined candidate attempts a question only when they can eliminate at least two options. The gap between rank-holders at NLU Delhi is often a handful of marks, which means avoiding careless errors matters as much as answering more questions.

The Tie-Breaker Rules Decide Close Contests

When two or more candidates score identical marks, NLU Delhi resolves the tie in a fixed order:

1. Logical Reasoning score – the candidate with higher marks in the Logical Reasoning section ranks above the other.

2. Age – if still tied, the older candidate is preferred.

3. Draw of lots – if the tie persists, a computerised random draw decides the order.

Actual qualifying and cut-off marks are not fixed; they move each year with the number of applicants, seat availability, and paper difficulty. Because official cut-offs are published category-wise after each exam, we deliberately avoid quoting a single number here — always confirm the current year’s figures on the NLU Delhi website.

AILET Eligibility Criteria Vary by Programme and Category

Eligibility is decided by the programme you apply for and the category you belong to. For the undergraduate BA LLB, you must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (10+2) or an equivalent examination. Importantly, NLU Delhi has removed the earlier upper age limit, so there is no age cap for applicants. The table below summarises the core criteria; category-wise minimum marks can be revised slightly year to year, so treat these as the standard baseline.

Two practical points: candidates appearing in the Class 12 board exam in the admission year are usually eligible provisionally, subject to producing the passing certificate by the admission date; and reservations follow Government of India norms (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories). For a category-by-category walkthrough, read our AILET eligibility criteria page before you register.

AILET Registration Follows a Simple Online Application Process

AILET registration is entirely online through the official NLU Delhi website. The process is straightforward, but missing a step or uploading a document in the wrong format is a common reason applications are rejected, so work through it carefully.

1. Visit the official NLU Delhi website and open the AILET application link.

2. Register with your name, date of birth, category, mobile number, and email to generate a login ID and password.

3. Log in and complete the application form with your educational, personal, and category details.

4. Select the programme (BA LLB, LLM, or PhD) and your preferred exam centre.

5. Upload a scanned photograph and signature in the specified size and format.

6. Pay the application fee online, then download and save the confirmation receipt.

The AILET Application Fee Depends on Your Category

The AILET exam is conducted across many cities nationwide, and candidates in the capital region will find NLU Delhi’s Delhi NCR centres — including Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Greater Noida and Noida — convenient. Choose your centre early, since popular cities can fill quickly.

AILET PG Opens the LLM and Doctoral Path at NLU Delhi

“AILET PG” refers to the postgraduate version of the exam, taken by law graduates seeking admission to NLU Delhi’s one-year LLM and, in part, its doctoral programme. While the undergraduate AILET has 150 questions, the AILET PG paper is structured differently — built around roughly 100 objective questions drawn from various branches of law, testing conceptual command over subjects an LLB graduate has already studied.

Because the AILET PG format and the number of LLM streams can be revised by the university, PG aspirants should treat the current year’s notification as the single source of truth. What stays constant is the intent: the postgraduate exam looks for depth in legal doctrine rather than the broad aptitude tested at undergraduate level.

The AILET 2027 Timeline Is Confirmed by the Official NLU Delhi Notification

Aspirants tracking “AILET exam date 2027,” “AILET 2027,” and “AILET 2027 exam schedule and dates” now have official clarity. NLU Delhi released the AILET 2027 notification on 23 July 2026, confirming that the AILET 2027 exam will be held on 13 December 2026 (Sunday), from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, in offline mode. Online applications open on 7 August 2026 on the official NLU Delhi website. For reference, the previous AILET 2026 exam was held on 14 December 2025.

AILET 2027 schedule and dates

The exam date and registration date above are confirmed by the official notification; the remaining milestones are marked “to be announced” and will be updated by NLU Delhi. Always verify each deadline on the official portal before acting.

NLU Delhi Admission Through AILET 2026 Rewards a Strong All-India Rank

The phrase “NLU Delhi AILET 2026” captures what the exam ultimately leads to: a seat at National Law University, Delhi. After the exam, NLU Delhi publishes course-wise merit lists based on All India Rank, releases category-wise cut-offs, and calls qualified candidates for counselling in multiple rounds. Seats are limited — the BA LLB intake runs to roughly a few dozen general seats plus reserved and supernumerary seats, and the LLM intake is smaller still.

Because seat numbers, cut-offs, and reservation splits are revised year to year, we keep exact figures general here and recommend verifying them against the live brochure. What does not change is the takeaway for aspirants: with so few seats, your rank must be high, and a high rank comes from consistent, structured preparation rather than last-minute effort.

The NLU Delhi Seat Matrix Explains Why AILET Ranks Matter

NLU Delhi’s BA LLB (Hons.) intake is small — around 123 seats including supernumerary seats — which is precisely why a strong All India Rank, not just clearing the cut-off, decides admission. The indicative distribution below follows Government of India reservation norms; confirm the exact matrix in the current brochure

Indicative NLU Delhi BA LLB seat distribution

Cut-offs are published category-wise after each exam and move every year with applicant numbers and paper difficulty. As an indicative reference, the general-category cut-off has recently hovered around the high-60s in marks, translating to an All India Rank near the top 100. Treat any such figure as illustrative only.

AILET and CLAT Differ in Scope, Pattern, and Competition

Most law aspirants prepare for both AILET and CLAT, so understanding the differences helps you allocate study time. The two exams share a foundation — English, general knowledge, and reasoning — but diverge on scope, structure, and the section that decides your rank.

The practical implication is that AILET rewards a candidate who is exceptionally strong in Logical Reasoning and fast at reading comprehension, while CLAT rewards balanced comprehension across a slightly wider syllabus. A serious aspirant can prepare for both simultaneously, adjusting emphasis by weightage. Our CLAT vs AILET comparison breaks this down subject by subject.

A Structured Preparation Strategy Converts AILET Aspirants Into NLU Delhi Students

The AILET exam — sometimes mis-typed by aspirants as “aiet” — rewards method over marathon study. Because the paper is tilted towards Logical Reasoning and reading comprehension, a smart plan front-loads those skills while keeping current affairs warm throughout the year. The following roadmap reflects how our mentors structure a full preparation cycle.

4. Master the pattern first. Internalise the section split, the negative-marking rule, and the tie-breaker so every attempt is a calculated decision. Begin with our AILET exam pattern guide.

5. Build Logical Reasoning as your rank-maker. Since it is ~47% of the paper and the first tie-breaker, dedicate the largest share of daily practice to analytical and critical reasoning.

6. Read for speed and inference. Practise 6–8 passages a week to handle the English section’s comprehension load without running out of time.

7. Track current affairs daily. Maintain a monthly compendium of the last twelve months’ news, especially law, polity, and international relations.

8. Follow a calendarised plan. Map the syllabus across months so revision, mocks, and current affairs all get their slot. Our AILET preparation study plan gives a ready framework.

9. Test under real conditions. Take full-length papers to the clock. A disciplined AILET mock test series exposes weak sections and trains negative-marking discipline.

10. Solve past papers. Work through AILET previous year question papers to learn the examiner’s style and recurring themes.

11. Get expert mentoring. Structured AILET coaching in Delhi with regular feedback shortens the learning curve and keeps a repeater accountable.

At Law Prep Tutorial Delhi NCR, this roadmap is delivered through classroom and online batches, sectional and full-length tests, and one-to-one mentoring. Our alumni have consistently converted top AILET ranks into NLU Delhi seats.