Prepare for the LNAT Test!

• About the LNAT
• Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions
• Section B: Essay
• Getting Your Results
• Which Law Schools Use LNAT?
• Preparing for the LNAT Test

About the LNAT

The Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) is one of the main factors that determine your acceptance to a law degree in the UK. Law schools rely heavily on the results of this test, as well as other methods such as A levels (or an equivalent) and interviews, to screen many of its candidates. 

The purpose of the LNAT is to assess the necessary aptitudes related to the field of law and its practice, rather than particular knowledge of law or other subjects, thus minimizing the impact that socio-economic factors, personal background, and education have on the performance.

Instead, the LNAT measures advanced verbal reasoning skills, making logical inferences and deductions, distinguishing between fact and opinion or speculation, determining what is relevant and what is not, and identifying strong and weak arguments.

The test is computerized, with the use of pen and scrap paper being permitted, and lasts for two hours and 15 minutes. The exam is divided into two sections: multiple-choice questions and an essay.

LNAT Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

This section has a total of 42 questions based on 12 argumentative passages, with each passage being followed by either three or four questions. It takes a total of 95 minutes to complete this portion of the test and a perfect score is 42. The scoring is done by a computer.

There is only one answer that is correct for each question and finding it requires reading the passage entirely. Information not included in the passage from any kind of personal knowledge should be ignored when choosing the answer. This section focuses on measuring your ability to deal with different situations. Wrong answers are not penalized.

LNAT Section B: Essay

After finishing the first section, you will be given a writing task. You will have a total of 40 minutes to write your essay, including choosing and discussing a subject out of three possibilities.

The purpose of the essay is to demonstrate how well you can develop an argument. For this, your essay should contain not only a strong reason to support your arguments, but also a logical connection to the content of your essay. You are not tested on your knowledge of certain facts, but rather the reasoning behind your argument.

For this purpose, you may have as many assumptions as you would like, provided that there is no inner contradiction within your logic. Said assumptions should always be stated to create a proper, clear context from which the reader can understand your point of view, the reasons for the assumptions, and the conclusion. Creating a line of thought is critical to submit an essay that will be satisfactory.

The essay should have between 500 to 600 words (no more than 750). Essays that have a shorter length will probably lack an important part of the argument and thus will not be highly evaluated. A longer length may not even be checked. To track your progress, you will be provided with a word counter on screen as you type.

Always use a proper, formal language, and make sure your ideas are all clear and easy to understand. Try planning a draft of your essay as soon as you choose your topic by writing a few ideas on the side. We recommend outlining a purpose for each paragraph (introduction, arguments in favor, conclusion); this will allow you to connect your points more easily and arrive at a result that is organized and well put.

Getting Your Results

Candidates can take the test only once in a September-to-June cycle. Results are not carried over from one year to the next. Therefore, you must take the test in the same UCAS year in which you are applying.

The LNAT essay is not marked by the assessment center but rather sent along with the LNAT score to universities you choose 24 hours after you finish the test. Some universities have their own deadlines and will require you to sit the test at an early stage of the testing cycle.

Which Law Schools Use LNAT?

The list of schools below all use the LNAT as a screening method for applicants in their undergraduate law programs:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• Durham University
• University of Glasgow
• KING'S College, London
• The University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford
• SOAS University of London
• UCL Faculty of Laws
• Non-UK universities:
• Maynooth University
• IE University

Preparing for the LNAT Test

Becoming familiarized with the test is essential to improve your performance. This includes knowing exactly what questions to expect, practicing writing the essay, reviewing it, and editing if needed.

Our pack includes an LNAT-style test with explanations, tips, and additional verbal reasoning questions focused on the most important concepts of the test. TestPrep-Online provides you with a simulation for the first section of the test, as well as additional verbal reasoning practice tests to help you improve the skills required to get a good score on the test.