Can a candidate appear for SLAT and CLAT both in the same year?
Candidates can appear for both SLAT and CLAT exams in the same year, provided they have the required qualifying marks in Class 12th. With both the exams scheduled in December, find out how to prepare simultaneously for CLAT and SLAT 2026!
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is an entrance exam to law undergraduate programs (BA LLB, BBA LLB etc.) in National Law Universities (NLUs) and some other eligible institutions across India. On the other hand, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) conducts SLAT (Symbiosis Law Admission Test) for admission to five-year integrated law courses in Symbiosis Law Schools in Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, and Nagpur. Both exams are aimed at law aspirants who finish Class 12th. Both the exams typically take place in the month of December. One common question often asked by students is whether they can take both CLAT and SLAT at once? Let's find out!
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Can You Appear for SLAT and CLAT in the Same Year?
Yes, you can take both CLAT and SLAT exams in the same year, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for each exam separately. Besides, you should make sure that the exam dates don't overlap so you can appear for both in the same academic year. The application timelines, exam dates for both CLAT and SLAT are released for the ongoing session. CLAT 2026 exam is set to be conducted on December 7, while SLAT 2026 is scheduled on December 20 & 28, 2025.SLAT & CLAT Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for CLAT UG and SLAT are quite similar in terms of academic requirements and age conditions.
SLAT and CLAT Educational Qualifications
According to CLAT 2026 eligibility criteria , candidates must have passed Class 12th or equivalent from a recognised board.
Minimum 45 per cent marks for General/OBC and 40% for SC/ST candidates (for most categories).
Age Limit
No upper age limit for CLAT UG.
As per SLAT 2026 eligibility criteria , no upper age limit is specified for the candidates.
Appearing Candidates
Students appearing in Class 12 or awaiting results are eligible for both exams, subject to producing proof of qualification at admission.
No provision in either CLAT and SLAT prevents a candidate from taking other law entrance examinations of the same year. According to the official notification, a comparison of CLAT and SLAT categorically indicates that the schedules of the two exams differ, allowing students to take both exams during the same admission year comfortably.
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Strategic Benefits of Taking CLAT & SLAT in the Same Year
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Appearing for both CLAT and SLAT in the same year gives several advantages:
More options, more seats: CLAT has 20 or more NLUs, and SLAT has four best law schools in the private sector under Symbiosis, which is a big stretch in terms of options.
Risk diversification: In case there is a low performance in one exam, a high score in the other can still guarantee a good seat in a law college.
Flexibility of the profile and preference:
NLUs (through CLAT) tend to be a choice to have good litigation and exposure to policies.
The corporate exposure, internships, and the private university setting are associated with Symbiosis Law Schools (through SLAT).
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Preparation Tips If You Plan to Attempt CLAT and SLAT in the Same Year
The syllabus and skills, when compared, overlap at a massive level, and therefore, you can prepare in a unified manner and finally refine to the specific exam patterns.
Start with a common base: Establish good foundations in reading comprehension, legal reasoning, logical reasoning and GK/legal GK.
Customise for pattern differences:
CLAT is generally reading-oriented, and the questions are long and comprehensively based.
Questions on SLAT tend to be relatively shorter, and it may emphasise the importance of analytical and logical skills relatively more.
Use separate mock tests: Attempt full-length CLAT mocks and SLAT-specific mocks to adjust to their respective formats, time limits, and question styles.
A candidate may definitely take both SLAT and CLAT in the same year as long as he/she fulfil the various eligibility criteria that apply to each of the two exams. No law, no academic, no procedural limit against just writing both exams and it is done annually by a significant number of serious law aspirants in order to best maximise their opportunities of admission to a good law school.
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