CLAT vs SLAT: Key Differences, Colleges, and Difficulty

BY: CL-LST Team

Published on: 11 Jul 2025

Total Views: 5184

Most aspiring law candidates have heard about CLAT and SLAT s two of India’s most prominent law entrance exams. While both serve as gateways to top law colleges, they differ significantly in terms of exam structure, accepting institutions, and career outcomes. Differences between them can be classified into such sections as:

Exam Pattern
Colleges
Reach of the Exam
Difficulty Level
Selection Process

This blog will help you understand the differences between the two law entrance tests. Learn about CLAT vs SLAT based on their test patterns, accepted colleges, courses offered, and more.

Table of Contents

CLAT vs SLAT: Exam Pattern

The table below compares and contrasts the CLAT and SLAT examination patterns.

Features	CLAT	SLAT
Exam mode	Offline (Pen-and-Paper)	Online (Computer Based Test)
Test Language	English	English
Total no. of questions	120	60
Test Duration	120 minutes	60 minutes
Marking Scheme	+1 for every correct answer, -0.25 for each incorrect answer.	No negative marking
Sections	Logical Reasoning Legal Reasoning Quantitative Techniques English Language Current Affairs including General Knowledge	Reading Comprehension General Knowledge Legal Reasoning Logical Reasoning Analytical Reasoning
Types of Questions	Multiple choice questions	Multiple choice questions

CLAT vs SLAT Application Fees

The following table compares the application fees for CLAT and SLAT.

For all categories of applicants, the SLAT registration cost is 2250/-, which is non-refundable. You must additionally pay the program registration fee for each program in addition to the registration fee. The program registration cost is INR 1000/- (non-refundable and non-transferable).
The CLAT Registration cost, on the other hand, varies according to the candidate’s category. It is Rs. 4000/- for general category applicants. It is 3500/- for reserve category applicants.

CLAT vs SLAT: Participating colleges

Both CLAT and SLAT have different colleges participating. The list is given below.

SLAT 2027: Colleges and Seats

The colleges that accept SLAT results are listed, along with the seat intake for each.

Symbiosis Law School	Total Number of Seats
SLS Pune	420
SLS Nagpur	240
SLS Hyderabad	240
SLS Noida	300

CLAT 2027: Colleges

CLAT scores are accepted by 26 NLUs (National Law Universities) in India for admission into UG and PG law courses. The seat intake for each university is different. Candidates should check the website of the NLU for more information. In no particular order, given below is a list of 26 NLUs that accept CLAT scores.

NLU Name
National Law School of India University, Bengaluru (NLSIU)	Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam (DSNLU)
National Academy of Legal Studies & Research University of Law, Hyderabad (NALSAR)	Tamil Nadu National Law University, Tiruchirappalli (TNNLU)
National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU)	Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai (MNLU Mumbai)
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (WBNUJS)	Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur (MNLU Nagpur)
National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ)	Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad (MNLU Aurangabad)
Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU)	Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla (HPNLU)
Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (GNLU)	Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur (MPDNLU)
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (RMLNLU)	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat (DBRANLU)
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala (RGNUL)	National Law University Tripura, Agartala
Chanakya National Law University, Patna (CNLU)	Gujarat National Law University, Silvassa
National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (NUALS)	Ramaiah Purushottam National Law University, Prayagraj (RPNLU)
National Law University, Cuttack, Odisha (NLUO)	National Law University, Meghalaya
National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi (NUSRL)	National Law University & Judicial Academy, Guwahati, Assam (NLUJAA)

Check the official website of the Consortium.

Which comes out tougher in CLAT vs SLAT?

A candidate’s first thought before appearing for the entrance exam is which one will be hardest to crack. When comparing competition levels, CLAT is significantly more difficult than SLAT in terms of the number of candidates competing for available seats. CLAT attracts a far larger pool of applicants nationally, making the competition for seats at top NLUs extremely intense.

When comparing the difficulty level of questions, CLAT offers harder reading comprehension and legal reasoning questions structured entirely around passage-based formats. SLAT, on the other hand, features direct objective-type questions with no negative marking, making it relatively more accessible in terms of question format. To make it simpler for applicants, CLAT has been updated by increasing the number of comprehensive types of questions.

Conclusion

Both CLAT and SLAT are strong law entrance exams but serve different purposes. CLAT is the more competitive exam and opens doors to 26 NLUs across India, while SLAT is the gateway to the four prestigious Symbiosis Law Schools. Since the syllabi overlap significantly and the exams are held around the same time, most aspirants prepare for and appear in both; maximising their chances of securing a seat at a quality institution. Identify your target colleges, choose the right exam, and prepare with intent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Which one is the most difficult to crack? CLAT vs. SLAT?

Answer: CLAT is more difficult than SLAT. It has a larger applicant pool competing for limited NLU seats and follows a more demanding passage-based format with negative marking. SLAT has direct objective-type questions with no negative marking.

Question: Which is better to appear in, CLAT or SLAT?

Answer: Both serve different purposes. CLAT gives admission to 26 NLUs while SLAT gives admission to four Symbiosis Law Schools. Since syllabi overlap, most aspirants appear for both to maximise their chances.

Question: Are the SLAT and CLAT syllabi and exam formats different?

Answer: Yes, they differ. CLAT is offline, passage-based with negative marking while SLAT is online, direct objective-type with no negative marking. Both cover English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and GK, but CLAT additionally includes Quantitative Techniques.

Question: Which is the best CLAT stream?

Answer: The arts/humanities stream provides a solid basis for CLAT preparation.

Question: What is the most challenging section in the CLAT exam?

Answer:It varies by candidate. Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs are widely considered the most demanding sections, requiring consistent and long-term preparation.