Confused between law and management as your career options? Before making a career choice between the two, learn about the CLAT and CAT, the major entrance exams in law and management streams, respectively, in this article. Also, learn about the difference between CLAT and CAT. Learning about the two exams will help you understand which stream is best for you between law and management.
Law and management are two promising career options in India. But making a career in one of the two streams requires a pathway, and CLAT and CAT are pathways to making a career in the law field and management field, respectively. This article will help you learn about the CLAT and CAT entrance exams. Consequently, you will be able to decide which field to choose between law and management to develop a career in. It prominently focuses on the difference between CAT and CLAT, based on which you can decide which field of law or management is for you.
Explore colleges based on CLAT
CLAT 2025 will be conducted on December 1, 2024, from 2 PM to 4 PM at designated CLAT test centres. Candidates who will be appearing for the in this law entrance exam can get more insights about it through this article. CLAT Registration concluded on October 22, 2024.CAT 2024 exam date is November 24, 2024. The application process is over and the CAT registration last date was September 13, 2024.
Q: After CLAT, which college is the best?
Among the top NLUs that take CLAT scores into account are NLIU Bhopal, NLSIU Bengaluru, and NALSAR Hyderabad. In addition to NLUs, a large number of privately funded law schools also accept CLAT results for admission. This means if you manage to secure even a decent rank or marks in the CLAT exam, you have a chance of getting admission to one of these colleges. Even among the participating NLUs, there is great diversity as far as seat intake and reservation criteria are concerned. Only recently, RGNUL has updated its seat matrix and introduced the EWS category for UG and PG. Further, a New category – Backward Category of Punjab has been added for UG.
Q: How CLAT Rank and CLAT Score 2025 are related?
Candidates must note that all participating institutes in CLAT will release a separate category-specific cutoffs for every course they offer. The CLAT Cutoff 2025 mentions the ranks of the candidates who are eligible for admission to the college. However, it does not releases the marks scored by the candidates. But, the higher the score, the better is the rank.
CLAT cut-off 2025 will depend on various factors such as the total number of candidates, seat intake, the difficulty level of the exam, the category of the aspirant, and the performance of the candidate. In case the difficulty level of the exam is high then the cut-off marks and score are expected to go down
Q: Is AILET tougher than CLAT?
Also Read:
- How to attempt Current Affairs & GK questions in CLAT 2025?
- Common Mistakes to Avoid for CLAT 2025
- CLAT Questions for Practice with Solutions: Free PDF Download
What is CLAT?
The CLAT exam, short for Common Law Admission Test, is a highly regarded entrance examination in India conducted Consortium of National Law Universities by for students aspiring to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the field of law. This standardized test serves as a gateway to esteemed National Law Universities (NLUs) and other renowned law institutions across the country.
As a pivotal assessment, CLAT evaluates candidates' proficiency in areas such as English comprehension, legal reasoning, logical thinking, mathematics, and general awareness. Success in the CLAT exam opens doors to an array of rewarding legal careers, making it an essential stepping stone for individuals with a passion for law and an ambition to excel in this dynamic field.
Also Read:
- List of NLUs in India: Ranking 2024, Admissions, Eligibility, Courses, Fees and Seats
- NLU Placements - Average Salary, Companies Visit & Recruitment Process of NLUs
What is CAT?
The CAT entrance exam, also known as the Common Admission Test, stands as a preeminent evaluation for individuals aspiring to pursue management studies in India. This standardised test is a crucial gateway to some of the country's most prestigious business schools, facilitating admissions to various postgraduate management programs.
Q: What is the difference between CLAT scorecard and CLAT merit list?
Candidates must note that all participating institutes in CLAT will release a separate category-specific cutoffs for every course they offer. The CLAT Cutoff 2025 mentions the ranks of the candidates who are eligible for admission to the college. However, it does not releases the marks scored by the candidates. But, the higher the score, the better is the rank.
CLAT cut-off 2025 will depend on various factors such as the total number of candidates, seat intake, the difficulty level of the exam, the category of the aspirant, and the performance of the candidate. In case the difficulty level of the exam is high then the cut-off marks and score are expected to go down.
