How much does the LNAT essay count?
Whether each LNAT university reads the essay, and the weight it gives it where one has been published.
LNAT essay (Section B) by university
Choose a university
Every LNAT university reads the essay itself. Here is what each has said, and the weight where one has been published.
- Oxford: Read and scored: 10% of the first ranking Source.
- Cambridge: Read and marked out of 10 Source.
- UCL: Read and assessed; no weight published Source.
- King's College London: No published essay weight Source.
- LSE: Usually not used Source.
- Durham: No essay score recorded Source.
- Bristol: Read and assessed; 2027 weight not published Source.
- Glasgow: Can be used; no weight published Source.
- SOAS: Usually no LNAT needed with A-levels Source.
Weights describe one stage of one year. They are not offer odds, and universities mark essays on their own scales.
University admissions reports, statements, FAQs and FOI replies
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LNAT · 2027 entry
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How we estimate
Scope, source, method, uncertainty, dates and what the answer can and cannot tell you.
How we estimate
Scope, source, method, uncertainty, dates and what the answer can and cannot tell you.
What it covers
The LNAT essay (Section B) at nine universities that use the LNAT for 2027 entry, from each university's admissions report, statement, FAQ or FOI reply.
Sources
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by Regent's Park College): Law admissions report 2025-26, Section 2.1. Official.
- University of Oxford: Law (Jurisprudence) course page, Entrance requirements. Official.
- University of Cambridge, FOI 2025/1072 (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT results by college, 2025 application year, College table. Official document, public copy.
- UCL Faculty of Laws: LLB frequently asked questions, LLB FAQ. Official.
- UCL Faculty of Laws: LNAT advice and guidance. Official.
- King's College London: Law LLB entry requirements, Entry requirements. Official.
- King's College London, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT scoring, 2022 cycle. Official document, public copy.
- LSE: Entry requirements, LNAT and entry requirements. Official.
- Durham University, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT scores for 2022 and 2023 entry. Official document, public copy.
- University of Bristol: Law admissions statement 2027, Law admissions statement, 2027 entry. Official.
- University of Bristol: Law admissions statement 2020, Law admissions statement, 2020 entry. Official.
- University of Bristol Law School: Undergraduate Law FAQ, Undergraduate FAQ. Official.
- University of Glasgow School of Law: LNAT at the School of Law. Official.
- SOAS University of London: Undergraduate entry requirements, Undergraduate entry requirements. Official.
- SOAS University of London: LLB, LLB course page. Official.
- LNAT Consortium: Do I need to sit the test?, Participating universities. Official.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by Regent's Park College): Law admissions report 2025-26, Section 2.1. Official.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by The Queen's College): Law admissions report 2024-25, Section 3. Official.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law: Law admissions report 2024-25. Official.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by Mansfield College): Law admissions feedback 2024-25, Page 2, LNAT score charts by outcome. Official.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by St Edmund Hall): Law report on the 2022 admissions round. Official.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law: Law admissions report 2021-22. Official.
- University of Cambridge, FOI 2025/1072 (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT results by college, 2025 application year, College table. Official document, public copy.
- University of Cambridge, FOI 2025/1072 (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): Response letter, Covering letter. Official document, public copy.
- UCL, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LLB M100 LNAT scores, 2022/23 to 2024/25, M100 offer-holder means. Official document, public copy.
- UCL Faculty of Laws: LLB frequently asked questions, LLB FAQ. Official.
- King's College London, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT scoring, 2022 cycle. Official document, public copy.
- LSE, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT scoring, 2022 cycle. Official document, public copy.
- LSE, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT statistics, 2020-21. Official document, public copy.
- Durham University, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT scores for 2022 and 2023 entry. Official document, public copy.
Method
- We record only what the university has written: whether it assesses the essay, any published weighting and the year it applies to.
- Oxford's 2025-26 report gives weights for its first ranking: 80% contextualised GCSEs, 10% multiple choice, 10% essay; without a contextualised GCSE score the two LNAT parts count equally.
- Bristol's 2020 statement gave 40% to the LNAT, split 60% multiple choice and 40% essay, so the essay was 16% overall. Its 2027 statement confirms the essay is assessed but gives no numbers, so we show 2020 as history.
- Where nothing is published we say so. "Not recorded centrally" (King's, Durham) is not read as "ignored".
Uncertainty and limits
- Weights describe one stage of one process. They say nothing about how often a strong essay changed an outcome.
- Universities mark essays on their own scales (Cambridge out of 10, Oxford on its own scale), so marks cannot be compared across universities.
- Policies change each year; each row shows the year it comes from.
Dates and versions
- How each university uses the LNAT, 2027 entry: data version 2026-09-26.1, checked 26 September 2026.
- Published LNAT averages by university: data version 2026-09-26.1, checked 26 September 2026 (historical).
- Page last changed 26 September 2026.
