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LNAT Essay: Top 6 Tips

Tackling the LNAT essay in 40 minutes is daunting, but crucial for showcasing your skills to every university you apply to.

The LNAT essay section throws you into a world of diverse topics, demanding the construction and articulation of a strong argument. Within the 40-minute time frame, you must craft an essay that resonates with each university requiring the LNAT . This section acts as a litmus test, allowing universities to evaluate crucial skills in prospective law students. Here are six lnat tips and practice prompts to help you tackle this essay component with confidence.

1. Master the Art of Concise Essay Writing

How much should I write for the LNAT essay? If you are unsure, target an essay length of 500-600 words within the 750-word limit. In order to be able to do this during the exam, you need to dedicate 40 minutes to practice, including 10 minutes for planning. This mirrors the time constraints of law exams, emphasising the importance of succinctness. Regular practice will hone your ability to respond effectively within the given timeframe, elevating your overall performance.

Practice Prompt : Enhance your skills by tackling a prompt such as “Examine the impact of artificial intelligence on legal decision-making.” This not only sharpens your time management but also familiarises you with diverse topics, preparing you for the unpredictable nature of LNAT essay questions.

2. Plan Your Essay Response

Effective planning is the cornerstone of a stellar LNAT essay . Dedicate time within the 40-minute window to plan efficiently, employing techniques like mind maps, bullet points, lists, or flow charts. A well-crafted plan not only establishes a good lnat essay structure but also ensures a defensible position and acts as a guiding reference during potential mental blocks. This process is instrumental in question selection, providing a rough plan for each option.

Practice Prompt: Confront a prompt on the ethical considerations of artificial intelligence in law by constructing a mind map . Outline key arguments, supporting evidence, and a clear thesis. This visual roadmap not only streamlines your writing process but also enhances the coherence and persuasiveness of your essay.

3. Familiarise Yourself with the Topic

Part B the LNAT essay is primarily testing your ability to form an argument and defend it. It is only useful to use your own personal expertise in answering the question if it adds to the argument you are advancing. Therefore, if you know you can still create a defensible position then don’t let lack of knowledge hold you back.

Having parents, teachers or friends make up a series of questions for you to practice writing is incredibly helpful in getting yourself ready to face questions you have never seen before. For example, one of my questions was based on artificial intelligence – something I know nothing about but was still able to write a good argument on.

Practice Prompt : Imagine encountering a question on space exploration, an unfamiliar topic. Focus on your ability to construct a logical argument rather than detailed knowledge. Practice with questions outside your comfort zone, like “Should private companies be involved in space exploration?”

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4. Pick a side

Emphasising the importance of taking a stance cannot be overstated. Choose a side and work diligently to persuade the reader that your argument is superior. While acknowledging opposing views is crucial, your goal is to convincingly reject them in favor of your own position. Be open to recognising the merits of arguments contrary to your personal opinions, as this adds depth and persuasiveness to your essay.

Practice Prompt : If prompted to discuss the death penalty, choose a stance and build your argument around it. Acknowledge opposing views, perhaps stating, “While some argue for its deterrent effect, I believe the ethical concerns outweigh any potential benefits.”

5. Be careful with language

Precision and clarity in your language are paramount. Reflecting the courtroom setting, where arguments must be concise and clear, the LNAT essay requires a similar style. Avoid unnecessary complexity, unfamiliar jargon, and slang. Your reader will appreciate a clear and persuasive argument over convoluted language. Align your writing style with the precision expected in legal discourse. Consider finessing your writing style by getting professional guidance . 

Practice Prompt : Opt for clarity over complexity. Instead of using convoluted language in a prompt about environmental regulations, articulate your points clearly: “ Stringent environmental regulations are crucial for safeguarding our planet’s future .”

6. Proofread, Proofread and Proofread

In the rush to complete your essay, the importance of proofreading should not be underestimated. Devote a few minutes to review your work like a tutor would do , correcting any repetition or spelling errors. While spelling is not a direct evaluation criterion, a polished essay instills confidence in your argument. Utilise these final minutes to refine your essay, ensuring it reflects your best effort.

Practice Prompt : After completing an essay on the role of technology in shaping legal systems, take a few minutes to proofread. Identify and rectify any repetition, ensuring your arguments flow seamlessly. This final step enhances the overall polish of your essay.

How to write a good lnat essay requires a strategic approach , incorporating effective planning, persuasive writing, and meticulous proofreading. By practicing regularly, embracing unfamiliar topics, and honing your argumentative skills, you can confidently tackle Section B of the LNAT. Remember, the clarity of your argument and your ability to articulate a compelling perspective are the keys to success. Best of luck!

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Best Essay Writing Strategies For LNAT Section B

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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: The Complete Guide

Last Updated: 27th May 2022

Author: Chloe Hewitt

• Admissions Test

Table of Contents

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

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

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

What is the LNAT?

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

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

What is the structure of the LNAT?

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

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

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

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

LNAT Section A Preparation

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

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

What does LNAT Section A test?

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

• Comprehension
• Interpretation

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

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

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

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

What do you need to know for LNAT Section A?

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

ARGUMENTS vs ASSERTIONS vs EXPLANATIONS

ARGUMENTS vs ASSERTIONS

 vs EXPLANATIONS

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

PREMISE vs CONCLUSION

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

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

FACT vs OPINION

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

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

CORRELATION vs CAUSATION

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

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

How should I prepare for LNAT Section A?

1. Read a wide range of texts

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

2. Practice thinking critically

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

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

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

3. Practice your Time Management

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

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

4. Understand the format of the test

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

Extra LNAT Section A Tips

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

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

Boost your LNAT Score with expert support from UniAdmissions.

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

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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.

How should I prepare for LNAT Section B?

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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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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LNAT Sample Essays

• Updated on  
• Dec 3, 2022

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

LNAT Sample Essays: Structure and Format

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

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

Practise Questions 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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10 LNAT tips you should read for TOP grades on the LNAT exam

If you are preparing for the LNAT , here are 10 things you must know for top grades on the exam. It can be a confusing test to get your head round, and it is certainly a very difficult test. These 10 tips break the exam down for you, and give you simple and quick hacks to help you turn your score around and feel more confident going into the exam …

LNAT Tips 1. Small changes lead to big improvements

Every small thing you do to help you prepare will lead to big improvements in your final mark, so, whilst you might not feel like your practice is improving your score now, stick with it and you will see that it was worth it in the end.

Here is a little list of small things and handy LNAT tips that you can do today to get that top score on test day …

• Start reading newspapers , articles and journals so you know what good writing looks like
• Create a list of common question types and things you can do to tackle them
• Do a test with a timer next to you, and move on at exactly 8.5 minutes per passage
• Write an essay on your favourite topic and one on your least favourite topic, compare them and work out how you can get better at writing about topics you dislike

LNAT Tips 2. Start early

The earlier you start the better , you don’t need to jump straight into full timed mock exams but it is never too early to familiarize yourself with the test format, question types and essay topics. Especially, you should widen your reading, head to the non-fiction area of your library and see if you can find a book on the common and current debates in Science, Politics, Law, Media and Education. Or, if books aren’t your thing, take a look at an online newspaper or watch a TED Talk on YouTube whilst you get ready for school. This way, by the time it comes to the exam you will be equipped with a much better understanding of the LNAT essay topics .

LNAT Tips 3. Identify common question types and patterns – build up a bank of question tackling skills

The more you practice, the more you will release that the LNAT test involves certain question types which repeat. This is great news! It means you can build up a bank of question types that you are familiar with, and write down the tricks you use to tackle those specific questions.

Here are a few ideas …

• Main Point Questions: Take another look at the intro and conclusion of the passage, these usually give you an idea of the author’s main point
• Argument Questions: Cover up the answer options and write down what you think the answer is first, then pick the answer option which is most similar to what you wrote down
• Which of the following can be inferred Questions: Think about what the author has said and use it to jump to the next step, this is likely to be the inference
• Essay Questions: Imagine you are making your argument to a friend, what would they say? How would they criticise your points?

4. Think about the question from a new angle

With essays, it is important to nail the basics. This means a clear essay with some strong arguments which are introduced with topic sentences and developed in your paragraphs. It also means making sure that your paragraphs are always relevant to your argument, and that you are not straying away from your point. Once you think you have nailed those essay basics, it is time to get on to some top mark tricks. The best one is to think about the essay from a new angle – this means extending the scope of the essay and thinking about why it is important or how it could be tackled in a totally new way. Take this example …

5. Teach somebody else!

The best way to learn is through teaching , so grab your mum, dad or just a cuddly toy, and talk them through the different LNAT Question types, how to tackle the LNAT essays, and your best LNAT tips. This will help you think about the exam as a whole, and will make sure that all your knowledge and skills are right at the forefront of your mind on test day.

