Is the LNAT Hard? A Breakdown by an Oxford Scorer

By Henry Pelganta

If you’re considering applying to Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, or other top UK law schools, you’ve likely come across the LNAT — and asked yourself, “How hard is it really?”

As one of the UK’s top LNAT scorers and a former Oxford Law student, I’ve coached dozens of international and UK-based applicants through the test. This guide breaks down why the LNAT is considered difficult, and — more importantly — how you can beat it.

Why Is the LNAT Considered a Hard Exam?

The LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) is not hard in the traditional sense. It does not require knowledge of legal statutes, case law, or specific subjects.

And yet, average scores in the multiple-choice section hover around 20–23 out of 42 — barely 50% accuracy. Many test-takers are straight-A students, often predicted AAA+ at A-level or 37+ in the IB, and still find themselves scoring well below top-tier levels.

So what makes it hard?

The LNAT isn’t testing knowledge. It’s testing thinking. Specifically:

  • Precision in logical reading

  • Recognition of argument structure

  • Ability to infer meaning from subtle phrasing

  • Essay clarity under pressure

It is designed to filter only the top 10–15% of applicants, often by tripping up even the brightest minds with trap logic and abstract reasoning.

Why Most Students Struggle

Many students make one of two fatal mistakes:

  1. They assume no preparation is needed, since the LNAT isn’t knowledge-based.

  2. They do endless MCQs blindly, hoping that familiarity alone will improve performance.

    Both approaches fail. Why?

Because LNAT success depends on technique, not guessing or “getting a feel.” The test requires a structured approach to understanding question types, identifying common traps, and mastering a very specific reading style — one most students have never encountered.

Can the LNAT Be Prepared For? Absolutely.

High-achieving students scoring 30+ (often leading to offers from Oxford, UCL, KCL, Durham, and more) all share a key mindset: they treat the LNAT like a skill, not a quiz.

They work on:

  • Diagnosing their weakest question types

  • Learning how to read for function, not just content

  • Building essay structure logic used in Oxbridge tutorials

  • Training for precision timing (6–8 mins per passage, not per question)

With the right tools, the LNAT becomes predictable. You’ll know which questions to expect, which traps to avoid, and how to consistently get to the right answer.

Ready to Raise Your Score?

I’ve helped students from the UK, Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore, Italy, and the UAE improve their LNAT scores by +5 to +8 points within weeks. Whether you’re aiming for 28+, or want to push beyond 35 — I’ll show you how top scorers do it.