Distinguishing Fact from Opinion

One of the most frequently tested skills in LNAT Section A is the ability to distinguish between factual claims and opinions. This distinction is fundamental to critical thinking and underpins many of the questions you will face.

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Definitions

Concept	Definition	Example
Fact	A statement that can, in principle, be verified as true or false through evidence or observation	"The UK prison population exceeded 85,000 in 2023."
Opinion	A statement expressing a belief, judgement, or interpretation that cannot be definitively proved or disproved	"The UK prison population is unacceptably high."
Claim	A broader term for any assertion — a claim can be factual or opinion-based	Either of the above

Key Distinction: A fact is verifiable; an opinion is evaluative. "The death penalty was abolished in the UK in 1965" is a fact. "The abolition of the death penalty was the right decision" is an opinion.

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Why This Matters for the LNAT

LNAT questions often require you to distinguish between: