LNAT past papers and resources
Past papers, specifications, and preparation resources for the LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test). Required for competitive Law courses at Cambridge, Oxford, and other leading universities.
Computer-based specimen and sample tests (current format)
The LNAT is now delivered as a computer-based test. Pearson provides official test papers and so you can become familiar with the test before your exam. We also have our own LNAT simulator for candidates to practise under timed conditions.
LNAT Guide and Specification
LNAT key dates for 2027 entry
Verified against the official source. See the sources at the foot of the page.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| LNAT registration and booking opens | 1 August 2026 |
| LNAT testing begins | 1 September 2026 |
| Oxford and Cambridge: register and book your slot by | 15 September 2026 |
| Oxford and Cambridge: sit the LNAT by | 15 October 2026 |
| Oxford and Cambridge: UCAS deadline | 15 October 2026, 6pm |
| Kings College London, LSE and UCL: sit the LNAT by | 31 December 2026 |
| Bristol and Durham: register, sit and apply by | 13 January 2027 |
| All other LNAT universities: UCAS deadline | 13 January 2027, 6pm |
| All other LNAT universities: register and book your slot by | 20 January 2027 |
| All other LNAT universities: sit the LNAT by | 25 January 2027 |
| Results released to candidates | Mid-February 2027 |
Dates verified 10 August 2026 against the official LNAT website. Full sources at the foot of this page.
Note on the LNAT calendar. The LNAT is booked through Pearson VUE and runs on a different schedule from the UAT-UK tests, with deadlines set by university rather than by sitting. Oxford Law with Foundation Year applicants have until 13 January 2027. Results reach candidates in mid-February for tests taken on or before 26 January, and universities receive scores within 24 hours of the test from 21 October onwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two. Pearson provides two computer-based practice tests in the current format, with a commentary and a mark scheme, and both are linked above. That scarcity is why timed practice sets matter more for the LNAT than for most admissions tests.
The LNAT reuses passages across sittings, so releasing full past papers would compromise the question bank. Unlike the ESAT and TMUA, there is no historic archive to work through.
Booking is through Pearson VUE. For 2027 entry, registration and booking opened on 1 August 2026 and testing runs from 1 September 2026. Deadlines are set by university rather than by sitting. Oxford and Cambridge applicants must register, book and sit by 15 October 2026. King’s, LSE and UCL applicants have until 31 December 2026. Bristol and Durham applicants have until 13 January 2027. Everyone else must sit by 25 January 2027. The full table is above.
Not by the LNAT. Your score out of 42 comes entirely from Section A. The essay is passed to the universities you applied to, who use it as they choose. Cambridge marks it centrally, and Oxford weights it equally with the multiple-choice score at shortlisting, so treating it as optional is a mistake.
Section A is 42 multiple-choice questions, and your score is simply the number you answer correctly. There is no negative marking. Oxford Law’s 2024-25 admissions report gives the clearest published benchmark: 24.5 average across all applicants, 29.18 among those shortlisted, and 30.96 among offer-holders.
Later than the universities do, which surprises people. Universities can download your score within 24 hours of your sitting, from 21 October 2026 onwards. Candidates who test on or before 26 January receive their results in mid-February. Anyone testing after that date waits until mid-August, by which point the cycle is over.
No, once per admissions cycle, and results are not carried over to a future application. Reapplicants sit it again.
No. Nine UK universities require it for 2027 entry: Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, King’s College London, LSE, Oxford, SOAS and UCL. Cambridge is a recent addition. If none of your five choices requires it, you do not need to sit it at all.
Weeks rather than months, but not days. It is a reasoning test, so there is no syllabus to learn, and the returns come from familiarity with the question types and from pacing. Reading argumentative journalism regularly does more good than any revision guide.
You are given an erasable notebook and pen at the test centre and can request more sheets during the test. You cannot bring your own materials in.
Sources
Key dates on this page are taken from the following official sources and were verified on 10 August 2026.
- LNAT, Dates and deadlines, for registration, booking, test and university deadlines.
- LNAT, Results, for score release timing.
- University of Cambridge, Law National Aptitude Test, for the Cambridge registration and test deadlines.
Dates can change. Always confirm against the official source before booking.
Disclaimer: All links on this page direct to official LNAT materials provided by Pearson. These materials are the property of their respective owners. This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson, or any university. Please verify all information with the official LNAT website.
Talk to us about LNAT preparation
Tell us where you are up to. We will reply with an honest view of what preparation would help — and whether we think it is needed at all.
Prefer to just ask? Message us on WhatsApp at +44 7404 929213.
