lnat essay plan

LNAT Essay Questions

What is the lnat essay, how do the universities assess the essay, tips to prepare for the lnat essay task, example lnat essay questions.

In Section B, you are asked to write one essay in 40 minutes from a list of three proposed subjects. This is designed to test your ability to construct a compelling argument and articulate it in a clear and persuasive manner. The subject matter typically covers topical issues in society, politics, philosophy, or ethical debates.

The essay should demonstrate a strong understanding of the subject matter and a critical approach to the issue. This includes the ability to weigh different viewpoints, provide relevant examples or evidence, and derive a reasoned conclusion. Clarity of expression, good grammar, and correct spelling are also important.

The specific criteria can vary among universities, but commonly, they look for the following in the essay:

• Argumentation : Can you construct a coherent, persuasive argument? This includes your ability to present your points logically, use evidence effectively, and address counter-arguments or alternative viewpoints.
• Understanding of the Topic : Do you demonstrate a clear understanding of the issue at hand? This can be shown through your discussion of the subject matter and the points you choose to raise.
• Critical Thinking : Are you able to think critically and analytically about the issue? This includes your ability to scrutinize different viewpoints and question assumptions.
• Clarity of Expression : How well do you express your ideas? This includes your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and general use of English.
• Organization : Is your essay well-organized? A clear introduction, logical progression of ideas, and a strong conclusion are signs of a well-structured essay.

Remember, the LNAT essay is not just about your knowledge of the topic, but rather how you apply that knowledge in formulating a balanced, reasoned argument.

It's important to note that universities will use the LNAT score in conjunction with other factors (such as academic performance, personal statement, references, and interview performance, if applicable) to make a decision about your application.

Understand the Test

Brush up your writing skills, practice critical thinking, keep up with current affairs, plan your essay, practice under test conditions, revise and review, understand different perspectives, don’t sit on the fence, proofread your work.

Remember, the most effective preparation is consistent and regular practice over time. Don't expect to perfect your skills overnight. Start preparing as early as possible, and work on improving steadily.

LNAT does not release the exact questions that have appeared on past tests. However, here are some hypothetical examples of the type of essay prompts you might encounter. These questions typically require you to take a stance on a controversial or moral issue, presenting an argument that justifies your position.

• "Should a democratic society tolerate speech that promotes hatred or incites violence?"
• "Is it justified for a government to restrict civil liberties in the name of national security?"
• "Is capital punishment ever morally justifiable?"
• "Should governments have the power to regulate content on social media platforms?"
• "Is it ethical to use animals in medical research?"
• "Are governments justified in imposing strict measures to combat climate change even if such measures may negatively impact economic growth?"
• "Is there a moral obligation for wealthy nations to assist poorer ones?"
• "Is it necessary for society to impose limitations on scientific research and why?"
• "Does the right to privacy outweigh the public’s right to know?"
• "Do the benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh the potential risks?"

Remember, in your response, you should develop a clear argument, consider and address counter-arguments or alternative viewpoints, provide relevant examples, and draw a reasoned conclusion.

For more help with writing high scoring LNAT essays and for more LNAT section B practice questions have a look at our LNAT course... click here .

• UCAS Guide >

LNAT Section B: Ten top tips to smash section B of the LNAT!

Section B of the LNAT can be tricky, students often worry that the examiners are trying to test their knowledge. Don’t worry, LNAT Section B is not about knowledge, it’s about showing the examiners that you can think through issues, argue in a clear way, and write persuasive and impressive answers. We are going to be talking about planning, structure and clarity in your answers, with easy essay hacks that jump your grade up in no time at all.

So, are you ready to improve your essay grade quickly and easily ? Here are my ten top tips for hitting top marks in section B …

1. Planning is essential 

The best essays come out of great plans . Planning helps to make your answer clearer, better structured and more coherent. 

Here’s my top tips for creating a great plan …

Step 1 – Create a little mind map about the question, scribbling down any ideas that first come to mind.

Step 2 – Decide whether you are going to argue for or against, and what evidence you are going to use.

Step 3 – Split up your arguments into themes (e.g. reason 1, reason 2, counter argument, counter counter argument).

Step 4 – Assign each theme a paragraph.

Step 5 – Stick to your plan! It can be tempting to add in new ideas as they pop into your head, but avoid this unless you have the time to rework it into your plan.

2. Structure – how to organise your writing

Essays read much better when they follow a clear structure . This can also help you streamline your ideas and make your argument more impressive.

Here is a handy essay structure you can use in your next essay:

Introduction – Briefly outline what you are going to say in your essay and your position on the topic in the question.

Argument 1 – Begin this paragraph with a one line topic sentence summarising your argument, then go on to develop and consider your point.

Argument 2 – This paragraph should look similar to ‘Argument 1’ but make sure that you are making a new argument here, and not just repeating yourself.

Counter argument and counter- counter argument – In this paragraph, you summarize the counter argument (what things might somebody who disagreed with your argument say). After outlining the counter argument, you need to think of a counter counter, this is where you dismiss the counter argument and reassert your position. It’s very important to do this – don’t sit on the fence!

Conclusion – Here, you summarize your overall position and the key arguments. You might also want to make a snazzy final comment – for example, what is the significance of your conclusion, how might your conclusion change things in the future.

3. Clarity – how to declutter your writing!

LNAT Section B essays that are clear do much better in the exam. Students often think they need to impress examiners with big words and complex language, but the examiners are not testing your vocabulary, so stick to simple language that makes your point stand out. A quick tip to improve clarity – read through your sentence, then close your eyes and say your argument in your head as if you were telling it to a friend. The sentence you say in your head will probably be clearer, so use it as a template to tweak your answer. 

Here’s an example …

“One might wonder if technological advancements in educational learning based environments are outweighed by the increased cost of transferring education online, but, I consider that the monetary cost is worthwhile for the following reasons …”

“Some argue that the benefit of using technology in education is not worth the cost of the technology. However, I believe the cost is outweighed by …”

4. Timing – split up your time for maximum efficiency

You have 40 minutes for this section. You will probably feel less time pressured than in Section A, but it can be easy to get caught up and not use your time efficiently .

Here is how I would divide up my time for maximum marks …

5 minutes: Planning

30 minutes: Writing

5 minutes: Reading and Checking

5. Practice, Practice, Practice!

The more you practice, the better you will get. Practice writing out essays with no time limits first, and then start introducing a time limit. Each time you write an essay, take another look at this checklist and think about how well you did each one. You might also find it helpful to redo an essay so you can see where you went wrong and where improvements could be made.

The LNAT website is great for practice tests. You can use the website to practice for LNAT Section B, the questions will be laid out in the same format as the test will be on the day.

Click Here for LNAT practice tests

6. A snappy intro and a clear conclusion

Your introduction needs to be snappy and clear. It should be obvious what your position on the topic is and what arguments you are going to make to support it. Your conclusion should summarize your arguments and reassert your overall position. One tip for a great intro and conclusion that some students find helpful is The Backwards Method.

The Backwards Method …

• Start by writing the main body of your essay (the argument and counter argument paragraphs).
• Write the conclusion – this reasserts your main point and summarizes why you dismissed the counter argument.
• Now write your introduction – you should be able to summarize your arguments much more easily by looking at your essay, especially re-read your topic sentences as reminders of your point.