Timing is a killer in the LNAT. You can be brilliantly skilled, but, if you don’t get through the paper you are going to struggle to get a top mark. This is especially true when we remember that the LNAT is a multiple choice test, leaving an answer blank means you have 0% chance of getting the question correct, guessing gives you a 20% chance and if you can rule a few answer options out you are heading towards 50% (the average LNAT score!). In the weeks before the exam, you need to be practicing under time conditions , being strict with yourself so that you move on, find the questions you have the most chance of answering correctly and get to the end of the paper.

LNAT Tips 7. Confidence, don’t stress!

The LNAT is really hard, and you are unlikely to get your best score until right up to the days before the exam. This can be deflating and it is easy to give up early on if you don’t see score improvements. Please don’t give up , the skills you are learning in practice now will eventually turn into score improvements, even if you can’t see it yet. Stay confident, you should be impressed with yourself for preparing for such a difficult test, and remember that the LNAT averages are low, and your score will be considered along with lots of other parts of your application. A confident and calm candidate will always do better than a stressed candidate – so give it your best shot!

LNAT Tips 8. Mock tests

You should take full mock tests before your exam, this helps you …

• Get used to the online test format
• Work on how you are going to keep within time limit
• Familiarize yourself so you are less stressed in the exam
• Get used to sitting down and focussing for an extended period of time

If you have a question book you can use it to create mock tests, then, close to your exam date, you can head to the LNAT website and do their 2 mock tests which are formatted in the same way as the exam will be on test day.

LNAT Mock Test – Click Here

LNAT Tips 9. Ask for feedback

It can be hard to know how strong your essays are, it is not like the multiple choice section  where there is a correct and incorrect answer. To improve your essays you need to get feedback, so take your essay to someone, tell them what it’s for and how much time you have to write it, and then ask them to really critique it and find any flaws they can. Also, get their perspective on the question, what kinds of things might they have said that you didn’t consider.

People to ask for feedback-

• Teachers (English, Politics, Law, History, Geography teachers might be best but any teacher will be able to help you)
• Family Members

• Friends (Make sure to tell them to be mean, you want to know how to improve!)
• Yourself (Put the essay away for another day, when you come back to it, imagine you are an examiner and think about what you would critique)

LNAT Tips 10. Look for clues

The LNAT is not about knowledge it is about skills . One of those skills is inference, being able to work something out from the information you are given, a bit like a detective! So, if the LNAT question asks you for the meaning of a word and you don’t know it, use the text to work it out. Take a look at the words around the text, and the author’s argument in the passage, and pick the word that fits best in the context.

So that’s all the tips we have for the LNAT Exam. We wish you all the best in the exam and there’s lots of help available throughout the internet. If you’re interested on something personalised, be sure to check out our 1-1 LNAT Tutoring. We have expert LNAT tutors who have scored in the top 5% of the LNAT and have a wealth of advice they can give you. Here is more information about this: LNAT Tutoring

Preparation – LNAT FAQ’s

Q – how do i prepare for section a of the lnat.

A- LNAT Section A preparation is all about practice, you should do as many practice questions as you can. You should be able to start to recognise the most common question types, and draw together a skills bank to help you tackle common questions. See our post “10 Tips LNAT Section A” for more LNAT Section A grade boosters.

Q- How do I prepare for section B of the LNAT?

A – You can improve your essay skills by reading professional articles in newspapers, journals and books. Try to identify what makes the writing persuasive and effective and include it in your own work. You should look over sample essays and use them to critique your own work, try and spot places where your argument could be clearer or where you could have considered a counter argument. LNAT – Practice test https://lnat.ac.uk/how-to-prepare/practice-test/

Click Here for LNAT Sample Essays

Q- How do people do well on the LNAT?

A – LNAT is about natural skill, but it is also about practice. The more familiar you are with the test process and common question types the better you will perform. It is also really important to get used to the time pressure of the LNAT test, best candidates will have done a good number of timed mock tests.

Q- Can you get tutoring for the LNAT?

A – Yes you can. If you would like specific guided help with the LNAT, LawMind offers 1 on 1 LNAT tutoring with sessions to help you tackle the Multiple Choice Questions and improve your essays and skills.

Q – How do I get used to the online test format?

A – The LNAT is an online test, and you will not be able to highlight or edit the questions on screen, but you are given a little whiteboard to make notes. To get used to the online format, make sure to take the two mock tests on the LNAT website, which are in the same format as the exam will be on the day.

Click Here for LNAT mock tests

Q- How should I prepare myself on test day?

A – On test day, stay calm, take a look over the common question types and strategies you have learnt in your mock practice. Get all your documentation ready (a list will be given to you after registration, see the LNAT website), have something to eat as it is a long test, stay calm and confident and do your best.

Click Here for LNAT Test Day Information

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LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law)

What is the lnat, how do i register, when do i take the test.

• How do I get my results?

Practice materials

If you are applying for either  Law or Law with Law Studies in Europe , you will be required to sit the LNAT as part of your application.

The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT)  is a 2-hour 15-minute test divided into two sections.

Section A is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam consisting of 42 questions. The questions are based on 12 passages, with 3 or 4 multiple-choice questions on each. You are given 95 minutes to answer all of the questions.

You’ll be asked to read passages of text and answer questions that test your comprehension of them. Your answers to 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 Section B you will be given 40 minutes to write an essay from a list of three proposed subjects. This section is marked by the tutors at the college to which you apply, and this mark is taken into account as part of the selection process. The essay is your opportunity to show your ability to construct a compelling argument and reach a conclusion.

The LNAT isn’t designed to test your knowledge of Law or any other subject. Instead, it helps us to assess your aptitude for studying Law. 

Why do I have to take a test?

Most applicants to Oxford University have outstanding academic credentials. It can therefore be difficult for us to choose between so many well-qualified candidates, especially as applicants come from all over the world and take different qualifications.

Tests give us an extra piece of information for every student who has applied for a given course, wherever they are from. Considered together with the other elements of the application, this helps us to identify the very best candidates. However, there is no specific mark that will guarantee that you will be invited to interview.

The tests vary each year, and your test score will be considered alongside the scores of other students who apply for your course.

Do I have to pay?

The LNAT is administered by an independent company who charge candidates a fee of £75 to take the test in the UK or EU. If you are taking the test in a centre outside the UK or EU there is a fee of £120.

However, we do not wish the cost of sitting the test to be a barrier to doing so. An LNAT bursary scheme is available to candidates struggling to pay for their LNAT test. Test fees will be waived for UK/EU students in receipt of certain state benefits.

You must apply for a bursary before booking the LNAT. It could take at least a week to process a bursary application from the date of receipt so you should allow for this extra time when planning your LNAT booking.

For more information on applying for a bursary please read the detailed information about LNAT bursaries  on the LNAT website.

How are the tests designed and reviewed?

The LNAT is not run by Oxford University. The test is used by nine UK universities as part of their admissions process for undergraduate applications to Law.

The content of the LNAT is managed by the members of the LNAT Consortium (made up of six of those universities) and the test itself is administered by Pearson VUE, under contract to LNAT. A statistical report is produced each year for reviewing purposes and made publicly available.

Find out more about the LNAT . 

In order to register for the LNAT you must follow these steps: 

Step 1: Set up an account on the LNAT website .

You can do this from 1 August in the year you intend to apply. There are further instructions on the information you will need to provide and how to do this are on the LNAT website . 

Step 2:  Register with a test centre. 

Candidates sitting the LNAT normally do so in a registered Pearson VUE test centre. There are over 500 LNAT test centres around the world with 150 in the UK. 

To find your nearest test centres you can use the LNAT  live test centre locator . If you cannot find your country listed in the test centre locator or in the list of test centres scheduled to open soon, please  contact the LNAT Administrator .

Step 3:   Book your test .

In order to meet our deadlines, you should register for the LNAT by 15 September and take the LNAT before 15 October in the year you apply.

You may take the test on any day when there is availability at your chosen test centre between those dates. The earlier you book, the more chance you have of getting an appointment on the day of your choice. You are therefore strongly advised to begin making arrangements as soon as possible.

Step 4:   Pay for your test .

The LNAT must be paid for online in advance of your test, either via credit or debit card. If you do not have to an acceptable payment card, or live in a  country with credit card verification problems , you can apply for LNAT vouchers. 

Find out more about LNAT bursaries . 

Access arrangements

If you are normally entitled to access requirements in your exams (e.g. extended time for dyslexia, arrangements for impaired mobility, hearing or vision) you shouldn’t book your test online. Instead, you should follow Step 1 to register, then fill out an  Examination Access Requirements form , which you should submit, alongside appropriate documentary evidence, before booking your test.

