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Section A of the LNAT presents you with 12 passages of argumentative text, each followed by 3 or 4 multiple-choice questions. Before you can develop strategies for answering the questions, you need to understand what these passages look like, how they are structured, and what types of writing you will encounter.
Each passage is typically 600–900 words long — roughly the length of a newspaper opinion column. The passages are drawn from real-world sources (though often lightly edited for the test) and cover a wide range of subjects.
The key characteristic of every LNAT passage is that it presents an argument. Unlike a textbook extract or a news report, an LNAT passage does not simply present facts. It makes a case for a particular position, defends a point of view, or critiques an opposing perspective.
Key Principle: Every LNAT passage is argumentative in nature. Your job is to understand the argument being made — its structure, its evidence, its assumptions, and its conclusion.
You will encounter several distinct types of argumentative writing in Section A. Recognising the type quickly helps you anticipate the structure and identify the main argument more efficiently.
These are the most common type. They present the author's view on a current or timeless issue and attempt to persuade the reader.
Characteristics:
Example topics: Should voting be compulsory? Is social media damaging democracy? Should universities charge tuition fees?
These passages take a more formal, measured tone. They may be drawn from academic essays, journal articles, or scholarly commentary.
Characteristics:
Example topics: The relationship between poverty and crime, the ethics of genetic engineering, the effectiveness of international law
These passages are designed to persuade or inspire. They may be drawn from political speeches, advocacy writing, or impassioned commentary.
Characteristics:
Example topics: Human rights, environmental activism, social justice, political reform
These passages respond to another argument, book, policy, or cultural phenomenon. They analyse and critique someone else's position.
Characteristics:
Example topics: A critique of a government policy, a response to a published argument, an analysis of a philosophical position
These passages explore abstract questions about morality, justice, rights, or the nature of society.
Characteristics:
Example topics: Is capital punishment ever justified? Do animals have rights? What are the limits of individual freedom?
Regardless of the passage type, every LNAT passage contains an argument with identifiable components:
| Component | Definition | Example Signal Words |
|---|---|---|
| Conclusion | The main claim the author is trying to establish | "Therefore", "Thus", "In conclusion", "It follows that", "The key point is" |
| Premises | The reasons or evidence offered in support of the conclusion | "Because", "Since", "Given that", "The evidence shows" |
| Sub-conclusions | Intermediate claims that support the main conclusion | "This means that", "It follows that" (within a longer argument) |
| Assumptions | Unstated beliefs that the argument takes for granted | Not signalled — you must infer these |
| Counter-arguments | Opposing views that the author acknowledges | "Some argue that", "Critics claim", "It might be objected that" |
| Rebuttals | The author's response to counter-arguments | "However", "Nevertheless", "This objection fails because" |
Understanding this structure is the foundation of all LNAT reading. When you read a passage, your mental task is to identify these components.
You will encounter topics you have never thought about before. This is by design — the test assesses your ability to engage with any argument, not just those on familiar ground. Do not panic if a passage is about a topic you know nothing about. The questions are always answerable from the passage alone.
Some passages use complex sentence structures, technical vocabulary, or abstract reasoning. Academic-style passages, in particular, may require you to read sentences twice to grasp their meaning.
LNAT questions often test your ability to make fine-grained distinctions — for example, between what the author says directly and what they imply, or between the author's view and a view they describe but do not endorse.
Authors use rhetorical devices to make their arguments more compelling. Recognising these techniques is essential so that you are not misled:
| Technique | Description | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Emotive language | Words chosen to provoke an emotional response | May make a weak argument seem stronger |
| Rhetorical questions | Questions asked for effect, not requiring an answer | Imply a conclusion without stating it explicitly |
| Appeal to authority | Citing experts or institutions to support a claim | The authority may be irrelevant to the specific argument |
| Straw man | Misrepresenting an opposing view to make it easier to attack | The real opposing argument may be stronger |
| False dichotomy | Presenting only two options when more exist | Oversimplifies the issue |
When you first encounter a passage, your goal is to form a mental map of the argument in 60–90 seconds. Ask yourself:
You do not need to understand every sentence on the first read. You need a framework — a sense of the argument's shape — that you can return to when answering questions.
LNAT passages are argumentative texts of 600–900 words, drawn from a range of genres: opinion pieces, academic arguments, speeches, critical reviews, and philosophical discussions. Each passage presents an argument with identifiable components — a conclusion, premises, assumptions, counter-arguments, and rebuttals. The passages are challenging because of unfamiliar topics, dense writing, subtle distinctions, and persuasive techniques. Your first task on encountering any passage is to build a quick mental map of the argument's structure and the author's position. This foundational understanding will make every subsequent question easier to answer.