Key Facts
| Score | Section A mark out of 42, one mark per correct answer, no negative marking; the essay does not count towards the score |
|---|---|
| Oxford law averages, 2025-26 cycle | All 2,115 candidates 24.94; shortlisted 29.37; offer holders 30.48 (out of 42) |
| Oxford essay marks, 2025-26 cycle | All candidates 62.38; shortlisted 64.59; offer holders 65.21 |
| Oxford shortlisting rank | For candidates with a contextualised GCSE score: 10% on each LNAT score and 80% on the GCSE score |
| Universities see scores | From 21 October for tests taken 1 September to 20 October; within 24 hours of the test after that |
| Candidates see scores | Mid-February for tests on or before 26 January; mid-August for later tests |
| Oxford and Cambridge deadline | Sit by 15 October 2026 for 2027 entry |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
An LNAT score is a mark out of 42 from the multiple-choice section of the test, one mark for each correct answer, with no pass mark and no fixed weight in admissions. The essay does not count towards the score and goes to universities separately, and each university uses both in its own way. Below is an explanation of how the score is produced, when universities and candidates see it, what Oxford's published figures suggest about a good score, and how to raise a score before the test.
How the LNAT is scored
The LNAT has two sections. Section A has 42 multiple-choice questions on 12 passages in 95 minutes, and Section B asks for one essay from a choice of three in 40 minutes.
| Section | What the candidate does | What universities receive |
|---|---|---|
| Section A | Answers 42 multiple-choice questions | The LNAT score, a mark out of 42 |
| Section B | Writes one essay, ideally 500 to 600 words and at most 750 | The essay itself, unmarked by the test centre |
The Section A mark is checked by computer and is the raw number of correct answers. Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, so leaving a question blank only loses a possible mark. Since the score is not scaled, a mark on an official practice paper is the same kind of number as a live score, although practice conditions are rarely the same as the test centre.
How universities use LNAT scores and essays
The LNAT consortium says there is no fixed weight to the test and that each university uses the score and essay in the way that suits its own admissions system. The score is read alongside school qualifications, the UCAS application, the personal statement and, at some universities, an interview.
Uses of the essay vary widely. The LNAT site gives examples: some universities use it as the basis for interview questions, others compare it with the personal statement and school reference, and others use it to choose between borderline candidates. Oxford gives the essay a mark of its own and uses both LNAT marks with contextualised GCSE results when drawing up its interview shortlist, as its law admissions report explains.
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Enquire about this tutorWhat is a good LNAT score?
A good LNAT score is one that places the applicant well among the applicants to the same course, and only a few universities publish figures. Oxford's law admissions reports give the most detail. In its recent reports, the average for all candidates has been in the mid-20s out of 42, shortlisted candidates have averaged about 29 and offer holders about 30 to 31. The latest figures are in the key facts on this page.
| Score out of 42 | Where it sits |
|---|---|
| Below about 20 | Well below the typical Oxford applicant |
| Mid-20s | Around the average for all Oxford law applicants |
| About 29 | Around the average for candidates Oxford shortlists |
| 30 and above | Around or above the average for Oxford offer holders |
These are averages and not cut-offs, so some offer holders score below them, since GCSE results, the essay and the interview all count. Other LNAT universities set their own approach, so reading each law school's admissions pages is worthwhile. The LNAT guide lists the universities that require the test.
When universities and candidates see the score
Universities see the score before the candidate does. For tests taken from the opening of testing in September to 20 October, the first batch of scores is released to universities on 21 October, and after that each score and essay is available to the chosen universities within 24 hours of the test.
Candidates receive their scores by email twice a year. Those who sit on or before 26 January receive their results in mid-February, and those who sit later receive them in mid-August. The LNAT does not give exact dates in advance.
| Test taken | Universities see it | Candidate sees it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September to 20 October | From 21 October | Mid-February |
| 21 October to 26 January | Within 24 hours of the test | Mid-February |
| After 26 January | Within 24 hours of the test | Mid-August |
A candidate may sit the LNAT only once in an admissions cycle, and a second sitting without authorisation is invalid. Applicants to Oxford and Cambridge must sit by an earlier deadline in October, which is in the key facts.
How to raise an LNAT score
Since the score is a raw count of correct answers, every extra question answered correctly adds a mark. Three areas make the most difference:
- Accuracy on inference questions. Many wrong answers come from choosing an option that is true in the world but not supported by the passage. Asking whether the passage itself shows each option is the most useful habit.
- Pace across 12 passages. At just under eight minutes per passage, including reading, a student who spends 15 minutes on one hard passage loses time for two easier ones. Timed practice by passage fixes this.
- Reading range. The passages range widely in subject, so regular reading of serious journalism and essays makes unfamiliar subjects less of a hurdle.
The LNAT practice test page has an original practice passage with worked answers, the LNAT preparation plan sets out the weeks before the test, and the LNAT essay questions page covers Section B.
Related guides
- LNAT guide: format, scoring and which universities require it
- LNAT practice tests
- LNAT essay questions
- How to prepare for the LNAT
- Oxford law entry requirements, LNAT and interviews
- Applying for law at Cambridge
- Super-curricular activities for law
- University admissions tests in the UK: which test for which course
University admissions support from Taylor Tuition
Students aiming to raise their LNAT scores often want timed practice with someone who can explain why an answer is wrong and give feedback on essays. Our tutors are graduates of Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, and the tutor pool includes former heads of department and school leaders, experienced exam-board examiners, teachers from independent and boarding schools, and educational consultants with independent-school admissions experience.
Sessions run online for families across the UK and internationally, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, there is no registration fee and the initial consultation is free. Tutors who work with children hold an enhanced DBS check, and families receive progress reports after sessions.
Read more about our LNAT tutors, or send an enquiry and we reply with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good LNAT score?
- There is no pass mark. Oxford publishes the most detail: the average for all its law candidates has been in the mid-20s out of 42 and the offer-holder average about 30 to 31, so a score around 30 or above is strong for the most competitive courses.
- What is the average LNAT score?
- Oxford reports an average multiple-choice score of about 25 out of 42 across all its law candidates in its latest report, with shortlisted candidates averaging about 29. The exact figures are in the key facts on this page.
- Is the LNAT essay marked?
- The test centre does not mark it and it does not count towards the LNAT score. Universities receive it and use it in their own way; Oxford gives it a mark of its own and uses it in shortlisting.
- When do I get my LNAT results?
- Candidates who sit on or before 26 January receive their score by email in mid-February, and later candidates in mid-August. Universities see the score before the candidate does.
- Can I resit the LNAT?
- No. Each candidate may sit the LNAT once in an admissions cycle, and a second sitting without authorisation is invalid.
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