This section is comprised of 42 multiple choice questions, which are based on 12 argumentative passages, with 3 or 4 multiple choice questions on each. You will be given 95 minutes to answer all of the questions.
This part of the exam is designed to test whether you:
Section A of the LNAT makes up 100% of your final score, where students are given a mark out of 42.
There is no pass or fail mark with the LNAT and universities will take this score into account when reviewing your application, alongside your personal statement, A Level results and your performance at interview.
LNAT multiple choice questions are not uniform in their styles and the answers are rarely obvious. The questions can take on two main forms:
These test different skills, so you must ensure you’re familiar with the different types before taking the test. Read on to find more about the different styles.
Argument and analysis-style questions are ones which go straight to the overarching argument of the passage you have been given. For example, you may be asked to ascertain “the main reason” the author gave for their argument in the passage.
This implies there was more than one reason given and you must accurately decipher which one was the most significant.
Another way these questions could be asked is by asking “which of five propositions is correct?“. The important thing to remember when answering these questions is that often all five given answers are correct. In these cases, you must use your skills of judgement, induction and deduction to conclude which proposition or reason is most correct in the context of the passage.
Often one of the best strategies for these questions is to use a process of elimination, this will allow you to swiftly eliminate the wrong answers and progress to the right one. Closely reading the passage will help you do this as the right answer will always stem from there.
Literary style LNAT questions are ones which ask about the words used in the passage and how to interpret their meanings. Example questions would be “What is the closest definition to the word ‘x’?” or “What is the most appropriate synonym to replace the word ‘x’ in this context?”.
Again, the best way to answer these questions is to use the text. It is more important than anything else when faced with these questions to put your own knowledge to the side. This is because your opinion on how something is defined may not be reflected in meaning expressed in the passage.
It is a good idea to employ a process of elimination here to ensure you pick the answer which is most correct in the context given.
The LNAT website suggests you prepare by reading quality newspapers and thinking about the content from a critical perspective. This will give you the upper hand when tackling the questions.
We also have our very own free LNAT question bank, to put what you’ve learnt from our guide to use as well as some top tips below.
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