LNAT essay questions

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All 80 questions

Written for practice in the style of the official sample questions. None is a real LNAT question.

Law and justice

  • Should the age of criminal responsibility in England be raised?
  • Should juries be replaced by judges in complex fraud trials?
  • Is it ever right to break an unjust law?
  • Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
  • Should the courts be able to overrule Parliament?
  • Should cameras be allowed in every courtroom?
  • Is a fine a fair punishment if the rich can easily pay it?
  • Should people be punished for what they say online?
  • Should the police be allowed to use facial recognition in public places?
  • Is it fair to judge a defendant by their previous convictions?

Politics and society

  • Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
  • Should voting be compulsory?
  • Should the House of Lords be elected?
  • Should there be a limit on how much anyone can donate to a political party?
  • Is it right for a government to break a promise to respond to a crisis?
  • Should referendums be used to decide major national questions?
  • Should politicians be required to have worked outside politics?
  • Does a country owe anything to people who were born there but live abroad?
  • Should national service be reintroduced?
  • Is patriotism a virtue?

Ethics

  • Is it ever right to lie to protect someone's feelings?
  • Do we have a duty to give to charity?
  • Should we judge historical figures by today's moral standards?
  • Is it wrong to eat meat?
  • Do animals have rights?
  • Is revenge ever justified?
  • Should we be held responsible for things we did as teenagers?
  • Are we more responsible for what we do than for what we fail to do?
  • Is it acceptable to break a rule if nobody is harmed?
  • Should people be rewarded for luck?

Education

  • Should university be free for everyone?
  • Should students be able to choose not to sit exams?
  • Should private schools exist?
  • Should mobile phones be banned in schools?
  • Is a degree still worth the cost?
  • Should every school leaver have to do a year of community work?
  • Should schools be allowed to set homework at all?
  • Should universities lower their offers for students from poorer backgrounds?
  • Should learning a foreign language be compulsory until 18?
  • Do league tables help or harm schools?

Science and technology

  • Should artificial intelligence be allowed to make decisions about people's lives?
  • Should social media be banned for children under 16?
  • Should students be allowed to use AI to write their coursework?
  • Should genetic editing of human embryos be permitted?
  • Should the state be able to read private messages to prevent crime?
  • Is space exploration a waste of money?
  • Should driverless cars be allowed on public roads?
  • Should scientists be free to research anything that is legal?
  • Has the internet made people better informed?
  • Should tech companies be responsible for what their users post?

Economics

  • Should the state pay every adult a basic income?
  • Should the minimum wage be the same for all ages?
  • Should sugary food be taxed more heavily?
  • Should rich countries cancel the debts of poor countries?
  • Is tipping fair to workers?
  • Should second homes be taxed more heavily?
  • Should essential industries be owned by the state?
  • Should companies be required to publish what every employee is paid?
  • Is it fair that some jobs pay far more than others?
  • Should the government cap rents?

Environment

  • Should flying be rationed?
  • Should individuals or governments do more to tackle climate change?
  • Should new petrol cars be banned sooner?
  • Is it fair to ask poorer countries to limit their emissions?
  • Should zoos exist?
  • Should eating meat be taxed to protect the environment?
  • Should protest groups be allowed to block roads for climate causes?
  • Should countries be paid to leave their forests standing?
  • Is nuclear power the answer to climate change?
  • Should cities ban cars from their centres?

Culture and media

  • Should the BBC licence fee be abolished?
  • Should sport be kept separate from politics?
  • Should athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs be banned for life?
  • Is celebrity culture harmful?
  • Should offensive comedy be allowed?
  • Should video games be treated as art?
  • Should newspapers publish photographs of people without their consent?
  • Should countries boycott sporting events held by governments they disapprove of?
  • Should television be required to show a minimum amount of British content?
  • Does fame bring a duty to be a role model?

Questions this page answers

What kind of essay questions does the LNAT ask?

Short, open questions on law, politics, ethics, education, science, economics, the environment and culture. You choose one of three and need no specialist knowledge.

How long do I have for the LNAT essay?

40 minutes for one essay. LNAT's ideal length is 500 to 600 words, with a recommended maximum of 750.

Should I learn essay topics in advance?

Read widely rather than memorise answers. Universities want a clear position, reasons and a fair reply to the strongest objection, not facts.

Is the LNAT essay scored?

No. The LNAT gives no essay mark. Your essay goes to the universities you apply to, and each reads it in its own way.

How we work this out

80 practice titles in the style of Section B, in eight topics.
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