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The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) is a computer-based admissions test used by some of the most competitive universities in the United Kingdom for entry to their undergraduate Law programmes. It is designed to assess your aptitude for the study of law — specifically your critical thinking, reasoning, and analytical writing skills.
If you are applying to study Law at one of the nine UK universities that currently require the LNAT, understanding this test is an essential first step in your preparation.
The LNAT exists because outstanding A-Level results alone are not enough to distinguish between thousands of highly qualified applicants to top Law programmes. Universities need an additional, standardised way to assess the skills that matter most for legal study.
The LNAT is designed to measure:
Key Point: The LNAT is an aptitude test, not a knowledge test. You are not tested on legal knowledge, current affairs trivia, or any specific school subject. The test measures how you think and reason, not what you have memorised.
You need to sit the LNAT if you are applying to any of the nine UK universities that currently require it for their undergraduate Law programmes. In addition, several international institutions also require the LNAT.
As of the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the following nine UK universities require the LNAT:
| University | Programme |
|---|---|
| University of Bristol | LLB Law |
| University of Cambridge | BA Law |
| Durham University | LLB Law |
| University of Glasgow | LLB Law |
| King's College London (KCL) | LLB Law |
| London School of Economics (LSE) | LLB Law |
| University of Oxford | BA Jurisprudence (Law) |
| SOAS University of London | LLB Law |
| University College London (UCL) | LLB Law |
The LNAT is also required by a small number of international institutions:
| Institution | Country |
|---|---|
| Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) | Singapore |
| Jindal Global Law School | India |
| IE School of Law | Spain |
Important: The list of participating universities can change from year to year. Always check the official LNAT website (lnat.ac.uk) for the most up-to-date list before you register.
The LNAT has been part of the Law admissions landscape for over two decades:
The LNAT is owned and managed by LNAT Consortium Ltd and delivered in partnership with Pearson VUE, a global leader in computer-based testing.
Many applicants to competitive universities will also encounter other admissions tests. It is helpful to understand how the LNAT differs.
| Feature | LNAT | UCAT (Medicine) | TMUA (Maths) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject area | Law | Medicine / Dentistry | Mathematics |
| Type | Aptitude (critical thinking + essay) | Aptitude (cognitive + situational) | Subject-specific aptitude |
| Format | Multiple-choice + written essay | Multiple-choice only | Multiple-choice |
| Duration | 2 hours 15 minutes | ~2 hours | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Legal knowledge required | None | N/A | N/A |
| Essay component | Yes (Section B) | No | No |
| Cost | £75 (UK/EU) / £120 (rest of world) | ~£75 (UK) | Free |
Key Takeaway: The LNAT is unique among UK admissions tests because it includes a substantial written essay component. This means you need to demonstrate both your analytical reading skills and your ability to construct a persuasive written argument.
The LNAT consists of two distinct sections, completed in a single sitting:
| Section | Content | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | Multiple-choice comprehension | 42 questions (12 passages, 3–4 questions each) | 95 minutes |
| Section B | Essay | 1 essay from a choice of 3 questions | 40 minutes |
Total test time: 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes)
Section A is completed first, followed by Section B. You cannot return to Section A once you have moved on to Section B.
Your LNAT performance is a significant component of your Law application. Depending on the university, it may be used to:
Understanding how each of your chosen universities uses the LNAT is critical for making strategic application decisions. This is covered in detail in Lesson 7.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Law National Admissions Test |
| Test type | Computer-based aptitude test |
| Sections | 2 (multiple-choice + essay) |
| Total duration | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Section A | 42 multiple-choice questions, 95 minutes |
| Section B | 1 essay from a choice of 3, 40 minutes |
| Legal knowledge required | None |
| Score range (Section A) | 1–42 |
| Section B marking | By individual universities, not centrally |
| Test delivery | Pearson VUE test centres |
| Cost | £75 (UK/EU) / £120 (rest of world) |
| UK universities requiring LNAT | 9 |
The LNAT is the gateway to studying Law at some of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom. It is an aptitude test — not a knowledge test — and it assesses your ability to read critically, reason analytically, and write persuasively under time pressure. With nine UK universities requiring the LNAT, performing well on this test is one of the most impactful things you can do to strengthen your Law application.
In the next lesson, we will break down the test format and structure in full detail, so you know exactly what to expect on test day.