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No. You have to take your LNAT and submit your UCAS application in the same cycle. For example, if you are applying to UCAS for the 2022-23 academic year, you must also sit your LNAT exam during the 2022-23 testing year. The testing cycle begins on 1 September every year (except if this date falls on a weekend).
If you take the LNAT early, your result will not be processed by LNAT universities and you will have to take the LNAT again at the correct time.
It doesn’t matter if you take the test before or after submitting your UCAS application, provided you sit the LNAT within the same cycle. You won’t get your LNAT results until after you’ve applied to university.
No. If you are reapplying to UCAS, you must sit the test in the same year you are applying to an LNAT uni. Your test score is not carried forward one year to the next.
Unfortunately, your application will be rejected. You will have to submit another UCAS application the following year and sit the test within the specified deadline.
You still have to sit the test. There are 500 LNAT Test Centres around the world and you will have to take the exam at a test centre in the country in which you are travelling or working.
Currently, there are 12 unis that require the test, 10 based in the UK and two overseas. For more information, see our dedicated LNAT guide.
Including the test as part of the admissions process helps universities to decide between applicants who have similar grades. It also helps them to assess whether you are equipped and suitable to study law.
The LNAT testing system is operated by Pearson VUE. You will need to complete a two-step registration process using the Pearson VUE online registration system. You will need to:
Get more details in our LNAT registration guide.
As soon as you can. Each university requiring the test specifies a deadline for sitting the test. If you miss the deadlines, your university application is likely to be rejected. You can register up to 12 noon, two days prior to taking your test.
No. You will need to register for your test online and obtain an identification number. If you have special Examination Access Requirements, do not book the test online – only standard tests can be booked this way.
If you book an online test before specific exam access arrangements are made, the test will have to be cancelled and a test incorporating your special requirements will need to be booked instead. You should note that cancelling and rebooking conditions will apply.
As soon as you have registered your LNAT account on the Pearson VUE website, you can immediately book and pay for your LNAT exam. You should book as early as possible to avoid missing any deadlines.
In 2022, the LNAT costs £75 to take it in the UK or an EU country. Outside the UK or EU, the fee is £120.
Yes, there is a bursary available if you can’t afford the exam fee. LNAT does not want the cost to be a barrier to taking the exam. Your test fee will be waived if you are a UK or EU student receiving certain state benefits. However, you must apply for a bursary before booking your exam.
It can take up to a week to process an LNAT bursary application, so allow extra time when making your test booking.
Preparation is highly recommended. You should prepare by exercising the relevant parts of your brain and keeping up with current affairs. Read plenty of newspapers and refer to past papers to get an idea of what type of questions come up. Check out our guide on how to prepare for the LNAT.
The test is challenging, as it’s used by some of the world’s best universities for students trying to get into their top law schools. It features 42 multiple-choice questions and three essay questions – of which you must answer one.
You are given 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the test, with 95 minutes reserved for the multiple-choice section and 40 minutes reserved for the essay question. The multiple-choice section counts toward your final test score, but the essay question does not. It is provided to the universities to which you have applied, along with your score.
Section A of the test is computer-based and you will be asked to read 12 argumentative passages of text and answer the multiple-choice questions associated with the passages. Each passage will have three or four questions.
The questions are not specifically focused on law, but will cover topics like politics, science, history, technology and much more. The questions do not test your knowledge, but instead test your ability to decipher meanings from the passages of text.
Try our free LNAT practice questions.
The essay question gives you three options to choose from and the questions will cover a variety of general topics that are usually relevant to current issues. Types of essay questions could include:
For more information on LNAT essay questions, see our dedicated guide.
The test is scored out of 42. There is no pass or fail mark, but there are average scores that candidates typically achieve to successfully receive an offer from LNAT universities.
Universities see your result before you do. The first LNAT results are released to universities on 21 October, for those who have completed the test before this date.
After this date, your score and essay will be available to universities within 24 hours of you taking the test.
The scores are released to you in two batches throughout the year. Those who take the test before 20 January will receive the results in mid-February. If you take the test after this date, you will receive your results in mid-August.
The LNAT website specifies that “no specific dates can be given”.
It is only valid for the year you took it, if you are reapplying through UCAS this year, you must also take the test again this year. Results are not carried over from one year to the next. You can learn more about LNAT scores on our dedicated page.
You can only sit the test once during the year you are applying through UCAS, this means that candidates can only take the test once between 1 September and 31 July. If you want to try it again, you will have to wait until next year to reapply.
Yes – register as normal online via Pearson Vue, but do not book your test online. You will need to complete an Examination Access Requirements form through the website and send it to them, along with documentary evidence.
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