CAT assesses candidates across key areas like quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning. A successful performance in the CAT exam paves the way for promising careers in business and management, offering opportunities to thrive in diverse sectors. As a definitive benchmark for management aspirants, CAT holds immense significance in shaping the academic and professional trajectories of ambitious individuals seeking excellence in the corporate world.
CLAT Vs CAT
Based on four parameters, including purpose and targeted audience, subject focus, educational pathways and institutional scope, the differences between CLAT and CAT have been mentioned below:
1. Purpose and Target Audience:
CAT (Common Admission Test): CAT is an entrance exam conducted for admission to various prestigious management programs in India, primarily for postgraduate courses like MBA and PGDM.
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test): CLAT is designed for students interested in pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate law programs, serving as an entry point to esteemed National Law Universities (NLUs) and other law institutions.
2. Subject Focus:
CAT: CAT evaluates candidates in areas like quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, verbal ability, and logical reasoning, assessing their suitability for managerial roles and responsibilities.
CLAT: CLAT assesses candidates' proficiency in English comprehension, legal reasoning, logical thinking, mathematics, and general awareness, measuring their readiness for a legal education and career.
3. Educational Pathways:
CAT: Success in the CAT exam opens doors to a wide range of management careers across industries, offering opportunities in business administration, consulting, finance, marketing, and more.
CLAT: CLAT paves the way for individuals to pursue rewarding legal professions, including roles as lawyers, judges, legal consultants, corporate counsel, and other positions within the legal field.
4. Institutional Scope:
CAT: The CAT exam is accepted by numerous business schools and management institutes across India, including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other renowned institutions.
CLAT: CLAT scores are accepted by National Law Universities (NLUs) and various other prestigious law colleges and universities offering law programs, shaping the future of aspirants in the legal domain.
CLAT Exam Pattern 2025
Check out the exam pattern for CLAT below:
Exam Features |
Details |
---|---|
Exam mode |
Computer-based test mode / Online proctored (To be confirmed) |
Exam level |
National level exam |
Test duration |
60 minutes |
Test medium |
English |
Subjects |
|
Type of questions |
Multiple choices questions |
Total questions |
60 questions |
Total marks |
60 marks |
CAT Exam Pattern 2024
Check out the exam pattern of CAT to know the difference between the exam patterns of CLAT and CAT:
CAT Paper Pattern 2024 |
|
---|---|
Mode of CAT exam |
Computer Based Test |
Duration of exam |
|
CAT exam slots |
|
Number of questions |
66 |
CAT total marks |
198 |
Language of question paper |
English |
Number of answer choices |
4 |
Question Type |
MCQ and non-MCQ |
CLAT Application Process 2025
Refer to the following steps to fill out CLAT application form:
- Visit the official website of the Consortium of NLUs.
Consortium of NLUs Website Link |
|
CLAT Consortium of NLUs Direct Link |
- Register online for CLAT
- Fill out the CLAT application form
- Update your preference regarding NLUs
- Pay CLAT application fee 2025
CLAT Application Fee 2025
Category |
CLAT Application Fee (in INR) |
Mode of Payment |
---|---|---|
General/OBC/PwD/NRI/PIO/OCI |
4,000 |
Online:
|
- Review the application form and then submit it
Also Read:
All the Details about CLAT Pattern
CAT Application Process 2024
The steps to fill out the CAT application form 2024 below:
