How to prepare (with or without coaching)
Without coaching (the Shishya way)
AILET is entirely self-study-friendly. NLU Delhi releases previous years' papers — download every single one from 2010 onwards. This is your primary resource.
Start with Shishya's free mocks and PYQs. The platform maintains AILET-specific tests that mirror the actual pattern: 150 questions in 90 minutes. Take these under timed conditions weekly. After each mock, spend 2–3 hours reviewing mistakes — this is where learning happens.
For English, read one newspaper editorial daily (The Hindu/Indian Express). Maintain a vocabulary notebook. Shishya's notes cover grammar rules and comprehension strategies. Practice 10 vocabulary questions daily from PYQs.
For General Knowledge & Current Affairs, rely on monthly current affairs PDFs (Shishya provides these free). Make your own notes: one-page summaries per month. Focus on legal current affairs, Supreme Court judgments, constitutional amendments, government schemes. Use Lakshmikanth's *Indian Polity* (borrow from library if buying isn't feasible).
Legal Reasoning & Logical Reasoning: These are passage-based, not rote-learning subjects. Solve 5–7 passages daily from PYQs. AILET's legal reasoning often tests principle-application logic. Universal's legal reasoning books (₹200–300) are affordable, but honestly, PYQs are sufficient. For logical reasoning, use free resources like IndiaBix or Shishya's sectional tests.
Elementary Mathematics: Class 10 NCERT is enough. Revise percentages, ratios, time-speed-distance, algebra, geometry basics. Solve 20 quant questions daily. RS Aggarwal's quantitative aptitude sections are useful but not mandatory — AILET math is straightforward, not CAT-level.
With coaching
Premium coaching (₹80,000–1,50,000) offers structured schedules and peer pressure. However, AILET coaching doesn't teach secret tricks — they use the same PYQs you can access free. Coaching helps if you lack self-discipline. Hybrid approach: self-study + Shishya's free mocks gives you 90% of what coaching offers at zero cost.
Key principle: AILET rewards speed and accuracy over deep knowledge. You need breadth, not depth. Solve 10,000+ questions in your prep — that's the real differentiator.
Study plan
Assuming 6 months of preparation (adjust proportionally for longer/shorter timelines)
Month 1–2: Foundation + Baseline
*Monday–Wednesday (3 hours/day)*
- English: 1 hour (grammar rules, 20 vocab words, 2 comprehension passages from PYQs)
- GK: 1 hour (read previous month's current affairs, note-taking)
- Maths: 1 hour (complete one NCERT chapter, solve 20 basic questions)
*Thursday–Friday (3 hours/day)*
- Legal Reasoning: 1.5 hours (solve 5 passages from PYQs, analyze answer logic)
- Logical Reasoning: 1.5 hours (puzzles, syllogisms, critical reasoning from Shishya notes)
*Saturday*
- Take one full-length Shishya mock (90 minutes)
- Spend 3 hours reviewing: identify weak areas, redo incorrect questions
*Sunday*
- Light revision: go through the week's vocabulary, GK notes, maths formulas
- Read 3–4 newspaper editorials, note down important words/topics
Month 3–4: Intensive Practice
*Monday–Friday (4 hours/day)*
- Divide time equally: 1 hour each on English, GK, Maths, LR/Legal Reasoning
- Increase daily question count: 30 vocab, 30 GK facts, 30 maths, 10 reasoning passages
- Integrate current affairs: dedicate 30 minutes daily to that day's news (legal + general)
*Saturday*
- Full-length mock (alternate between Shishya and actual AILET PYQs)
- Target: attempt 130+ questions with 75%+ accuracy
- Analysis session: 4 hours (create error log by topic)
*Sunday*
- Weak-area focused practice: if maths is lagging, solve 50 extra questions
- Revise previous months' current affairs
Month 5: Speed Building
*Daily (5 hours)*
- Morning: 2 hours of sectional tests (take English + GK together, then Maths + Reasoning)
- Afternoon: 2 hours solving PYQs year-wise (2015–2024 papers, one per day)
- Evening: 1 hour current affairs + revision
*Every 3rd day*
- Full mock under exam conditions
- Reduce mock analysis time to 2 hours — by now, you should recognize patterns quickly
Month 6: Consolidation
*Weeks 1–3*
- Take one mock every alternate day
- Non-mock days: revision only — no new topics
- Create one-page formula/fact sheets for each subject
- Focus on negative marking strategy: practice educated guessing vs. skipping
*Week 4 (final week)*
- Take one last full mock 3 days before exam
- Last 2 days: light revision, read your formula sheets, stay calm
- No new questions — just glance through your error log to remind yourself of common mistakes
Daily non-negotiables throughout
- 1 newspaper editorial
- 10 new vocabulary words
- At least 50 questions solved (any mix of subjects)
Is it tough? An honest take for an average student
Short answer: Moderately tough, but very doable with consistent practice.