7. Which question to pick

The LNAT Section B Questions usually cover a variety of themes (for example Law, Philosophy, Media, Education), and you will probably have a preference. But remember, the essay section in LNAT Section B is not a knowledge test ; sometimes picking something you know lots about can make your essay a bit messy. You don’t also have to accurately represent your true thoughts and opinions. So, try out lots of different topics when you’re practicing, and make sure to do a practice essay on the topic you would least like to write about. That way, if you have to write on a tricky topic in the exam, you will have at least had a go at writing a harder essay in your practice.

8. Label each paragraph and cut everything that is irrelevant

Give your paragraph a label – this should tell you everything that is going in the paragraph. Then, cut anything that is in the wrong place or doesn’t fit. Let’s do an example together …

LABEL – 

The law should be clear because it helps people guide their behaviour 

PARAGRAPH –

Clarity in the law is important because one of the functions of the law is to guide behaviour. If the law is overly complex, or if it is inaccessible, people will not be able to ascertain what the law requires from them in a certain situation. Further, people might get annoyed or frustrated at the lack of clarity in the law and this may reduce public confidence and discentivise people from behaving well. One way in which the law might be unclear is if it requires two different and conflicting things from people such that you break one law if you act one way, and another law if you act in the opposite way.

CUT –

This line ‘Further, people might get annoyed or frustrated at the lack of clarity in the law and this may reduce public confidence and discentivise people from behaving well’ does not fit with the label. It is not an argument about the law being clear so that it helps guide behaviour, but a completely different reason for clarity in the law. We might like the argument, but it does not go in this paragraph and we need to put it somewhere else.

9. Checking over

Always leave 5 minutes to check over your work . You should look out for misspelt words and grammar problems. You should also look for clarity and points of confusion. Once you have spotted the problem areas, fix them using the tips and techniques above.

You can also create a checking checklist, where you create a mental or note down things you know you commonly need to check over. This can be helpful in the exam, as it can help you to remember what problems you want to avoid. Do this when you are doing your plan to help.

10. Confidence

Confidence is key ! No matter how tricky the topic or how little you think you know about the area, you are being tested on your clarity and argument skills. So, be confident in your ability, get writing, stay clear and you will do really well in LNAT Section B!

FAQs for LNAT Section B

Is lnat section b hard.

The LNAT can seem like a hard test. But, you have to remember that tests are not always about getting everything correct; instead, you need to focus on doing well compared to other candidates. Every extra hour you spend practicing and reading up on the exam is going to put you ahead of others.

Do you have to take the LNAT to study law?

Not all universities require the LNAT, you should check the admissions requirements for the universities you are applying to.

What does LNAT stand for?

Law National Admissions Test.

How do you structure an LNAT Section B Essay?

Scroll up to tip 2 for a helpful LNAT Section B essay structure template.

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LNAT Essay Section B Explained – All About the LNAT – Part 5

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The LNAT essay, also known as Section B, is an important part of the test that checks your ability to analyze and talk about complicated legal issues.

In this article, we will give you helpful tips, examples, and practice questions to help you do well on the LNAT essay.

What is the LNAT Essay?

The LNAT essay section ‘B’ asks you to write an essay of up to 750 words max in 40 minutes.

You will choose one topic from three options. Ideally the length of your essay should be between 500 – 600 words.

The essay tests your ability to make an argument, analyze information, and communicate clearly in writing.

LNAT Essay Scoring

There is no official score for the essay – because it it not marked by the system or by Pearson VUE (who conduct the LNAT on behalf of the consortium.)

The LNAT essay is sent ‘as is’ along with your section A scores, to the universities you are applying to.

Different universities use the LNAT essay in different ways. Some don’t consider it, while others create their own grading system.

How Do Universities Use Your Essay?

Universities that use the LNAT essay in your application might use it in different ways. Some of them give it very little or no consideration.

Some universities will give the essay significant weightage – either on it’s own; or up to 40% of the overall LNAT weightage.

They might compare it to your personal statement or use it as a reference during your interview.

Your LNAT essay score will matter if admission tutors have to choose between you and other similar applicants with similar academic achievements and LNAT section A scores.

Check out our university specific articles which explain how they use the LNAT; and what is the weightage given to the essay.

Assessment Criteria for the LNAT essay

The essay is assessed on the basis of several parameters, such as:

• Clear thinking and expression
• Knowledge and understanding of the topic
• Persuasiveness of the argument
• Structure and flow of the essay

The LNAT essay is meant to test your ability to share your opinion on an issue in a clear, persuasive, and logical way.

The LNAT Essay Writing Prompts or questions

The essay topics usually involve legal and social issues like criminal justice, human rights, and the role of law in society. You don’t need to know about law or legal concepts to write a good essay, but having some background knowledge can help you understand the question better.

You will have to choose one of three unrelated questions, such as:

• Can a universal basic income help to reduce poverty and income inequality? Explain your answer.
• Can intrusive surveillance measures be justified in the name of national security? Explain your reasoning.
• Can hate speech laws infringe on freedom of expression? Discuss the potential consequences.

Choose a question that you are interested in and know something about.

The LNAT Essay Screen

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 Plan Your LNAT Essay

When taking Section B of the LNAT exam, you’ll first need to choose a question. The question you pick will decide how you plan your answer.

Read the question carefully and understand it first. Clarity on what is being asked is the first and the most important step. Check for any double negatives.

Once you’ve chosen a question, take 5-10 minutes to plan your answer. Your plan should:

• Identify your argument
• Show how you will express your argument
• Create a rough structure to keep your essay focused and organized

When making a plan, write down all your ideas, and pick the ones that are relevant to your argument.

Next, review your argument’s balance and make sure you have considered both sides of the debate.

Include any real-world examples you can use to support your arguments and then think about what conclusions you can draw from them.

Once you have a plan, you can create a structure for your LNAT essay.

Writing the LNAT Essay

• Introduction : Keep it short and clear. Introduce the topic and give a thesis statement that outlines the argument you will make.
• Structure : Make sure your essay is well-structured and organized. Use clear topic sentences and transition sentences to connect your paragraphs.
• Thesis statement : The thesis statement is the main argument of your essay. It should be clear and concise and should be presented in the introduction.
• Use of evidence : Use evidence to support your argument. This evidence can come from various sources, such as legal cases, academic journals, and newspapers.

How to Organize Your LNAT Essay

Begin and end your LNAT essay with strong introductions and conclusions. Make sure everything in the middle flows well.

Connect paragraphs to each other, and ensure your points come across naturally, without abrupt shifts in subject or tone.

The structure of your LNAT essay should include:

• A powerful introduction that presents your main argument.
• One or two paragraphs that expand your main argument with three to four convincing points.
• A section addressing any opposing arguments and explaining why they’re not valid.
• A robust conclusion summarizing your primary argument and demonstrating the strength of your points.

LNAT Essay Samples

To understand what a well-written LNAT essay looks like, examine sample essays and examples. Studying these essays helps you become familiar with the writing style and how to create and support a strong argument.

