LNAT format
LNAT test format: what happens in each section?
For the 2026–27 cycle, the LNAT lasts 2 hours 15 minutes and has two separately timed sections. Section A is scored out of 42; Section B is an essay sent to universities.
Last checked: 29 September 2026
Try the free 42-question, 95-minute LNAT-style mock and review every answer.
The format at a glance
| Section | Task | Time | Scoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | 42 multiple-choice questions based on 12 argumentative passages | 95 minutes | Score out of 42 |
| Section B | Choose one of three essay questions | 40 minutes | Not added to the Section A score; essay is sent to universities |
Section A: reading and reasoning
You read 12 argumentative passages and answer three or four questions on each. The questions reward careful comprehension, inference and analysis of what an argument actually establishes. You can review your answers during the 95 minutes, but once you move into Section B you cannot return to Section A.
A useful practice session should therefore train two things at once: reasoning accuracy and the ability to keep moving under time pressure. Our Section A guide breaks this down further.
Section B: one essay from three questions
You have 40 minutes to choose one of three topics and write a clear argument. The official LNAT site recommends a maximum of 750 words and suggests roughly 500–600 words as a useful target. The essay is not marked by the test centre and does not change the Section A score, but participating universities receive it and decide how to use it.
That makes structure, relevance and clarity more important than trying to sound like a law textbook. See the Section B essay guide.
Use the official simulator before test day
The LNAT Consortium provides an official browser tutorial and sample test, and specifically recommends using the tutorial to learn the controls and newer functionality introduced from 2026. Independent practice is useful for volume and review, but the official simulator should remain your benchmark for the test-centre interface.