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Sample essays

Sample essay questions and suggested reading

Here are a few sample essay questions for you to think about. Remember that you get 40 minutes to write a recommended maximum of 750 words – ideally about 500-600 words .  We also have sample answers to some of these questions. See download links at bottom of this page.

• How should judges be appointed?
• Make the best case you can for public funding of the arts.  Answer
• Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?  Answer
• ‘It is right that students should contribute to the cost of their degrees.’ Do you agree?
• What disciplinary sanctions should teachers be allowed to use?
• ‘We must be prepared to sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism.’ Discuss.
• Should the law require people to vote in general elections?
• Should private cars be rationed? If so, how?
• What is ‘political correctness’ and why does it matter?  Answer
• There are more essay topics on our practice tests .

When you reach the Review screen, do not click on End Review unless you have completed your essay and wish to end your session. If you wish to review or edit your essay response, click on the question number that it relates to.

As part of your preparation you may also like to look at some materials on critical thinking. Here is a selection. Some of them include exercises that can help you develop your LNAT skills.

A. Fisher,  Critical Thinking: An Introduction  (Cambridge University Press 2001) ISBN 0521009847

R. van den Brink-Budgen,  Critical Thinking for Students  (How to Books 2000) ISBN 1857036344

N. Warburton,  Thinking From A to Z  (Routledge 2000) ISBN 0415222818

P. Gardner,  New Directions: Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking (Cambridge University Press 2006) ISBN 0521541727 (mainly for those who have English as a second language)

Sample answer: Make the best case you can for public funding of the arts

Sample answer: Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?

Sample answer: What is 'political correctness' and why does it matter?

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LNAT Sample Essays

• Updated on  
• Dec 3, 2022

LNAT or National Admission test for law is an aptitude test that is conducted across 89 universities in the UK before offering admissions into their law programmes . Due to an ever increasing competition, this test was developed by oxford university to solve the problems faced by institutes with respect to shortlisting candidates. LNAT is mandatory for both home as well as international students, applying for law courses in the UK . LNAT is a 130 minute long exam that consists of 2 sections; an MCQ type and an essay type. In this blog we bring you various practise questions that’ll help you ace your LNAT Sample essays.  

LNAT Sample Essays: Structure and Format

While writing the essay it is important to keep the following points in mind in order to write a well-structured essay.

• What – try to understand the motion that is put forward. Is the motion based on law, politics, economics or ethics? What exactly is being asked of you? While writing the essay you are required to display high levels of critical thinking which must be visible in your essay.
• Why – ask yourself why this question is being asked? What could be the purpose of such a statement? Provide evidence to suggest the accuracy or inaccuracy of the motion. Question why you are required to use certain terms, phrases or literary technique. Your analytical ability and persuasiveness will be put to test.
• How- how is this statement concluded and what are the practicalities of implementing it? What are the ways in which this can be challenged? How can it be enforced and monitored? You will be required to provide solid logical reasoning and demonstrate how your answer forms a conclusion.
• What if – another question you must ask yourself is about the alternatives you have provided in your essay. Are there any views to consider? What are the practical implications of the arguments you have put forth? Can those be challenges? If yes, how? Weigh in both the strengths and weaknesses of your argument.

Practise Questions 

Here are some of the best questions that can help you practise for LNAT essays: 

• What disciplinary sanctions should teachers be allowed to use?
• Make the best case you can for public funding of the arts.
• How should judges be appointed?
• ‘It is right that students should contribute to the cost of their degrees.’ Do you agree?
• Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?
• What is ‘political correctness’ and why does it matter?
• Should the law require people to vote in general elections?
• We must be prepared to sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism.’
• Should private cars be rationed? If so, how?
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LNAT Sample Essay

Should the privacy of the accused be maintained in Criminal legal proceedings?

The criminal justice system is rooted on the principle that the suspect is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law. This principle is applicable whether the person is renowned in the public sphere, therefore making the case susceptible to prejudice or someone wholly anonymous. Therefore, I am of the opinion that wherever possible, the anonymity of the accused ought to be maintained. There are several reasons to believe so. Firstly and most importantly, the legal system ought to be free from biases and prejudices. Secondly, publishing the accused’s identity does not serve public interest. It would be a gross breach of an individual’s right to privacy when publishing the identity.

The nature of the legal process is a dialectic process; it is a rule of thumb that the prosecutor must prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.  the defence ought to cast doubt on the case of the prosecution or prove the defendant’s innocence. This process necessitates the gathering of evidence, familiarity with the facts pertinent to the case and precedents set by the previous cases. If a defendant’s anonymity is compromised that could potentially colour the legal proceedings with public prejudice. This would be antithetical to the very nature of legal process. 

A public bias is as dangerous as any other bias and can impact the legal proceedings in negative ways. Therefore there is the possibility that the disclosure of the accused’s identity can impact the objectivity of the court. The accused only ought to be tried by the court and not by the media. 

To elaborate on the 2nd issue, the publishing of the accused identity can be extremely counterproductive and in general unhelpful to the public interest. Media trials can be extremely dehumanizing which apart from affecting the trial can additionally impact the accused life if found to be innocent.  

Most importantly, an individual’s right to privacy has been recognized as a fundamental right. A man acquitted 100 times is the same as a man once or never prosecuted at all, but seldom do the larger public view the situation from a legal perspective. The person may never escape the humiliation and public prejudice of having once been accused. 

In conclusion, I’d like to reiterate the importance of maintaining anonymity in a case of criminal accusation. It is a fair argument that the public at large ought to know the argument of the criminal who threatens their safety and security, however the principles of law dictates that a person is innocent until proven guilty. By abiding by this view, we can maintain the objectivity of the court and preserve the dignity of the accused.

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This was all about LNAT essay questions. We hope this blog has given you a brief Idea as to how to go about your essay. In case you need additional guidance in navigating various aptitude tests and exams, get in touch with our experts at Leverage Edu today! Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.

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LNAT Free Past Papers, Worked Solutions and Answers

Free lnat questions & mark schemes for all lnat past papers.

Welcome to our LNAT past paper page, designed to support Oxbridge Law applicants! Below you will find LNAT questions and answers for all LNAT past papers . We recommend using these questions and LNAT past papers to self-assess your own abilities. You can revisit these in a few weeks to gain an understanding of how you're progressing with your LNAT prep. Alongside these LNAT questions, you can maximise your chance of gaining an Oxbridge Law offer with our other preparation resources such as LNAT preparation books or our specialist LNAT 1-1 programmes . Call us on 020 3305 9593 to find out more.

LNAT Practice Paper (Full Mocks)

233 | LNAT Practice Paper | Full Mock

42 | LNAT Practice Paper | Ethics and Education (Test 1)

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14 | LNAT Practice Paper | Ethics and Education (Test 2)

16 | LNAT Practice Paper | Science (Test 3)

25 | LNAT Practice Paper | Philosophy

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Upon a successful application, every student is matched with an Oxbridge LNAT Tutor who boasts expertise in their chosen field of study.

In the initial sessions, your dedicated Oxbridge LNAT tutor will collaborate with you to forge a customised approach tailored for your LNAT exam triumph.

Secure your spot at Oxbridge by tapping into our comprehensive LNAT online resources and actively engaging in enriching seminars during your programme. Enroll in our full-day Group Workshops, where you'll gain invaluable insights to enhance your application completion!

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• LNAT Preparation: The Complete Guide

Last Updated: 27th May 2022

Author: Chloe Hewitt

• Admissions Test

Table of Contents

If you are applying for Law at Oxford, Cambridge, or other top universities, one of the biggest hurdles you will be faced with is the LNAT.

Unlike any test you have ever done before, ensuring you have effectively prepared for the LNAT will make all the difference when it comes to scoring highly.

