The AILET is an aptitude exam, while the SLAT is a knowledge-based exam.
- The AILET requires you to solve problems and apply mathematical principles, while the SLAT requires you to speak, read, write and understand the main concepts of the English language.
- The AILET has two subtests:
- Quantitative Reasoning (which includes maths)
- Verbal Reasoning (which covers vocabulary).
The SLAT has three subtests:
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking Skills (including maths)
- Language Usage.
- Finally, all scores on the AILET are scaled to fall between 200-800 points. On the other hand, the scores on the SLAT are not scaled, with the highest being 600.
However, they are percentile-based, which means that they represent how well you have performed compared to all other students. For this reason, there is no cut-off score to pass or fail this exam. You can get any score between 200-600 points and still pass or fail overall, depending on your total score or rank among all candidates who took the test around when you did. The only exception is for international students; non-US citizens need to get a minimum score of 384 points to pass.
- The SLAT is a knowledge-based exam, so you do not have to memorise facts and formulas. Instead, you need to access and relate learned information to your everyday life.
- On the other hand, the AILET does require you to apply a basic understanding of maths. Scores here are still percentile based (you can get any score between 200-800). Still, they are scaled so that there isn’t any cut-off score, but performance above a certain threshold will make you eligible for the competitive global employment market.
The two types of tests are highly different in their purpose and objectives.
- The SLAT is an aptitude test, which means that it doesn’t test your existing knowledge in another field of study. For example, if you have studied nothing but Psychology and scored a 600 on the SLAT, this is because your reading comprehension skills were stronger than your verbal reasoning abilities.
- On the other hand, AILET is not a test of what you already know. Instead, it measures how well you can apply what you already know in real-life scenarios. Thus, good readers do better on the SLAT than those who are good at maths.
The AILET’s reading comprehension and critical thinking scores are scaled to ensure that no one passes or fails based solely on their overall score. Therefore, you can get any score between 200 and 800 points and still be qualified for high-paying jobs.
And unlike the SLAT, you need to pass each of the four tests separately to pass overall.
Finally, the AILET measures how well candidates have applied their overall knowledge to set them apart from their peers with equivalent or even higher academic qualifications. However, this exam is not a substitute for standardised exams such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Approximately 1.7 million people take the SLAT each year. The median overall score is about 700, with about 60% passing—only about 0.01% of SAT-takers score above a perfect score of 2400 points. More than half of all examinees take the test as part of the college admissions process, and roughly one-third are international students who need to enrol in US educational programs to be legally allowed to work in the country.
If You Are Taking The SLAT And An AILET, What Is The Best Way To Prepare?
At this point, you may succumb to panic. After all, the SLAT and AILET exam have significantly different goals and objectives. Only you can decide which is more critical to your future. If you are at the start of your career, it is advisable to spend time on the SLAT, especially if you plan on working in the US or Canada (an English-speaking country).
If you are planning an international career, it would be better to focus on the AILET if you plan to work outside North America.
Many students are confused about how exactly they should prepare for this exam. One of the best ways includes learning and preparing from BYJU’S Exam Prep.
