LNAT Exam
What is LNAT?
LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) is an exam that candidates applying to law schools in some universities in the United Kingdom must take. It is an exam designed to measure the analytical thinking, reading comprehension, logical argumentation and written expression skills of students who aim to achieve high success in the field of law.
The exam is only required for those who want to study law at some universities in England and Wales. However, prestigious universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, King's College London, Durham, Bristol request this exam in their applications.
Structure and Sections of the Exam
LNAT consists of two main sections:
Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions (40 questions, 95 minutes)
In this section, candidates are given 12 different texts and are asked multiple choice questions consisting of 3-4 questions about each text. The questions are about the content, main ideas, inferences and logical connections of the texts. This section tests the candidates' ability to read, analyze and make logical inferences. Each question should be planned to last approximately 2 minutes.
Texts: Texts can be about philosophical, socio-political or literary issues. For example, a text may discuss an ethical issue relevant to today's legal world.
Questions: These questions are directly related to the text and will usually be about the main idea of the text, the author's purpose, the meaning of certain words or inferences about the meaning of the text.
Part 2: Essay (1 question, 40 minutes)
In this section, candidates are given a question about a law subject and are asked to write an essay on it. The purpose of this essay is to assess candidates' ability to organise their ideas and defend them logically.
Topic: The topic can usually be on topics such as ethics, philosophy of law, social problems or law and individual rights. For example, a question such as "Should law be based on the moral values of society?" may be asked.
Assessment: Essays are assessed on criteria such as use of language, validity of arguments, logic, structure of writing and critical thinking on the subject.
Purpose of the Exam
LNAT tests candidates not only their academic knowledge but also their critical thinking, analytical skills, reading comprehension, written communication and logical argumentation skills. Since law education requires developing such skills, LNAT plays an important role in assessing these skills.
Who Should Take the LNAT?
LNAT is only required for those applying to law departments at some universities in England and Wales. Universities such as Cambridge and Oxford do not request LNAT in their applications, but universities such as London School of Economics (LSE), UCL, King's College London, Durham, Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham accept LNAT score as one of their application requirements.
Exam Dates and Application Process
LNAT exam is held on certain dates every year. Generally, exam dates are between August-September and January. Candidates should check whether the universities they are applying to request LNAT and their application dates.
Application Dates: Exam dates usually take place a few weeks before the application dates. In order to apply for LNAT, you need to apply after determining the exam date.
Where to Take the Exam: The LNAT can be taken in locations around the world (non-UK locations), but the most common test centres are in the UK.
LNAT Results and Scoring
The LNAT is assessed by taking the sum of both sections and results in a score range of 1 to 42. This score is used as a reference for university applications, but universities will also consider other application documents alongside the LNAT score (e.g. school grades, personal statements, letters of recommendation).
How Are Scores Weighted?
Scores and Weighting: Universities may weight the LNAT score differently. For example, some universities may use scores alone as a minimum pass criterion, while others may give higher scores more weight.
High Scores: For many universities, an LNAT score of around 20-25 is sufficient for a strong application. However, prestigious universities (e.g. UCL or Oxford) will often prefer scores of 30 and above.
How to Prepare for the LNAT?
Preparation for the LNAT requires a different preparation process as it is not only an exam that requires legal knowledge, but also aims to develop thinking and analysing skills.
Reading and Critical Thinking:
Reading different types of texts is very important to develop your critical thinking and reading skills. You can develop your analysing and argumentative skills by working on philosophical, social and legal texts.
It will be especially useful to read columns and analyses in magazines such as The Economist, The Guardian or The New York Times.