AILET's difficulty comes from time pressure, not conceptual complexity. You get 36 seconds per question. An "average" student (60–70% in Class 12) can absolutely crack this with 4–6 months of focused prep.
What makes it manageable:
- No question requires beyond Class 10 maths
- English is straightforward grammar + vocab + comprehension (not advanced literature)
- Legal reasoning tests logic, not law degree knowledge
- GK is vast but predictable: static GK repeats, current affairs is about retention, not intelligence
Where students struggle:
- Speed: You must develop the ability to decide within 10 seconds whether to attempt, guess, or skip a question
- Breadth: AILET can ask anything from Mughal emperors to ISRO launches to percentage problems. You can't afford to skip entire topics
- Negative marking: 0.25 deducted per wrong answer. Many students lose 10–15 marks here
- Stamina: 90 minutes of intense concentration. Without mock practice, you'll fade after 60 minutes
Real talk for the average student:
If you're not naturally quick at quant, you'll need extra drills. If English isn't your strength, vocabulary building will feel tedious for the first month. GK requires memory work — no shortcuts. But here's the thing: AILET doesn't test genius; it tests preparation.
A disciplined average student who solves 8,000–10,000 questions over 5 months will outperform a "brilliant" student who studies casually. The exam rewards grit and pattern recognition.
Benchmark: Scoring 100+/150 is competitive for admission. That's 67% — you can afford to leave 30–40 questions unattempted and still make it. You don't need perfection.
Biggest mistake: Underestimating GK/current affairs (35–40 questions). Many law aspirants focus only on reasoning and ignore this scoring goldmine.
Bottom line: If you can commit 3–4 hours daily for 5 months, maintain consistency, and take 25–30 full mocks, you have a realistic shot regardless of your "average" tag. Students from Hindi-medium, Tier-3 towns crack AILET every year. Coaching centre toppers fail. It's about the work you put in.
Salary, job profile & career growth
AILET gets you into National Law University, Delhi — among India's top 3 law schools. This matters more than the exam itself.
Starting salaries (approximate, post-5-year BA LLB):
- Corporate law firms (top-tier): ₹12–18 lakh p.a. for freshers; senior associates earn ₹30+ lakh within 5 years
- Litigation: highly variable; starting ₹3–6 lakh, but renowned litigators make ₹50 lakh+ after a decade
- Judiciary (via judicial services): ₹60,000–80,000/month as Civil Judge; District Judge earns ₹1.5+ lakh/month
- In-house corporate counsel: ₹6–10 lakh initially; rises to ₹20–40 lakh at mid-level
- Academia/NGO/Policy: ₹4–8 lakh starting, slower growth but fulfilling for many
Job profiles: Corporate lawyer (M&A, taxation, IPR), litigator (civil/criminal courts), judicial officer, legal advisor (PSUs/private), compliance manager, legal journalist, policy analyst.
Career growth: NLU Delhi's brand opens doors. Lateral movement between litigation, corporate, and judiciary is common. Many alumni are partners at Tier-1 firms, Supreme Court lawyers, or IAS/IRS officers (via UPSC). Five-year integrated course means you graduate at 22–23, giving a head-start.
Reality check: Not everyone lands ₹15 lakh packages. Mid-tier placements hover around ₹6–8 lakh, which is still solid. Ultimate earnings depend on specialization, city, and personal brand-building.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is AILET tougher than CLAT, and should I prepare separately for both?
A. AILET is slightly tougher due to time pressure (36 sec/question vs. CLAT's 48 sec) and trickier GK. However, syllabi overlap 90%. Prepare for CLAT thoroughly; add AILET-specific mocks in the last month. Same prep works for both.
Q. Can I crack AILET while preparing for Class 12 boards simultaneously?
A. Yes, thousands do. Start AILET prep 6–8 months before (around October if exam is in May). Boards need 2 months of focused study. Overlap subjects like English and Economics help. Manage time strictly; avoid social media.
Q. Do I need coaching, or are Shishya's free resources really enough?
A. Shishya's mocks, PYQs, and notes are genuinely sufficient if you're self-disciplined. Coaching adds structure and doubt-clearing, but doesn't provide better content. 60%+ AILET qualifiers are self-taught. Your call based on discipline levels.
Q. What's a safe score to expect admission at NLU Delhi, and how many attempts do I get?
A. Approximately 100–110/150 is competitive for general category; 85–95 for reserved categories (varies yearly). You can attempt AILET once per year; no limit on total attempts. Most students crack it in 1–2 attempts.
Q. Is the 5-year BA LLB worth it compared to 3-year LLB after graduation?
A. Five-year integrated BA LLB from NLUs offers better placements, younger graduation age, and holistic legal education. Three-year LLB suits those discovering law late or wanting specialization post-graduation. For corporate law/litigation careers, 5-year is preferred.