LNAT, 2027 entry
LNAT preparation timeline
King's, LSE and UCL applicants must sit the LNAT by 31 December 2026; Bristol and Durham by 13 January 2027; most other universities by 25 January 2027. From the week of 2 November, this plan gets you to a 31 December sitting in nine weeks.
- King's, LSE, UCL
- By 31 December
- Bristol, Durham
- By 13 January
- Most others
- By 25 January
- Fee (UK)
- £75
Your nine weeks, dated
If your deadline is 13 January or 25 January, keep the same order and add the extra weeks to timed papers. For the 25 January deadline, book by 20 January.
| Week | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1: 2 to 8 Nov | Find your level | Sit a full Section A timed (42 questions, 95 minutes) and one essay in 40 minutes. Book your test date this week so you get the day you want. |
| 2: 9 to 15 Nov | Read like the test | One opinion piece a day from a quality newspaper: write its conclusion and main reason in two lines. Two passages a day. |
| 3: 16 to 22 Nov | Main point and inference | Passages where the answer is the author's main claim or what follows from it. Note why each wrong option fails. |
| 4: 23 to 29 Nov | Assumptions and flaws | Questions on what the author takes for granted and where the argument is weak. One essay plan a day, 10 minutes. |
| 5: 30 Nov to 6 Dec | Timed passages | Four passages a day at 8 minutes each. Write two full essays this week. |
| 6: 7 to 13 Dec | Full Section A | One full 95-minute Section A, then redo every miss and name the reason for each. |
| 7: 14 to 20 Dec | Essay week | Three timed essays from different topic areas, each with a one-line answer to the question in the first paragraph. |
| 8: 21 to 27 Dec | Full rehearsal | Section A and Section B back to back, timed, as on test day. Review the next day. |
| 9: 28 Dec to 3 Jan | Light week and test | Two passages a day and one essay plan. Sit the LNAT by 31 December. |
What each section tests
There are no facts to learn for the LNAT, but practice helps: the LNAT website has a free online sample test and two practice papers with commentary.
| Section | Format | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Section A | 42 multiple-choice questions on 12 passages, 95 minutes | Close reading and reasoning: understanding an argument, what it assumes and what follows. Scored out of 42; wrong answers lose nothing. |
| Section B | 1 essay from 3 questions, 40 minutes | Arguing a clear case in writing; the guidance is 500 to 600 words. Each university receives your essay and uses it in its own way. |
Every 2027-entry deadline
| Universities | Sit the LNAT by |
|---|---|
| Oxford and Cambridge | 15 October 2026 (passed) |
| King's College London, LSE, UCL | 31 December 2026 |
| Bristol and Durham | 13 January 2027 |
| Oxford Foundation Year in Law | 13 January 2027 |
| All other LNAT universities | 25 January 2027 (book by 20 January) |
Three mistakes to avoid
- Booking late. Pick your date in week 1; if you need a bursary, apply before you book, as it takes up to ten working days.
- Practising only Section A. Your universities receive the essay, so write timed essays from week 1, not in the last few days.
- Reading only for the test. Daily reading of argued journalism builds the speed Section A needs; passages alone are not enough.
Questions people ask
When is the LNAT deadline for King's, LSE and UCL?
Sit it by 31 December 2026.
When is the last LNAT date for 2027 entry?
For most universities, sit by 25 January 2027 and book by 20 January 2027. Bristol and Durham need it by 13 January 2027.
How much does the LNAT cost?
£75 at test centres in the UK and EU, £120 elsewhere. A bursary covers the fee for eligible UK and EU students.
How do I prepare for the LNAT?
There are no facts to learn. Read argued journalism every day, practise timed passages and essays, and sit full timed rehearsals before test day.