A guide to the LNAT

What is the LNAT?

• The Law National Aptitude Test
• Not a test of legal knowledge
• Test of the skills required at law school
• Required by some universities as part of the admissions process
• You take the LNAT in the year you are applying via UCAS, results cannot be carried over
• The results are sent to the universities you are applying to before you can see them
• Required by:
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• Durham University
• University of Glasgow
• King’s College London
• LSE
• University of Oxford
• SOAS
• UCL

How is the LNAT structured?

• Section A
• 42 multiple choice questions
• Based on 12 argumentative passages, with 3 or 4 multiple choice questions on each
• 95 minutes to complete this section
• Derives an LNAT score based on the average for that cohort

• Section B
• 40 minutes
• Answer one of three essay questions on a range of subjects
• Not marked, sent in full to universities

What are they looking for?

Example of multiple-choice section

1. Which of the following pairs is not used as an opposition in the passage?
1. Ideal physician and Victorian patriarch
2. Adult and children
3. Quasi-familial and quasi-legal
4. Patriarch and batterer
5. Paternalism and autonomy

Example of multiple-choice section

2. The writer takes the view that:

• Physicians need to change their attitudes
• Some doctors are too old-fashioned
• We need to reconsider the validity of the Hippocratic oath
• The most important issue in medical ethics today is who decides
• The patient should decide on their treatment, not the physician

Example of multiple-choice section

3. Why might voluntary euthanasia be against Kantian principles?

1. It is not a medical treatment
2. It does not respect human dignity
3. It is contrary to natural law
4. It undermines the patient/physician relationship
5. It is not an example of autonomy

Tips for the multiple choice section

• Take your time to read the passage, questions and options
• Use the review function
• Remember what they are testing you for: interpretation, deduction, etc

Example of the essay section

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• Define terms: arranged marriage, tolerate
• When you define arranged marriage here you could not the difference between arranged and forced marriage – the ethics varying between the two
• Are we taking tolerate to mean legal? How would you practically enforce that? Making couples take quizzes on how well they know each other before being granted a marriage licence
• The question is focusing you on Western society so you could bring up Western examples where arranged marriages are celebrated i.e. married at first sight on TV

In a Western society arranged marriages should no longer be tolerated.

Discuss.

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Advice for the essay section

• Simple structure
• Break down the question
• Identify and define key terms
• State your argument in the introduction
• Suggested structure:
• Introduction – state argument and structure of essay ahead
• Paragraph 1 – first point in favour of your argument
• Paragraph 2 – second point in favour of your argument
• Paragraph 3 – a counter-argument and a rebuttal of the counter
• Conclusion – do not introduce any new points in the conclusion

Useful resources and things to know

• LNAT resources:
• LNAT website, has access to free practice tests
• Arbitio website, access to tests on a subscription model
• LNAT bursary eligibility is on the LNAT website, as is information on nearest test centres and booking the test

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Questions?

Thank you!

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