But how can you prepare for the LNAT? This guide runs through each of the two sections of the LNAT, explaining the skills that will be required to succeed and the ways you can develop your understanding and improve your technique. Before we dive into Section A, let’s review the basics of the LNAT. 

What is the LNAT?

If you aren’t familiar with the LNAT, check out our LNAT Basics Guide before continuing, as you’re going to need to know how the LNAT is structured, how it is marked and why it is used. If you know about the LNAT already, here is a very quick recap.

The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) is an entrance exam used by a consortium of UK universities to assess prospective undergraduate law students. The LNAT is used to supplement other selection procedures — your A-level results, personal statement, and admissions interview — not to test your knowledge of the law. Instead, the computer-based exam assesses critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

What is the structure of the LNAT?

The LNAT has a time limit of two hours and 15 minutes and is divided into two parts: Section A, a set of multiple-choice questions, and Section B, an essay writing task. These tasks are separated and each has a set time to complete, with 95 minutes to complete Section A and 40 minutes to complete Section B.

Effective LNAT preparation is crucial to achieving an offer, so let UniAdmissions guide you through it. 

The LNAT is a major part of your Law application, so make sure you’re ready for it with guidance from experts. Our LNAT Tuition Programme supports you through every aspect of the test through One-to-One Tuition, Live Courses, Comprehensive Materials and much more . 

Discover our LNAT Tuition Programme by booking a free consultation session by clicking the button below to enrol and triple your chances of success .

LNAT Section A Preparation

In Section A, you will have 95 minutes to answer 42 multiple-choice questions based on 12 passages of text provided. This means that you’ll need to complete three to four questions per passage. There will be five possible answers to each question, but only one will be correct.

You do not need to have any particular knowledge to complete Section A. However, you must spend time preparing for LNAT Section A to know what to expect during the test. As part of your LNAT Section A preparation, it is also a good idea to practice the skills the admissions tutors are looking for applicants to demonstrate. It would be worth brushing up on these skills so you are confident when it comes to the test.

What does LNAT Section A test?

Section A is all about your comprehension and reasoning skills. The admissions tutors want to know that you can understand, analyse and interpret information. In the test, you will need to work out what the question is asking, pinpoint which part of the text is relevant, and choose the best answer from the multiple-choice answers provided. This will need to be done using the following:

• Comprehension
• Interpretation

The LNAT is also used to identify if students can understand different parts of a passage. An integral point to understand is what constitutes a good argument. These are:

Evidence : arguments based on opinions and value judgements are weaker than those based on facts and evidence.

Logic : arguments should flow and the constituent parts should fit well into an overriding view or belief.

Balance : a good argument should concede that there are other views and beliefs (counter-arguments). Creating a strong argument involves dismantling these ideas and explaining why they are wrong.

What do you need to know for LNAT Section A?

Here are a few key ideas that you will need to revise and prepare for before sitting Section A of the LNAT:

ARGUMENTS vs ASSERTIONS vs EXPLANATIONS

ARGUMENTS vs ASSERTIONS

 vs EXPLANATIONS

The following clip is from a UniAdmissions LNAT Live Course, in which our expert tutor explains how you can determine the differences between these three types of discussion within a passage:

PREMISE vs CONCLUSION

• A conclusion is a summary of the arguments being made and is usually explicitly stated or heavily implied.
• A premise is a statement from which another statement can be inferred or follows as a conclusion.

Hence, a conclusion is shown/implied/proven by a premise. Similarly, a premise shows/indicates/establishes a conclusion.

FACT vs OPINION

Sometimes you will be required to distinguish between a fact and an opinion.

• Fact is something that can be tested to be true or false.
• Opinion cannot be tested to be true or false.

CORRELATION vs CAUSATION

Just because two incidents or events have occurred does not mean that one has caused the other. For example:  “French people are known for having a glass of wine with dinner and they have a larger life expectancy than we do. Therefore, we should consume wine to be healthier.”

This argument is flawed. There are 2 events: (i) French people known for having wine and (ii) French people having a larger life expectancy. There is no suggestion in the extract that (i) wine is causally related to (ii) or that having wine actually leads to a longer life. Accordingly, in itself, the premises do not adequately support the conclusion – there could be other reasons such as diet or exercise.

How should I prepare for LNAT Section A?

1. Read a wide range of texts

As Section A assesses your ability to comprehend and analyse texts, it is important to improve your reading comprehension. You can do this by studying a variety of quality texts, such as news articles, academic journals, and literature, and then summarising the main points. Be sure to identify the tone and analyse the author’s argument.

2. Practice thinking critically

As you read these texts, you should check your understanding by asking yourself questions on their meaning, such as:

• Is the statement one of fact or opinion?
• Have you focused on the detail or jumped to a conclusion?
• Have you made a logical deduction about the information?
• Is there something in the statement that has been left unsaid?
• Is the statement supported by evidence?
• What is the writer’s attitude? For example, are they being serious or making a joke?
• Is the statement relevant or irrelevant to the question?

If there are ambiguities, they are assessing how well you cope with ambiguities. However, the solution is always in the passage somewhere. 

3. Practice your Time Management

Time management skills are crucial for the LNAT. With 95 minutes to answer 42 questions, that gives you roughly two and a quarter minutes to answer each question. In fact, many students find the most difficult part of the test is not answering all of the questions correctly, but doing so under its timed conditions and working at a steady pace.

Decide how long you want to spend on each passage of text and the multiple-choice questions. You have 95 minutes to complete Section A, therefore you could decide to spend 7 minutes reading each passage of text and then answer the connected questions. The remaining 11 minutes could then be used to go back over any questions you found difficult.

4. Understand the format of the test

It is essential to familiarise yourself with the format of the LNAT, including the types of questions that may appear in Section A. To do so, you should definitely take advantage of the official practice tests available, which will help develop your understanding of the test structure and the types of questions you may encounter on the day.

Extra LNAT Section A Tips

• Read the question carefully and make sure you understand what is being asked.
• Look for any keywords in the question and answer options before reading the passage of text.
• When you then go on to read the passage of text, look out for those keywords.
• Consider the questions listed above when deciding what a statement means and selecting your answer.
• Use a process of elimination to find the correct answer. By discounting the incorrect answer options, it helps to narrow down the answers until you are left with one.
• If you are unable to narrow the options down to just one, then go with your gut feeling when selecting an answer and come back to it later.
• No points will be deducted for an incorrect answer, so make sure you answer every question even if you are unsure.

One of the hallmarks of a good multiple-choice question is the inclusion of one or more answer options that are wrong but almost right. Questions like this are not tricks. They are there to test whether your powers of discrimination are fine-grained or coarse-grained. Work hard to find and eliminate them.

Boost your LNAT Score with expert support from UniAdmissions.

With our LNAT Tuition Programme, you will have complete guidance for both Sections of the LNAT, with regular tuition from an expert tutor and a whole suite of revision and practice resources to get yourself ready. 

LNAT Section B Preparation

In this section, you will be presented with a choice of three essay questions, and you will be required to answer one of them in a well-structured, persuasive manner under a time limit of 40 minutes.

What does LNAT Section B test?

To answer Section B of the LNAT, you will need to have strong critical thinking and analytical skills, good writing skills and a strong command of written English. You need to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and coherently, structure your essay effectively, and present your arguments in a logical and persuasive manner.

Having a good knowledge of current affairs will also work in your favour. The admissions tutors really like to see interesting and creative arguments which are backed up by evidence rather than opinions. Focus on these skills in your LNAT Section B preparation.

1.Choosing your question

As mentioned, you have three options for your essay. We have a video snippet from our Law Programme in which our tutor Amy Gregg goes through the explanation of selecting the right question.

