The Common Law Admission Test and the Common Undergraduate Entrance Test are both categorised under some of the most difficult and prestigious examinations in our country. Both examinations are competitive but differ in multiple aspects such as syllabus, structure, eligibility, etc. The Common Law Admission Test, as the name suggests, focuses primarily on candidates willing to pursue law in the future. In contrast, the Common Undergraduate Entrance Test provides admission into various government and semi-government colleges under multiple undergraduate courses. This blog provides a comprehensive comparison between both examinations for the candidates to understand which examination caters to their needs. Check out below to understand the structure of the examinations and which examination is best for which candidate.
CLAT 2026 VS CUET Law Overview
Before understanding the various parameters of both the examinations, have a look at the overview of both the Common Law Admission Test and the Common Undergraduate Test:
| Parameters | CLAT 2026 | CUET Law |
| Full Form | Common Law Admission Test | Common Undergraduate Entrance Test |
| Conducting Bodies | Consortium of National Law Universities | National Testing Agency |
| Courses Offered | 5-Year Integrated LLB Programs | 5-Year Law Programs |
| Accepting Colleges | 24 National Law Universities | Central Universities |
| Examination Level | National Level Examination | National Level Examination |
| Date of Examination | December 2025 | May 2026 |
| Mode of Examination | Offline | Online |
| Language of Examination | English (Compulsory) | Multiple Languages Available |
How CLAT 2026 is different from CUET Law
Before choosing the right examination for themselves, candidates must understand which examination offers what. Given below is how the CLAT 2026 is different from the CUET Law Examination:
- The Common Law Admission Test focuses solely on providing admissions into law programs, with a limited number of seats, making this a more competitive examination, while the CUET is a multi-disciplinary examination and does not only focus on law programs.
- The CLAT 2026 provides admission only into the National Law Universities, while the CUET Law provides admission into over 200+ universities.
- The CLAT 2026 Examination focuses on legal reasoning and comprehension skills, whereas the CUET Law prioritises legal studies as the domain subject.
CLAT 2026 vs CUET Law (Examination Pattern)
Both the examination of the Common Law Admission Test and the Common Undergraduate Test have different examination patterns, which are given below. Have a look at the examination patterns to better understand the examinations:
CLAT 2026 Examination Pattern
| Sections | Total Questions | Weightage |
| English | 22-26 | Moderate |
| Current Affairs and General Knowledge | 28-32 | High |
| Legal Reasoning | 28-32 | High |
| Logical Reasoning | 22-26 | Moderate |
| Quantitative Technique | 10-14 | Low |
| Total | 120 | —- |
CUET Law Examination Pattern
| Sections | Details |
| Section I: Language | English Language or any other selected language with 40/50 questions |
| Section II: Domain | Legal Studies (Optional) with 40/50 questions |
| Section III: General Test | Logical Reasoning and GK with 40/50 questions |
| Total Duration | 2-2.5 hrs |
CLAT 2026 vs CUET Law (Syllabus)
Although both examinations have some similar topics but the syllabi for both examinations are not entirely the same. Check out below to have a clear understanding:
| Topics | Common Law Admission Test 2026 | CUET Law |
| Legal Reasoning | Yes | Optional |
| Static GK and Current Affairs | Yes | Little weightage in the General Test |
| English and Comprehension | Passage-Based, High-level | Basic Grammar and Reading Passages |
| Logical Reasoning | Case-Based Reasoning | Basic Aptitude + Logical Questions |
| Mathematics | High School level with data interpretation | Basic Arithmetic (Included in the General Test) |
CLAT 2026 vs CUET Law (Scope and Career Paths)
After appearing for any of the examinations, either the Common Law Admission Test or the Common Undergraduate Entrance Test, candidates wonder what the likely career options are after clearing the examinations. Check out below to understand the different career paths after CUET 2025 and CUET Law:
CLAT 2026
- The Common Law Admission Test guarantees your admission into top-tier National Law Universities such as NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Delhi, NALSAR Hyderabad and other institutes.
- The National Law Universities have higher placement records, exceptional alumni in prestigious law firms, judiciary, public sectors and Government positions.
- Students have shared their experiences saying NLU’s provide exceptional law training with excellent faculty exposure.
CUET Law
- The Common Undergraduate Entrance Test offers admission into renowned government-funded central universities such as Banaras Hindu University, AMU, and also into some of the private institutions.
- The tuition fee for the CUET Law-based colleges is comparatively lower than the National Law Universities.
- As per the previous records, BHU is popular for its litigations, but does not offer strong positions in corporate law also staffing, and placement lags in some of the CUET institutes.
FAQ’s
Yes, it is possible to prepare for both examinations at the same time, as they have shared topics and subjects, making it easier to prepare certain parts of the examination.
Yes, both CUET and CLAT have different negative marking schemes, as there are -0.25 negative marks for incorrect answers in the CLAT examination, while -1.0 negative marks in the CUET examination, which is a steeper penalty.
This is not always true, as National Law Universities have close ties with corporate and government bodies, making them a better choice for law aspirants.
That is likely not to happen if the preparation strategy is structured properly for both examinations. Compare the syllabi for both examinations and start preparing the shared topics first.
Yes, candidates can easily appear for both the examinations in the same calendar year, as the Common Law Admission Test takes place in December, while the Common Undergraduate Entrance Test is conducted in the months of May/June.