1. Visit the official website of the CAT exam and register for CAT 2024.
2. Fill out the CAT application form.
3. Pay the CAT application fee 2024 online.
CAT Fee 2024
Category |
CAT Exam Fee |
---|---|
General, EWS and NC-OBC |
INR 2,400 |
SC, ST and PwD |
INR 1,200 |
4. Review your CAT form and then save and sumbit it.
CLAT Syllabus 2025
The Consortium of NLUs has provided the syllabus for CLAT UG 2025 and CLAT PG 2025. Candidates who want to appear in CLAT (UG) and CLAT PG in 2025 can check the CLAT syllabus for their respective courses below:
CLAT Syllabus 2025 for English Language
CLAT UG syllabus for English Languages has been mentioned below:
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Number of questions asked | 28-32 |
Weightage | 18.66 - 21.33 % |
Type of questions asked | Passage-based questions
|
Skills tested |
|
Question areas | May cover various topics, including technical and scientific matters. No prior knowledge is needed. |
Difficulty level | 12th Standard |
Important topics
- Correcting Incorrect Grammar Sentences
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Tenses
- Fill in the Blanks
- Spotting Grammatical Errors
- Active & Passive Voice
Also Read:
CLAT Syllabus 2025 for Currents Affairs including General Knowledge
Check out the CLAT Syllabus for Current Affairs and General Knowledge below:
Features | Details |
---|---|
Number of questions asked | 35-39 |
Weightage | 23.33 - 26 % |
Type of questions asked | Passage-based questions
|
Skills tested | Awareness of various aspects of current affairs and GK, including
|
Question areas | - News, journalistic sources, and other non-fiction writing - Intended to test your depth of understanding of issues and events of significance, rather than mere fact or trivia-based knowledge of such issues and events. Questions may ask you to:
While the focus will be on recent and current events, some questions with historical significance may also be asked. These questions will gauge your understanding of the causes of such events. |
CLAT 2025 Syllabus for Quantitative Techniques
The details about the syllabus of Quantitative Techniques for CLAT 2025 has been provided below:
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Number of questions asked | 13 - 17 |
Weightage | 8.66 - 11.33% |
Type of questions asked | The section will include:
These items will be followed by a series of questions |
Skills tested | The section will test the candidate's ability to:
|
Question areas | Number theory and basic arithmetic Averages and Percentages Ratio and Proportion Mixtures and alligations Time and work Time, distance, and speed Fractions and equations Monetary evaluations Probability Permutation and combinations |
Difficulty level | 10th standard |
CLAT 2025 Syllabus for Legal Reasoning
Refer to the following syllabus to prepared for the Legal Reasoning section of CLAT:
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Number of questions asked | 35-39 |
Weightage | 23.33 - 26 % |
Type of questions asked | Passage-based questions
|
Skills tested |
|
Question areas | Questions will be based on: - News articles and books associated with topics of law - Certain passages will be created specifically for the exam - the candidate has to find the facts and applicable rules. Until 2019, the proposition and factual context were clearly presented. - The purpose is not to test the knowledge of law but the application of rules to a factual context based on the constraints presented to you. |
Difficulty level | 12th Standard |
CLAT Legal Reasoning Important topics
- Legal Maxims
- Important Supreme Court Judgments
- Legal GK
- Indian Constitution
- Important Acts and Amendments of the Legislature
- Current Affairs
CLAT Syllabus 2025 for Logical Reasoning
The syllabus for the Logical Reasoning section of the CLAT exam has been provided below:
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Number of questions asked | 28-32 |
Weightage | 18.66 - 21.33 % |
Type of questions asked | Passage-based questions.
|
Skills tested |
|
Question areas | Sources include opinion and editorial pieces from newspapers and magazines, and essays on moral philosophy available online and in various books. Some passages will be created specifically for the exam. Examples of source material include:
|
CLAT Logical Reasoning Important topics
- Analogies
- Relationships
- Syllogism
- Cause & Effect
- Premises & Conclusion
- Inferences
CAT Syllabus 2024
CAT syllabus includes Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Check out the CAT syllabus mentioned below to more about this entrance exam:
CAT VARC Syllabus 2024
VARC section is the first section of the CAT question paper and is to be solved within 40 minutes. The section is divided into two sub-parts, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. the section is dominated by RC questions. Take a look at important VARC topics for CAT exam syllabus.
CAT VARC Syllabus |
||
---|---|---|
Fill in the blanks |
Para completion and inference |
Verbal logic |
Verbal reasoning |
||
Sentence completion |
Foreign language words used in English |
Different usage of same word |
Grammar |
Reading comprehension |
Idioms |
Syllogisms |
Analogies |
Antonyms |
Jumbled paragraphs |
Sentence correction |
One word substitution |
Important Topics & Weightage for CAT VARC
In CAT syllabus, the VARC section as mentioned earlier, includes four major sub-topics– RC, Parajumbles, Verbal Ability and Sentences. Composition of the VARC section is usually the same.