Search for LNAT essay samples online. Some schools post example essays on their websites, while other websites and books provide practice essay questions and example essays.

When searching for LNAT essay samples, select ones that adhere to the guidelines and demonstrate solid reasoning skills.

Be cautious, as some example essays may not follow the LNAT essay rules or might be of poor quality, so choose reliable sources.

In LawMint’s LNAT Practice Tests series, you can find 90 sample prompts and example essays for each prompt.

University specific details on how they use the LNAT for 2024 and 2025

In these series of articles (see links below), we have covered each university in depth. How do they use the LNAT scores? Do they consider the LNAT Essay? What was the minimum and average LNAT scores from among recent offer holders.

• University College London
• Durham University
• Kings College London
• University of Bristol
• University of Glasgow
• Oxford University
• Cambridge University
• London School of Economics
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• LNAT Preparation: The Complete Guide

Last Updated: 27th May 2022

Author: Chloe Hewitt

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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. 

Effective learning strategies are techniques and approaches that have been shown to enhance applicants’ learning and retention of new information . These 4 science-proof study techniques are designed to help you engage with your study materials more deeply, make connections between different concepts, and remember what you learn over the long-term to boost your LNAT preparation .

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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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE

The Definitive Starter Guide To The LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) 2024

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 the Pearson VUE Portal , 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 5,500 LNAT test centres around the world with 150 in the UK . 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 2025, 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.

There’s a lot more to learn, so let Exams.Ninja teach you everything you need!

You’ll have access to over 20 fully comprehensive tutorials teaching you every technique you could possibly need for the LNAT. Plus, you can practice your skills with hundreds of practice questions and a realistic exam simulator!  Access practice questions and mock exams today by creating a free account!

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 2023 – the definitive guide to your lnat score.

Do you need extra support with your LNAT preparation? Exams.Ninja provides you with all the help you’ll need!

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.

Exams Arena – Take a realistic mock exam with our LNAT past papers . You’ll get an estimated result every time to help you track your progress for the real thing! Best of all, you can retry them as many times as you like !

Sign up today to try the LNAT Preparation Platform for free!

Need any help? Contact us at:  [email protected] .

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UCL Faculty of Laws

LNAT Advice and Guidance

Find out more about the LNAT and how to prepare for the test

Book your LNAT test here.

Don't forget - All applicants to UCL Laws Undergraduate Programmes must take the LNAT  alongside their UCAS application.

All applicants to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL Laws must take the LNAT alongside the UCAS application. You must take the test  no later than  31 December 2023 (some universities have earlier deadlines).

Please note that applicants who register for the LNAT just before the registration deadline may experience difficulties obtaining an available test slot by 31 December 2023 due to high demand. We recommend registering and booking the test as early as possible to avoid this problem.

If you do not take the LNAT by the 31 December 2023 deadline, your application will be regarded as a late application, and therefore we will not be able to consider you for a place on one of our LLB degree programmes in the relevant admissions cycle, even if your original application was submitted by the UCAS deadline of 31 January 2024.

Test Centres

You can register to take the LNAT at a test centre near you: the LNAT has 500 test centres in 165 countries around the world.

If you are unable to take the LNAT because there are no test centres in your home country, or your local test centres are closed due to an enforced lockdown relating to COVID-19, please contact [email protected] before 31 December 2023 and include your UCAS ID number so we can make appropriate checks. We will be able to provide an alternative test if you are unable to book a test at an official test centre.

LNAT bursaries

LNAT have a bursary system under which they waive the test fee altogether for those in receipt of certain state benefits in their country of residence. This applies to UK and EU applicants only, sitting at UK and EU test centres only.

For more information please visit the LNAT bursaries website .

Reasonable adjustments

If you require special arrangements for the LNAT please follow the instructions on the LNAT website well in advance of the deadline. If you are struggling to get a test arranged, please get in touch with us ahead of the LNAT deadline.

Extenuating circumstances

Before the test If you feel unwell (mental or physical) before your test, we suggest that you reschedule your test rather than sitting your LNAT examination. If you decide to take the test when you are unwell, we will have no way of knowing how you would have done if you had not been unwell and will therefore not be able to take into consideration your circumstances.

To confirm, if you attend the exam you are declaring you are fit to do so and the mark you achieve will stand. You will not be permitted to receive any additional consideration from UCL Laws relating to that assessment unless you fall into the category below.

During the test If there is an incident while you are sitting the test (e.g. a fire alarm or you suddenly fall ill), the test centre will do what it can to minimise the disruption (and to let you finish your test if you are well). The incident will be logged and you will be given an incident number by the test centre staff. Once you have your incident number you need to contact the LNAT Consortium at once so that the incident can be investigated and, where appropriate, a resit test offered (please request a resit if your test was negatively affected).

If you were unable to continue with your test due to a sudden illness, you will need to request an approved resit from LNAT. We will then disregard your first attempt and use your resit score, even if your original score is higher than your resit.

More information on test day problems can be found on the LNAT website .

About the LNAT

The LNAT measures the reasoning skills at the heart of legal education, including:

• comprehension
• interpretation

The LNAT is a two-part test. The first part includes multiple-choice questions based on passages of text, and the second part requires you to answer one of three essay questions. The LNAT is a computer-based test and lasts for two hours and 15 minutes.

When you have completed the test, your scores from the multiple-choice section are checked by computer, and a mark out of 42 is created. This mark is known as the LNAT score. Your LNAT score and your essay will be sent to participating universities, including UCL. Your results from the LNAT are then used to supplement your university application and demonstrate your aptitude for studying undergraduate law.

You are advised to familiarise yourself with the style and the format of the test before you take it. The LNAT website provides lots of resources and information to help you prepare for the test and what to expect.

• Find out more about how to register and book a test on the LNAT website .

LNAT Guidance from UCL Laws 

Our top tips for preparing for the LNAT

1)  The test is designed to provide an assessment of a candidate’s potential for studying law. You should read the information available on the LNAT website , including the ‘ Guide to Preparing for the LNAT ’.

2) Practise, practise, practise.

• The best way to improve at anything is to practise, and the LNAT is no different. You are only allowed one attempt at the LNAT, so the more practise you do now the better prepared you will be. Start with small steps now.

3) The LNAT must be completed at a test centre, and this will be an unfamiliar place, using unfamiliar software. One of the best things you can do to familiarise yourself beforehand in order that you’re able to perform as your best without being unsettled by the environment is to use the official LNAT test simulator . This will familiarise you with the real LNAT as it will appear on screen during your LNAT test. You’ll be able to practise navigating the screens, ensuring you:

1) Don’t make any mistakes in navigation (such as ending the test too early!),

2) That you’re comfortable using the navigation so that you don’t need to spend time and your precious mental energy figuring it out on the day, and

3) Feel familiar with the environment and are therefore able to relax, as it’s something you’ve seen before.

That way you will be able to perform well in the test itself.