Please note that while some examination access arrangements, such as extra time, can be verified and accommodated within a few days, others such as booking a reader recorder will take at least three weeks. Please allow for this extra time when planning to take your LNAT.

Once your request has been approved you will be given instructions on booking your test.

Visit the LNAT website for further information on access arrangements .

Candidates for the LNAT must take the test before 15 October in the year they apply, but not before the summer holiday of the year in which they apply. Please see below for a summary of the important dates and deadlines:

• 1 August – 15 September : Register and book the LNAT. It is highly recommended to register and book by 15 September in order to secure an LNAT test date before the 15 October deadline. A delay in booking may mean applicants have to travel further to an available LNAT location.
• On or before 15 October : Take your test. In order for your score to be considered by us, you must sit your test before or on 15 October.
• 15 October : Deadline to submit your UCAS form

On the test day:

It is important that you arrive at the test centre at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start of your test. Please note that on the day of the test, you must take a printout of your confirmation email and a  recognised form of photo-identification  (such as a passport). If you do not bring ID you will not be allowed to sit the test.

If you don't take the admissions test(s) required for your course, either because you didn't register or didn't attend on the test day, then your application will be significantly affected. Your UCAS form will still be viewed by our admissions tutors. However, as the admissions test forms an important part of our selection process it will be extremely difficult for your application to be competitive when viewed against other candidates who have fulfilled all the admissions criteria.

It is not possible to re-sit the LNAT once completed. If you were ill on the day of the LNAT please contact the Law faculty ( [email protected] ) and let them know, include your UCAS PID and LNAT registration number. If there was some form of disruption at the test centre you should ask for an incident number on the day of the test and contact the LNAT Consortium as soon as possible afterwards.

Read more information on the complaints procedure .

How do I get my results?     

Candidates sitting the LNAT will receive their results in mid-February.

All scores and essay will be made available to the Law Faculty selection committee in time for them to make their shortlisting decisions in November, so candidates do not need to send their results to us separately.

Taking any type of test or exam can be stressful, but you can help build your confidence by doing a bit of preparation ahead of time.

You may also do better in the real test if you've had a chance to practise some sample or past papers, and got used to the format and timings of the admissions test you have to take.

Here are our top tips for preparing for the LNAT:

• Review the sample papers for the LNAT provided below. This will help you to feel familiar with the test paper and know what to expect. Make sure to have a look at the online simulation  too.
• Sit at least one past paper under test conditions. This is really important as it will help you get used to how much time to allocate to each question.
• Have a look at the LNAT website, which contains lots of useful information on how to prepare including hints and tips from former candidates and an LNAT preparation guide .

Don't worry if you find the past or specimen papers very difficult - they're supposed to be! All our tests are designed to stretch you further than you have been stretched before – most candidates will find them really hard.

Section A practice papers

The first section of the LNAT is a screen-based multiple-choice test of 42 questions. You may find it useful to familiarise yourself with the format of the test using  this online sample test . You may also like to attempt the following practice test papers which can be downloaded as PDFs. Remember you are given 95 minutes to answer all of the questions.

• Practice test paper 1
• Practice test paper 2
• Practice test commentary
• Practice test marking scheme

Section B essay questions

In the second section of the LNAT you will be given 40 minutes to write an essay from a list of three proposed subjects. Here are a few sample essay questions for you to think about. Remember that you get 40 minutes to write a maximum of 750 words – ideally about 500-600 words .  

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

Further resources

You may wish to prepare by simply reading a good quality English-language newspaper. 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? This 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

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

• Alec Fisher,  Critical Thinking: An Introduction  (Cambridge University Press, 2001) 
• Roy van den Brink-Budgen,  Critical Thinking for Students  (How to Books, 2000)
• Nigel Warburton,  Thinking From A to Z  (Routledge, 2000) 
• Peter Gardner,  New Directions: Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking  (Cambridge University Press, 2006)  (mainly for those who have English as a second language)

YOU MUST TAKE THE LNAT IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR:

Law  (M100) Law with Law Studies in Europe  (5 options)

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LNAT Guides

LNAT Section B - Your Guide to the Second Section of the LNAT

Written by: Matt Amalfitano-Stroud

Section B of the LNAT is your chance to show off your essay writing skills. This could either be the easiest or the most challenging part of your application. Either way, let’s take an in-depth look at what to expect from Section B and how you can succeed. Carry on reading for LNAT facts, tips and practice questions!

BASICS OF THE LNAT

Before we get to essay writing, let’s go over the basics of the LNAT to make sure we understand what the exam is all about.

The Law National Aptitude Test  (LNAT) is a two paper exam used primarily to test a potential student’s abilities in various disciplines of reading and writing.  

You’ll be likely to encounter the test if you’re applying for a Law degree in the UK , starting from undergraduate level. While not every university will require you to sit the LNAT (such as Cambridge University), 9 UK universities and 2 international universities use the LNAT in their application process. These universities include Oxford , Cambridge ,   University College London and the London School of Economics,   which are some of the highest-rated Law universities in the UK .  

The LNAT lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes and is split between Section A and Section B, which will both ask different styles of questions to test your reading and writing skills.  

Section A consists of 42 multiple-choice questions based on a total of 12 argumentative passages . Each passage has three or four questions to answer and you will have 95 minutes to complete all of these.  

The passages you’ll find in the LNAT are based on a variety of topics . They typically aren’t focused on law-related issues but will instead cover anything from politics, science, history, technology and much, much more! But no need to fret, you won’t need to start revising for every possible question! Section A isn’t about your knowledge of a topic but instead your ability to decipher and explain meanings from non-fiction literature , including intentions behind specific words or phrasing and discussion of the writer’s viewpoint of the topic.  

In Section B, you’ll have a choice of three questions to write a single argumentative essay about. You will have 40 minutes in total to complete this essay and you have a maximum of 750 words.

Just like Section A, your essay will be answering a general question. Many questions that have previously been asked have related to ethical issues and current affairs such as “How should judges be appointed?” or “What is ‘political correctness and why does it matter?”. When choosing your question, you’ll want to make sure you have at least some level of interest and knowledge on your chosen topic, as you will need to be more informative in your answer than Section A. However, the primary focus of this Section is to test your comprehension, creativity and reasoning abilities , so don’t worry if you’re not an expert on the subject.

The LNAT is sat at any time between September 1st and January 20th (October 15th for Oxford and Cambridge applicants) and must be taken at an LNAT testing centre . You will have to register for a testing date on the LNAT website , which can be done from August 1st until September 15th for Oxford applicants and January 15th for applicants at other universities. Bear in mind that you’ll need to pay a fee of £75 for testing in the UK and £120 outside of the UK.

The LNAT scoring for Section A is very clear, giving you a mark out of 42 based on your correct answers . Section B however does not have an official or consistent marking scheme. Each university will mark your essay differently with some placing great importance on your performance in this section and others not considering it at all . We have a Definitive Guide to LNAT Scores if you would like to learn more about your results in the test.

Here’s a quick summary of the basic details we’ve learnt so far:

LNAT Exam Format

Want to learn more about the LNAT? Check out our Definitive LNAT Guide to learn more general information about what you can expect from the exam!  

Struggling with your LNAT preparation?  

With the LNAT Preparation Platform , you’ll be able to use an amazing collection of revision notes, strategy guides and expert tutorials to learn everything you’ll need to write the perfect essay!  

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE LNAT SECTION B

With the basics of the LNAT out the way, it’s time to go headfirst into Section B, or, “The Essay Section”.

The structure of Section B is very simple in theory! You’ll be given three unrelated questions and a couple of blank pages to craft a thought-provoking essay based on one of them in 40 minutes . Here’s an example of what your question page will look like:

As you can see, none of the questions are particularly lengthy and all cover very different topics . This variety should mean that you’ll have at least one question that you can confidently answer.  

Although the topics are very different, the structure of each question is fairly similar . Whether the question provides a quote or a general topic, each one will essentially be asking you to express your view on what has been presented to you. The purpose of this section is to determine your skills in argumentative writing , after all, so expressing your opinion understandably and convincingly will be the core of your essay.  

Of course, it’s no coincidence that Section B is structured this way, expressing convincing arguments is an essential skill in almost any profession within Law. Even if your chosen university doesn’t officially mark your essay, you should still put your all into this section as a way to practice and demonstrate your skills for your potential future profession.  

For some, this Section may be a breeze. Essay writing is a natural skill for some , while many others may feel overwhelmed with options when they first begin. Especially with a 40-minute time limit, many people may freeze up when either choosing a question or beginning to write their essay . Getting started is always the hardest part of writing but once you’ve overcome that roadblock, you should find yourself finishing the essay with time to re-read it ( which you will definitely need to do )!  