VARC Topics for CAT |
No. of Questions in CAT Exam |
Level of Difficulty |
---|---|---|
Reading Comprehension |
16 |
Moderate to Difficult |
VA-Parajumbles |
3 |
Moderate to Difficult |
VA-Odd Sentence |
2 |
Easy to Moderate |
VA-Summary |
3 |
Easy to Moderate |
Overall |
24 |
Moderate to Difficult |
CAT Reading Comprehension Passages of Previous Years
The Reading Comprehension section of VARC forms the two-third part of the first section of CAT question paper. There are about four to five RC passages with 18-24 questions. Check below, the Reading Comprehension topics of CAT 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018:
CAT RC Passages |
Slot 1 |
Slot 2 |
Slot 3 |
---|---|---|---|
CAT 2022 |
|
|
|
CAT 2021 |
|
|
|
CAT 2020 |
|
|
|
CAT 2019 |
|
|
No exam |
CAT 2018 |
|
|
No exam |
CAT DILR Syllabus 2024
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) is the second section of the CAT question paper and is to be solved after the VARC section. This section has two sub-sections - Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Take a look at important topics and some important logical reasoning and data interpretation topics included in CAT syllabus.
CAT DILR syllabus |
||
---|---|---|
Blood Relations |
Clocks and Calendars |
Syllogism |
Series |
Statements |
|
Proposition |
Data Arrangement |
Data Structures |
Direction Sense |
Family Tree |
Tables |
Coding-Decoding |
Binary Logic |
Pie Charts |
Assumptions |
Seating Arrangement |
Data Sufficiency |
Puzzles |
Sets & Caselets |
Bars & Line Graphs |
Important Topics & Weightage for CAT DILR
The DILR section as mentioned earlier, includes question of two types – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Given below is the basic structure of the DILR section of CAT.
CAT DILR Syllabus |
No. of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
---|---|---|
Data Interpretation |
4 |
Easy |
Data Interpretation |
4 |
Moderate |
Logical Reasoning |
6 |
Moderate to difficult |
Logical Reasoning |
6 |
Easy to Moderate |
Overall |
20 |
Moderate to difficult |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2024
Quantitative Aptitude is the last section of CAT question paper and is to be solved in the last 40 minutes of the exam. Take a look at important topics and some key points of CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus:
CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus |
||
---|---|---|
Ratios and Proportion |
Inequalities |
|
In-equations Quadratic and linear equations |
Work and Time |
|
Surds and Indices |
||
Time-Speed-Distance |
Logarithms |
|
Partnership (Accounts) |
||
Profit & Loss |
Geometric Progression |
|
Also Read:
Colleges Accepting CLAT 2025
The following top colleges will accept the score of CLAT 2025. Admission to different courses at NLUs is offered through CLAT UG and CLAT. Thus, check out below various UG and PG law courses offered by NLUs through CLAT 2025:
Admission to UG Courses through CLAT 2025
UG Courses |
NLUs offering UG course |
---|---|
NLU Delhi, NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Hyderabad, NUJS West Bengal, HNLU Raipur, GNLU Gandhinagar, RMNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUJAA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, DNLU Jabalpur, Dr B R Ambedkar NLU Sonepat, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Tripura, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Silvassa, NUALS Kochi |
|
NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, CNLU Patna, NLU Odisha, HPNLU Shimla, NLU Aurangabad, NLU Nagpur, |
|
NUJS West Bengal, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Bhopal |
|
GNLU Gandhinagar, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli |
|
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) LLB |
GNLU Gandhinagar |
Admission to PG Courses through CLAT 2025
PG courses |
NLUs offering PG courses |
---|---|
Three-year LLB course |
NLSIU Bangalore (Introduced in 2022), National Law University Odisha (Introducing in 2023) |
RMNLU Lucknow, GNLU Gandhinagar, HNLU Raipur, NLU Jodhpur, NUJS West Bengal, NLIU Bhopal, NLSIU Bangalore, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, DBRANLU, Sonepat |
|
Doctor of Law (LLD)/ PhD in Law |
HNLU Raipur, NLIU Bhopal, NLSIU Bangalore, GNLU Gandhinagar, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NLUJA Assam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, HPNLU Shimla, NUALS Kochi, MNLU Mumbai |
NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Odisha |
Colleges Accepting CAT 2024
The top colleges that accept CLAT 2023 scores are mentioned below:
- IIM Ahmedabad - Indian Institute of Management
- IIM Bangalore - Indian Institute of Management
- IIM Kozhikode - Indian Institute of Management
- IIM Calcutta - Indian Institute of Management
- IIM Lucknow - Indian Institute of Management
- IIM Indore - Indian Institute of Management
- IIM Raipur - Indian Institute of Management
- IIM Rohtak - Indian Institute of Management
- Management Development Institute
- IIT Kharagpur - Indian Institute of Technology
Also Read:
Top 30 MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score (non-IIMs)
Which exam should I take, CLAT or CAT?
