It is important I preface this article by sharing with readers that I am by no means a fan of the LNAT. As someone who has taken the exam twice, I loathed the exam and its foregoing preparation.

Notwithstanding my overt dislike, if you are considering applying to law school, the LNAT is a beast you will probably have to contend with.

In this article, I will outline what the LNAT actually is; why the LNAT is important; how you can do well; my evaluation of the efficacy of the test; and a word of reassurance.

What is the LNAT?

The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) is a computer-based, 2-hour 15-minute test comprised of two distinct sections.

Section A is a 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 1 hour, and 35 minutes to answer all of the questions.

The questions assess comprehension, you will be asked to read the passages (varying in length) and then answer the relevant questions. Your answers are marked by a computer, and your score out of 42 is produced as soon as you submit – I will return to this detail in my critique.

In Section B you are given 40 minutes to write an essay from a list of three subjects. This section is generally regarded as of lesser importance than Section A, it should not be neglected, however.

The test structure is fixed, you cannot elect to complete Section B before Section A. Correspondingly, if you finish Section A with time to spare (impressive) you cannot spend that excess time on Section B, so it is advised that you ensure to use up all of your allotted time.

The LNAT, as its name suggests, is designed to assess aptitude for studying law. No legal knowledge, or knowledge of any other particular subject for that matter is assessed.

Why is the LNAT important?

Without wanting to state the obvious, select universities will review your LNAT examination (namely, the multiple-choice score and essay), and thus, doing well is essential for a competitive application.

As of the date of this article, Cambridge; Oxford; LSE; KCL; UCL; Durham; Glasgow; Bristol; and SOAS use the LNAT as part of their admissions process.

Notably, the University of Nottingham dropped its LNAT requirement in the 2023 admissions cycle.

Weighting between the essay and multiple choice component differs between university to university, (see: https://www.uniadmissions.co.uk/lnat/guides/lnat-results-explained/). It is therefore useful to research the weighting of your chosen universities and allocate your revision accordingly.

How can you do better than I did?

Any advice to the effect of ‘you can’t revise for the LNAT’, is misleading. Admittedly, as the LNAT does not test knowledge per se, it seems logical that prospective students need not spend time committing content to memory. Whilst this may be true, learning the appropriate technique for approaching the multiple choice questions is essential.

Like anything else, the more time you commit to practice the more likely you are to do well.

There are plenty of revision resources available for prospective LNAT examinees.

Arbitio receives glowing reviews from its users. It is an online platform that, unlike the physical books, mirrors the composition of the actual exam. Moreover, the practice tests on the platform purport to be harder than the exam itself, and therefore make sense in the way of effective preparation.

The downside, however, the price. Plans range from £45 to £65. This along with an already pricey £75 to take the LNAT (£120 for international students), combine for a rather expensive ordeal. It is worth noting that LNAT bursaries exist, and checking eligibility is reccomended.

Alternatively, you can purchase physical copies of practice tests from places like Amazon. From experience, I did not find these books reflected the reality of the test itself; the questions were far easier than those in the test. Additionally, the books were large and heavy, complicating life if you wanted to study on the go and fit in revision among other commitments.

I have also heard of people hiring private tutors. A very talented barrister from a set of chambers I used to work at tutored approaching examinees, who I have no doubt achieved glowing results.

Overall, prospective test-takers should find a solution that works for them, based on financial situation, capacity to commit time, and personal preference. For what it’s worth, my recommendation would be Arbitio.

The LNAT – a critique

This segment is, of course, purely anecdotal. Do not let my cynicism affect your preparation for the LNAT in any way.

I am of no doubt that the architects of the exam know far more than I do, a notion that isn’t surprising given that the most prestigious universities in the UK use it as part of their admissions process. In this vein, I can only offer my trifling evaluation.

Firstly, from my undergraduate experience, when comparing scores in the LNAT and modules, there is no positive correlation.

I know individuals in my cohort, who scored high 30s on their exam, but are struggling to cope with the workload, as reflected in results.

While the LNAT might correlate with some aspects of academic performance, it is certainly not a predictor of success in law school or as a lawyer.

If the LNAT is designed to assess aptitude for reading law, it is my understanding that it is not designed well.

Secondly, the length of time it takes to receive your results is irrational. Scores for the multiple-choice could be released instantaneously, as is the case with many other exams. The essay would – understandably – not be included in the score, due to the lack of a nominal mark.

Releasing scores would help reduce results-based anxiety at a time that is incredibly stressful for students awaiting verdicts from their chosen institutions.

Finally, the LNAT (like many standardised tests in fairness) is heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors, such as the ability to dedicate time and capital to prepare for the exam. Many students work alongside undertaking their A-Levels, and as such cannot devote as much practice time as their unemployed counterparts.

I know of many who regret being unable to dedicate sufficient time in preparation, due to other commitments.

A word of reassurance

If you are reading this article having received your LNAT score, and are feeling dispirited, do not let your score discourage you from pursuing a legal education.

On my first attempt, my score was below average. On my second, I scarcely scraped an above-average mark.

In my first semester, I scored 90% in contract, 82% in criminal and 82% in CLSM, outperforming many of my cohort whose LNAT results far exceeded that of my own.

If you are reading this article soon to undertake the LNAT, I wish you the best of luck in your assessment and university application process.