Two Overlooked LNAT Question Types Top Scorers Master
Boost your LNAT score by understanding these misunderstood MCQ formats
When preparing for the LNAT Multiple Choice (Section A), many students struggle with question types that are not necessarily harder — just often misunderstood. In this guide, I’ll break down two frequently neglected LNAT MCQ types and explain how top scorers (30+) approach them strategically to consistently outperform the competition.
1. Main Argument Questions – Avoid the Common Misread
Many LNAT passages include a question asking you to identify the main argument, central claim, or overall purpose of the passage. These are known as Main Argument questions, and they are a major stumbling block for many test-takers.
What most students do wrong:
Students tend to look for the “main idea” in the middle of the text, believing this is where the substance lies. But in most academic or opinion-based writing, this is not where the central message is found. The LNAT often includes distractor options that highlight strong but secondary arguments — leading students off course.
What top LNAT scorers do instead:
They apply a structured, text-sensitive approach:
They begin by scanning the final paragraph, especially the opening and concluding lines, where authors frequently present conclusions.
If unclear, they examine the title and the opening paragraph, which often indicate tone and thematic direction.
Only as a last resort do they rely on instinct — never as a starting point.
This predictable LNAT method helps high scorers quickly and accurately find the answer, while avoiding traps built into distractor options.
2. Vocabulary-in-Context Questions – Context Over Dictionary
Another common challenge in the LNAT is the vocabulary-in-context question. These ask what a word means as used in the passage — not what it generally means.
The mistake weaker students make:
They rely on dictionary definitions or synonym familiarity, picking the option that “sounds closest” to the word in question. This leads to errors, as the LNAT is not testing memorised definitions.
The strategy used by high performers:
They treat these as logic-based context problems. Even fluent or native English speakers must slow down and:
Examine the full sentence in which the word appears.
Evaluate the function of the word in the sentence — is it contrasting, concluding, qualifying?
Consider how the surrounding sentence shapes the tone and meaning of the word.
In many cases, the correct option will not be the word that “sounds right,” but the one that logically fits the sentence’s purpose. This is key to scoring 30+.
Master the LNAT with Expert Strategy
Understanding these two LNAT MCQ types — Main Argument and Vocabulary-in-Context — is essential if you want to outperform the average and achieve offers from Oxford, UCL, KCL, or Durham.
Want to train like a top 1% LNAT scorer?
Book a 1:1 lesson now and get tailored strategies, essay coaching, and the structured approach used by elite candidates.