What is LNAT?
The LNAT test doesn’t test your knowledge of law or any other subject. Instead, it helps universities assess your aptitude for the skills such as comprehension, interpretation, analysis, reasoning and written communication required to study law.
The LNAT is operated by LNAT Consortium Ltd in partnership with Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE administers the test, including registering candidates, organising test centres and test sittings, marking the multiple-choice questions, and passing results to participating universities and candidates.
The LNAT helps universities make fairer choices from the many highly qualified applicants who want to join their undergraduate law programmes. It is used alongside other parts of the admissions process, including academic qualifications and the university application.
It is also important to remember that universities use the LNAT in different ways. There is no fixed weighting for the LNAT, and participating universities may place different emphasis on the multiple-choice score and the essay.
What is the LNAT test format?
The LNAT is a two-part test: multiple-choice questions based on passages of text, followed by an essay.
- Section A: The first part is a computer-based multiple-choice exam. You’ll be asked to read passages of text and answer questions that test your comprehension and reasoning. Your answers from the multiple-choice section are marked by computer, and a mark out of 42 is created. This is known as your LNAT score. You have 95 minutes to answer 42 questions based on 12 argumentative passages.
- Section B: In the second part of the test, you will be asked to write one essay from a list of three proposed subjects. You have 40 minutes to complete the essay. This section does not contribute to your LNAT score, but the essay is made available to the universities to which you have applied. Universities may use it in different ways, such as comparing it with other parts of your application or using it as a basis for interview questions.
The complete test takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including the two separately timed sections.
Universities Accepting LNAT
| UK Universities (9 universities) | Non- UK Universities (3 universities) |
| University of Bristol | O.P. Jindal University, India |
| University of Cambridge | Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore |
| Durham University | IE University, Spain |
| University of Glasgow | |
| King’s College London | |
| London School of Economics | |
| University of Oxford | |
| SOAS London | |
| University College London (UCL) |
LNAT requirements can vary by university and course. Students should therefore check the requirements for their specific course before registering for the test.
How to register?
Registration for and booking of LNAT tests for entry into university in September / October of a particular year opens on 1 August the previous year. Testing starts on 1 September every year.
The LNAT testing system is managed by Pearson VUE. Before sitting the LNAT, you must complete the two step registration process using the Pearson VUE online registration system.
- Set up an online account and register your contact details.
- Book and pay for your test – once your online account registration is complete and you have created an LNAT Profile, you will receive an email with details enabling you to book and pay for the test.
You can take the LNAT before or after submitting your UCAS application, but you must take it within the relevant admissions cycle and meet the deadline set by your chosen university. You can sit the test only once in an LNAT cycle, and results cannot be carried forward to a later academic year.
What are the LNAT deadlines for 2027 entry?
You must register and book your LNAT test slot before taking the test. Booking early is recommended, as test-centre appointments are subject to availability.
| University | Test deadline |
| University of Cambridge and University of Oxford | 15 October 2026 |
| KCL, LSE and UCL | 31 December 2026 |
| University of Bristol and Durham University | 13 January 2027 |
| Other LNAT universities | 25 January 2027 |
| SUSS | 15 March 2027 for its July 2027 intake |
The University of Oxford’s Foundation Year in Law has a later LNAT test deadline of 13 January 2027. Students applying to Cambridge or Oxford should pay particular attention to the September booking deadline and submit their UCAS application by 15 October 2026.
How much does the LNAT cost?
The LNAT fee depends on the location of the test centre rather than the candidate’s nationality or place of residence. The current fee is £75 for UK/EU test centres and £120 (approx. 15,617) for test centres outside the EU. The fee is payable when booking the test.
How to Prepare for LNAT ?
There are no facts to learn in preparation for the test.
The LNAT is a 2¼ hour test in two sections. For the essay, the recommended maximum length is 750 words, with around 500–600 words considered ideal.
Reading and Thinking
Candidates can prepare for the LNAT by exercising the relevant parts of their brain. This can be done by reading quality newspapers, opinion pieces and other serious analysis in English every day.
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?
- Can you identify weaknesses in the argument?
Reading widely will help you become more comfortable with unfamiliar topics and different styles of argument. The LNAT essay topics will not require specialist knowledge of current affairs, and you will not be judged simply on the facts you know. However, being able to think critically about a range of issues can help you construct a clear and well-reasoned argument.
You can find practice tests and sample essays on the official LNAT website.
Conclusion
For students applying for 2027 entry, registration for the LNAT opened on 1 August 2026 and testing will begin on 1 September 2026. If you are applying to a university that requires the LNAT, first check the requirements and deadlines for your chosen course and submit your UCAS application within the relevant application deadline. You can then register for and take the LNAT according to your university’s requirements. Familiarising yourself with the test format, practising the multiple-choice questions and developing your ability to construct clear arguments can help you prepare for the test.