We’d recommend you take two minutes to read all the questions! While one essay might seem easy, you may find you run out of points and arguments. Using your time wisely will enable you to gauge how comfortable you are with a topic from your background knowledge.

2. Remember to Plan your essay

There are many reasons why you should plan your essay before you begin writing. These include:

• You don’t have much space so you need to make it count!
• It allows you to get your thoughts down on paper before writing
• You’ll write faster once you have a plan
• You run the risk of missing the point if you don’t plan

There’s no set period of time that should be dedicated to planning. This differs for everyone because everyone is different! You should spend as long as you want planning, provided you have enough time to legibly write your essay. As a rough guide, we’d recommend 5-10 minutes.

3. Learn how to structure your essay

It is important that your essay has a clear framework and logical progression, such as the following structure:

• Introduction: introduce the topic and give a brief outline of what you will discuss.
• Main argument: discuss the facts in favour of your position.
• Counter-argument: present arguments to the contrary.
• Conclusion: state what you believe and why.

You can then begin to structure your essay, including the way that points will be linked. At this stage, it is worth considering the balance of your argument and confirming that you have considered arguments from both sides of the debate. Once this general structure has been established, it is useful to consider any examples or real-world information that may help to support your arguments.

Finally, you can begin to assess the plan as a whole and establish what your conclusion will be based on your arguments. You can use a variety of methods to actually put your ideas down, whether this is a mind map, bullet points or PROs and CONs, use what is best for you.

4. Practise timed essay writing

Section B of the LNAT requires you to write a 500-750 word essay in 40 minutes, so it’s important to get used to writing under strict time constraints. To get started, we recommend working with the sample essay topics , focusing on building a compelling argument with a logical structure. It may be beneficial to begin writing without time constraints before gradually picking up the pace.

Never avoid writing about topics you do not know much about. This can be dangerous for your LNAT score in the exam if only topics you are uncomfortable with come up. If you need someone to look over some practice essay answers for the LNAT and provide any guidance, then ask our LNAT tutors to mark your essay .

5. Review top-scoring essays

The LNAT website not only lists sample topics, but provides top-scoring answers to certain questions, such as “Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?”. It is strongly recommended to read through these, to gauge how you should present your argument and get an idea of what the examiners are looking for.

Writing an LNAT Essay

To give you an idea of what you should be trying to achieve with your LNAT Section B essay, we’ll do a brief worked example together. Consider the question: “Abortion should only be permitted in certain circumstances.” Discuss.

Introduction

Present a brief outline of what you will discuss. In this case, you should clearly define “Abortion” (e.g. the termination of a pregnancy). If you wish, you can highlight the key themes that will run through the essay, but keep it short!

You should have a bunch of points written down that you can call on for this section. Here are some points considering arguing for abortion we came up with during the planning stage:

In the event of a medical issue

Disability of the child

Sexual assault

The mother wants to give up the foetus

The mother is too young

You now have a choice of several points you can use, but you can’t go into detail for all of them! You should focus on the  quality  not  quantity  of points made. Choose the points from which you can make the most original contribution.

Once you have chosen your points, you should create a structure:

Paragraph 1: Disability of the child

Paragraph 2: Sexual assault

Paragraph 3: In the event of a medical issue

You should then write PROs and CONs of each point for each paragraph. Ensure you have a balanced essay that considers all points of view fairly. Thinking about all elements of an argument is important; thinking of alternative views can strengthen your argument for or against something.

Here you will bring together the points from the main body. You shouldn’t bring any new points into the conclusion, focus just on what you have previously spoken about. If you have summarised each point in the main body, then a shorter conclusion will suffice, and vice versa.

Extra LNAT Section B Tips

• The ideal LNAT essay is 500-600 words long. If you write less than this your essay will be too short to be evaluated properly and you are unlikely to do well.
• You should try and remove repetition, surplus words, and digressions. This kind of discipline will be rewarded.
• Do not sit on the fence or say that each side of the argument has a point unless you go on to say which point each side has. This is different from considering both sides and will come off as indecisive. 
• Your opinions do not matter, all the Admissions Tutors are interested in seeing is your ability to defend a position which may or may not be your own personal opinion.
• Do not try and impress with fancy words or elaborate style that have no substance. Be straightforward in your writing and your argument.

Practical Preparation for the LNAT

Preparing for the LNAT isn’t all about practising for the questions, however. There are some practical considerations to keep in mind, away from the content of the Admissions Test itself. You will need to ensure you are ready to attend the actual test, or else you may face complications before you even see the paper. 

Make sure to check the deadlines for the universities you are applying to and remember that test places get booked up quickly. Do not leave it until the last minute. It should go without saying, but you must ensure that your chosen universities actually require the LNAT first. Doing some research into how these unis use the LNAT will also help you set your expectations for the minimum you should achieve. 

If you are applying for Oxford or Cambridge, you will need to have sat the LNAT on or before 15 th October. If you are not applying to Oxbridge, you have until 25 th January.

Make sure to take photo identification and a printout of your confirmation email to the test centre with you. Arrive 20 minutes early, as if you are late, you may not be allowed to sit the test.

Ultimately, passing the LNAT test is a challenging but achievable goal, but by following these steps for your LNAT preparation, you can improve your chances of doing so and pave the way towards a rewarding future in Law.

What you have got to remember that the LNAT is your opportunity to demonstrate to the Admissions Tutors that you are capable of succeeding at an academically demanding subject. As long as you use your skills of deduction for the multiple-choice questions and argue coherently in your essay you are sure to do well. 

Remember, the LNAT is not designed to trip you up. Its purpose is to allow you to demonstrate the skills that are necessary for a career in Law. Following these tips and effectively preparing for the test will improve your chances of getting a good LNAT Score .

Looking to effectively boost your LNAT score?

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The Definitive Starter Guide To The LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) 2023

Written by: Matt Amalfitano-Stroud

If you are thinking about taking the LNAT, this article is for you! We’re going to be covering both basic information that teaches you about the LNAT and more in-depth explorations of each LNAT section, as well as example questions and essay structures. 

LNAT BASICS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Before you get started with your LNAT preparation, here’s some key information about the exam. You’ll learn what the LNAT is, why it is used, who needs to sit the exam and more. Let’s jump right in:

Let’s start with the absolute basics shall we…

What is the LNAT?

The LNAT is an admissions test, taken on a computer, used by some universities to shortlist candidates for their undergraduate Law degree programmes and their interviews, including both Oxbridge Universities.

The test is designed to test your reasoning, ability to comprehend a text, evidence-based reading and writing skills. The LNAT does NOT test your legal knowledge and you are NOT expected to have any .

What is the LNAT's Structure?

The LNAT has a simple structure as it consists of two sections, Section A and Section B. 

Section A includes multiple-choice questions based on 12 text passages , with three to four multiple choice questions each. There are 42 questions in total.

Section B requires you to write one essay . You will be given three proposed prompts , of which you will choose the one option which suits you best.

This tables sums up what you can expect to see in the LNAT: 

LNAT Structure

Why is the LNAT used?

The LNAT is used as an admissions requirement as it provides universities with a fair and objective tool to assess their candidates.

It tests the students’ intellectual ability without requiring any prior legal knowledge and it helps them differentiate applicants by measuring their critical reasoning skills which are essential to any Law student.

How Much does the LNAT Cost?

Applicants will need to pay a fee in order to sit the LNAT . The fees are as follows: 

LNAT UK Fee

Lnat international fee.

This fee will be paid during your registration for the test and is paid via any major credit or debit card. If you’re unable to pay in this method, you can also purchase an LNAT voucher via cheque or bank transfer. 

