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Forty minutes. That is all you have to choose a question, plan your response, write a structured essay of approximately 500–600 words, and proofread your work. It is not a generous allocation — but it is enough, provided you use the time with discipline and purpose.
This lesson breaks down the 40-minute window into a realistic, practised time allocation. Every minute has a job. The candidates who perform best in Section B are not those who write the fastest — they are those who manage their time most effectively.
| Phase | Time | Minutes Remaining | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose | 3 minutes | 37 | Read all three questions, apply the decision framework, commit |
| 2. Plan | 5 minutes | 32 | Formulate thesis, list arguments, note counterargument, sketch structure |
| 3. Write | 28 minutes | 4 | Write the essay following your plan |
| 4. Proofread | 4 minutes | 0 | Check thesis, scan for errors, verify conclusion |
This is not a suggestion — it is a discipline. Practise it until it becomes automatic.
You will see three questions. You must pick one. This decision is more consequential than most candidates realise — choosing poorly can leave you struggling to fill 500 words with anything convincing.
| Step | Time | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Read all three | 30 seconds | Read each question carefully. Note the precise wording. |
| Quick mental test | 90 seconds | For each question: Can I take a clear position? Can I think of 2+ arguments? Can I think of a counterargument? |
| Choose and commit | 60 seconds | Select the strongest candidate. Do not second-guess. Move on. |
The plan is the blueprint for your essay. Without it, you will wander. With it, you will write with confidence and speed.
| Element | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis | 1 minute | One sentence stating your position clearly |
| 2–3 supporting arguments | 2 minutes | Brief notes — a few words each, with evidence/example noted |
| 1 counterargument + rebuttal | 1 minute | The strongest objection and how you will address it |
| Conclusion direction | 30 seconds | A word or phrase reminding you how to end |
| Quick review | 30 seconds | Does the plan make sense? Is anything missing? |
Your plan is for your eyes only. It does not need to be neat. A plan might look like:
Thesis: Sugar tax justified — proportionate, evidence-based, precedent in tobacco
Arg 1: Public health — obesity crisis, NHS cost (stats: rising obesity rates)
Arg 2: Precedent — tobacco tax worked, reduced smoking significantly
Counter: Regressive — hits poor hardest. Rebuttal: poor also suffer most from diet illness; revenue can fund health education
Conclusion: Not perfect solution, but proportionate + evidence-based. Inaction worse.
This plan took under 5 minutes. It provides a clear roadmap for every paragraph.
Some candidates skip planning because they feel they cannot afford the time. This is false economy:
| With a plan | Without a plan |
|---|---|
| Each paragraph has a clear purpose | You discover your argument as you write |
| You know where you are heading | You may run out of things to say — or say too much |
| Transitions are natural because the structure is logical | You repeat yourself or contradict earlier points |
| The conclusion follows naturally from the argument | You scramble for a conclusion in the last 2 minutes |
The evidence is clear: 5 minutes of planning typically saves 5–10 minutes of writing time. A planned essay is faster and better.
This is the core of the exercise. With your plan in front of you, you should be able to write with focus and efficiency.
| Paragraph | Content | Approximate Time | Approximate Words |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction + thesis | 4 minutes | 60–80 words |
| 2 | Supporting argument 1 + evidence | 7 minutes | 120–150 words |
| 3 | Supporting argument 2 + evidence | 7 minutes | 120–150 words |
| 4 | Counterargument + rebuttal | 6 minutes | 100–130 words |
| 5 | Conclusion | 4 minutes | 60–80 words |
These are guidelines, not rigid rules. Some paragraphs will flow faster than others. The key is to monitor your progress and adjust if needed.
Build these mental checkpoints into your writing:
| Time Elapsed (writing phase) | You Should Be | If You're Behind |
|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | Finishing paragraph 1 or starting paragraph 2 | Your introduction is too long — move on |
| 14 minutes | In the middle of paragraph 3 | Shorten your current paragraph |
| 21 minutes | Starting paragraph 4 (counterargument) | Cut the counterargument short if needed — but do not skip it entirely |
| 25 minutes | Starting or in the middle of paragraph 5 | Write a shorter conclusion using the emergency formula |
At a comfortable typing speed, 500–600 words in 28 minutes requires approximately 18–21 words per minute. This is well within normal range for someone who types regularly. The constraint is not typing speed — it is thinking speed. This is why the plan matters so much.
The final 4 minutes are for checking, not rewriting. You cannot restructure your essay at this stage. What you can do is catch errors that would undermine an otherwise strong piece.
| Check | Time | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis check | 30 seconds | Is your thesis clearly stated in the first paragraph? Does the essay actually argue what the thesis says? |
| Structural scan | 1 minute | Does each paragraph begin with a clear topic sentence? Do the paragraphs follow a logical order? |
| Error scan | 1.5 minutes | Spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, missing words, repeated words, unclear sentences |
| Conclusion check | 30 seconds | Does the conclusion reinforce the thesis? Does it end strongly? |
| Final read | 30 seconds | Read the first and last sentences of the essay. Do they work together to frame a coherent argument? |
| Error Type | Example | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Missing words | "The government should the law." | Read slowly to catch gaps |
| Repeated words | "This is important because it is important for..." | Delete the repetition |
| Tense inconsistency | Switching between past and present tense | Pick one and stick to it |
| Subject-verb agreement | "The arguments is clear." | Particularly common when you edit sentences and change the subject |
| Unfinished sentences | Starting a thought and not completing it | Either complete it or delete it |
Reminder: There is no spell check in the LNAT text editor. Common spelling mistakes — "their/there/they're", "its/it's", "affect/effect" — must be caught manually.
The 3-5-28-4 breakdown is not arbitrary. It is designed around how Section B essays are assessed:
| Assessment Criterion | Supported By |
|---|---|
| Argument clarity | Planning phase (thesis formulation) |
| Structure | Planning phase (outline) + Writing phase (paragraph structure) |
| Evidence and examples | Planning phase (evidence notes) + Writing phase (development) |
| Counterargument engagement | Planning phase (counterargument note) + Writing phase (dedicated paragraph) |
| Writing quality | Writing phase (following the plan frees mental energy for expression) + Proofread phase |
Before attempting a full timed essay, practise the time breakdown in isolation:
After the exercise, review:
The answers will tell you where to focus your practice.
The 40-minute Section B window demands disciplined time management: 3 minutes to choose your question, 5 minutes to plan, 28 minutes to write, and 4 minutes to proofread. Each phase has a specific purpose and a structured approach. Skipping the plan is false economy — it costs more time than it saves. Pacing checkpoints during writing help you stay on track. The proofread phase catches errors that would undermine an otherwise strong essay. Practise this breakdown until it is automatic, then build on it through the progressive practice programme in the lessons that follow.