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Supporting Your Child Through Law Admissions
Most parents I speak with are in the same position. They've heard of the LNAT but aren't clear what it actually is or how it is used in the admissions process, and are wondering how best to support their child.
When I was seventeen, preparing for the LNAT with my mum, we faced the same confusion: vague official guidance, companies quoting thousands without explaining what you'd get, and feeling lost in light of so much (occasionally contradictory!) advice online.
This page is designed to give you clear information with all the advice on a single page, so that you can make informed decisions about what your child actually needs.
What is the LNAT?
The LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) is a standardised admissions test used by many of the UK's top law schools. If your child is applying to Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE, or several other competitive universities, they will need to take it.
Section A
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42 questions
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95 minutes
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Students read 12 argumentative passages and answer 3 or 4 questions about each
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Questions test comprehension, inference, identification of assumptions, and analysis of reasoning
Section B
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40 minutes
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Choice of three questions on general topics (e.g., ethics, society, current affairs)
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Students select one and write an argumentative essay
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Tests ability to construct and express arguments clearly under time pressure
What Does the LNAT Actually Test?
The LNAT doesn't test legal knowledge and, unlike school exams, it is not content-based. There is no 'set curriculum' to memorise. Rather, it tests the types of skills that predict success in legal education and practice.
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Critical reading — Can they understand complex arguments quickly and accurately?
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Logical reasoning — Can they identify conclusions, spot assumptions, and evaluate whether evidence supports claims?
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Argument analysis — Can they recognise logical flaws and distinguish strong arguments from weak ones?
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Persuasive writing — Can they construct their own coherent argument under time pressure, addressing counter arguments effectively?
These are skills, not knowledge. That distinction matters enormously for preparation, as the correct answers and mark schemes are tailored to these skills. So, just because your child scores highly in A-Level, IB or AP essays, does not mean that they are guaranteed a high Section B score unless they understand how to adapt their essay writing to the demands of the test.
How is the LNAT Scored?
Section A is scored out of 42: one mark per question. Your child does not lose marks for answering incorrectly or leaving a question blank. It is a very difficult test, with the national average score hovering between 18 and 22 in any given year. Top universities will often be looking for a score of 30 or above.
Section B (the essay) isn't marked by the LNAT board. Instead, it's sent directly to the universities your child applies to, where admissions tutors read and evaluate it themselves. This means that the university mark schemes often apply, rather than any one 'Section B Mark Scheme'. Universities also weigh the essay differently in the wider applications context.
Does my Child Need to Sit it?
The LNAT is required for the following universities:
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University of Oxford
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University of Cambridge
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Durham University
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King's College London
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University College London
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London School of Economics
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University of Bristol
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University of Glasgow
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SOAS University of London
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Jindal Global University
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Singapore University of Social Sciences
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IE University (accepted but not required)
The Timeline
Year 12
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Exploration phase: Is law the right path?
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Begin super-curricular reading and engagement with legal topics, including through essay competitions
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Consider relevant work experience or volunteering
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Early personal statement thinking can begin
Spring
Law admissions move faster than many parents expect and heavily depend on the universities that your child wants to apply to. Understanding the timeline helps you support your child effectively and ensures important deadlines aren't missed.
Summer
This is a critical preparation period.
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LNAT preparation should begin in earnest if not already underway
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Personal statement drafting starts
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University shortlist refined
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Personal statement reading and other activities become a focus
Autumn
Year 13
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Register for the LNAT through the official LNAT website
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LNAT preparation becomes a priority
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Personal statement finalised
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Teacher recommendations finalised
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Apply by the relevant deadline for target universities
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Sit the LNAT
Key Dates
August 1st -- LNAT registration period opens
September 1st - LNAT testing starts
September 15th - Latest LNAT registration to sit before October 15th for Oxbridge
Oxford and Cambridge - 15th October
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Deadline for both the LNAT and UCAS
Jindal Early Admissions - 30th November
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LNAT deadline
Kings, UCL, LSE - 31st December
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LNAT deadline
Kings, UCL, LSE - 14th January
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UCAS deadline
Bristol and Durham - 14th January
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LNAT deadline and UCAS deadline
All other UK Universities- 20th January
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LNAT deadline
Jindal Second Admissions Round- 28th February
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LNAT deadline
Jindal Final Admissions Round- 31st May
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LNAT deadline
For Oxbridge candidates:
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Start interview preparation - interview offers often come 6-8 weeks after the admissions deadline, sometimes with less than 1 week's notice from the email offer to the interview itself.