Exams.Ninja Tip

750 words are considered on average to take up three standard-sized pages , with 250 words per page. Remember though that 750 words is the maximum , not the minimum . While you should always aim to get as close to the word limit as possible, you will typically be given around 10% leeway (75 words) in either direction, so don’t worry if you’re a few words over or under.

As we mentioned, you’re going to want to save some time at the end to double-check your writing . Between five and ten minutes should be sufficient time to check everything, so try to wrap up your essay quickly if you’re still writing in the last minutes of the exam. The examiners aren’t expecting perfection from your essay here, as there’s only so much a person can do in 40 minutes without any additional preparation time! The time spent double-checking should be used to catch out any spelling or grammatical errors rather than trying to change your wording or arguments.  

As we’ve already discussed, marking for Section B is very loose and does not have a set standard between different universities. Unfortunately, many unis don’t provide much information on how they mark or use the essay in your application. We do know that the following universities do not consider Section B within your application:

Universities That Do Not Consider Section B of the LNAT

London School of Economics

University of  Glasgow

Kings College London

How Do Universities use Section B?

Universities that consider Section B may use it in a variety of ways. For example, they may compare it against your personal statement or r eference it in questions during your interview . When a university has two or more borderline applicants to choose between, the Section B essay will definitely come into play, which should reinforce the idea that you should put as much effort as you can into your essay.  

Oxford University is generally the most considerate of Section B , with a percentage scoring scheme used to determine an essay’s quality. A good essay will generally score 60% or above in this marking scheme, with points being awarded to displays of application, reasoning ability and good communication. You can see here the Section B results for successful applicants of Law at Oxford in the 2020-21 admissions cycle. Only 15 of the 238 applicants scored under 60% , with the most common score being 63% .  

Essay Scores for Successful Oxford Applicants (2020-21)

Remember, Section A is typically going to hold more value for your LNAT score, so be sure that you are equally prepared for it. You can check out our LNAT Section A Guide for more tips on how to get the best score that you can!

WHAT SKILLS DO I NEED FOR SECTION B?

What exactly are the examiners going to be looking for from your essay? Let’s find out!

Section B isn’t a test of your general knowledge on certain topics. Your efforts in the 40 minutes need to be focussed on writing a compelling and convincing argument based on the question you are asked. Let’s take a look at the different areas of essay writing that need to be considered for this section of the exam:  

Choosing a Question

Before you do anything, you’ll of course have to choose a question . Your process for doing this will depend heavily on the questions available, which you will have no hint towards before you start the section.  

Firstly, you’ll need to ensure you have properly read every question . We recommend taking about two minutes to go through every question properly, as you need to be certain that you know what the question is asking . This can be difficult with the number of different variations of question types you can get. For example, what is each of these questions asking?

1. Do you agree that there is art for the masses and elite culture? How do you feel about being “the mass”?

2. Birth controls shouldn’t be prescribed to teenagers without parental consent. What is your opinion?

3. Web   2.0   has brought about a different method of communicating over the Web through “online social networking” and this signals a shift in how people relate to the divide between private and public space. Discuss.

Question 1 has first asked you a simple yes or no question , whether you agree with the statement. While obviously, you will need to be i n-depth and argumentative in your answer, the style of question does limit your response to a certain degree as you will need to remain within the parameters of whether you agree with what they have told you.  

Question 2 meanwhile simply asks for an opinion on the topic , a much more open-ended method of asking your viewpoint. You will have more of a chance to explore different factors of the topic as you are not restricted to a yes or no question .  

Finally, Question 3 is the most open-ended of the three in terms of the structure, with only the instruction to discuss the statement provided . Your essay could go in several directions here, with any option falling under the instructions provided by the question , as long as it’s relevant to the topic of course!  

It’s natural to assume that the best question to pick would be the easiest , but this definitely isn’t always true . The amount of knowledge you have on a subject will matter when choosing a question, there’s no point in trying to answer something you have absolutely no knowledge of , but you’ll equally want to consider which topic you have the most interest in .

Which would make the better choice for an essay; a topic that you know lots of facts about but don’t have any strong feelings towards, or a topic that you don’t know quite as much about but have a strong opinion or interesting argument relating to it.  

Examiners are looking for the ability to make a strong case , not just the ability to state information, so the best option will always be the question that you feel you could write an interesting argument for .  

Planning your essay

Creating a plan may feel like a waste of your time given how little time you have , but it’s important to go into your writing with a clear idea so you don’t begin to ramble or go off-topic.  

Your plan should only take around 5 minutes and does not have to be extremely in-depth. The main purpose of your plan should be to pin down what your argument is and what points you are going to use to express it , as well as having a rough structure to keep the essay focused and organised.  

When creating your plan, the first step is always going to be to generate ideas , you won’t get far without them! You may have already developed some while reading the questions and making your decision, so be sure to write them all down . At this stage, no idea is a bad idea , so think of anything that may be relevant and put it in your collection of ideas.  

Once you think you have enough (or more than enough) talking points, it’s time to build the structure of the essay . Everything will need to be built around an effective introduction and conclusion , which will be the two tentpoles of your argument. However, all the points you are going to make in between need to be carefully placed to maintain a good flow throughout the essay. Paragraphs should connect with each other and points shouldn’t feel like a checklist. The discussion should feel natural, without any sudden shifts in topic or tone .  

Once you’re happy with your plan, it’ll be time to start writing . One major benefit to having a plan is that you will find yourself writing much faster when working from a plan. You won’t need to be worrying about structure or points you should make as all of that will have already been decided . You’ll be free to focus on the strength of your writing!  

Writing the Essay

The two most important sections will always be the introduction and conclusion . You’ll need to properly explain the argument you’re making to give the rest of the essay meaning and you will need to provide some form of definitive answer to the question once you’ve expressed all the points you had.

Everything in between the beginning and end needs to be relevant and well-thought-out or else your argument will fall flat! You’re going to need to use your deductive reasoning skills to ensure all your points need to be relevant and explained clearly so the reader can understand why you’re writing about it and what it means to the question you’re answering.  

Of course, the most basic thing that you will need to be careful about is your spelling and grammar . During the initial writing stage, it can be easy to overlook this , especially when under a strict time limit. The best way to prevent any problems here is to save time in the exam to go over your work . Speaking of which…

Double-checking your Work

You may feel confident that your work is perfect, but there is almost certainly going to be at least one error or aspect that can be corrected or improved . Giving yourself five or ten minutes before the end of the exam could be an absolute life-saver and save you from an embarrassing mistake .

Spelling, grammar and wording are all key things to look out for. This time shouldn’t be about changing up your argument or adding extra points, but ensuring the f undamentals of your essay are flawless . An examiner is much more likely to forgive a slightly clunky argument in your essay than a collection of blatant spelling errors.  

However, don’t rush the second half of your essay or skip over key points for the sake of having time at the end. It’s ok to cut things out that don’t necessarily fit the best, you do only have 750 words after all, but don’t do this at the cost of your essay’s overall quality . Correcting a couple of errors isn’t going to save your mark if the essay that you’ve written feels incomplete .

Exams.Ninja Tip 

What do LNAT examiners look for? The three major things to consider are as follows: 

• You need to offer a uniques perspective on the topic. Examiners don’t want to read 100 essays covering the same basic point, so provide an interesting angle to keep their interest. 
• You need to keep things as definitive and objective as possible. You’re going to have opinions on the topic, but you will need to avoid expressing them outright and focus on facts and evidence to explain your overall point. 
• Examiners take the word count very seriously. Aim for less than the 750-word limit, try to hit around 600 instead.  

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR SECTION B?

You’ll need to make sure you practise everything we’ve discussed so far, but what’s the best way of doing so? Here are a few tips that will help you out!

1. Develop a Preparation Plan

The LNAT is slightly different to some other exams, as your time revising won’t be spent remembering facts but instead practising your reasoning and critical thinking . It can be difficult to know where to start with this, so you should create a plan for how to tackle it, much like how you do with an essay.

You should devote time to the areas that you feel you need the most work . Ideally, you’ll have time to thoroughly cover everything but in reality, you’ll want to prioritise the areas that you aren’t as comfortable with .

Bear in mind that the LNAT is only one part of your application process. Your time should be split between other areas of application as well, including your interview and personal statement , as well as revising for your A-Levels or equivalent!

Not sure on the best way to tackle a plan? Check out our 6-Month Preparation Timeline for some inspiration!

2. Read and Write as much as you can

As you should know by now, reading and writing are the two most important skills that you will need to revise. These are both very general topics that have lots of areas to practice in, but in general, these are the two things you will need to know how to do well as you will be relying on these skills for both Sections of the exam.  

The most effective way to revise reading and writing is to just do it! There are countless ways to practice so try to find something that feels beneficial to you , while also being enjoyable. For your writing skills, you’ll want to take any opportunities to write about topics that interest you . Writing on a topic that requires little research is a great way of being able to focus on important parts, your cognitive and argumentative abilities .  

