LNAT: The National Admissions Test for Law
Thinking of stuying for a law degree?
If you are thinking of applying for a law degree, you need to find out more about LNAT, the national admissions test for your subject that is used by several universities in the UK.
What is the national admissions test for Law (LNAT) used for?
The national admissions test for Law is used to separate equally qualified students who have applied to study law, by identifying which candidates have the critical thinking skills, reasoning abilities and aptitude for making an argument that are needed for studying law at degree level.
The LNAT results, and accompanying essay, are forwarded to your chosen universities as part of your application, and are considered to be an important part of the selection process by many universities.
What courses require the national admissions test for Law?
The LNAT is required by the law faculties of all the following universities:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- Durham University
- University of Glasgow
- Kings College London
- The University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- University College London
You should not take the LNAT if you are applying to any other university, as they will not have access to the results.
What is the format of the national admissions test for Law?
The LNAT comes in two parts, which are taken at the same time. The first part is a multiple choice test lasting 95 minutes, while the second part is an essay question taking 40 minutes. Only the multiple choice questions are marked; the essays are simply forwarded to your chosen universities.
The multiple choice questions are based around twelve extracts of text, each of which puts forward a reasoned argument. There are three or four questions on each extract. The essay is chosen from a selection of three subjects.
How and when do you take the national admissions test for Law?
You can sit the LNAT at any Pearson Vue test centre in the UK. You can take your test on a date to suit you, as long as it is taken in the academic year in which you apply for university. However, you are advised to sit it as early as possible in the academic year to give you the best choice of dates and test centre availability.
To register for the test, you first have to create an account online. You will need your UCAS number for this. Once your account is created, you can book and pay for your test online.
What does the national admissions test for Law cost?
The LNAT costs £50, with payment made online using a debit or credit card. If you cannot use a card payment, you can get an LNAT voucher by cheque or bank transfer, which can then be used for your online booking.
How to prepare for the national admissions test for Law
The LNAT does not test knowledge, so it cannot be revised for. However, you can sharpen the skills that are tested by reading widely and thinking analytically about what you have read. The preparation section of the LNAT website recommends that you read a quality newspaper daily and carefully consider the arguments being made in the articles and editorials.
LNAT practice tests and sample essays are available on the LNAT website, along with a list of recommended reading. You should also download the LNAT Preparation Guide.