The answer to this question depends on your area of interest and your career goals. If you want to work for corporate organisations and are interested in management, then you need to take CAT. However, if you like to study and practise law, then you need to take CLAT.
Also Read:
Job Opportunities after CLAT
Taking CLAT and pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in law can help you achieve various jobs or career goals in the long and short term.
Short Term Job Roles after CLAT
- Corporate Lawyer
- Litigator
- Legal Consultant
- Legal Academia
- Public Prosecutor
- Criminologist
Long Term Job Roles after CLAT
- Senior Advocate (Senior Litigator and Corporate Lawyer)
- Judge
Job Opportunities after CAT
Passing the CAT and then earning a management degree can provide you with numerous promising career opportunities, both long-term and short-term. These career opportunities and job roles have been mentioned below:
Short Term Job Roles after CAT
- Finance Manager
- Accounting Manager
- Finance Analyst
- Brand Manager
- Market Research Analyst
- Media Planner
- Marketing Manager
- Human Resource Executive
- Human Resource Manager
- Operations Manager
- Supply Chain Manager
- Inventory Manager
- Risk Management Expert
- Digital Marketing / Social Media Marketing Officer
Long Term Job Roles after CAT
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
- Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
- Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO)
- Chief Accounting Officer (CAO)
- Chief Product Manager (CMO in Project Management)
Read More:
Learn about other top law entrance exams:
LSAT India | AIBE |
AP LAWCET | TS LAWCET |
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Student Forum
Answered 22 hours ago
No, Symbiosis Law School (SLS) does not accept CLAT scores for admission to its law programs. Instead, it conducts its own entrance examination, known as the Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT), for admission to undergraduate law courses (BA LLB and BBA LLB). Admissions are based on the performance
B
Beginner-Level 1
Answered Yesterday
As per the CLAT 2025 schedule, the Consortium of National Law Universities has released the CLAT 2025 results. Candidates seeking admission to the JLU Bhopal BBA LLB course via CLAT must have secured a minimum of 50 marks. Those who did not meet the prescribed cutoff can appear for the JLUET exam.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
As per official sources, the CLAT 2025 results have been released by the NLU Consortium. Candidates seeking admission to the JLU Bhopal BA LLB course via CLAT must have secured a minimum of 50 marks. Those who have not secured the prescribed marks can appear for the JLUET exam, which is conducted by
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
It is very easy. When you wants to do BA LLB you can .
You can continue Prepration of both exams
When you learn about you B.Sc after in free time you can read about CLAT exam. when your CLAT exam will near you can focus more on them and when your semester start you also practice that
s
Beginner-Level 1
Answered a week ago
To apply for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), follow these steps:
Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Criteria
Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for CLAT, which typically includes:
- - For UG Programmes: Passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with a minimum of 45% marks (40% for SC/ST candidates)
- -
Answered a week ago
No, its not at all mandatory to give CLAT to become a lawyer. Candidates can enroll in Law courses offered by various universities and colleges to pursue UG and PG law courses. However, those who wish to take admission in one of NLUs except NLU Delhi will have to appear for Common National Admission
M
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, Gujarat National Law University, accepts CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) scores for admission to its various undergraduate and postgraduate law programs, including the BA LLB, BCom LLB, BBA LLB, BSc LLB and LLM courses. CLAT is a common entrance test used by many of the top law schools in Indi
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
Your prospects of getting into a National Law University (NLU) with an All India Rank of 37,778 and a SC category rank of 2452 in the CLAT rely on a number of variables including seat availability, cutoff trends and reservation rules
elite NLUs: Because of higher cutoffs admission to elite NLUs such
R
Contributor-Level 10
Does Symbiosis Law School accept CLAT score?