For something a bit more challenging, you may want to ask a friend or family member to give you a question that you can answer with a short essay. Let them catch you off guard with something you didn’t know they would ask, and then present them with your essay to see if they understand the argument you were trying to make or were at all convinced by your points . Of course, don’t always expect a review as in-depth as an LNAT examiner may give!

3. Answer Previous LNAT Questions

Creating your own questions or just writing about something you care about is great practice, but the best way to get a true understanding of what sitting the LNAT is like is to answer actual questions from past papers . These will be the best representative of what you can expect in the real thing because they are the real thing , just a bit older!  

To take your preparation to the next level, you answer the questions under exam conditions , complete with the time limit. This is always a great way to test your nerves and see how you perform under pressure , especially for an exam like the LNAT. You could either try Section B alone or sit the full test with both Sections in the 135-minute time limit (we recommend you do both!).  

How can you get a mark on your practice LNAT exam? With Exams.Ninja!

With the Exams.Ninja LNAT Preparation Platform you’ll be able to complete a selection of LNAT past papers under exam conditions . You’ll get an estimated mark at the end of the exam and you can go through worked solutions and practice essays to help improve your abilities.

EXAMPLE PRACTICE ESSAYS

It’s time to have a look at some examples of top-quality LNAT essays and some questions with suggested talking points so you can get an idea of what you’ll need to write to get a great score!

LNAT Example Essay 1

‘There is a time and place for censorship of the internet.’ Discuss with particular reference to the right of freedom of expression.  

In today’s day and age it is extremely easy for anyone to access explicit or dangerous content on the internet. There have been talks of censorship on the internet, but is it necessary? One would argue that the censorship of the internet is against our freedom of expression, which is why in this essay I will provide an answer in response to the statement ‘There is a time and place for censorship of the internet’.  

In our current education system there is a heavy emphasis put on the usage of the internet to aid our learning. However, once children learn how to use the internet, the whole world is just one click away. Children could be easily exposed to indecent images, which is why some say the Government should censor the internet for the safety of children. Possible solutions could be only allowing websites with adult material to be accessible at late-night, reducing the chances of indecent exposure to children. Accordingly, in this instance, censorship is justified.

Similarly, one could easily research the internet to find information about illegal activities such as drug or bomb making. This means that the internet could be used as a tool to threaten national security, hence why the internet should have tough censorship in order to prevent criminals from accessing dangerous material, for the benefit of everyone’s safety.

On the other hand, blocking certain websites strictly goes against our right of freedom of expression and instead of blocking certain dangerous websites, the Government should have a more efficient surveillance strategy in order to track people who are accessing such dangerous websites. This would ensure that our right of freedom of expression is not breached and at the same time, criminal activity would be prevented.  

Furthermore, with regards to the access of sexually explicit websites, more work should be some in order to educate children not to access such websites. Good parent is a better alternative to preventing children accessing such websites, rather than blocking sites which goes against our right of freedom of expression.  

In conclusion, there is no time and place for censorship as it goes against our right to freedom of expression. Other alternatives such as internet surveillance would be more effective as it ensures the safety of the general public and at the same time our freedom of expression is not breached.

Examiner’s comments:

Introduction: This is a very good introduction. It highlights the conflict between censorship and freedom of expression, which is a good place to point it out. In the final sentence, though, the student wastes time in saying ‘which is why in this essay I will come with an answer in response to the statement….’ – this is obvious and there is little point in saying it. It just wastes time and prevents one using the time for writing something more useful. Other than this, the introduction is very good and concise.

Main body: The student considers two main instances of censorship in the main body (indecent images and dangerous websites) and suggests that censorship could be used, but suggests alternatives would be more effective. This is quite a persuasive essay because the student has considered alternative points of view, which makes the essay balanced.  

Conclusion: The conclusion is very clear and brings the arguments advanced in the essay to a final judgement. The candidate directly addresses the question and refers to the whole part of the question by considering freedom of expression (unlike in Example Essay 2). On the whole, this is a very impressive essay.

Style: This candidate makes two typographical errors. First, ‘more work should be some’ should read ‘more work should be done’. Second, ‘Good parenting’ should be referenced, not ‘Good parent’. Proof read!

LNAT Example Essay 2

‘Developed countries have a greater obligation to tackle climate change than developing countries.’ Discuss the extent to which you agree with this statement.

Climate change is a global issue that affects all nations and its peoples, and in light of the newly released global sustainability goals, perhaps we should focus on what actions should be taken to effect a change rather arguing who should take responsibility. Hence, I disagree with this statement and will be presenting my argument in this essay.

Firstly, climate change is a global issue and all nations are obligated to combat it. We must abandon the attitude that developing nations are somehow inferior to developed nations simply because of their global position. With this approach in mind, all nations therefore must be taken as accountable for this global crisis that affects us all. Perhaps the view that combatting climate change is an ‘obligation’ should be abandoned. Improving the condition of our world and fixing our mistakes should be regarded not as a chore, but as a responsibility to future generations. After we have confronted these issues and changed our perceptions, will a global effort truly be effectively carried forward?

Secondly, while it is true that developed nations have a greater capacity financially and structurally to enact a change, efforts to improve the infrastructure of a country to make it more green can be done by developing countries. Rather than seeing sustainability as an expensive undertaking, requiring new carbon capturing machines, knowledge of other ways to lesson our carbon footprint should be made clear. These simple methods such as planting more trees than the number being cut down or effective garbage disposable and recycling to minimise burning of garbage. Such inexpensive methods could easily be undertaken by developing countries, eliminating the idea that climate change is a concern of the rich.

Thirdly, to separate countries into two spheres is damaging. This segregation lead to the belief that ‘developing nations’ are somehow able to ‘get away’ with releasing high amount of greenhouse gases or deforestation by simply claiming that they do not have the capacity to make such a change. It is not enough for the developed countries to take the initiative; developing nations are equally obligated to combat climate change.  

In conclusion, no country should be viewed as having a greater obligation towards alleviating climate change.

Introduction: The introduction is excellent. The candidate states her main view concisely and proceeds to continue with the main body. The candidate also adopts a unique take on the question, which is positive.

Main body: The second paragraph raises interesting points but it is not clear how it relates to the question. A running theme throughout the essay is that every country shares a responsibility to be sustainable and reduce climate change. However, counter-arguments are not readily considered, accordingly the essay is not as persuasive as it might be. You must consider the other side of the argument.

The other side of the argument could have been discussed out the very good point made about developing countries still being able to plant trees. For example:

Climate change affects every country and, thus, every country should be obliged to tackle climate change.

Despite this, some argue that richer countries have far more resources than developing countries to spend on developing non-renewable energy sources (e.g. solar panels).

Nonetheless, poorer countries can still do their part by planting trees and taking other inexpensive methods and should not consider themselves ‘off the hook’. Climate change affects everyone and, therefore, everyone should contribute.

One could also note that the money concern is a practical issue that can be addressed. An example of a policy to deal this could be that each country pays a certain percentage of its GDP to tackle climate change.

Conclusion: The candidate succinctly presents her final response to the question in the conclusion. This could have been elaborated on a little more but is still fine nonetheless.  

LNAT Practice Question 1

The general trend towards the liberalisation of marriage undermines its religious basis.’ Discuss this comment with reference to the idea of abolishing marriage as a legal concept.

• Marriage from a religious perspective is between a man and a woman and the liberalisation of this the rise of divorce and the legalisation of same sex marriage does undermine its religious basis.
• This is not, however, necessarily a bad thing – one idea would be to abolish marriage as a legal concept – making a joint union for the purposes of taxation that would be between whoever wants to create that union. Marriage then would be left as a separate union in the eyes of god alone and not in the eyes of the law. Whatever happens, the legal union will be separated from the religious one.
• Religion and the law should be separated, especially given our aim to be a multi-cultural and multi-religious society.  
• It is to be unfairly preferential to one group of people to integrate one religion with the law above all others.

For – Challenges

• Why do we support relationships in the first place – partially mutual support that a long term commitment gives to someone, but also procreation, which is lost by extending it beyond heterosexual couples.
• This may be the case if we were creating the law now, but Christianity is inherently connected to the English legal system by virtue of its history and fused past.
• Religious basis is changing – lots of Christians believe that the concept of marriage should be extended to fit in one with modern perceptions

Against – Challenges

• But this is only as a response to the law changing what the understanding of marriage is.  
• Marriage is traditionally a religious concept and its being integrated with the law means that the religious community has lost control of what marriage is.

LNAT Practice Question 2

Should tuition fees be reduced?