• As well as practising to learn about the test structure itself, you can also benefit from practising the individual components of the test, namely the multiple choice question section (95 minutes) and the essay component (40 minutes).
• The multiple choice section is divided into 12 sub sections; each sub section has between 3 and 4 questions giving 42 questions in total. Each question has only one correct answer.
• Improve your ability to read and comprehend complicated passages of text, at test speed..
• Get an understanding of how much time you need to allocate to answer the questions within the time limit.
• Be able to pace yourself and your reading time appropriately so that you don’t run out of time at the end.
• It’s better to have time to consider and answer all of the questions, than taking too long at the start and not having the time to properly consider the later questions.
• Don’t forget that if you are really struggling on a question, that it is OK to leave it and return at the end if you have time. Don’t let getting stuck on one question deflect your concentration from answering the others or dent your confidence. You are not expected to get full marks in this test.
• Don’t overanalyse the questions – they are not there to trick you. Do think carefully about every word in the question. What are you being asked? The answer is in the text.  

4) The LNAT essay provides a choice of three essay questions, you must select and answer one.

• The LNAT as a whole is designed to assess your verbal reasoning skills. Skills which are essential to the successful study of law.
• Verbal reasoning skills include comprehension, interpretation, analysis, synthesis, and deduction.
• The LNAT questions are based on short passages of text that you are given during the test.
• There is no subject-specific revision you can do for the LNAT questions. However, the passages of text will fall into these seven general categories: law, philosophy, politics, media, science, ethics, and education.In fact, relying too much on your own prior knowledge can be a false friend in this kind of assessment. Do not rely on what you know from other sources in answering the multiple-choice questions. The questions are always only about the passage itself. If there is something in the passage you disagree with or know to be incorrect, that does not matter, treat the passage as true for the purposes of the test.
• Once again, there is no prior knowledge of these areas that is required to be able to do well in the test, but a general awareness of current affairs is recommended, both by UCL and by the LNAT itself.

LNAT Essay Guidance

• Comprehensiveness and accuracy;
• Clarity of argument and expression;
• Integration of a range of arguments;
• Insight into the theoretical issues.
• ‘Read ahead – The more you know about current affairs, the greater the chance you will have of getting essay questions you understand and have some prior knowledge and familiarity with.
• Read a broadsheet newspaper. The advice provided on the LNAT website is worth repeating:

As you read -

• Think about the issues being raised;
• What assumptions are being made?
• What information is being relied on to draw which conclusion?
• How would you frame a counterargument?

Reading a quality daily newspaper will help you to be aware of the world around you. The LNAT essay topics will not be specifically about current affairs, and you will not be judged by what facts you know. But knowing how the world ticks, in general terms, will help you to write intelligently about a host of different topics.

• We have listed some newspapers below worth considering. You can read the online versions (usually freely available, although registration may be required). If you do read the online versions, remember to read the comment pieces as well as the news. (One question you might ask yourself: What exactly is the difference between news and comment? Is the contrast really apparent in practice?)
• The Economist
• The Financial Times
• The Guardian
• The Independent
• The Irish Times
• The New York Times
• The Scotsman
• The Sydney Morning Herald
• The Daily Telegraph
• The Washington Post

Pick the right question – Identify which question you have lots of knowledge about, not necessarily the one that you feel most strongly about. You will need to argue different points of view so make sure you have enough information to make a balanced discussion. Make sure you fully understand the question; if you don’t, pick another question.

• Plan the structure of your essay – You will only have 40 minutes, so before you start writing, think about what points you want to make and how you will create a concise, balanced argument on your chosen topic. Make sure the structure of your essay is logical and progresses in a structured way.
• Plan your time – A common mistake is for students to spend too much time on writing their introduction or making a single point. Allocate time to planning the essay structure, writing the introduction, middle, conclusion and to checking your work.
• Make your essay stand out – Consider what supporting evidence your argument has and how it can be used to best effect. Try not to be obvious and give ‘middle of the road’ bland answers. Instead, try to ‘think outside the box’ and demonstrate creativity in your arguments. Could the question itself be flawed?
• Evaluate any flaws or potential implications in the points you make. Don’t just give opinions – Without having an in-depth knowledge of a subject, it is easy to fall into the trap of using opinion to argue, rather than giving evidence. The essay is not looking for your assertions, but how you can build a case using the evidence you have available.’
• Practise writing essays under timed conditions on a computer, prior to sitting the test. Ask your teachers to set questions for you!

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Sample LNAT Essay and Advice

Introduction.

The Essay forms an important part of the LNAT. Students often underestimate it, yet certain Universities place quite a considerable emphasis on the Essay in the admissions process. Head over to our Guide about LNAT Universities & Required Scores to find out more (we recommend paying attention to the official LNAT Essay mark scheme as released by University of Oxford).

Having said that, performing well in your Essay will be of great advantage to your application. The tutors are looking for candidates who possess a high level of written skill, since the study of Law revolves around delivering exceptional written arguments. Furthermore, law exams are famously known for consisting of hours dedicated to writing essays in a summative format.

To write a great essay, you need to practise under timed conditions, be well-versed on various topics, and continually analyse your performance. In particular, you should consider the following suggestions:

Be concise and succinct

Be persuasive, sample lnat essay, question: should people accused of a criminal offence retain anonymity.

“The Criminal Justice System is predicated on the supposition of innocence until guilt is proven in a court of law. This principle applies whether the defendant is known to the public and hence subject to public prejudices, or wholly anonymous prior to the alleged offence. I believe and shall argue that, wherever possible, the anonymity of the accused ought to be persevered. My reasons for thinking so are several; that the legal process must be as free from bias as is feasible; that the public interest is not served by the publishing of the accused’s identity and that the right of the individual to privacy would be breached in the publication.

First, one must consider what is the nature of the legal process; it is a dialectic process in which the prosecutor must prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt; the defence must either cast doubt on the case of the prosecution or prove the defendant’s innocence outright. This will require the gathering of many articles of evidence and an extensive familiarity with the facts pertinent to the case, as well as the stipulations of the law and the precedents set by previous cases. It would be antithetical to the very nature of the legal process to allow public prejudice to colour the legal proceedings, as it potentially would in the case that the defendant’s anonymity was compromised. A beloved darling of the people would excite a general clamour in his or her defence; a public pariah would arouse the most damning of execration.

A public bias is no less heinous than any other sort of bias and it could be argued that in magnitude it far outweighs the others. Thus, the objectivity of the court, which must be assumed a priori, can only be degraded by the general knowledge of the accused’s identity and can never be served by it. The accused ought only to be tried by a court and never by mob or media.

Second, any action by a public body, such as the police or the judiciary, ought to be in service of the public interest. It is in the public interest to seek the perpetrator of a crime, as it is to punish those found guilty and to publish their names so that they may be known as criminals to the public whom they have offended. It is hard to see how the publication of an accused person’s identity can serve the public good. In the event that they are innocent, the accused will be forever the subject of suspicion in certain quarters and may suffer reprisals from members of the public who are not satisfied by the outcome of the trial. In the event that the accused is guilty, then their guilt will be published and the public will thereby learn all of the relevant details. This is not to suggest that criminal cases ought to be tried in secret courts; persons with an intimate connection either to the accused or the victim ought to be entitled to observe the proceedings, in which case the preservation of anonymity becomes a matter of individual conscience.