What the answer means
The answer tells you whether your university reads the essay and what, if anything, it has said about its weight. It cannot say how many multiple-choice marks a good essay makes up for. No university publishes that.
LNAT essay use at every university
For applicants with A-levels. LSE and SOAS differ for Access, BTEC and other routes: choose that route above.
| University | What it says about the essay | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | Read and scored: 10% of the first ranking | 2025-26 retrospective | Law admissions report 2025-26 |
| Cambridge | Read and marked out of 10 | 2025 apply year | LNAT results by college, 2025 application year |
| UCL | Read and assessed; no weight published | current page; last cycle unspecified | LLB frequently asked questions |
| King's College London | No published essay weight | 2027 entry | Law LLB entry requirements |
| LSE | Usually not used | 2027 entry | Entry requirements |
| Durham | No essay score recorded | 2021-22 and 2022-23 | LNAT scores for 2022 and 2023 entry |
| Bristol | Read and assessed; 2027 weight not published | 2027 entry | Law admissions statement 2027 |
| Glasgow | Can be used; no weight published | current public page | LNAT at the School of Law |
| SOAS | Usually no LNAT needed with A-levels | current public page | Undergraduate entry requirements |
Questions people ask
Does the LNAT essay matter?
At most universities, yes: Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Bristol say they assess it. Oxford gave it 10% of its first ranking in 2025-26. LSE normally uses only the multiple-choice score.
Does LSE read the LNAT essay?
LSE says it normally uses the multiple-choice score and may assess the essay in some cases, including applicants with non-traditional qualifications.
How is the LNAT essay marked?
The LNAT Consortium does not mark it. Each university reads it itself: Cambridge colleges marked it out of 10 in the 2025 application year, and Oxford gives its own essay mark.
Sources
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by Regent's Park College): Law admissions report 2025-26OfficialSection 2.1. Published 2026-01. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Oxford: Law (Jurisprudence) course pageOfficialEntrance requirements. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Cambridge, FOI 2025/1072 (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT results by college, 2025 application yearOfficial document, public copyCollege table. Published 2025-12-04. Checked 26 September 2026.
- UCL Faculty of Laws: LLB frequently asked questionsOfficialLLB FAQ. Checked 26 September 2026.
- UCL Faculty of Laws: LNAT advice and guidanceOfficialChecked 26 September 2026.
- King's College London: Law LLB entry requirementsOfficialEntry requirements. Checked 26 September 2026.
- King's College London, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT scoring, 2022 cycleOfficial document, public copyChecked 26 September 2026.
- LSE: Entry requirementsOfficialLNAT and entry requirements. Checked 26 September 2026.
All 25 sources
- Durham University, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT scores for 2022 and 2023 entryOfficial document, public copyPublished 2024-08-15. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Bristol: Law admissions statement 2027OfficialLaw admissions statement, 2027 entry. Published 2026-05-14. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Bristol: Law admissions statement 2020OfficialLaw admissions statement, 2020 entry. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Bristol Law School: Undergraduate Law FAQOfficialUndergraduate FAQ. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Glasgow School of Law: LNAT at the School of LawOfficialChecked 26 September 2026.
- SOAS University of London: Undergraduate entry requirementsOfficialUndergraduate entry requirements. Checked 26 September 2026.
- SOAS University of London: LLBOfficialLLB course page. Checked 26 September 2026.
- LNAT Consortium: Do I need to sit the test?OfficialParticipating universities. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by The Queen's College): Law admissions report 2024-25OfficialSection 3. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law: Law admissions report 2024-25OfficialChecked 26 September 2026.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by Mansfield College): Law admissions feedback 2024-25OfficialPage 2, LNAT score charts by outcome. Published 2025-01. Checked 26 September 2026.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law (copy hosted by St Edmund Hall): Law report on the 2022 admissions roundOfficialChecked 26 September 2026.
- University of Oxford, Faculty of Law: Law admissions report 2021-22OfficialChecked 26 September 2026.
- University of Cambridge, FOI 2025/1072 (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): Response letterOfficial document, public copyCovering letter. Published 2025-12-04. Checked 26 September 2026.
- UCL, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LLB M100 LNAT scores, 2022/23 to 2024/25Official document, public copyM100 offer-holder means. Published 2025-06-17. Checked 26 September 2026.
- LSE, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT scoring, 2022 cycleOfficial document, public copyPublished 2023-01-10. Checked 26 September 2026.
- LSE, FOI response (public copy on WhatDoTheyKnow): LNAT statistics, 2020-21Official document, public copyPublished 2021-07-01. Checked 26 September 2026.
How each university uses the LNAT, 2027 entry: version 2026-09-26.1, First transcribed from the LNATGenius research bundle (research/data-tools/lnat, 26 September 2026). Published LNAT averages by university: version 2026-09-26.1, First transcribed from the LNATGenius research bundle (research/data-tools/lnat, 26 September 2026).