• Tuition fees should be reduced as high tuition fees are hindering low-income students from considering higher education, resulting in a lack of social mobility and a denial of the right to education based on income-levels.  
• Tuition fees have become increasingly unaffordable in recent years, and this has become a huge deterrent for students who are not from well-to-do families from pursuing higher education, even though they may be academically-capable of doing so.  
• Tuition fees should be reduced as universities already have the benefit of huge donations and grants being given by alumni and research organisations in order for them to survive and provide quality education, it is unfair to charge students exorbitant tuition fees and create a high barrier to entry based on financial means.  
• The argument that tuition fees are needed to sustain a university is weak in this day and age when the bulk of a university’s revenue comes from research grants and legacy donations.

For – Challenges  

• Tuition fees should not be reduced as tuition fees are needed for universities to remain competitive and hire the best professors and have the best resources for students in order to ensure quality teaching.  
• If tuition fees were reduced, even if more students will be enticed to enrol in university as a result, it will mean that all students will end up receiving sub-standard education with the lack of resources and   financial-backing needed.  
• Tuition fees should not be reduced as not all universities have the benefit of large grants and legacy donations.  
• Only the top-ranked universities and the most prestigious universities will be able to attract sufficient funding and donations from successful alumni and be able to survive even without charging high rates of universities.  
• Many other universities will struggle to survive without charging sufficiently high tuition fees, and reducing tuition fees might be counter-intuitive and result in less university places being available.
• Tuition fees should not be reduced as there is already the student loan scheme in place which ensures that students only need to start re-paying their loan upon graduation if they earn a certain amount of income.  
• This helps to ensure that low-income students will still have easy access to universities, and they will only need to pay off the loans if they manage to secure a job that pays enough for them to repay the loan.  
• Tuition fees should not be reduced as too many students are going to university for the sake of it and do not take their degree seriously.  
• It is well-known that many students in less rigorous courses and universities only treat university as an extra 3-4 years of socialising and partying.  
• Taxpayers should not have to subsidise these students when they are not doing something of value and tuition fees should remain as it is in order to act as a deterrent for students who are not naturally inclined for university education in the first place.
• Tuition fees should be reduced as the high level of tuition fees being charged causes many students to be heavily-indebted upon graduation, causing an immense financial burden to them and provides a disincentive for many students to consider university in the first place, even if they qualified for university academically.  
• Tuition fees should be reduced as university not only provides academic teaching, it also provides important soft-skills and allows students to figure out what they are good at and what they want to do in life.  
• Studies have shown that university education is highly beneficial in terms of a person’s success later on in life as well as their earning capacity.  
• Hence, we should not deny this opportunity to many students who might otherwise be put off by the high tuition fees.

Want even more practice questions? With the Exams.Ninja Preparation Platform , you’ll have access to 50 unique Section B questions to answer, each with a fully worked solution to tweak your method and write the best essay possible!  

So now you’ve read our guide to Section B, it’s time to start writing an LNAT masterpiece! Section B may be the easiest or most difficult part of your whole application, but with the knowledge you now have of how it works, you shouldn’t have any problems writing an essay that will impress any examiner who reads it!

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 !

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

Posted by Catherine Robinson on October 18, 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 we should sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism. 

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: ‘We must be prepared to sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism.’ Discuss.

The delicate balance between individual liberties and national security has been a longstanding debate in democratic societies. The notion that we must be prepared to sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism raises important ethical and practical questions. Some argue that such sacrifices are necessary for the greater good, while others firmly believe in the preservation of civil liberties. One school of thought contends that sacrificing traditional liberties is a justifiable means to the end of defeating terrorism. However, this view is misguided because it neglects the long-term consequences on democracy, the potential for abuse, and the importance of alternative strategies. Therefore, it will instead be argued that upholding traditional liberties is essential, even in the face of terrorism.

Traditional liberties, such as freedom of speech, privacy, and due process, are the pillars of democratic societies. These liberties distinguish democracies from authoritarian regimes and are essential in safeguarding the rights and dignity of individuals. Sacrificing these liberties in the name of security poses a grave risk to the democratic principles we hold dear. One argument asserts that sacrificing traditional liberties is necessary to protect citizens from terrorist threats. The proponents of this view argue that certain measures, such as mass surveillance or detention without trial, are needed to prevent terrorist acts. However, this argument can be refuted. While security is undeniably important, the notion that undermining civil liberties is the only means of achieving it is a false dichotomy. There are alternative strategies, such as intelligence sharing and community engagement, that can effectively counter terrorism without compromising individual freedoms.

Sacrificing traditional liberties may also lead to a slippery slope, where governments may overreach their powers and abuse their authority. History is rife with examples of governments exploiting crises to curtail civil liberties, often targeting marginalised groups. The erosion of liberties can undermine the trust between citizens and their government, leading to a more divided and polarised society. Some argue that in the face of an existential terrorist threat, exceptional measures are warranted. They contend that the protection of society justifies temporary sacrifices of liberties. However, history has shown that these temporary measures can often become permanent fixtures, leading to the gradual erosion of freedoms. A compelling historical example of this phenomenon can be found in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. In response to the immediate threat of terrorism, the US government passed the Patriot Act, which granted broad surveillance and investigative powers to law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The Act was presented as a necessary and temporary measure to enhance national security. However, as the years have passed, many provisions of the Act have remained in place and additional legislation, such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), has been enacted, expanding the government's surveillance capabilities. It is imperative to find ways to protect against terrorism without compromising the foundational principles of democracy.

Instead of sacrificing traditional liberties, a more comprehensive approach to defeating terrorism involves intelligence gathering, community policing, and international cooperation. These strategies have been successful in thwarting terrorist plots and maintaining democratic values. Some argue that sacrificing traditional liberties allows for more efficient and decisive action against terrorism. However, this argument is flawed. Efficient counterterrorism measures can be pursued within the boundaries of existing laws, respecting civil liberties and due process.

In conclusion, the idea that we must be prepared to sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism raises serious ethical and practical concerns. While there may be arguments in favour of such sacrifices for the sake of security, they overlook the long-term consequences on democracy, the potential for abuse, and the importance of alternative strategies. Preserving traditional liberties, even in the face of terrorism, is essential to safeguard the principles of democracy, maintain trust between citizens and their government, and explore effective, ethical approaches to counterterrorism.

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 .

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Everything You Need to Know About the LNAT

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LNAT FAQs – The Big List of Frequently Asked Questions About the LNAT 2024 and 2025

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

In this article, we will briefly answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the LNAT 2024 and 2025.

These questions have been grouped into various categories, based on their context. Check out the other articles on our website which cover the LNAT preparation strategy in depth.

In the next part of this article, we will cover the LNAT FAQs specifically asked about each of the LNAT universities.

If you have a question that is not covered in this FAQs list, just drop us an email or use the ‘ Contact Us ‘ page, and we’ll be happy to answer your query.

This FAQs page supplements the list provided on the official LNAT website.

As a rule, you should read all the relevant information provided on the official website, the UCAS website and the website of the university you are applying to.

And don’t forget to attempt the Free LawMint LNAT Practice Test .

LNAT Exam General Information

Who is eligible for the lnat exam.

As such, there is no prescribed eligibility criteria for the LNAT exam. You just need to register on the official LNAT website, pay the fees, select your preferred center, choose your exam slot and take the test.

The LNAT needs to be taken by all candidates interested in applying for admission into the undergraduate Law programmes in any of the LNAT Universities. (Durham University, King’s College London, London School of Economics, SOAS, University College London, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow and University of Oxford.)

Do I need my UCAS Number to take the LNAT?

No. UCAS number is not required at the time of registration or sitting for the LNAT. As per the LNAT website, “if you do not know your UCAS ID yet, you can still register by entering 0000000000 (10 zeroes) but it will delay your UK university application(s) if you do not later return to your profile and enter your correct UCAS ID number.”

Also, “Candidates not applying to any UK university should enter 0000000000 (10 zeroes).”

What is the LNAT exam for?

The LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test or the National Admission Test for Law) is a standardized admission test required as part of the admissions process to study law at nine UK and two non-UK universities.

• In the UK: Durham University, King’s College London, London School of Economics, SOAS, University College London, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow and University of Oxford.
• Outside the UK: IE Madrid and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

In these universities, the LNAT is used as part of the selection process, along with academic achievements, personal statement, interviews etc.

What is the validity of LNAT?

The LNAT is valid for the specific admission cycle only and the scores are not carried forward to the next year. Think of the LNAT validity as being tied into the specific year’s UCAS admissions cycle.

Check the LNAT website ‘ Dates and Deadlines ‘ page, the university websites and the UCAS website for specific dates for each university.

Is there negative marking in LNAT?

No. There is no negative marking in the LNAT for any wrong answers.

There is no penalty or negative marking for any unanswered questions either.