Third, the individual who has been accused must be afforded the general right to privacy. Legally speaking man acquitted a hundred times is as innocent as a man acquitted but once or never prosecuted at all, but the public rarely considers criminal matters from a legal perspective; if it were so, then courts would hardly be necessary. It is precisely because certain elements of the public are quick to judge and often liable to punish unjustly that a legal system is required in order to provide due process and to prevent the miscarriage of justice. The circumstances of a crime may excite unease and discontentment in many and a person may never escape the taint of having once been accused of a crime of which they were never guilty. In some cases, suspects have been killed prior to their trials; most notably, perhaps is Lee Harvey Oswald, thanks to whose death we may never know the true circumstances of the terrible crime of which he stood accused.

In conclusion, I reaffirm the importance of anonymity in the case of a criminal accusation. For whilst the public is entitled to know the identity of criminals who threaten their security and against whom the state has levied punishment, it is imperative that we presume the defendant to be innocent until guilt is confessed or proved. Upon this principle we may hope to preserve the objectivity of the court and the dignity of the accused.”

There is no exhaustive list that will allow you to write amazing essays. It is truly the case of ‘practice makes perfect’ (and being widely read!). So maybe you are tempted to write an answer to this sample LNAT Essay Question?

Well, Arbitio allows you to do just that: we have developed an Essay Writing Simulator that accurately recreates the LNAT exam environment and provided you with 20+ Questions on a variety of topics reflective of the LNAT curriculum. The Model Answers to each Essay Question will help you see what good essay writing is all about, with some salient points you may wish to adopt into your argumentative arsenal. The subscription includes Essay Marking Service, where one of our tutors will deliver detailed feedback on an essay of your choice.

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LNAT Preparation - Top Tips to Boost Your Results

Get prepared for Section A and Section B of the LNAT test with our top tips and strategic advice on how to approach the multiple choice questions and essay section.

LNAT Preparation

• Read our tips for approaching the LNAT
• Learn important Dos and Don’ts of the test
• Discover tools to help with revision

Jump to Section

• Deciding on Law
• How to Become a Lawyer
• Areas of Law
• Solicitor vs Barrister
• What is a Solicitor
• Becoming a Barrister
• Legal Executive
• What Is A Legal Secretary?
• How to Become a Judge
• Legal Apprenticeships
• Studying Law at University
• Law at Oxbridge
• Studying Law Abroad
• Personal Statement
• Law Research Techniques & Resources
• Commercial Awareness
• LNAT Registration
• LNAT Universities
• Section A: MCQs
• Section B: Essay
• LNAT Scores
• When Should I Start Preparing?

LNAT FAQs | Answers To Common LNAT Questions

• Law Work Experience
• Vacation Schemes
• Law Courses
• Non-Law Students
• PGDL (Conversion)
• Bar Training Guide
• Training Contracts
• Law Firm Applications
• Pupillage: a Guide for Aspiring Barristers
• Law Firm Insights
• Networking Guide
• Diversity In Law

Are you ready to take your LNAT results to the next level? If you’re looking to boost your score and secure your place at a top law school, there are plenty of steps you can take to maximise your potential. In this article, we will discuss some tips and strategies to help boost your LNAT results, along with the latest resources available for preparation.

Understanding the LNAT

LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) is an entrance exam taken by aspiring law students in the UK. The test is divided into two sections: Section A (multiple choice questions) and Section B (essay questions). It is essential to be well-prepared for the exam, and there are various resources available for this purpose.

Getting Ready for the LNAT

To prepare for the LNAT you should start by familiarising yourself with the test. Take a look at our LNAT guide to make sure you know what is being assessed, what is expected of you, and how you’ll be scored. 

Once you understand the test, it’s time to learn LNAT strategies. The best way to learn these is through LNAT workshops or a self-paced online LNAT course . 

When you have a good understanding of the strategy, it’s time to put your LNAT prep into practice. You can start by using our free LNAT practice test questions . This is a great resource to help familiarise you with the format of the test and to get an idea of the type of LNAT multiple-choice questions and LNAT essay questions you might have to answer.

If you find yourself struggling, you should consider working with a specialist LNAT Tutor to focus on any areas you’re unsure of, or just for additional support navigating the material.

Strategies and Resources to Ace the LNAT

Section a: multiple choice questions.

To perform well in Section A, you should read the passage thoroughly and understand the question’s meaning. Identify the relevant areas of the text and choose the most accurate statement. Rushing through the passage, making assumptions about its content, and mistaking facts for opinions should be avoided.

Managing your time in Section A is crucial. You can time yourself when you work through practice questions, and make sure you understand test strategies. Flagging a question that is taking up too much time and coming back to it later is a good strategy. You should plan to check your answers, and 10-15 minutes is a good amount of time to set aside for this.

Section B: Essay Questions

Section B requires you to write an essay on one of three topics given. The suggested maximum word limit is 750 words, and you have 40 minutes to complete the task. To perform well in this section, pick a topic on which you have some existing knowledge and take the time to plan your answer. Stick to your plan when writing your essay and try to take a novel or unique approach that demonstrates creativity.

You should avoid picking a topic you find interesting but know little about, rushing into writing your essay without an outline, and building your argument on your opinions alone.

When writing your essay, consider a unique standpoint on the topic, as well as any more nuanced evidence that could support your answer. Stick to your initial framework as much as possible to avoid the risk of going off on a tangent that isn’t supported by any evidence. Practise writing 750 words under timed conditions.

 LNAT resources for Section B:

• Essay Writing Guide: The official LNAT website offers an essay writing guide that can help you understand the expectations and structure of the essay. It also provides sample essays that can help you get an idea of what is expected.
• Online LNAT Courses: There are various online LNAT courses that offer comprehensive preparation for both Section A and Section B. Some popular ones include The Lawyer Portal, UniAdmissions, and Kaplan.
• Workshops: Some students seek extra help by booking themselves onto a course or workshop. The Lawyer Portal runs half-day workshops in London, led by experts in verbal reasoning aptitude tests.

Save 20% with our LNAT Prep Packages

What to read to prepare for the lnat exam.

• Read Widely: Reading is a surefire way of boosting your linguistic skills. It allows you to be critical and develop your vocabulary and comprehension. You can read various materials, such as newspapers, magazines, novels, and academic articles.
• Familiarise yourself with the test: Take a look at the official LNAT guide to make sure you know what is being assessed.
• Stay up-to-date: Finally, remember that success on the LNAT isn’t just about test-taking skills – it’s also about critical thinking and analysis. Stay up-to-date on current events and legal issues, and practice applying your knowledge to real-world scenarios. By honing your critical thinking skills, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle even the most challenging questions on the test.

Best Newspapers for LNAT Preparation

• The Guardian : It is a reputable newspaper with a focus on current affairs, politics, and law. Reading it will help you stay up-to-date with legal and political issues, which are relevant to the LNAT exam.
• The Financial Times: This newspaper is a good source of news and analysis on business, economics, and finance. It can be helpful to read it to improve your critical reading and analytical skills.

