Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even well-prepared candidates can lose marks on the LNAT by falling into predictable traps. This lesson identifies the most common mistakes across both sections and provides practical strategies for avoiding them.

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Section A Mistakes

Mistake 1: Reading the Passage Too Slowly

The problem: Many candidates read every word of the passage carefully before looking at the questions. With 12 passages and 95 minutes, this often leads to running out of time on later passages.

The solution: Develop an efficient reading strategy:

1. Skim the passage first (60–90 seconds) — get a sense of the topic, the author's position, and the structure
2. Read the questions — understand what you are looking for
3. Return to the passage with targeted focus — locate the relevant sections for each question
4. Read those sections carefully — now is the time for close, precise reading

Key Principle: You do not need to understand every detail of the passage to answer the questions correctly. You need to find and understand the specific parts that the questions ask about.

Mistake 2: Bringing in Outside Knowledge

The problem: Candidates answer based on what they know or believe about a topic, rather than what the passage actually says.

The solution:

• Every correct answer must be supported by the passage text
• Your personal knowledge of the topic is irrelevant
• Even if you know the author is factually wrong, the questions ask about what the passage says, not what is true in the real world
• Ask yourself: "Can I point to a specific part of the passage that supports this answer?"

Scenario	Wrong Approach	Right Approach
The passage argues that climate change is exaggerated	Answer based on your own views on climate change	Answer based only on what the passage states
The passage contains a factual error you recognise	Discount the passage and answer using your knowledge	Answer based on the passage as written
A question asks what the author would "most likely agree with"	Guess based on the general topic	Infer from the specific arguments and language in the passage

Mistake 3: Confusing "What the Author Says" with "What the Author Implies"

The problem: Some questions ask what the author states directly; others ask what the author implies or what can be inferred. Candidates often mix these up.

The solution:

• Stated directly = the passage contains explicit words that say this
• Implied = the passage does not say this directly, but it logically follows from what is said
• Read the question stem carefully — look for words like "implies", "suggests", "infers", "can be concluded" (= inference) versus "states", "says", "according to the passage" (= direct statement)

Mistake 4: Not Eliminating Wrong Answers

The problem: Candidates look for the "right" answer and choose the first one that seems plausible, without checking the alternatives.

The solution: Use the process of elimination:

1. Read all four options
2. Eliminate any that are clearly wrong (contradicted by the passage, or not supported)
3. Compare the remaining options — which one is best supported by the passage?
4. If two options seem similar, look for the one that is more precisely supported by the text

Common Trap: Distractor answers are often partially correct or use words from the passage but in a different context. Always check that the answer matches the specific question being asked.

Mistake 5: Poor Time Management

The problem: Candidates spend too long on difficult passages early in the test and rush through easier ones later.

The solution:

• Allocate approximately 7–8 minutes per passage (including reading and answering)
• If a passage or question is exceptionally difficult, flag it and move on
• Return to flagged questions after completing all 12 passages
• Monitor the timer regularly — check it after every 2–3 passages
• Never spend more than 10 minutes on a single passage

Time Check	Where You Should Be
25 minutes elapsed	Completed 3 passages
50 minutes elapsed	Completed 6 passages
75 minutes elapsed	Completed 9 passages
85 minutes elapsed	Completed 12 passages
85–95 minutes	Reviewing flagged questions