Admission to a good LLM programme in India is not automatic. Most reputable law schools require candidates to clear a written entrance exam before joining the postgraduate programme.
Before finalising which exam to target, it helps to understand what an LLM degree actually is and what the degree is designed to produce — that clarity shapes your exam preparation strategy.
Major LLM Entrance Exams in India
1. CLAT PG (Common Law Admission Test — Postgraduate)
Conducting Body: Consortium of National Law Universities | Accepted at: All 24 NLUs across India
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| No. of Questions | 120 MCQs |
| Marking Scheme | +1 Correct | -0.25 Incorrect |
| Format | Comprehension-based passages |
| Key Subjects | Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Contracts, Criminal Law, IPR, International Law |
| Application Window | Typically July to September |
| Exam Date | December (tentative) |
The CLAT exam’s eligibility criteria, importance, and detailed syllabus are worth reviewing in full before you register — the postgraduate format differs significantly from the undergraduate version.
Ready to Apply for the LLM Programme?
2. AILET PG (All India Law Entrance Test — Postgraduate)
Conducting Body: National Law University Delhi | Accepted at: NLU Delhi only
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1.5 Hours |
| No. of Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Marking Scheme | No negative marking |
| Key Subjects | Constitutional Law, Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law, IPR, International Law |
3. VLAT — Vinayaka Mission’s Law Admission Test
Conducting Body: Vinayaka Mission’s Law School, Chennai | Accepted at: VMLS, Chennai
The VLAT is the entry point to the VMLS LLM programme, covering legal knowledge and reasoning in the chosen specialisation, followed by an interview. Candidates targeting the
LLM in Corporate and Financial Laws,
Commercial Dispute Resolution, or
AI, Emerging Technologies and IPR should align preparation with their chosen specialisation from the outset.
LLM Entrance Exam Syllabus: Core Topics
| Subject | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Federalism, Judicial Review |
| Jurisprudence | Schools of Jurisprudence, Sources of Law, Legal Concepts |
| Contract Law | Formation, Breach, Specific Performance, Quasi-Contracts |
| Criminal Law | IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act, Bail, Sentencing |
| Administrative Law | Delegated Legislation, Natural Justice, Writs |
| IPR | Patents, Trademarks, Copyright, Trade Secrets |
| International Law | Treaties, Sovereignty, WTO, UNCITRAL |
| Corporate Law | Companies Act, SEBI, Insolvency, M&A |
8-Week Preparation Strategy
| Week | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | Revise core subjects: Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law |
| Weeks 3-4 | Focus on specialisation subjects aligned with your target LLM |
| Weeks 5-6 | Practise comprehension MCQs; work through previous years’ papers |
| Week 7 | Full mock tests under timed conditions; identify and revise weak areas |
| Week 8 | Light revision; current legal developments and landmark judgments (last 2 years) |
For students still deciding, a review of law courses after graduation provides a useful comparison before committing to entrance exam preparation.