Best LNAT Preparation Books 

As well as online practice and courses, you can invest in some unique books to help you with mastering the LNAT: 

• “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman: This book is a classic on cognitive psychology, and it explores how humans make decisions and judgments. It can help you develop your critical thinking and analytical skills.
• “The Rule of Law” by Tom Bingham: This book is an excellent introduction to the concept of the rule of law and its importance in modern societies. It will help you understand the legal system and develop your knowledge of legal principles.
• “The Art of Reasoning” by David Kelley: This book provides a comprehensive introduction to critical thinking, logic, and argumentation. It can help you develop your reasoning skills and prepare for the LNAT exam.

Other Tips to Boost Your Score

• Practice speed reading: The LNAT is a time-pressured test, and speed reading can help you digest information quickly. You can practise speed reading by using online resources or by reading books that require a high reading speed.
• Watch legal dramas: Watching legal dramas or reading legal fiction can help you familiarise yourself with legal terminology and concepts. This can help you understand the reading comprehension section of the LNAT better.
• Take breaks: It’s important to take breaks when studying for the LNAT. Taking breaks can help you retain information better and prevent burnout.

Things you should do:

• Take the time to read the passage thoroughly
• Check what the question asks for
• Reread the question to ensure you’ve fully understood it
• Identify exactly what the question means, rereading to ensure you have fully understood it
• Plan time to check your answers

Things to avoid:

• Pick a topic you find interesting but know little about
• Rush into writing your essay without an outline
• Build your argument on your opinions alone
• Lose track of time

By incorporating these tips into your LNAT preparation, you may be able to improve your results and perform better on the test.

With dedication, focus, and a passion for learning, you can boost your LNAT results and set yourself on the path to a successful legal career. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

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When Should I Start With My LNAT Preparation?

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Practice tests

There are many ways that you can practise the LNAT. You’ll find links to all of them on this page.

Online practice test

You can access this test with your browser and it will run on any computer. There is no limit on the number of times the sample test can be taken.

https://lnat.ac.uk/lnat-sample-test

It is an onscreen simulation of the LNAT. It is a simulation of the real LNAT exactly as it will appear on-screen at the test centre . You can use it to familiarise yourself with the format of the test and the skills it requires.

Guided Tour of LNAT Test Screen

The best way to familiarise yourself with the system is to try out our two practice tests. If you don’t have time to try out the practice tests here are some screenshots of sample questions to be going on with. Click on the screenshots to see larger versions.

Multiple Choice Screenshot (click to enlarge)

The screenshot above shows a multiple choice question. The passage always appears in the left-hand pane of the LNAT test window. If the passage is longer than a single screen-length will accommodate, it appears with a scroll bar. The associated questions appear (one at a time) in the right-hand pane, with the possible answers. You click a button on the screen next to the answer you choose. The system will only let you choose one answer at a time.

You can change your answers at any time until the end of the 95 minutes set aside for the multiple choice test. The system lets you flag questions for review, so that you can go back to unanswered or difficult questions when you have completed the rest. You cannot go back to the multiple choice section from the essay section. Each is separately timed. Your time remaining for the section you are on always appears on the top right of the screen.

LNAT Essay Screenshot (click to enlarge)

The screenshot above shows an LNAT essay question. Each question appears at the top of its own screen. You can browse through them using the ‘Next’ and ‘Back’ buttons until you find a topic you like. You should answer only one question. The system has ‘cut’, ‘copy’, ‘paste’, ‘undo’ and ‘redo’ functions (using the buttons above the essay pane). There are no other word-processing functions, eg no spell check. The system has a built-in word count at the bottom of the essay pane. The recommended maximum length for an LNAT essay is 750 words.. Ideally you should write about 500-600 words. You have 40 minutes to write it. Your time remaining for the essay section always appears on the top right of the screen.

United States LSAT tests

If you want to do more practice beyond our practice tests, you could consider trying some similar practice questions from other sources. Many are freely available. For example, the LSAT (Law Schools Admissions Test) used by law schools in the United States contains similar multiple choice items. The LSAT passages are typically shorter and the calibration of the questions may not be the same (law is a graduate-entry programme in the US) but the skills involved are identical. Visit the LSAT website for their preparation materials .

Paper-based LNAT practice tests

If you don’t want to download the test simulator, or if you have no access to a computer that runs Windows we’ve prepared paper versions of the tests that are delivered through the simulator. You can download them all, as well as selected commentaries and the test marking scheme here.

Practice test paper 1 (PDF)

Practice test paper 1 (RTF)

Practice test paper 2 (PDF)

Practice test paper 2 (RTF)

Practice test commentary (PDF)

Practice test commentary (RTF)

Practice test marking scheme (PDF)

Practice test marking scheme (RTF)

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• Jan 10, 2023

Law National Aptitude Test - Section B

Updated: Jan 13, 2023

Preliminary

Note that there is a fee for the LNAT, but that you can apply for a bursary if you meet the criteria. Further information is available here .

Introduction

Section B of the LNAT is one of the most difficult parts of the application process for prospective law students. The purpose of this guide is to provide you with some ideas regarding methods and essay content for this part of the LNAT. It is important to note that there are infinite ways to write an essay and that the methods I propose are not perfect. Instead they are helpful strategies for composing clear and effective arguments.

Before I introduce you to the method I used during the LNAT and Cambridge Law Test (Cambridge’s proprietary test which is now discontinued) I thought it important to give a short overview of what Section B actually entails. In brief Section B of the LNAT requires you to write an unprepared essay from a choice of three topics in 40 minutes. The recommend length of the essay is around 600 words with an absolute maximum of 750 words. Section B topics are varied and can range from questions on funding of space travel to euthanasia. While this does make the test difficult to prepare for outside of mere essay practice, there are some strategies you can utilise. This guide will provide a short introduction to basic essay structure before delving into specific adaptable content that can be leveraged when dealing with LNAT questions.

General Strategy

A good plan is the crux of every good essay. I would suggest spending between 10 and 15 minutes on your essay plan, ensuring that it is clear and flows logically. This will save you a lot of time during the writing stage. I would then suggest spending up to 25 minutes writing and around 5 minutes editing at the end.

While some students like to brainstorm on the whiteboards given to them at the LNAT test centre, I prefer to plan on the computer, using my introduction as my initial brainstorm. When writing the introduction it’s important that it is both concise and clear. It should first introduce the reason why the essay is being written. Thinking about the core contention that has prompted the essay will give you an idea of where you may want to develop your argument and counter opposing views. The introduction will then define any necessary terms and identify the scope of the essay. Finally, it will identify the core argument that you will set out. The conclusion mirrors the introduction in that it summarises the argument that you have made. However, it should often seek to do more than this, presenting a more nuanced view of your thesis or making recommendations as well.

The body of your essay should be planned in layers. Overall arguments can be fleshed out with various conceptual supporting points underneath them. Don’t be afraid to use headings to mark the overall argument of a section while utilising signposting language and paragraphing to identify conceptual shifts between ideas underneath.