Candidates who will struggle to pay this fee and are currently collecting certain state benefits will be able to apply for the LNAT Bursary online. You can find out more on the link provided. 

How to Register for the LNAT?

To register for the LNAT, you need to create an account on Pearson Vue , the organisation responsible for running it. After setting an account up on their website, you will receive an email confirmation together with further instructions about how to book your place for the LNAT. This will include providing details of your location and, at the end of the process, payment. 

Bear in mind that many students take the LNAT each year, so it is best to sign up for the test as early as possible, to make sure you will get to take the test at the centre you want on your preferred date.

Where is the LNAT held?

There are over 500 LNAT test centres around the world with 150 in the UK . To check the closest exam centre and to access full information about them, use thi s live test centre locator . It is better to regularly check the status of the centre you want to take the test at to make sure they are fully functioning, as centres may close for certain periods of time. 

Which Universities Require the LNAT?

There are 11 Law Schools in the UK and 2 International Universities that require their applicants to sit the LNAT. No exceptions are made in this process, so all applicants must sit the exam. 

UK LNAT Universities

• University of Bristol
• Durham University
• King’s College London
• University of Nottingham
• University of Cambridge
• University of Glasgow
• LSE London School of Economics and Political Science
• University of Oxford
• University College London (UCL)

International LNAT Universities

• IE University, Spain
• SUSS Singapore University of Social Sciences

Please note that 2022 was the first year that the University of Cambridge will require the LNAT for their law course. In previous years, Cambridge has used an in-house admissions test called the Cambridge Law Test (CLT). This test has since been discontinued in favour of the LNAT.

Key LNAT Dates

As the LNAT is a computer-based test, you have the flexibility of taking it pretty much whenever you want before or after having submitted your UCAS application. However, there are two important aspects you need to keep in mind.

Firstly, make sure to check if the universities you are applying to have set a deadline for students to take the LNAT.  If you are applying to start university in September/October 2024, the timelines for Oxford and other universities, according to the official website, are the following:

Oxbridge Universities

As Oxford and Cambridge have their deadlines set earlier than the other universities, it is really important that you prepare for, book and take the test as soon as possible, before October 15th.

All Other Universities

Note that it would be very sensible to double-check everything with the universities you apply to as a precaution. Missing an important deadline will be the breaking point of your application, so it’s never a good idea to leave things to chance.

If you are an international student submitting a late application you may be allowed to sit the exam by 31st July 2023, but this is highly dependant on the individual arrangements of the university.

How hard is the LNAT?

The LNAT is quite a difficult exam. It tests a variety of skills under time pressure, so preparation and practice are essential if you aim to achieve a good score.

There key skills that you will need to prepare are your deduction and verbal reasoning skills . You’ll be answering questions about fairly complex pieces of writing , so you need to be able develop a deep understanding of writing and reasoning techniques in order to perform well. 

As for the essay writing, many of these skills will transfer over , but with the addition of being required to express your own ideas instead of reading someone else’s. 

How is the LNAT scored?

Your LNAT score represents the score achieved in Section A of the test. The maximum score is 42 , as each question is marked with one point. A computer will check your answers in Section A and it will generate your LNAT score which will be made available to universities .

The essay written in Section B will not be scored separately and won’t affect the overall score in any way. This is due to nature of essay marking, as this process cannot be automated.

Instead, it will be sent to the universities you applied to for them to evaluate alongside the other elements of your application . The weight and nature of which different universities handle essay marking can vary greatly, so be sure to research if your chosen universities place importance on Section B or not .

You can find out everything you need to know about LNAT Results in The Definitive Guide to your LNAT Score.

When/How are LNAT Results Released?

Within 24 hours of sitting the LNAT, Pearson VUE will make your LNAT score and essay available to download by your chosen universities. They will see your score before you do as candidates are emailed their results twice a year , depending on when they sat the test. If you took the LNAT on or before January 26th , you will receive your result in mid-February , otherwise you can expect to get it as late as mid-August . The results will be sent to you via the email address you provided during registration.

What is a Good LNAT Score?

Your score is based purely on the multiple-choice section of the exam. This section contains 42 questions , each of which is worth one mark.

LNAT scores vary from year to year and so what a good score is changes depending on the average achieved in that cohort . Also, different universities have different requirements. For example, what a score that might be good enough to secure a place at King’s College London might not be enough for University of Oxford .

The average scores achieved by candidates in the past five years are as follows:

From this data we can see that the average LNAT results across the these years have formed an up-and-down pattern , with scores peaking in the 2019 application cycle . Overall however, applicants are generally scoring higher than they did five years ago. 

Preparing for the LNAT can be tough, let Exams.Ninja help you through it!

With the LNAT Preparation Platform , you’ll gain access to a comprehensive collection of revision notes, strategy guides and expert tutorials to teach you everything you need to know about picking apart a passage and writing a flawless argument!

LNAT SECTION A

The first section of the LNAT is the multiple choice section, where you will have to answer questions about different written passages relating a wide variety of topics. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about this part of the test!

Section A of the LNAT requires you to answer a collection of 42 multiple-choice questions based on a total of 12 short passages within 95 minutes . These passages are taken from a large variety of writers and do not adhere to any specific theme or subject. Basically, these passages could be about anything!

Due to this, the questions you will be asked are not based on content knowledge , so you won’t need to have prior knowledge of any specific subject going into the test. The majority of these questions will also have nothing to do with law , so legal knowledge is not being tested in the LNAT. 

Instead, Section A is essentially a comprehension test that challenges your ability to read and understand a piece of writing . Before we delve deeper into what the exam actually tests, let’s find take a look at the basic information you need to know.

LNAT Section A Structure

Section A of the LNAT is pretty simple in it’s layout and structure , but let’s quickly run through the basics of what you can expect on the paper.

Number of Questions

Number of passages.

This image shows an official online sample of the LNAT and provides a good idea of how the real test will look on the day. 

Your typical LNAT passage will be between 2 and 6 paragraphs long and will typically take up as much space as you see on the image, if not a bit more . You should be aware that some source state that the LNAT passages are weighed by difficulty , meaning passages will get harder as you get further into the test.

What Skills and Abilities are Tested in Section A of the LNAT?

Section A of the LNAT  aims to highlight candidates with strong  deduction and verbal reasoning skills . The questions will require you to demonstrate your ability to think about what you read, so a deep understanding of a written material is a must. You will need to be able to quickly identify the key issues in a passage, any arguments made, and to use logic and deduction to distinguish between facts, assumptions , or opinions expressed.

Section A actually has two general types of questions spread throughout:

Argument and Analysis Questions

These questions relate to any points or arguments that the author is trying to make with their writing. These questions may ask you to examine an individual paragraph or the the passage as a whole in order to determine the author’s intentions or views .  

Literary Style Questions

These questions will require you to understand literary elements used by the author, be it words, phrases or writing techniques . You will usually need to determine factual information rather than the writer’s own opinions for these questions.

Some of the skills you’re going to need to learn/practice for Section A of the LNAT include:

• Comprehension
• Interpreting texts
• Construe and identify arguments

There’s a lot more to learn about this, so we recommend you check out our full LNAT Section 1 Guide to learn more about the different question types, the types of skills you will need and tips for how to effectively prepare for and take on Section 1!

How Should I Approach Section A?

As we’ve said before, you’ve got 95 minutes to complete this section of the LNAT. While that seems like a long amount of time at first, you’ve got to factor in all the reading you’ll need to do, as well as saving some time at the end to double check everything . So what’s the best way to tackle this?

1. . You definitely need to take the LNAT one passage at a time . Each passage will have a lot of elements at play so the worst thing you can do is try to read everything at once and then try to answer all the questions with what you can remember.   

