AILET is arguably the most strategy-dependent law entrance in India. CLAT spreads 120 questions across five sections; AILET crams 150 questions into the same 120 minutes across just three sections — and every question counts when the prize is a seat at NLU Delhi, India's top-ranked law school. This guide covers the complete AILET 2027 picture: dates, pattern, eligibility, and a preparation plan built on how we have coached students since 2012 — with over 1000 NLU and state-law selections to our name.
💡 Biggest myth to ignore: "AILET and CLAT need completely separate preparation." False — English and Current Affairs overlap almost 100% between the two, and the Logic that AILET weighs so heavily is the same skill CLAT's Legal Reasoning demands. That is why Surya Law Academy runs combined AILET + CLAT batches with a shared 70% syllabus.
What is AILET 2027?
AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is the entrance examination conducted exclusively by National Law University, Delhi for admission to its B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M. and Ph.D. programmes. The critical fact most aspirants miss: NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT scores. The Consortium of NLUs' CLAT exam, AILET, and all other entrances lead to different law schools — and if NLU Delhi is written in your list, AILET preparation is non-negotiable. The exam is held in offline (OMR) mode, unlike SLAT which is a computer-based test.
AILET 2027: Key Dates
Official dates are released by NLU Delhi. Based on the current notification and last year's calendar, here is the expected timeline:
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Online registration opens | August 2026 |
| Last date to apply | October 2026 |
| Admit card release | Late November 2026 |
| AILET 2027 exam (UG & PG) | 13 December 2026 |
| Result / merit list | December 2026 |
ℹ️ Planning tip: registration opens in August 2026 and closes around October 2026. Register early — December is the month for exam-day execution, not paperwork. Set a reminder for the first week of August.
AILET 2027 Exam Pattern — The 3-Section Split
The paper is split into three compulsory sections with no sectional time limit. Logical Reasoning carries the highest weightage — nearly half the paper — which is why AILET's character is so different from CLAT's Legal-Reasoning-heavy design.
| Section | Questions | Marks | What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 | 50 | Reading comprehension, para jumbles, inference, vocabulary in context |
| Current Affairs & General Knowledge | 30 | 30 | National & international current affairs, awards, sports, judiciary and legal developments |
| Logical Reasoning | 70 | 70 | Critical reasoning, assumptions, conclusions, argument mapping, analytical puzzles |
| Total | 150 | 150 | 120 minutes · Offline (OMR) |
ℹ️ Marking & tie-break: +1 for every correct answer, -0.25 for every wrong one. Leaving a question wrong loses you 0.25 — so blind guessing is penalised, but educated elimination is rewarded. In case of a tie, the higher Logical Reasoning score wins, then the older candidate, then a computerised draw of lots.
- Attempt strategy: the "GK-first" approach — clear the 30 GK questions quickly and bank marks before tackling the heavy Logical Reasoning section.
- Speed reality check: 150 questions in 120 minutes mean ~45 seconds per question on average, versus 60 seconds in CLAT. Conditional practice with a timer is essential from day one.
AILET 2027 Eligibility
| Category | Minimum Marks in 10+2 |
|---|---|
| General / UR | 45% |
| OBC-NCL | 42% |
| SC / ST / PwD | 40% |
- Students appearing in Class 12 can apply; they must clear eligibility by the cut-off date announced by NLU Delhi.
- No age limit and no limit on the number of attempts — AILET behaves like CLAT here: skill-based, not quota-based on age.
- The B.A. LL.B. intake at NLU Delhi is around 120 seats including foreign national and OCI/PIO categories — a small pool, which is why even a 10-rank jump matters.
Why NLU Delhi Admits Only Through AILET
This single fact shapes every strategy decision for serious aspirants. The Consortium of NLUs runs CLAT for admission to its member law universities — but NLU Delhi opted out of the common test and holds its own exam. Many students assume a strong CLAT rank covers NLU Delhi automatically. It does not. If you want NLU Delhi, you appear for AILET regardless of your CLAT performance — the two merit lists are completely separate.
🎯 Strategy for serious aspirants: writing CLAT + AILET in the same cycle doubles your options — one attempt cycle, two merit lists. At Surya Law Academy, combined AILET + CLAT batches exist for exactly this reason.
AILET vs CLAT 2027 — Quick Comparison
| Parameter | AILET 2027 | CLAT 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting body | NLU Delhi only | Consortium of NLUs (27 NLUs) |
| Sections | 3 — English, CA&GK, Logical | 5 — English, CA&GK, Legal, Logical, Quant |
| Questions / Marks | 150 / 150 | 120 / 120 |
| Duration | 120 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Negative marking | -0.25 | -0.25 |
| Mode | Offline (OMR) | Offline |
| Core weightage | Logical Reasoning heavy | Legal Reasoning heavy |
AILET 2027 Preparation Plan (6 Months)
A proven six-month arc from July to December 2026 — the same structure we run in our academy batches:
- Phase 1 (Months 1–2): Build Logical Reasoning fundamentals — critical reasoning, assumptions, conclusions, argument mapping. This is where AILET is won or lost.
- Phase 2 (Months 3–4): Daily current affairs routine + English passage practice; start full sectional mocks for Logical Reasoning while keeping a weekly full English-GK combo test.
- Phase 3 (Months 5–6): Full-length AILET mock tests (150 Qs / 120 min) under exam conditions, deep post-test analysis, and the "GK-first" attempt strategy rehearsed until it becomes instinct.
- Take our free Check Your Level test to get a personalised AILET/CLAT plan before Phase 1.
Why Prepare for AILET at Surya Law Academy?
- Verified proof: Anish Gupta secured AIR 17 NLSIU Bangalore (CLAT 2024) and Navneet Kaur secured AIR 2 at Army Institute of Law, Mohali (AIL LET 2025) — named, verifiable toppers, not vague claims.
- Logical Reasoning focus: dedicated LR modules, 200+ mock tests and AILET-specific sectional drills built over 13+ years of coaching in Sector 25-D, Chandigarh.
- Combined AILET + CLAT batches: 70% of the syllabus overlaps — one batch, two merit lists, double the NLU options.
- Small batches: 15–25 students per batch, Gold Medalist faculty, and hardcopy study material worth ₹44,000 included free.
- Online + offline: live online batches for students across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Uttarakhand, backed by 810 Google reviews at 4.9★.
🎯 Bottom line: AILET 2027 is on 13 December 2026 — 150 questions, 120 minutes, three sections, offline OMR, and 45 seconds per question. If NLU Delhi is your target, this is your only gateway. Registration opens August 2026; preparation starts now.
Aiming for NLU Delhi? Get Your AILET 2027 Plan
Join the combined AILET + CLAT batch — small groups, Gold Medalist faculty, 200+ mocks. Get a free strategy call first.