When dealing with such complex topics I find that simple structures often work best. During my LNAT preparation I mainly made use of two adaptable structures. The first is a simple ‘for and against’ structure with a nuanced concluding section and the second is a ‘general versus specific ‘structure. The for and against sections of the first structure are fairly self-explanatory but the nuanced concluding section requires slightly more explanation. This section is where you illustrate your ability to argue finely by demonstrating how it may be legitimate to limit the ’against side’ slightly as the ‘for side’ is stronger. You may couch this limitation by imposing conditions such as: the limitation must be proportional to the harm it seeks to reduce; the limitation must not be arbitrary; and the limitation must be subject to judicial review. For example, there are both arguments for and against utilising COVID-19 vaccine passports. However, we could argue that as long as they don’t onerously infringe on people’s rights and their imposition is subject to judicial review, their welfare benefits should be slightly prioritised over their infringement on autonomy. This shows a willingness to engage in arguments beyond the dichotomy of right and wrong into matters of degree. A ‘general vs specific’ structure is similar in its approach. This structure begins by illustrating how one side of the argument is generally acceptable. It then however illustrates that in specific cases (or indeed in the specific scenario of the question) another side of the argument should triumph. For example, in general, funding for the arts is morally, political and economically advantageous. However, in the current period of macroeconomic turbulence perhaps such funding ought to be reduced.

Adaptable Content

Now that you have an idea of possible structures for essays, I will provide you with examples of content which can easily be shaped into a multitude of essays. This can enable you to consistently achieve both breadth and depth in your essays. The premise of this method is that under each overall section of an essay, you would include paragraphs on a variety of conceptual topics to support your argument. This section will provide a brief introduction to a number of such topics. While I don’t have the scope to explain in detail each one of these concepts, a brief search of any that interest you will present you with more than enough information to add any to your intellectual toolbox!

Political Theory

Social contract: Rousseau believed the ‘General Will’ of the people was the most ethical expression of democracy. Use this concept to oppose ideas such as Judicial Review where a non-democratic body seeks to impose measures.

Kant’s Fiduciary Principle: This can be used to argue that the State has a moral relationship with its citizens.

When Paternalism is Excessive: Consider the risk and gravity of harm against the cost of prevention and the social utility of the action.

J.S Mill’s Harm Principle may be useful in this regard.

Deontology: Kant believed humans have inherent worth, that they were ends not means. Use this view to defend human autonomy and rights.

Consequentialism : Bentham’s Utilitarianism is the most famous form of consequentialism and argues that the ethical decision is one which creates the greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people.

Capitalism vs. Socialism: Locke believed in the moral value of private property whereas Rawls illustrated that society itself creates the circumstances for profit and that private wealth cannot be insulated from the community.

Cost of Legal Procedure – Some reforms are economically difficult to enact.

Law and Legal Theory

Jurisprudence : Instead of arguing purely on the basis of legal fairness, use the Rule of Law as the conceptual core of arguments in this sphere.

Human Rights: HRA, UNDHR . Ethical justification for Human Rights can be found in theNatural law tradition. Finnis’ idea of ‘Human Flourishing’ is a good example of this.

Purpose of Law : Evaluate whether a proposed arguments aligns with the purposes of the legal area it is dealing with.

E.g. Criminal Law: Punishment, Rehabilitation, Deterrence, Societal Vindication.

Example Essay Plan

Should the government mandate citizens to register their DNA to combat crime?

Freedom and bodily autonomy vs. increased ability to safeguard welfare by identifying criminals

Assume that all citizens over 18 will be obliged by to law to be registered

This essay will argue that while the law has a duty to respect the autonomy of its citizens as well as a duty to ensure the welfare of its citizens, where there is a legitimate threat to welfare, the law can proportionally limit its citizens’ autonomy and require DNA registration.

It can be argued that the law should respect the autonomy of individuals and allow citizens to choose to register their DNA

Moral: Deontological right to autonomy

Moral: Consequentialism – Mill’s harm principle states the law should only intervene where one’s actions cause harm to another. Pre-emptive registration violates this.

Legal: Human Right to privacy (UNDHR, HRA)

Political: DNA registration enables abuse of executive power

It can be said that the law should ensure the welfare of citizens by requiring DNA registration

Moral: Deontology – the state has a Kantian fiduciary relationship to protect the welfare of citizens

Moral: Social Contract – the legitimacy of a nation comes from its ability to protect its citizens from harm (a ‘state of nature’)

Legal: Right to life, not only a negative right not to cause death but also a positive human right to safeguard welfare

It is legitimate for the law to require DNA registration with adequate justification

Without welfare there can be no autonomy – prioritise autonomy where:

Scientifically proven widespread benefit of DNA registration (proportionality)

Imposition subject to judicial review

Restate nuanced conclusion

List of Sample Questions

What are the arguments for and against legalising euthanasia?

​​Is there ever justification for holding a person liable for damage that he or she does not cause? If so, in what circumstances?

The jury system should be abolished. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Should the courts allow a child to refuse a blood transfusion because he is a Jehovah’s Witness, even though without the blood transfusion the child might die?

Should squatters in a property ever get a right to continue living in the property?

The government should legalise the sale of human organs, discuss

Should a drug dealer ever be punished for the death of someone who overdoses on drugs that he has supplied?

Should there be such a thing as a war crime?

The Criminal Justice System violates human rights of minorities and the poor at a systemic level

What is your response to the view that the purpose of education is to prepare young people for the world of work?

Law should always be created by Parliament and no one else. To what extent do you agree?

The law of intellectual property protects people’s rights in such things as inventions, trademarks and ideas. Do you think the following should be protected as intellectual property and, if so, what do you think might be the consequences of such protection:

o (a) a perfume;

o (b) your name;

o (c) information that a famous model has had cosmetic surgery?

In English Law Companies are said to have their own legal personality which means that they can make contracts, must pay taxes, can sue and be sued. Do you think companies should be capable of being convicted of crimes? If so, in what circumstances should they be convicted?

Should the UK Have a Written Constitution?

Do we owe greater moral duties to our family and friends than we owe to all other people in the world? Why, or why not?

Some forms of conduct that would normally constitute a criminal offence will not constitute such an offence if the person affected by the conduct has consented to it. (Do you think this is a sensible position for the law to have been adopted?

Would it be a failure of UK democracy if a majority of UK adults supported restoration of the death penalty, but the UK Parliament consistently voted to maintain its abolition? Discuss.

It is often suggested that the state should incarcerate without trial those whom it suspects might perpetrate terrorist or other criminal activity. Might such a practice ever be justifiable?

Who benefits from freedom of speech? Who loses?

The Government has a duty to use DNA registers to fight crime. Discuss.

Is there ever justification for attacking the values enshrined in foreign legal systems, or for attacking the ideas of right and wrong found in the cultures of other nations?

In some legal systems, judges are allowed to refuse to enforce laws which they consider to be contrary to fundamental principles such as human rights. (a) Do you think that judges should have such power? and (b) If you were asked to draft rules setting out the circumstances in which judges should be allowed to refuse to enforce laws, what considerations would you wish to take into account?

Should the arts continue to be funded?

Is the pursuit of space travel a worthwhile human endeavour?

https://lnat.ac.uk/how-to-prepare/sample-essays/

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Sample LNAT Essay: Should the law require people to vote in general elections?

Posted by Catherine Robinson on October 19, 2023

Hello! My name is Catherine Robinson, and I offer one-to-one LNAT tuition that covers both sections of the exam. More information on my tuition can be found by clicking   here .