2. When starting each set of questions, you’re going to need to first read the passage in full . Advice for some similar exams is to not read the full passage and skip straight to the questions , but the passages in the LNAT are much more challenging, so trying to pick out details without understanding the whole passage is going to be too difficult for most people. 

3. You may wish to read the questions briefly before you read the passage , as you will be able to highlight important areas as you read. While not essential, it could certainly save you some time .   

4. When you’re ready to start answering questions, you need to make sure you highlight keywords . You can then search for these words in the text and determine your answer by analysing the relevant exert .  

How exactly should you allocate your time within the 95 minutes you have to complete this section? 

Passage Reading:  2 Minutes Per Passage = 22 Minutes/95 Minutes

Answering Questions: ≅90   Seconds per Question = 63 Minutes/95 Minutes

Double Checking Answers:  10 Minutes/95 Minutes

This isn’t the definitely correct amount of time to spend overall but it’s useful to know how long everything should take when time is split equally .  You may be able to breeze through some questions in under a minute while other could leave you stuck for two minutes or more . 

One thing to remember is not to linger too long on a question if you really aren’t getting. You’ll be better off moving on and getting marks for the questions afterwards rather than using all your time on the one question you don’t know. If you have time to go back and try again at the end , then that will always be the best option!

Prepare by Reading

Probably the most useful tip for the LNAT is to read as much as you can before the test, and to think critically about the points raised, arguments made, issues addressed. 

Reading newspapers can greatly help you stay informed about current affairs, technology developments. It will also come in handy when preparing for Section B , which requires you to write an essay.

Reading accurate, high-quality articles is also important as this will help you build vocabulary and get used to the formal style of LNAT Section A passages. So The Sun probably isn’t your best bet for this!

The Best Newspapers to Read for the LNAT

The Guardian

The Economist

Financial Times

The New York Times

The Independent

Each publication has articles written on a broad range of topics so it would be helpful to cover as many and as diverse areas as you can. After reading an article, you can also test your understanding by asking yourself:

• What are the main points raised?
• What facts are presented?
• What assumptions are made?
• What is the conclusion?
• What are the arguments made? Are they strong and persuasive or rather weak and easy to rebut?
• What assumptions aare made?
• What are the arguments made? Are the strong and persuasive?

Let’s take what we now know about LNAT Section A and put it into practice! 

This is  practice questions for the LNAT, along with fully worked solutions for each of the question stems. The passages are quite long but that’s the format of the exam so we’ve left it as you’d find it on the day .

If you find these questions helpful for practicing, you’re going to want to check out LNAT.Ninja , which features over 350 LNAT practice questions with worked solutions , along with expert tutorials and past papers taken in realistic LNAT exam conditions!

LNAT Practice Passage 1: Car Ownership

In 1989, when the environment was briefly top of the UK national agenda, a group of Chinese planners came to London. Many of the people who met them wanted to know how the country had managed to get so many citizens to ride bicycles – something the British authorities were unable to do. The Chinese were perplexed. “You don’t understand”, said one. “In 20 years time, no more bicycles. All cars.” That prediction is being realised. Beijing’s roads, once kerb-to-kerb with bikes, are now choked with cars. In terms of traffic, noise and air pollution, Shanghai could be Lagos or Cairo.

City after Chinese city is widening its roads, building flyovers and underpasses to cater for the increasing number of cars. The fastest automobile explosion the world has ever known is underway across the world’s most populous country. The bike, just a generation ago the transport of choice, is being driven off the street.

Last year, the Chinese reportedly bought four million new cars. Auto numbers there, says the World Bank, are now doubling roughly every four years. Commentators suggest that the country’s 1.3bn people will have more cars than the US within 25 years. Even now, the world’s leading carmakers are spending billions on setting up plants, vehicle prices are dropping precipitously, and the car has become the object of the new consumer’s dreams.

It is a similar story throughout the developing world. For the first time, more than one million new cars were sold in India last year, and the automobile industry there is growing at a rate of about 20% a year. The car fleets of Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, and Nigeria are growing at similar rates.

But compared to the West, these numbers are as nothing. Private car ownership in the US is about 745 vehicles per 1,000 people, with slightly lower rates in Europe. There may be one car for every 2.4 British people, but only eight Indians and Chinese in 1,000 so far have a car.

Transport, says the Energy Saving Trust, accounts for 26% of all Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions and is the fastest growing source of global emissions. While the US is by far the greatest source, figures released this month by the European Environment Agency figures show emissions are still rising in Europe, making it unlikely that EU countries, as a bloc, will meet their Kyoto target.

Transport in developing countries, however, could exceed those in the industrialised world within five years.

Three years ago, US energy secretary Spencer Abraham suggested that there would be 3.5bn motor vehicles by 2050, almost four times as many as there are today. Unless there is a dramatic switch away from inefficient petrol and gas-driven cars towards biofuels, hydrogen, solar and clean electric power, this growth will be an impossibility. At the simplest level, there will not be enough oil. At the moment, oil supplies and refinery capacity can only just meet world demand from 795m vehicles.

Andrew McKillop, author of The World’s Final Energy Crisis, calculates that China, India and other developing countries will never be able to achieve the vehicle “saturation” ownership levels of the US. “There is simply no prospect of China, India, Malaysia, Brazil, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, Mexico and other emerging car Sample Test 1 18 producers being able to achieve US, west European, Australian or Japanese rates of car production and ownership,” he says. “At current consumption rates, the estimate of 3.5bn motor vehicles would increase world oil consumption by about 70%.” In fact, the petrol used to fuel a car is the very end of a massive industrial process that requires oil at every point. Each car requires up to the equivalent of 55 barrels of oil, and runs on tyres that are about 40% oil by weight, often on tarmac (oil-based) roads. The real volume of oil needed to equip the world with cars is much higher than expected. “Not only is an explosion of the world car fleet a serious threat to the global environment,” McKillop says, “but through its impact on oil demand, it will become a threat to international stability.”

LNAT Practice Question 1

According to the passage, why will car ownership in emerging countries not be able to reach Western levels?

A. There will not be enough oil.

B. People will not be able to afford the increasing costs of ownership.

C. It would be too much of a threat to international stability.

D. It would be too much of a threat to the global environment.

E. There is already an energy crisis.

The correct answer is A.

To answer this type of question you can first cross out answers which are barely mentioned, or not even at all. You then must focus on what the passage actually says: ‘’At the simplest level, there will not be enough oil. At the moment, oil supplies and refinery capacity can only just meet world demand from 795m vehicles.’’ – this part of the passage essentially gives you the answer you need – the lack of oil.

LNAT Practice Question 2

What is the main cause of the problem posed by cars today?

A. The car fleets of Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, and Nigeria.

B. The level of car ownership in the US.

C. 20% growth in the car industry in India.

D. The level of car ownership in EU countries.

E. Four million new cars in China.

The correct answer is B.

You can first identify the problems posed by cars today as they appear in the passage and then decide which one is the ‘main’ one, as asked by the question. The text does mention developing countries first, but then it goes on to say how the issue is bigger in the West (Europe and the US). If you pay attention, you notice that the passage states how Europe has slightly lower rates than the US, which gives you the answer you are looking for.

LNAT Practice Question 3

Which of the following, according to the passage, is a fact?

A. Last year the Chinese bought four million new cars.

B. Within 25 years there will be more cars in China than the US.

C. The EU countries will not meet their Kyoto target.

D. China, India and other developing countries will never be able to achieve the vehicle ownership levels of the US.

E. 3.5bn motor vehicles would increase world oil consumption by about 70%.

The correct answer is E.

