ILICAT 2026 Good Attempts per Section: Subject-Wise Breakdown

For ILICAT 2026, a safe score requires attempting 28–32 questions in Part I (English and General Knowledge), 65–75 in Part II (Legal Aptitude), and all 4 questions in Part III (Legal Writing) — targeting a total written score of 110–125 out of 180.

ILICAT 2026 is conducted by the Indian Law Institute (ILI), New Delhi, as an offline pen-and-paper test for LLM admission. The written exam carries 180 marks across three parts, with an additional 20-mark viva voce for shortlisted students. With a negative marking of ?0.25 per wrong objective answer, knowing how many questions to attempt in each section is critical to protecting your score.

• Part I — English and General Knowledge: 40 questions, 40 marks; good attempts: 28–32.
• Part II — Legal Aptitude: 100 questions, 100 marks; good attempts: 65–75.
• Part III — Legal Writing (Subjective): 4 questions, 40 marks; attempt all four — no negative marking.
• Negative marking: ?0.25 per wrong answer in Parts I and II only.
• Total exam duration: 2 hours 30 minutes; exam mode: offline (pen and paper).

---

ILICAT 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance

Before calculating your good attempts, understand the structure of the ILICAT 2026 written exam. The table below shows the section-wise distribution of questions, marks, and the marking scheme you need to factor into your strategy.

The viva voce carries 20 additional marks, making the grand total 200 marks. Only students shortlisted from the written round appear for the viva voce.

---

Good Attempts in Part I: English and General Knowledge

Aim for 28–32 attempts out of 40 in Part I for a safe sectional score of 26–30 marks after negative marking. Part I is generally considered the more accessible section and can compensate for a tougher Part II.

The 40 questions in Part I cover English language skills and general knowledge. English questions are predictable and scoring; general knowledge depends on your current affairs preparation and familiarity with legal GK.

Attempt English questions first — they are rule-based and predictable. For general knowledge, skip questions you are not confident about. A wrong answer costs you the mark plus an additional 0.25, so selective skipping is the smarter play.

---

Good Attempts in Part II: Legal Aptitude (Subject-Wise)

Target 65–75 attempts out of 100 in Part II for an expected score of 55–65 marks after negative marking. Part II is the most heavily weighted section and tests knowledge across eight core law subjects.

The subject-wise breakdown below is based on the standard ILICAT syllabus and typical question distribution observed in previous years’ papers. Actual distribution may vary slightly each year.

Do not guess randomly in Part II. Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence carry the most questions — prioritise these in your preparation. With 100 questions and ?0.25 deductions, uninformed guessing can significantly drag down your score. Attempt only questions where you can confidently answer or eliminate at least two options.

---

Good Attempts in Part III: Legal Writing

Attempt all 4 questions in Part III — there is no negative marking for subjective answers. Each question is worth 10 marks and requires a structured response in approximately 150–250 words.

Part III tests your ability to analyse legal issues and write coherent, structured responses. Questions typically draw from Constitutional Law, IPC, Jurisprudence, and current legal developments. Scoring 25–32 out of 40 in this section places you in a strong overall position.

Prioritise clarity over length. A concise, well-organised answer using an issue-rule-analysis-conclusion structure scores better than a lengthy but unfocused one. Reserve at least 50 minutes for Part III and avoid leaving any question blank.

---

ILICAT 2026 Safe Score: What to Target

A written score of 110–125 out of 180 is expected to be a safe range for shortlisting in ILICAT 2026, based on previous-year trends. This is an expected estimate and may shift depending on exam difficulty and the size of the applicant pool.

Students scoring above 125 out of 180 in the written exam have historically had strong chances of clearing the shortlist and performing well in viva voce. All score projections are expected figures based on pattern and past-year trends.

---

Scoring Strategy with Negative Marking

With ?0.25 negative marking in Parts I and II, attempt a question only when you are at least 70–75% confident about the answer. This single rule prevents score erosion from blind guessing.

• First pass, then revisit: answer high-confidence questions first and return to borderline ones in remaining time.
• English over GK in Part I: English questions are rule-based and predictable — lock these in before tackling GK.
• Prioritise strong law subjects in Part II: score maximally in Constitutional Law and IPC before moving to less-familiar topics.
• Never skip Part III: no negative marking means every structured response you write has a chance of earning marks.
• Suggested time split: Part I — 30 minutes; Part II — 70 minutes; Part III — 50 minutes.