Winter
For Oxbridge candidates:
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Oxford admissions decisions: Mid-January
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Cambridge admissions decisions: Late January
For all other candidates:
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Decisions arrive via UCAS on a rolling basis across winter and spring.
Spring/Summer
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Finalise first choice and second choice universities following receipt of offers
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Focus on A-Levels/IB
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Sit final exams
July/August: Results Day!
If you have not met either of your top two offers, then you can apply through clearing, or reapply in the following cycle.
Autumn - Off to Uni!
Key Insights for Parents
1 / A front loaded process
The most effective preparation happens over months, not weeks. Starting in Year 12, or at the latest, the summer before Year 13, provides the time needed to develop skills properly.
2 / There is no 'universal' good LNAT score
Each university weighs the LNAT differently. A score that's highly competitive for one university might be merely adequate for another. This matters for strategy. If your child is targeting Oxford, Cambridge, or many of the London universities, their LNAT preparation needs to be more intensive than if they're applying only to universities that weight it less heavily.
How should my child be preparing?
The common myth that 'you cannot revise for the LNAT' stems from the fact that most students have never studied for a test that does not test knowledge of content (such as at A-Level), but rather the application of skills. So preparation looks very different to A-Level: there is no set 'curriculum', no official textbook, and rote-memorising essay plans can make their Section B score nosedive rather than boost it.
Rather, start with the skills that are tested, then practice, practice, practice.
LNAT
The LNAT isn't an IQ test, or even a test about the law. It tests a very specific skill set that can be taught and improved. We start with logical reasoning, then move onto specific skills and strategies for all question types in Section A and Section B.
How we prepare students:
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1-2-1 Tutoring
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3x per week Live Lessons with an expert tutor on Zoom - covering essay planning, specific question types and logical reasoning
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50+ video lessons breaking down every question type
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50+ practice essays with comments
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50 full practice tests with detailed explanations (that's over 2000 questions!)
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Expert essay feedback with swift turnarounds
Four Tiers of Support
Self-Prep
£95
/month
For students who need access to top tier materials
Full video curriculum of 100+ lessons
20 Full Practice Tests with detailed explanations
Template Study Plan
Access to our general resource library advice articles
Self-Prep
Plus
£195
/month
Everything in Self-Prep
and...
Advanced resource library, including marked personal statements, Section B essays and Interview prep
50 Full Practice Tests with detailed explanations
2 Expert Reviews per month - Personal Statement or Section B Essay, 48h turnaround
Guided
Prep
£450
/month
Everything in Self-Prep Plus and...
8 live classes per month with an expert tutor (with access to recordings)
4 Expert reviews per month - Personal Statement or Section B Essay, 24h turnaround
20-minute consultation following diagnostic test with a personalised study plan
Bespoke
Prep
£1500
/month
Everything in Guided Prep and...
2h 1-2-1 tuition per week
Bespoke curriculum, tailored to target universities and interests
Direct messaging access to personal tutor
Full strategy application support
Weekly reports to parents
Our Ethos and Standards
Same Quality Across All Tiers
Tiers are differentiated by exterior support, not by quality of materials.
Feedback that Teaches
Every piece of work is reviewed with specific, actionable comments your child can actually use.
Vetted Tutors Only
Every tutor is rigorously interviewed, DBS-checked, and has a minimum of three years' experience: no beginners 'learning on the job' with your child.
No Question Overlooked
Questions get answered comprehensively, and emails get replies swiftly
Expert Led
Many companies charge premium fees then hand your child to a junior tutor on £25/hour and get them to make their own materials. Our materials and tuition are made by experts only.
Responsive Curriculum
Our materials evolve based on real student feedback and results.