To answer this question, you need to make the distinction between fact, opinion, assertion, or mere speculation. Therefore, you need to go back to the passage and check if the answer option is in fact someone’s opinion. For instance, A cannot be a fact because of the word ‘reportedly’, option B can be crossed out as it is clearly the opinion of ‘’commentators’’, C because of ‘unlikely’. Option D is in contradiction with the part ‘’Transport in developing countries, however, could exceed those in the industrialised world within five years.’’ and there is no other evidence to suggest that it might be a fact.

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LNAT SECTION B

Section B is very different from what we’ve looked at, you could even consider it to be the exact opposite! You’ll be in the writers seat for this section, so let’s take a look at what you need to know to write a successful LNAT Essay!

Section B requires you to write an essay within 40 minutes . Depending on where your skills lie, that may sound super easy ro super difficult! However, while the task is designed to be challenging, it’s also test that shouldn’t be a problem for anyone who has the necessary skills to earn a place in law school. 

The 40 minute deadline is quite tight, but you’re not being expected to write 50 page comprehensive report either! The word limit for your essay is 750 words , although an essay around the 600-700 words mark will be perfectly acceptable for the LNAT.

You will be given a choice of three essay prompts , which could be a lot of different things . You may be asked to answer a specific question about a topic. You may be given a statement and asked if you agree with it or not. Or you may just be given a piece of information and told to “Discuss” . This amount of variety also spreads to the question topics which, just like Section A, could be about hundreds of topics!

There’s no “best” option to choose here. All prompts are marked as equals and the section will not affect your LNAT score as it will be separately assessed by the universities you applied to. So in the end, the choice comes down to which prompt you believe you could write the best essay about.

Which Essay Prompt Should I Choose?

Before we answer this question, let’s take a look at some previous essay prompts featured in the LNAT:

• How should judges be appointed?
• Make the best case you can for public funding of the arts.
• Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?
• In a Western society arranged marriages should no longer be tolerated. Discuss.
• ‘It is right that students should contribute to the cost of their degrees.’ Do you agree?
• The internet and instant communication technologies are profoundly changing our world for the better. Do you agree?
• What is your response to the view that the purpose of education is to prepare young people for the world of work?
• What disciplinary sanctions should teachers be allowed to use?
• ‘We must be prepared to sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism.’ Discuss.
• Should the law require people to vote in general elections?
• Should private cars be rationed? If so, how?
• What is ‘political correctness’ and why does it matter?

In the exam, you should always choose a prompt that you are comfortable with , one which allows you to build an argument around it and gives examiners the chance to see that you are able to take a stance on a topic. Choosing a something that you know nothing about won’t let you fully explore what you’re writing about, leading to an underwhelming essay .  

However, it’s also not always be as simple as picking the topic you know the most about . The best way to approach the LNAT essay is to pick the prompt that interests you the most . It’s more than likely this topic will also be one you know a lot about, but having that interest will create a genuine drive to create the best quality essay you can. 

With that being said, you must also ensure you actually understand what the prompt is asking from you in order to deliver an essay that actually answers the question . For example, an essay discussing the tolerance of arranged marriages in western society isn’t going to benefit from an in-depth analysis of the process behind arranged marriages (at least not in an LNAT essay). Remember, you’ve only got 750 words , so you’re writing needs to satisfy what the prompt is asking .

You can see that some of these prompt have two different questions or discussion points included in them. For example, “Should private cars be rationed? If so, how?” 

If you’ve chosen to take on a prompt like this, it’s important not to forget about either part the question . Ideally, each question would have an equal amount of space dedicated to them , but sometimes that may not be possible or necessary. 

At the end of the day, as long as you’ve responded to both parts of the prompt , your essay will have answered the question properly.

How to Approach LNAT Section B

Approaching this essay will likely be much different from essays you’ve written in the past. This will all be because of the limitations in place. 

Firstly is the 40 minute time-limit. 40 minutes to write a full, high-quality essay is tough, but it’s definitely manageable.

Secondly is the word count limit . 750 words is not a lot to create a truly comprehensive argument, but that’s not what the LNAT is asking of you . The point of this essay to demonstrate your verbal reasoning and cognitive skills more so than your ability to create a definitive answer to the question. Therefore, your essay needs to be smaller in scale , focusing on one or two points that are explored and discussed effectively . 

The biggest sacrifice in an LNAT essay is your chance for extensive planning . Of course, you absolutely should not go head first into the essay without even a basic structure. Doing this will guarantee that your essay is messy an incohesive.  

It is recommended that you spend up to 5 minutes of you time on the planning phase. During this time, you will be able to do the following:

• Briefly note all the different potential views and factors of the topic
• Choose the best point/s to base your essay on.
• Create a paragraph-by-paragraph structure

Once you have a clear idea about what you want to write about and how you will construct your argument, it will be much easier for you to write the essay . You’ll be able to get straight into writing as you won’t need to be thinking too much about your topic or structure . Also, you will have cut all the fat out of the essay before you even began writing, so completing your essay within the allocated word count will be much easier. 

How To Plan & Write LNAT Section B Essay

Essay Prompt: DNA testing should be made compulsory. Discuss.

Introduction

Decide which stance you want to take (in favour/against compulsory DNA testing) and signpost your view on the matter.

Set the background (use the information you already know, do not try to make up facts!)

Points you could include:

• Compulsory DNA registration is a controversial topic;
• the creation of a DNA database raises concerns: this information could be used in ways that threaten people’s individual privacy and rights
• In my opinion, DNA registration would not play such a significant role in making justice, so the disadvantages posed by implementing this measure would outnumber the advantages.

Opposing argument : As a Law student, it is important to see both sides of an argument, so your essay should ideally include arguments that support the opposing view. You can include this either at the very beginning and then dismiss them in the rest of your essay, or before the conclusion.

• Compulsory DNA testing is a major advance in policing and is effective in tracing people who are suspected of committing a crime
• This method can facilitate the procedure and diminishing the probability to wrongly imprison individuals
• However, in my view, the system is not foolproof and this could result in miscarriages of justice. Relying solely on DNA samples does not guarantee the reaching of a just verdict.

Your argument: You should aim to build a cogent argument and make use of facts, statistics, examples. In the actual exam you might not know precise numbers, so relying on general principles, examples, or approximating statistics can help you make your case.

• Collecting DNA samples from every individual and storing them indefinitely amounts to an interference within the meaning of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
• Creating a database means including confidential information not only about people convicted of serious crimes who might pose a threat to society, but also about those who have never done something illegal or immoral.
• This would fail to respect human dignity and would treat people as potential offenders, thus leading to a loss of trust among citizens. Therefore, this significant shift in expanding the database from convicted murderers or rapists to persons who have merely been arrested blurs the line between guilty and not guilty, hence undermining the presumption of innocence.
• Moreover, DNA databases also shift the burden of proof because people with records on them may be required to prove their innocence if a match occurs between their DNA profile and a crime scene DNA profile at some point in the future.

Second argument: If you have more examples of principles clashing (national security vs. individual privacy for instance) make sure to include those as well in another paragraph.

• anyone who can access an individual’s forensic DNA profile can use it to track the individual and their relatives
• A DNA database could be easily misused by Governments or anyone who can infiltrate in the system
• We know from history how paper-based databases of individuals’ records have been a powerful force in facilitating oppressive regimes and genocide, from the Nazis and the Stasi to Rwanda (another example which you can draw on from general knowledge)
• Thus, DNA databases significantly shift the balance of power from the individual to the state (always state your conclusion to answer the question asked)

Make sure you have enough time to write a conclusion! It is very important to respect the structure of the essay.

• To conclude, DNA is undoubtedly a valuable tool in criminal investigations and has helped to catch the perpetrators of some very serious crimes, including rapes and murders.
• However, in addition the problems raised by the introduction of such a measure are of grave nature and so render the apparent advantages unpersuasive
• Problems raised: concerns about privacy and rights, difficulties in collecting relevant and useful crime scene DNA, the costs and practical difficulties associated with collecting and keeping reliable computer records of DNA profiles.

