HOW LSAT IS BETTER THAN CLAT?

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Many times students are not able to choose one college and keep their options open to be on a safer side. Many students prepare for more than one examination that has a similar structure to save the time of preparation, and it gives admission security to them during the rising competition. For law, students have to start preparing as early as possible because of its tough exam pattern and the competition.

They appear for both exams LSAT and CLAT and make the best of their exam preparation simultaneously. In this article of EduQuest, we have shown significant differences between LSAT and CLAT to make students understand how choosing LSAT over CLAT is more beneficial and give students more chances to study in prestigious Indian law universities. We will try to incorporate all the necessary details about both the entrance examinations to make it easier for you to make up your mind. So, let’s start.

CLAT

Common law admission test known as CLAT is taken by students in India every year to get admission in undergraduate and postgraduate law courses at National law University where students get admission via this entrance examination. The administrators of CLAT set eligibility criteria and other requirements for the entrance examination every year to make it a smooth admission process.

LSAT

Law School admission test widely known as LSAT is a national entrance examination that is organized by LSAC, India. Through this entrance examination, students get admission in BA LLB and LLM courses.

Difference between LSAT and CLAT

As compared to CLAT, LSAT is widely accepted in India. Around 53 colleges in India accept admissions under LSAT whereas there are just 21 National law Universities that accept CLAT. Let’s compare both the entrance tests in different categories.

CATEGORY	CLAT	LSAT
NUMBER OF COLLEGES	Around 40 law colleges accept CLAT as a medium of admission, and it is the only medium to get admission in National law universities. Other than NLU, only 3 public sector universities take it as an admission medium.	As compared to CLAT, LSAT has a wider scope regarding colleges as 83 law institutes take admissions in law courses under the LSAT entrance examination.
ELIGIBILITY	For taking an exam of CLAT students must have 45% aggregate in the 12th standard, which is 40% for the reserved category students. For getting admission in postgraduate courses it is necessary to have a graduation degree from a recognized college with an aggregate of 55% which is 50% for the reserved category.	The eligibility criteria for LSAT is not complicated. It is simple and the same for getting admission in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Aspirants must have passed the 12th standard but the aggregate marks differ from institute to institute as per their desire.
EXAMINATION PATTERN	CLAT is an online-based examination. For undergraduate courses, five sections comprise CLAT exam, English, general knowledge, current affairs, numerical ability, logical reasoning, and legal aptitude. Whereas in postgraduate there are just three sections: constitutional law jurisprudence and other law topics.	LSAT is an offline pen-paper examination mode in which the exam pattern is the same for both undergraduate and postgraduate admission. It comprises just four sections of analytical reasoning, two sections of logical reasoning, and reading comprehension.
MARKING SCHEME	The total number of questions in the undergraduate CLAT examination is 200 and for post-graduation, it is 150. For every right answer plus one is given, and for every wrong answer, 0.25 is deducted.	In LSAT the total number of questions varies from 90 to 200 in both undergraduate and postgraduate entrance examinations. For every right answer, one mark is given and there is no negative marking in case of a wrong answer.
EXAM DURATION	The exam duration of CLAT is 2 hours and there is no fixed time and sequence for solving different sections.	LSAT examination has a time duration of 2 hours 20 minutes and there is a sectional time applicable. For each section, 35 minutes are given therefore, time management is really important in this entrance examination.
EXAM FEES	The examination fees of CLAT is 4000 and for the reserved category, it is 3500.	The LSAT India examination fees are 3800 and it increases up to 4250 in case of the aspirant by a handbook

WHICH IS TOUGHER TO CRACK?

The difficulty level of questions

The questions that are asked in CLAT are moderate and students have to attempt more number of questions in a lesser amount of time. Due to time constraints and negative marking, it gets difficult for students to manage all the sections and therefore it is considered more difficult than other law exams.
LSAT has a high level of questions and it has no negative marking for a wrong answer. Even though, students have more time to attempt LSAT than CLAT. The questions are complicated and due to sectional timing, it can cause examination panic and can be challenging for students.

Level of competition

To get admission in National law universities CLAT is the only medium of examination which is taken by 50,000 students every year who fight for 2984 seats for LLB course and LLM there are just 600 seats which makes the competition level higher.
LSAT is a door to getting into more law colleges and even though more universities take LSAT into account the competition level is not high.

Test of skills

CLAT majorly tests the analytical and critical thinking of students through logical reasoning mathematics general awareness and law. In CLAT students have an option to balance their score in another section in case they scoreless in one section.
LSAT just tests the reading, organizational, and time management skills of a student which is considered to be some of the important qualities for a successful law student. Due to the less variety of questions, there is a lesser chance for students to balance their score in case they are not able to score higher in a particular section.

WHAT SHOULD YOU GIVE: LSAT OR CLAT?

Students need to know where they want to study when they are deciding to give a law entrance exam. Students should go through the colleges that take CLAT into account and as their medium of admission and if you are not interested in taking admission in any of those colleges then you should focus on LSAT India. Secondly, look for your strengths and weaknesses, and then make the right decision. Analyze skills that are tested in both the examinations as we have also mentioned above and introspect if you can ace those skills. If you are good at mathematics and legal aptitude you should take on CLAT but if you lack in both then LSAT India is the right exam for you.

SUMMING UP WHY LSAT IS BETTER THAN CLAT?

CLAT is considered to be as difficult by many professionals and LSAT is easier when compared to CLAT. Above we have discussed how CLAT and LSAT are different from each other in various parameters, and how you should decide which law entrance exam you should take. In this subheading, we will be summing up how choosing LSAT over CLAT will be more beneficial for you. So, LSAT is generally considered easier and best than CLAT because of several reasons out of which you are mentioned below:

The conducting body of LSAT tests students on their qualities rather than their knowledge on legal aptitude which makes it easier for students to prepare for it.
LSAT is linked to 85 colleges which is more than CLAT and provides a wide variety of choices to aspirants.
LSAT not only provides three years of LLB but also additional courses to aspirants whereas CLAT just provides them with courses of LLB LLM and other law programs.
Considering the exam pattern, time duration, and marking scheme which we have mentioned above in the table LSAT is more convenient and a popularly taken law entrance exam by thousands of students every year.

Without any doubt, LSAT is better than CLAT but that doesn’t mean it is not a difficult law entrance examination and students should prepare for it with the same dedication as they would have for CLAT. We have tried to incorporate all the necessary details about both the law entrance examination to help students to take an informed decision for their law entrances.

Rupali Sharma