Aspiring lawyers in India often face a crucial decision: Which law entrance exam should they go for? After all, there’s an enormous sea of them to take in India. Sticking to the topic, in a battle between CLAT vs MH CET Law, which is better?
Both have their advantages, and it comes down to individual preference and the importance of a few things:
Let’s look at both exams and their differences and difficulty levels
Table of Contents
CLAT, also known as the “Common Law Admission Test,” is a national-level entrance test in India used by 24 National legal Universities (NLUs) for admission to their undergraduate and postgraduate legal programs by the Consortium of National Law Universities.
CLAT is used to assess candidate eligibility and selection for legal courses such as:
The CLAT test measures a candidate’s aptitude for studying law, including their command of the English language, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, mathematics, and general knowledge. The exam is extremely competitive and is typically taken by those wishing to pursue a career in law.
NLUs utilize CLAT results to assign places to candidates in their respective law schools. The CLAT test style and content may change slightly from year to year, but it typically covers topics related to legal aptitude, reasoning, and current affairs.
Also Check – CLAT 2025 Revised Result
The Maharashtra Common Admission Test for Law (MH-CET Law) is a state-level admission test held in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is created primarily for individuals interested in pursuing undergraduate law courses (LL.B.), such as:
The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell conducts the MH CET Law, which is overseen by the Maharashtra Government. The test serves as a gateway to admission into Maharashtra law universities’ three-year LL.B programs and five-year integrated LL.B programs.
The test measures applicants’ abilities in a variety of areas, including legal thinking, logical and analytical reasoning, general knowledge, and fundamental mathematics. MH-CET Law shares a syllabus with other law entrance tests to assess a candidate’s aptitude to flourish in legal studies and become a competent legal practitioner.
The table below shows the differences between the two exams.
Details | CLAT | MH-CET Law |
Exam Level | CLAT is a national-level test that is accepted by several National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. | MH-CET Law is a state-level test designed exclusively for admission to law courses and universities in Maharashtra. |
Participating Institutions | CLAT scores are accepted by NLUs all around the nation, including NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad | MH CET Law scores are only valid for law schools and universities in Maharashtra. |
Courses Offered | CLAT offers students five-year integrated LL.B programs as well as postgraduate LL.M courses. | MH CET Law offers students both three-year and five-year integrated LL.B programs. |
Sections | CLAT includes these sections.
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MH CET Law includes these sections.
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Eligibility Criteria | CLAT eligibility standards vary widely amongst NLUs. However, candidates must have finished their 10+2 grade with a minimum percentage. | The Maharashtra State CET Cell establishes the MH-CET Law qualifying standards, which require applicants to have finished their 10+2 education from a recognized board. |
Exam Date | CLAT is typically conducted in December. CLAT 2025 was conducted on 1st December 2024. | MH-CET Law is usually held in April and May for 3-year LLB and 5-year LLB. |
Official website | The official website for CLAT is consortiumofnlus.ac.in | The official website for MH-CET Law is cetcell.mahacet.org |
Knowing the exam pattern of both exams is also crucial to understanding their difficulty level. The exam patterns are given below.
Exam Features | Details |
Exam mode | Computer-based test mode / Online proctored |
Exam Level | National-level exam |
Test medium | English |
Type of questions | Multiple choice questions |
Test duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
Total Questions | 120 questions |
Total marks | 120 marks |
Negative Marking | 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect answer. |
Exam Features | Details |
Exam mode | Online, Computer-based test (CBT) |
Exam Level | State-level exam (Maharashtra) |
Test medium | English and Marathi |
Type of questions | Multiple choice questions |
Test duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
Total Questions | 120 questions |
Total Marks | 120 |
Negative Marking | No negative marking |
Whether CLAT or MH-CET Law is more challenging is a matter of opinion and may differ according to different viewpoints and experiences.
Comparing the exams 1-on-1 would make CLAT more difficult than MH-CET Law because of the unpredictable exam pattern and difficulty of questions. That’s not all, though, as there are many other things to take into consideration. Some of the reasons why CLAT is more difficult are listed below.
Q. CLAT vs MH-CET Law: Which is more difficult?
Ans. Both exams are quite difficult. However, question and level-wise CLAT is regarded as harder to pass than the MH-CET Law.
Q. What are the syllabus differences between the two exams?
Ans. CLAT and MH-CET Law both have the same number and types of sections. CLAT has more complex questions as it’s a national-level exam.
Q. Is the Maharashtra CET Law exclusively for Maharashtra students?
Ans. No, candidates outside of Maharashtra can also apply and take the MH-CET Law exam.
Q. How long does the MH-CET Law and CLAT exam last?
Ans. Both exams have the same time limit, 2 hours.
Q. CLAT vs MH CET Law, which is more prosperous?
Ans. CLAT is the gateway to multiple law institutes around India, as well as the converted NLU, which are the apex of law education in India. While MH-CET only grants admission to law schools in Maharashtra, it can also propel your career to great heights.