Is the LNAT hard?
It needs no law, but it is hard to score highly. Section A is 42 questions on 12 passages in 95 minutes, about 136 seconds a question including the reading. Oxford applicants averaged 24.94 out of 42.
What makes it hard
- Reading speed: each passage is new, on any topic.
- Close answers: two options often look right; one word decides.
- The essay: 40 minutes, one of 3 prompts, ideally 500 to 600 words.
What scores look like
| Oxford law, 2025-26 | Average Section A score |
|---|---|
| All 2,115 applicants | 24.94 |
| Shortlisted for interview | 29.37 |
| Offer holders | 30.48 |
A score near 30 puts you level with Oxford's offer holders. Other universities weigh the score and essay differently.
Try one
Worked example A Section A question
Passage: Every city that brought in a congestion charge saw traffic fall in its first year. Critics say the fall soon reverses. Yet in the three cities studied for five years, traffic stayed below its old level.
Which statement does the passage support? A) Congestion charges cut traffic in every city for good. B) In at least three cities, the fall lasted beyond the first year. C) The critics are wrong about every city. D) The charge alone caused the fall.
Why this works: B. The passage reports three cities where traffic stayed lower for five years, so the fall outlasted the first year there.
Why the tempting route fails: A and C stretch three cities to every city. D adds a cause the passage never states.