Phase 2: Relaxed Timing

You can now produce a well-structured, well-evidenced essay without time pressure. The next step is to introduce time awareness — gently at first — so that you begin to develop the pacing instincts you will need for the real LNAT.

Phase 2 gives you 60 minutes per essay — 50% more than the actual Section B allocation. This extra time is a buffer that lets you focus on maintaining quality while becoming increasingly aware of the clock.

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Why 60 Minutes?

The jump from "no time limit" to "40 minutes" is too large. Candidates who make this jump often find that their essay quality collapses under pressure — they produce poorly planned, poorly structured, rushed work that bears no resemblance to their untimed efforts.

60 minutes is the sweet spot:

Time Allocation	Effect
No limit	Quality is high, but no time discipline is developed
60 minutes	Quality can be maintained while time awareness builds
40 minutes	Full pressure — quality may suffer initially but recovers with practice

The purpose of Phase 2 is to maintain the quality you achieved in Phase 1 while adding time discipline. If your quality drops significantly at 60 minutes, you are not yet ready for 40.

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The 60-Minute Breakdown

Phase	Time	Activity
Choose	3 minutes	Same as the real LNAT
Plan	7 minutes	Slightly more generous than the real LNAT — use the extra 2 minutes to refine your plan
Write	42 minutes	Approximately 50% more writing time than the real LNAT
Proofread	8 minutes	Double the real LNAT proofreading time — use it to identify areas where you tend to make errors

Why the Extra Time Is Distributed This Way

• Choosing (3 min): This should already be fast. No extra time needed.
• Planning (7 min): Two extra minutes lets you plan more thoroughly, which makes writing easier. You are building the habit of thorough planning.
• Writing (42 min): The extra 14 minutes gives you breathing room. You will gradually find that you finish earlier.
• Proofreading (8 min): Extra proofreading time lets you identify your common errors, so you can learn to avoid them during the writing phase.

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The Phase 2 Process

Before Each Essay

1. Choose your question from a set of three (use past papers, preparation books, or self-generated questions)
2. Set a timer for 60 minutes
3. Remove distractions — phone off, browser closed, quiet room
4. Use a plain text editor — no spell check, no formatting tools (simulating the LNAT environment)

During Each Essay

Follow your plan. Check the clock at these intervals:

Checkpoint	Time	You Should Be
First check	10 minutes	Finishing your plan, starting to write
Second check	25 minutes	In the middle of your body paragraphs
Third check	40 minutes	Starting your counterargument paragraph or conclusion
Fourth check	52 minutes	Starting proofreading

Key Habit: Do not check the clock obsessively. Four checkpoints per essay is sufficient. More frequent clock-watching creates anxiety without improving performance.

After Each Essay

1. Record your total time. Did you use all 60 minutes, or did you finish early?
2. Count your words. Are you within the 500–600 word target?
3. Evaluate using the self-assessment criteria (see Lesson 6)
4. Identify one specific improvement for the next essay

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Tracking Your Progress

Use a simple tracking table to monitor your development through Phase 2:

Essay #	Question Topic	Time Used	Word Count	Self-Assessment Score (avg)	Key Weakness Identified	Key Improvement Made
1
2
3
4
5
6

What to Look For