LNAT Section B Tips

Once again, pre-reading is essential here: the more you read, the better you will do in the exam!

Plan & write as many essays as you can, on a variety of topics to get comfortable writing about diverse topics. All the newspaper’s you’ve accumulated through your Section A practice will come in handy for inspiration . 

Time Yourself

Once you’ve gotten a few practice essays done, it will be time to practice under strict exam conditions. This is to make sure you will be able to plan & type your essay in 40 minutes . It is probably best to try and do this at least a couple of times before the exam .

Spell and Grammar Check

Re-read the answer to check if you have accidentally misspelt or omitted any words . One small error isn’t likely to affect your essay’s quality, but multiple small mistakes build up in the end, so it’s best to take the time to check while you can.

This should give you a good start to your LNAT Section B preparation! However, there’s even more to learn about how you can tackle you LNAT essay. So for even more info , tips and example essays , check out our Definitive Guide to Section B of the LNAT!

And there you have it – a definitive guide to preparing for and doing well in the LNAT exam! We hope this has helped you understand the exam.

Here are a few closing tips from us:

• Prepare as much as you can! We recommend you plan out your preparation at least six months in advance. Check out our Preparation Timeline  for some inspiration!
• Practice tests within the exam time limit.
• Always make sure you understand the reasoning behind an answer-choice in Section A!
• Ask for help from peers, mentors or family if you're stuck or have any questions.

LNAT Deductive Reasoning: Deducing Arguments in the LNAT

Lnat preparation: your 6-month lnat preparation timeline, lnat section a: your guide to assumptions in questions, lnat section b: your guide to the second section of the lnat, lnat section a: your guide to the first section of the lnat, lnat results – the definitive guide to your lnat score.

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The Exams.Ninja LNAT Preparation Platform is an easy and fun way to combine all of your LNAT prep together in one place. You’ll get unlimited access to:  

Training Temple – check out fantastic tips and revision notes , along with a selection of tutorials created by experts!

Practice Dojo – Test your LNAT skills with over 350 practice questions from Section A and Section B of the test. Each answer comes with a fully worked solution to guide you when you don’t understand.

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The Complete Guide On How to Ace the LNAT 2024 and 2025

• Revised LNAT 2024 Edition
• 30 Full-Length Practice Tests
• 360 LNAT-Style Passages
• 1,260 Multiple-Choice Questions
• All Answers Include Explanations
• 90 Essay Questions - with model answers
• Access for 12 months from the date of purchase
• Option to Repeat All Tests Thrice for Enhanced Practice
• Random Shuffling of Answers for Repeat Practice Sessions
• Try the Free Full Length LNAT Practice Test

The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) was started by some of the popular Russell Group of Universities, to assist them in shortlisting and selecting students for their Law programs, from among the thousands who applied every year.

The LNAT helps understanding the abilities and competencies of the applicants from a perspective of their suitability to study the undergraduate law programs.

The LNAT is intended to assess your intellectual aptitude rather than your expertise in a specific subject.

Considering that applicants from diverse backgrounds apply for the Law programs, the LNAT is a standardized test that presents a similar challenge to all test-takers.

The ground rule for the LNAT is that no specific external knowledge is required or expected from the candidates. All the MCQs in section A need to be answered strictly on the basis of the information within the passages. There are no facts or figures to memorize for the text.

The LNAT does not have any pass or fail marks. The maximum marks that can be scored are 42 (out of 42), in Section A, which is automatically graded by the system.

The LNAT essay is sent ‘as is’ to the universities, to be internally assessed by them as per their specific criteria.

Unlike some other tests (e.g., GMAT), you can sit for the LNAT only once in every admission cycle. Therefore, it is very important to make your attempt count!

Format of the LNAT

The LNAT is divided into two sections and candidates have 2 hours and 15 minutes (135 minutes) in total to complete the test.

Section A – There will be 42 multiple-choice questions based on 12 passages, each accompanied by three or four questions. Test-takers have 95 minutes to answer all questions.

Section B – candidates are given 40 minutes to respond to one of three essay questions on various topics. Candidates are expected to write an essay of between 500 – 700 words in length.

Any time saved in one section cannot be carried over to the other section.

Typically, we have seen that candidates are pressed for time in section A; and not so much in section B.

LNAT Section A – Explained

In section A, there will be 12 passages in total. 6 passages will have 3 questions following them and 6 will have four questions.

So, in total there will be 42 questions – each carrying 1 mark.

There is no negative marking in the LNAT, therefore, the minimum marks a candidate can theoretically score is 0 and the maximum is 42.

As per the official information, the passages for LNAT section A, will cover seven broad areas:

This list of seven is very deceptive – since most newspaper articles, book extracts or general essays will fit into one of these categories. Don’t believe it? Just pick any article from today’s Guardian website and it can be classified under one of these seven topics.

In short, the passages in the LNAT may be derived from anywhere and on any subject.

While no prior knowledge of any specific subject is necessary, practically speaking, having a good general awareness is beneficial.

While designing the LawMint LNAT practice tests, we analysed the lengths of the LNAT passages, and we found that they are typically between 400 to 700 words in length. With some exceptions, a majority of them are closer to 500 words.

We have ensured that the passages in our LNAT practice tests cover a wide range of topics; and average around 500 words.

Time management for Section A of LNAT

The LNAT is not a difficult test per se. If taking the test without any time constraint, many candidates can score 35+.

However, the average LNAT score of all test takers in the recent cycles has hovered a little over the 50% mark, i.e., 22/42. Why is that?

The key to getting a high MCQ score in the LNAT is time management.

Candidates will have 95 minutes to complete section A, which has 42 questions – which means that on an average, test takers will have 135 seconds per question – a little over 2 minutes per question.

You will have to read the passage, read the questions and the answer options and select the correct answer, all within 2 minutes per question.

• 6 passages will have 3 questions each – that translates to 6 minutes per passage
• 6 passages will have 4 questions each – that translates to 8 minutes per passage

This is where extensive practice is very essentially:

• to develop the skills required to read lengthy passages in a couple of minutes
• to train your eyes and your brain to skim over superfluous info and focus on the main content
• to quickly understand the context and the content of the passage and the questions
• to comprehend dense and vaguely written passages on a wide variety of subjects

When we designed the LawMint LNAT practice tests, we first selected 360 passages, from a wide variety of sources. From 18 th century books on philosophy and politics, to extracts from the latest scientific journals.

Even the questions are intentionally longer and a little more complex than what you will see in the actual LNAT.

If you score at around the 50% mark in the LawMint LNAT practice test series, you will score higher in the actual test.

Can verbal reasoning skills be taught?

The LNAT is first and foremost a test for verbal reasoning. The questions are designed to assess components of verbal reasoning, such as:

• Comprehension
• Interpretation

The multiple-choice section aims to assess some of your skills such as

• Do you possess an attention to detail or tend to make hasty assumptions?
• Can you draw reasonable conclusions from the data provided to you?
• Can you effectively discern between facts, opinions, and deductions?
• Are you able to recognize the constraints of a given assertion?
• Can you detect unspoken inferences or implications?
• Are you able to identify when claims lack sufficient evidence?

Nobody is a born expert. Be it physical or mental tasks, practice does make a person perfect.

So, yes; All of the skills required for acing the LNAT can be taught, developed and honed with practice.

Dealing with the MCQ section of the LNAT

The most important rule for lnat section a – mcqs.

When you start practicing for the LNAT, you need to train yourself to ignore outside information.

The most basic rule for LNAT section A is that all the answers have to be within the given passage. Do not introduce any external data or information when you are going through the passages and the questions.