You will just get one mark for every correct answer in the LNAT Multiple Choice Questions Section – A; and the Section – B – Essay is not marked.

The essay is sent to the universities that you have chosen to apply to. The essays are read and assessed as per the university admissions processes.

Is the LNAT multiple-choice?

Yes, Section A of the LNAT is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam with 42 questions.

The questions are based on 12 passages – 6 passages with 3 and 6 passages with 4 multiple-choice questions.

You are given 95 minutes to answer all of the questions in section A.

Section B of the LNAT is the essay section – where you have to write an essay of around 600 words on one of the three essay topics or essay questions.

LNAT 2024 Preparation

How long should i prepare for the lnat.

Typically, if you are starting from a scratch, 2 months of regular preparation is ideal to thoroughly prepare for the LNAT.

You can crunch the preparation time to 1 month or stretch it out to 3 months – depending on how much time you can dedicate per day.

LawMint’s LNAT Practice Test Series has 30 full length practice tests – so, budget 30 days to attempt all the tests and review the answer explanations.

How do I improve my LNAT score?

The simple answer – Practice, Practice and more Practice.

In the LawMint LNAT Practice Tests series, we start with an orientation on what the LNAT is all about and how you should approach the MCQ section A and the essay section B of  the test.

Next, we move onto the 30 full length tests – which have 1260 questions, based on 360 passages from all the areas mentioned in the official LNAT information.

All questions come with an explanation – to help you understand the logic and train your thought process on how to tackle the LNAT.

What is the best way to prepare for the LNAT?

The approach that we recommend is:

• Understand the LNAT, understand what is being assessed and how should you approach this test.
• Start with the basic overview material included in the LawMint LNAT Practice Series.
• Attempt at least 1 full length practice test per day and review all the explanations – complete all the 30 full length tests at least once.
• Attempt the official sample paper tests mid-way during your preparation.
• Attempt the official online LNAT simulator during the week before your exam date to become familiar with the exam interface.

In simple words, the best way to prepare for and ace the LNAT is to get extensive practice and maintain a steady preparation pace.

How long does it take to prepare for the LNAT?

Following the recommendation for the LawMint LNAT Practice Test Series,

• the maximum preparation time is 3 months
• ideal preparation time is 2 months
• dedicated preparation time is 1 month

LNAT 2024 Multiple Choice Section A

How many multiple-choice questions are on the lnat.

Section A of the LNAT has 42 multiple-choice questions, based on 12 comprehension passages – 6 passages with 3 multiple-choice questions each and 6 passages with 4 multiple-choice questions each.

How do I ace LNAT section A?

• First, understand the LNAT, understand what is being assessed and how should you approach this test.
• Attempt at least 1 full length practice test per day and review all the explanations – complete all 30 full length tests at least once.
• With ideally around 2 months of consistent practice, you are all set to ace the LNAT.

How long do I have for the LNAT Multiple Choice Questions?

The entire LNAT needs to be completed within 2 hours and 15 minutes; of which, you have 95 minutes to complete Section A – which consists of 42 multiple-choice questions.

How to get better at LNAT MCQ?

In the LawMint LNAT Practice Tests series, we start with an orientation on what the LNAT is all about and how you should approach the MCQ section A and the essay section B of the test.

The best way to get better at solving Section A LNAT MCQs is to practice with as many passages and questions as possible, under timed conditions.

LNAT Essay Section B

How many words should you write for the lnat essay.

An ideal LNAT section B essay should be between 500 and 600 words long – which is approximately the text required to fill-in one A4 sheet.

The maximum recommended length is 750 words. Remember, a crisp well written essay will get better scores than a poorly written long essay.

How do I write an essay for the LNAT?

The LNAT essay is assessing your ability to understand the topic, argue economically and to come to a conclusion. You will need a good command of written English.

For guidance on how to write the LNAT essay, the structure and the format to be used, refer to our separate article on LNAT section B , which also includes a question bank of 90+ LNAT essay questions .

What are the topics for the LNAT essay?

In section B of the LNAT, you will be given a choice of three questions, of which you have to choose one and write a 500 – 600 word essay to answer the question.

The questions may be on any topic, on which you can present multiple viewpoints and choose your preferred argument.

Some examples of LNAT essay questions:

• Are whistleblowers morally justified in breaking the law to expose corruption?
• Are zero-tolerance policies in schools effective in promoting discipline and safety?
• Artificial Intelligence will not significantly transform the legal sector. Share your perspective.

Is the LNAT essay handwritten?

No. The LNAT is completely a computer based test. You have to type the essay into the text box in the LNAT testing system.

It is therefore very essential to get a good amount of practice using a regular keyboard and practice typing without making too many spelling or grammatical errors.

How long do I have for the LNAT essay?

The entire LNAT is for 2 hours and 15 minutes (135 minutes), of which, you have 40 minutes to complete the LNAT essay section B.

Ideally, you should complete the LNAT essay within 30 minutes and use the remaining 10 minutes for edits and corrections.

Is the LNAT essay important?

Yes. The LNAT essay is quite important for at least 6 of the 9 LNAT universities. The essay section of the test assesses whether you can:

• Write a persuasive and balanced argument.
• Use evidence to support your argument and not just opinion.
• Write a well structured and logical essay.
• Use good English skills – including grammar, spelling, sentence structure and punctuation correctly.
• Write about the latest happenings in the world around you.

The essay may be used as one of the selection criteria, or it can be used as a differentiating factor between applicants who otherwise have similar profiles.

Is there a word count for LNAT?

An ideal LNAT section B essay should be between 500 to 600 words long – which is approximately the text required to fill-in one A4 sheet.

LNAT 2024 Scores

What is the highest lnat score ever.

Theoretically, the maximum possible score in the LNAT MCQ section A is 42/42.

If you look at the admission statistics from Oxford university for a few recent years, the highest MCT score we have seen is 38/42. (In 2021-22, it was 37/42.)

What is the lowest LNAT score?

If a test taker does not answer any question, then the score will be 0/42.

The more useful statistic would be the lowest LNAT score achieved by an offer holder, which will vary for each university.

Among universities that do not have a LNAT cut-off score, the lowest we have seen among offer holders in recent years is 6/42. This however will be an exception, since the applicant will have excellent academics and exceptional scores in other selection parameters.

Is 27 a good score on LNAT?

Yes. Oxford usually attracts applicants with high LNAT scores. Therefore, we can use it as a benchmark to understand if 27 is a good score.

In 2021-22, the lowest average LNAT MC score for shortlisted candidates was 27.03 and the average for offered candidates was 28.25.

For 2022-23, the lowest offered candidate LNAT MCQ score was 19 and the average was 30.

Therefore, 27 is a very good score on the LNAT Multiple choice test section A.

Is 35 a good LNAT score?

Yes. 35 is an exceptional LNAT score.

Therefore, 35 is an exceptionally good score – which places the candidate among the top applicants for any LNAT university.

When will I receive my LNAT score?

Depending on when your sit for the LNAT, the results are communicated to you by email in two batches:

• If you take the LNAT on or before January 26, you will receive your results email by mid-February.
• If you take the LNAT after January 26, you will receive your results email by mid-August. The LNAT website does not mention any specific ‘communication date’ for your results.

In any case, your LNAT scores will be available directly to the universities you have indicated in your LNAT registration, so don’t worry about the specific result dates.

This means you won’t know your score when applying to your chosen universities.

What is a good LNAT score?

As such there is no minimum passing score for the LNAT; and the average scores keep changing from year to year.

However, looking at the admissions statistics from recent years, any score of 27 or higher in the LNAT can be considered to be good.

What is the average LNAT score?

The average scores for LNAT MCT section A from recent years is as below:

How long are LNAT scores valid?

LNAT scores are valid for the UCAS admissions cycle of the year when you take the test.

LNAT scores are not carried over the the next admissions cycles.

What happens if you get a low LNAT score?

A low LNAT score significantly reduces your chances of getting an admission into one of the LNAT universities.

While the lowest scores among offer holders in recent years may have been 13 ~ 16, this tends to be an exceptions – since such applicants usually have higher academic scores or perform better in other selection parameters.

Ideally, aim to score at least 27 in the LNAT section A; and ensure that you write a well crafted essay for section B.

A low LNAT score does not automatically lead to disqualification (unless the university has a minimum cut-off) and a high LNAT does not automatically guarantee an admission.

What is a bad LNAT score?

As such, there is no ‘minimum’ LNAT score or any specific official passing score.

However, let’s be practical. Any score of 17 or lower significantly reduces your chances of getting an admission in one of the LNAT universities – unless you have exceptional scores in other parameters such as A-levels, LNAT essay, personal statement, interview etc.

LNAT 2024 Exam Specifics

Can you use control f on the lnat.

