LNAT Section B: The Essay

What is LNAT Section B?

In this section, students are given 40 minutes to answer one of three essay questions on a range of topics from politics to science, with a maximum of 750 words.

Even though this section does not count towards your final score, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate that you can put together a clear and compelling argument.

What LNAT Examiners Want

The LNAT is positioned as an exam that rewards creativity and originality of an argument, where the the LNAT website specifically says: “don’t sit on the fence.” When writing your essay, be sure to keep these three points in mind:

1. Offer an interesting angle and defend it rigorously.
2. It’s all about building a strong case. Opinions are not highly prized, so avoid listing unexplored views or personal thoughts.
3. Although the word count is 750 words, 500-600 words is advised.

LNAT Essay Examples

During the exam, you’ll be given a selection of three essay titles to choose from, which will cover a broad range of topics from ethics to politics and science. Since you’ll have no way of knowing what will come up in your exam, it’s best to read up on current affairs as much as you can beforehand.

Some LNAT essay example questions include:

• What disciplinary sanctions should teachers be allowed to use?
•  Make the best case you can for public funding of the arts.
•  How should judges be appointed?
•  ‘It is right that students should contribute to the cost of their degrees.’ Do you agree?
•  Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?

LNAT Essay Score

Although your LNAT score is taken from Section A of the exam, the essay is an integral part of the exam and is used to assess your ability to present a solid argument. There is no LNAT essay mark scheme.

LNAT Essay Tips and Tactics

You’ll have 40 minutes to demonstrate your written communication skills in the LNAT exam – we recommend that you use the following tips to stand you in good stead when it comes to planning and writing your essay.

LNAT Essay Tip 1: Use Your Argument to Frame Your Essay

• Once you’ve figured out what your main argument will be, use it as the heading of your essay plan to ensure that when you’re sketching out your points, you’re always reverting to your main stance on the question.

LNAT Essay Tip 2: Brainstorm your Points, Then Choose the Most Persuasive

• Don’t rush into writing the essay but use the first minute or two flesh out your initial ideas. Review them, and then choose three to four points which you find the most compelling to support your main argument.

LNAT Essay Tip 3: Plan your LNAT Essay Structure

It’s important that your essay has a clear structure, which can be distilled into four main parts. We recommend doing the following:

• Start with an introduction, outlining your main argument
• Your next paragraph should develop and explain your three to four main points
• The following paragraph should address any arguments that would undermine yours, and why they’re not substantiated
• Conclude with a review of your main argument and an assertion of how you’ve supported this in the main body