Anything that is not specifically stated, implied or can be inferred on the basis of the passage is external information.

For example, read this passage and answer the question that follows:

Passage: In the current European landscape, the United Kingdom holds a unique position within the European Union. As one of the largest economies in the bloc, Britain plays a pivotal role in shaping EU policies and regulations. Although it opts not to adopt the Euro as its official currency or join the Schengen Area, the UK enjoys the benefits of the European Single Market, enabling the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people. This access fosters economic growth and stimulates cultural exchange between Britain and the rest of Europe. The UK’s participation in the EU facilitates cooperation and collaboration, strengthening the region’s global influence.

Question: Which of the following statements is incorrect?

I. The United Kingdom holds a unique position within the European Union. II. Britain plays a pivotal role in shaping EU policies and regulations. III. UK enjoys the benefits of the European Single Market.

Option 1: All of the statements are correct Option 2: None of the statements are correct

As per your general awareness, the correct answer as of today, will be Option 2. However, there is nothing given in the passage to support Option 2. The passage explicitly supports Option 1. Therefore, Option 1 will be the correct answer, even though it is outdated.

How to answer LNAT section A questions

• Read the passage and understand the context, intent and content.
• Understand the progression and structure of an argument – in the passage as well as the question
• Pay close attention to the author’s tone – e.g., factual, neutral, opinionated, sarcastic, ironic, mocking.
• Differentiate between Facts, Assumptions, Inferences and Opinions – strictly on the basis of the passage.
• Read the questions carefully and understand what is being asked. For example, are there any double negatives? E.g., Isn’t it true that you don’t dislike pizza?
• Practice filtering out relevant information from extraneous material
• See which reading technique works for you – a thorough reading in the first pass, or a quick skim through first and focussed reading next
• Some test takers prefer reading the questions frost and then reading the passage. Some prefer an opposite approach – try and see which approach works best for you.

In the LawMint LNAT Practice Tests, there are 360 passages, with 1260 questions. Experiment with different techniques and see which ones work best for you.

When you repeat a practice test, the order of the questions under each passage, and the answer options – both are shuffled for better repeat practice.

The LNAT Essay – Section B

The section ‘B’ essay part of the LNAT requires you to write a 500-to-600-word essay on one of the three given essay questions or prompts. The time limit is 40 minutes.

In each of our LNAT practice tests, you will be given three essay questions or prompts to choose from. Such as:

• Can a policy of complete open borders be justified? Discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks.
• Should social media platforms be held accountable for the spread of fake news? Explain your answer.
• Should the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement be regulated? Explain your answer.

Unlike the MCQ section, the LNAT essay is not marked. The LNAT essay is sent ‘as is’ to the universities chosen by the test-taker.

The universities evaluate the applicant essays as per their own admissions process. Some may give the essay significant weightage in the overall candidature; whereas others may use it as an additional parameter, used marginally at best.

The important thing to remember about these essay questions is that they do not have a right or a wrong answer.

The essay is being used to evaluate your:

• Ability to understand the topic
• Ability to write a concise and compelling argument
• Ability to defend a point of view
• Command of the English language

Each of the three essay questions will appears in its own screen. Answer only one question. You can view all three of them by using the ‘Next’ and ‘Back’ buttons and select the essay question you like.

The LNAT essay question screen will have buttons for ‘cut’, ‘copy’, ‘paste’, ‘undo’ and ‘redo’. There is no spelling or grammar check function.

The system has a built-in word counter at the bottom of the text field. The ideal length of the essay is 500-to-600-words, translating to approximately one A4 page of content; to be written in around 30 minutes. The remaining 10 minutes should be used to review and polish your essay.

How to approach the section B essay

In our LNAT practice tests, we have provided 90 essay questions for extensive practice. By writing essays on a wide array of topics, you will become comfortable with structuring the information you have in a compelling manner.

• Plan a balanced essay – The essay should display your ability to consider multiple aspects of the topics, both pros and cons.
• Put your thoughts down – Type out your thoughts to create the basic outline of your essay. You can then build on the outline.
• Keep an eye on the clock – Remember, thirty minutes for planning and typing out the 500–600-word essay; and 10 minutes to edit and polish it.
• Argumentative not Opinionated! – Your essay should be based mostly on arguments and not simply on opinions. Your data and evidence to support your arguments.

Practicing for the LNAT

Try out the free LNAT practice tests available on the official website and other sources.

The more you practice, the better prepared you are for the real LNAT.

Check out LawMint LNAT Practice Test – which includes 360 passages, 30 full length tests with 1260 questions and 90 essay questions.

Stay tuned for more articles on how to crack the LNAT.

• Access for 6 Months from Purchase Date
• Use coupon LNAT20 on checkout screen for 20% off

UCL Faculty of Laws

LNAT Practice Test

Practicing the same type of questions which will appear in an actual LNAT test is vitally important to scoring highly. Unfortunately the number of actual official LNAT practice tests or past LNAT papers is very low.

Only two past papers are available on the official LNAT website . You should of course obtain these but you'll definitely want more to practice on.

In our online LNAT course you can get immediate access to over 200+ realistic LNAT practice questions all with fully worked solutions, just click the button below for full details.

Practice tests can offer several key benefits:

• Familiarity with Test Format: The LNAT has a unique format, including a multiple-choice reading comprehension section and an essay section. By doing practice tests, you become familiar with this format, which can help reduce anxiety on test day.
• Timing Practice: The LNAT is a timed test. Practice tests can help you get a sense of how quickly you need to work to complete the test in the given time. This is particularly important for the multiple-choice section, where time management is crucial.
• Identifying Weaknesses: Practice tests can help you identify areas where you struggle, whether that's certain types of reading comprehension questions, essay writing, or time management. Once you've identified these areas, you can focus your preparation efforts on improving them.
• Tracking Progress: If you do multiple practice tests over the course of your preparation, you can track your scores to see how you're improving. This can help you gauge whether your preparation methods are effective.
• Confidence Building: The more practice tests you do, the more confident you'll likely feel about your ability to do well on the actual test.

However, remember that while doing practice tests is important, they're just one part of a balanced preparation strategy. It's also important to read widely, work on your critical thinking skills, and practice your essay writing.

Keep in mind that the LNAT is not about rote learning or memorization, but about demonstrating skills like comprehension, interpretation, analysis, and argumentation. So, using practice tests as an opportunity to hone these skills can be a good approach.

How do I answer an LNAT essay question?

In the LNAT, you'll have a choice of two short essay questions, from which you pick one to answer. You'll only have 45 minutes to answer this essay, and don't worry if you don't feel like you know much about the field surrounding the question, or any facts or figures. The examiners are not looking for specific knowledge about a topic; they're looking for your ability to create a convincing argument. Having said that, if there's a question that you do know a bit about, or one that looks particularly interesting, pick that one!Unlike in many GCSE and A-Level essay-writing subjects, which require you to answer in the following format:a) Paragraph 1 (list of arguments in favour of a statement)b) Paragraph 2 (list of arguments against the statement)c) Concluding paragraph showing which argument you supportthe LNAT is different. In the LNAT essay, you should pick a point of view (either for or against ) from the start and it's important to mention which side you're on in the introduction and continue this throughout. Think of three reasons why you agree or disagree with the statement/ question in the title and use these as your three key arguments and paragraphs to guide you through. With each argument and paragraph, try to quickly introduce a counter-argument and explain briefly why you do not support this point of view. If you run out of time and can't write about all three, don't worry! Two strong arguments are just as good! Examples of an LNAT essay question: Should prisoners be given the right to vote? A parent should never have the right to choose and influence their child's religion. Do you agree or disagree?

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