No, the you cannot use the control F function or ‘Find’ anywhere in the LNAT testing system.

You cannot search / find text in the MCQ section of the LNAT or the essay screens.

The essay section of the LNAT testing system has ‘cut’, ‘copy’, ‘paste’, ‘undo’ and ‘redo’ functions (using the buttons above the essay pane).

Does the LNAT essay section have spelling check?

No. There are no word-processing functions in the LNAT essay test box. e.g. no spell check or grammar check.

The system does have a built-in word counter at the bottom of the essay pane.

Can you highlight text in the LNAT?

No, you cannot highlight / search / find text in the LNAT test screens.

There are no other word-processing functions, e.g. no spell check.

Is LawMint LNAT Practice Test harder than the real LNAT?

Yes. For better practice, the questions in the LawMint LNAT Practice Tests are designed to be a little harder than the real LNAT.

The questions in the LawMint LNAT Practice Tests range between easy, medium and hard – with more questions leaning towards medium and hard.

Is there a break between Section A and B of LNAT?

No, there is no break between the comprehension MCQ Section A and the essay section B of the LNAT.

The entire test is for 135 minutes; but each section is timed separately. You can end section A before the maximum allotted time and move to section B.

As per the official instructions “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.”

Can the time saved in the MCQ section of the LNAT be used for section B?

No. Time saved in one section cannot be used or carried over to the next section.

The maximum time allowed for both the sections together is 135 minutes.

You have to complete the MCQ section of the LNAT in 95 minutes. You can end section A early and move to section B. But any time saved in section A will not be carried over to section B.

When you start section B – the essay section of the LNAT, the timer will start counting down from 40 minutes.

Important! – You should always validate all the information available on this website against the official sources. Check the LNAT official website, the UCAS website and the University websites to ensure you have the latest and most accurate information for your purpose.

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The Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) is used as part of the admission process to help in the selection for the undergraduate law courses. The exam comprises of two parts: [1] multiple choice questions based on passages of text, and [2] an essay. Details about the LNAT test are available online:  http://www.lnat.ac.uk/  

The Law Faculty offers an LNAT essay marking training session in Week 2 of MT for graduate students and faculty members who will be marking applicant’s LNAT essays. The session lasts 90 minutes and consists of discussion about marking criteria followed by practical exercises using anonymised LNAT essays from previous years. 

The purpose of the scheme is to ensure consistency of marking and this can only be achieved if as many of those marking as possible attend this session. Consistency helps all of us, particularly when de-summoning candidates and when interviewing candidates from other colleges. 

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Explanatory Essay: Definition, Outline, Writing Steps & Samples

An explanatory essay informs readers about a specific topic or idea. It gives clear information without trying to change anyone's mind. This article will help you create a good explanatory essay. We'll cover what it is, how to plan it, and how to write your ideas clearly.

What Is an Explanatory Essay: Definition

An explanatory thesis is the main idea of this type of writing. It's a sentence that tells the reader what the essay is about. Explanatory essays need to present facts, not opinions. They use evidence and logic to explain things.

For example, if you're writing about climate change, your explanatory thesis might say: "Climate change is influenced by both natural events and human activities, and it affects the planet's ecosystems in many ways."

How to Start an Explanatory Essay: Important Steps

Knowing how to start an explanatory essay is important to get readers interested. Here's what to do:

• Pick an interesting topic
• Conduct thorough research
• Develop a clear thesis statement
• Create an outline

When choosing a topic, think about what your readers might like and what information you can find. For instance, if you're writing about clean energy, you could focus on new ways to use sunlight for power.

After you gather information, write your thesis statement. It should be specific and give a clear roadmap for your essay. For example: "Solar technology is changing how we produce and use energy around the world, offering both environmental and economic benefits."

Explanatory Essay Outline

A great outline helps you organize your thoughts and make your essay easy to follow. Here's a basic informational essay format:

1. Introduction

• A catchy hook
• Background information
• Thesis statement (Main idea)

2. Body Paragraphs (usually 3-5 sentences)

• Topic sentence
• Facts that support your idea
• Explanation
• Transition to the next point

3. Conclusion

• Restate main idea
• Sum up the main points
• Final thoughts

This structure helps keep your essay clear. Remember, each paragraph should focus on one main point that supports your main idea.

How to Write an Explanatory Essay

Now that you know the structure, let's talk about how to write explanatory essay well.

• Introduction: Start with something interesting—a surprising fact, a question, or a short story. Give some background on your topic and end with your main idea.
• Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph should talk about one part of your topic. Use reliable sources to support your points, and explain how this information relates to your main idea. For example, when writing about solar energy, you might have paragraphs about how it helps the environment, how much it costs, and new ways to use it.
• Conclusion: How to write a conclusion for an explanatory essay: Sum up your main points and say your main idea again in a different way. Share some final thoughts about why your topic matters.

Throughout your essay, use words that help connect your ideas. This keeps readers interested and shows how your points are related.

Remember, the goal of an explanatory essay is to inform, not to argue. Stick to the facts, present them clearly, and let the information speak for itself.

Explanatory Essay Conclusion

How to write a conclusion for an explanatory essay is important to make your readers remember what you wrote. Your conclusion should:

• Restate your main idea but in a fresh way
• Go over the main points you talked about in your essay
• Give a final thought or suggest what to do next

For example, if you wrote about clean energy, you might end by stating the importance of continued research and investment in these technologies for a sustainable future.

Explanatory Essay Example

Here's a short example about artificial intelligence in healthcare:

Introduction: 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is bringing significant changes to various fields, with healthcare being a notable beneficiary. From diagnosis to treatment planning, AI is enhancing the capabilities of medical professionals and improving patient care outcomes.

Body Paragraph (example): 

One significant application of AI in healthcare is in medical imaging analysis. AI algorithms can now detect abnormalities in X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans with accuracy comparable to experienced radiologists. A 2020 study demonstrated that an AI system outperformed human experts in breast cancer detection, reducing false positives by 5.7% and false negatives by 9.4%. This technology not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also potentially reduces the workload on healthcare professionals, allowing them to focus on complex cases and patient care.

Conclusion: 

As AI technology advances, its integration into healthcare promises to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline treatment plans, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. While challenges remain, the potential benefits of AI in medicine underscore the importance of continued research and responsible implementation in this field.

Concluding Words

Writing a well-structured, informative, and explanatory essay requires careful planning and a clear understanding of the topic you are writing about. If you follow the tips in this guide and practice regularly, you'll get better at writing exceptional explanatory essays about any topic.

For writers looking to simplify their essay-writing process, Aithor can provide valuable assistance in organizing ideas, suggesting relevant information, and ensuring clear, coherent prose. While the core of your essay should always come from your own understanding and research, such tools can enhance your writing efficiency and effectiveness.

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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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College essays matter. Here's how to write one that stands out | College Connection

Students facing the college application process typically dread one component: the Common App essay. 

Students are presented with six essay prompts, as well as a seventh option, which is “topic of your choice.” Students therefore have limitless possibilities for this essay which will be carefully reviewed by each college to which the student applies.

The goal of college admissions officers is to learn about the student who is applying: personal qualities, struggles, ambitions, priorities. On other parts of the application a student’s “data” is detailed. So, this is not the place to write about one’s SAT scores, GPA, or intended major, or to enumerate one’s activities. It is the place to write about an event, situation, or life circumstance that has influenced the student’s attitudes, goals, and perceptions of life.

The options are limitless. Students can write about life occurrences that impacted them: an illness, a learning disability, a relocation. They can use a sport, club, organization, or volunteer group as the overarching framework within which they learned important life lessons. 

More: The biggest key to college acceptance | College Connection

One student’s essay, which went viral after its author was accepted to a multitude of Ivy League schools, focused on lessons she learned from visits to Costco over the years. In short, students can write about anything that has impacted them – hopefully in a positive way.

Then, students face supplemental essays. Many colleges, including almost all the most competitive ones, require an essay that is specific to the school. Typically, the question is along the lines of, “Why do you want to attend this institution?” or “Why did you choose your particular major and how will our school prepare you to meet your future goals?”

More: These are the latest trends in college admissions | College Connection

Colleges are aware that students typically apply to 8 to 12 different schools, and they are trying to discern “demonstrated interest,” or, in other words, the likelihood of a student enrolling if accepted. So, students should utilize each supplemental essay as an opportunity to demonstrate their interest in the particular college, and should specifically state the courses, programs, study abroad options, internships, and any other characteristics that make the institution a perfect match for their college ambitions.

By showing enthusiasm for each school and sharing their attributes through the Common App and supplemental essays, students will greatly enhance their prospects of experiencing a successful college application process.   

Susan Alaimo is the founder & director of Collegebound Review, offering PSAT/SAT ® preparation & private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362 .