LNAT: Format, Key Dates and How to Prepare

Overview

The LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) is an admissions test required of applicants to law degrees, taken on computer at Pearson VUE test centres around the world. You can register for the LNAT at www.lnat.ac.uk, and you can find out how to book a test centre at the following link: https://lnat.ac.uk/registration/booking-your-test/

According to the official LNAT website, the following UK universities require the LNAT:

1. Bristol

2. Cambridge

3. Durham

4. Glasgow

5. KCL

6. LSE

7. Oxford

8. SOAS

9. UCL

Key dates (for 2027 entry)

LNAT registration opens: 1 August 2026 (tests can be taken from 1 September 2026)

Oxford and Cambridge LNAT registration deadline: 15 September 2026

Oxford and Cambridge LNAT test deadline: 15 October 2026

KCL, LSE and UCL LNAT test deadline: 31 December 2026

Bristol and Durham LNAT registration and test deadline: 13 January 2027

LNAT registration deadline for other universities: 20 January 2027 (test deadline: 25 January 2027)

LNAT structure

The test lasts 2 hours 15 minutes in total and is divided into two sections.  

Section A – Multiple choice

This section consists of 42 multiple-choice questions based on 12 argumentative passages (three or four questions per passage), which you must answer in 95 minutes. It assesses a range of skills, including:

a) Working through a large amount of complex information within a time limit.

b) Identifying the key points relevant to the question.

c) Drawing inferences from a given argument.  

d) Judging whether points are developed logically or whether the reasoning is flawed.  

Multiple-choice scores are released to the universities you have applied to first; if you sit the test by 26 January, you will receive your score by email in mid-February.

Section B – Essay

You have 40 minutes to write an essay on one of three questions, and LNAT suggests an ideal length of 500–600 words. Essay topics are very wide-ranging, from terrorism to religion and the environment. Unlike the multiple-choice section, the essay is not marked by the test provider; instead, it is sent to the universities you have applied to, and each uses it in its own way. Note, however, that you cannot see a mark for your essay.

Preparing for the LNAT multiple-choice section

It’s important to practise plenty of multiple-choice questions. You have only 95 minutes to answer 42 questions. Excluding the time spent reading the passages, you shouldn’t spend more than two minutes on each question, so you need to get used to answering within the time limit.  

The official LNAT website offers a free online practice test laid out exactly like the real test screen, along with practice papers and explanations, so it’s well worth using them. Don’t worry if your first score isn’t high: the test is difficult by nature, so full marks are very hard to achieve. You can download LNAT practice papers from the following link: http://www.lnat.ac.uk/how-to-prepare/practice-test/.

Preparing for the LNAT essay section

It’s important to pay attention to both the content and the structure of your essay. In fact, as the official LNAT website also states, the essay is not an assessment of your knowledge of the subject matter, so you won’t be at a disadvantage if you lack specialist knowledge of a particular field.

However, because LNAT essay questions cover such a wide range of topics, it can be difficult to write a persuasive essay that shows a more sophisticated understanding unless you prepare with a teacher who knows the LNAT well. It’s a good idea to build up your knowledge of current affairs by reading publications such as The Economist and The Guardian, and to refer to what you read in your essay.

As LNAT suggests an ideal essay length of 500–600 words, the quality of your content is what matters. Rather than listing lots of points, it’s better to build your paragraphs around three concise, well-supported points.   

Structure is an important way to earn marks. If your essay isn’t easy to follow and quick to read, the marker will soon lose interest. A good tip is to start with an introduction, make three well-reasoned points, and summarise the key ideas in your conclusion.