Scroll to the bottom of the page to find a sample LNAT essay on whether the law should require people to vote in general elections.

What is the LNAT essay?

The LNAT essay is a 40-minute written task that assesses your ability to construct a persuasive argument. It is an opportunity for you to showcase your critical thinking, analytical skills, and ability to communicate effectively.

Understand the question

Before you start writing, take the time to carefully read and understand the essay question. Identify the key terms and concepts, and make sure you have a clear understanding of what is being asked. This will help you structure your essay and ensure that you address the question directly.

Plan your essay

Planning is crucial when it comes to writing a successful LNAT essay. Take a few minutes to brainstorm ideas, create an outline, and organise your thoughts. This will help you stay focused and ensure that your essay has a logical flow.

Structure your essay

A well-structured essay is easier to read and understand. Start with an introduction that provides an overview of your argument and sets the tone for the rest of the essay. Then, develop your argument in the body paragraphs, using evidence and examples to support your points. Finally, conclude your essay by summarising your main points and restating your thesis.

Use evidence and examples

When writing your LNAT essay, it is important to support your arguments with evidence and examples. This will make your essay more persuasive and convincing. Use relevant facts, statistics, and real-life examples to back up your claims and strengthen your argument. 

Be concise and clear

In a time-limited task like the LNAT essay, it is important to be concise and clear in your writing. Avoid unnecessary repetition and wordiness. Use clear and straightforward language to convey your ideas effectively. It is much better to write in plain and simple language than convoluted flowery language.

Practice, practice, practice

Like any skill, essay writing requires practice. Take the time to practice writing LNAT essays under timed conditions. This will help you improve your time management skills and help familiarise yourself with the format and requirements of the test.

Seek feedback

After writing practice essays, seek feedback from teachers, tutors, or peers. They can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement.

Example essay: Should the law require people to vote in general elections?

The question of whether the law should require people to vote in general elections is a contentious one. Some argue that compulsory voting would enhance civic participation and ensure representative governments. However, in this essay it will be argued that this view is misguided because it disregards the importance of individual choice, misunderstands the nature of democracy, and may lead to uninformed decisions. Therefore, it will instead be argued that mandatory voting is not the ideal solution.

Compulsory voting is inherently flawed because it infringes upon individual freedoms and the principle of choice. Democracy, at its core, is about allowing citizens to exercise their right to vote freely, without coercion. Forcing people to vote contradicts this fundamental principle and undermines the very essence of democratic values. A truly vibrant democracy should respect the choices of its citizens, including their choice to abstain from voting. However, proponents of mandatory voting argue that it ensures greater civic participation and leads to more representative governments. By requiring all eligible citizens to cast their votes, it is believed that a broader cross-section of society's views is reflected in the election results. However, this argument is based on a presumption that lacks empirical evidence. Compulsory voting may increase the number of ballots cast, but it does not guarantee an informed or engaged electorate. Voters may simply choose candidates at random or vote for individuals they know little about, which can result in uninformed decisions.

In a democracy, the emphasis should be on informed and voluntary voting. When people are motivated to vote based on their understanding of the issues and candidates, their choices are more meaningful and reflective of their values. Compulsory voting, on the other hand, can lead to a superficial engagement with the political process, where citizens may cast uninformed votes, potentially undermining the quality of the democratic outcome. Supporters of mandatory voting argue that it can reduce political apathy and foster a sense of civic responsibility. However, a more effective approach to addressing political apathy is through education and engagement rather than coercion. Encouraging people to be well-informed and actively participate in the political process is a more sustainable solution that respects individual autonomy.

Implementing and enforcing mandatory voting laws can also be a logistical challenge. The state would have to devote significant resources to track and penalise non-voters. Moreover, it is uncertain whether this enforcement will result in more informed or responsible voting behaviour. Instead, it may lead to a mere formality of voting, without a genuine understanding of the political choices at hand.

In conclusion, while mandatory voting may have its merits in theory, it is not the optimal approach for a robust democracy. It infringes upon individual freedoms, neglects the value of informed choice, and presents logistical challenges in enforcement. A more effective path to strengthening democracy is through education, engagement, and fostering a sense of civic responsibility rather than coercion. Ultimately, the law should respect individual choice and the fundamental principles of democracy.

Want help writing LNAT essays that will impress the admissions tutor? I will guide you through a step-by-step method to writing high quality LNAT essays. Find out more information   here .

More stuff you may like:

Sample LNAT Essay: Why is Theft Wrong?

Sample LNAT Essay: Should Prisoners Have The Right To Vote?

Sample LNAT Essay: "A good sex education is vital in schools and shouldn't be subject to religious or cultural taboos." Discuss.

Sample LNAT Essay: How Should Judges Be Appointed?

Sample LNAT Essay: ‘It is right that students should contribute to the cost of their degrees.'  Do you agree?

Sample LNAT Essay: What disciplinary sanctions should teachers be allowed to use?

Sample LNAT Essay: Should private cars be rationed? If so, how?

Sample LNAT Essay: ‘We must be prepared to sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism.' Discuss

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• What is LNAT? - The Law Nat...

What is LNAT? - The Law National Aptitude Test

On this page, topics covered.

The Law National Aptitude Test helps you understand if Law is the right career path for you, and it helps Universities check that you will be able to succeed on a law course. It does not test your knowledge on law. Instead, it is a test of your verbal reasoning skills; a test of your ability to understand and interpret information; a test of your inductive and deductive reasoning abilities and a test of your ability to analyse information and draw conclusions.  It is a two part test: multiple choice questions based on passages of text and an essay. The first part is a computer-based multiple choice exam. You will be asked to read passages of text and answer questions that test your comprehension of them. Your scores from the multiple choice section of the test are checked by computer, and a mark out of 42 is created. This is known as your LNAT score.  In the second part of the test you will be asked to write one essay from a list of three proposed subjects. This section is not marked by the test centre and does not contribute to your LNAT score, but it is your opportunity to show your ability to construct a compelling argument and reach a conclusion.  Both your LNAT score and essay are made available to the participating universities. These are then used to supplement your university application and show your aptitude for studying undergraduate law. The LNAT must be taken by all applicants (UK, EU and overseas) to undergraduate law programmes at University of Bristol, Durham University, University of Nottingham and etc.  You must take the test in the UCAS year in which you are applying to university. You can only sit the test once in the cycle (September to June), and results cannot be carried over from one year to the next. After that date, within 24 hours of finishing your LNAT, Pearson VUE will make your LNAT score and essay available for download by your chosen university or universities. They will see your score before you do. Each university’s admissions tutors will then refer to the candidate’s score as part of their application. The candidate’s LNAT score and the essays will be used by each university in the way that best suits its own admissions system. The LNAT does not replace ‘A’ levels or their global equivalent but is used in conjunction with formal qualifications, the information on the UCAS or other application form, the candidate’s personal statement and, in some cases, performance at the interview. There is no fixed weight to the LNAT and different universities will utilise the LNAT in different ways. The use of LNAT essays varies and is dependent on each participating university’s admissions policy. Some universities may use it, for example, as the basis for interview questions. Others may compare it with the personal statement and school/college report on UCAS forms, or use it as a means of distinguishing between borderline candidates.

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