If you have sat the LNAT, you might be wondering when you will receive your results from it.
The LNAT is marked out of a score of 42, there is no pass or fail mark, however, there are average scores that candidates usually achieve to successfully receive offers from the LNAT universities.
But when do the LNAT results come out and how do the different universities use them during the admissions process?
When Do LNAT Results Come Out?
LNAT results are emailed to candidates twice a year, with test dates determining the results date.
For all Admissions Tests taken before 20th October, the universities that require the LNAT will receive the result directly from the test provider on the 21st October. On any day after 20th October, your test result will be sent directly to the LNAT universities within 24 hours of you taking the test.
- Candidates taking the LNAT on or before 26 January will receive their results in mid-February.
- Candidates taking the test after 26 January will receive their results in mid-August.
Candidates may only sit the LNAT once between 1 September and 31 July the following year, unless authorised to because of extenuating circumstances. If a candidate sits the test twice without authorisation, their later test sitting will be invalid.
You will just receive your score of Section A and the average score for the cohort in the admissions cycle. Section B is assessed by the universities Admissions Tutors themselves, as such you will not get a mark back for it.
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Technically, you cannot fail the LNAT although your results are important. You simply achieve a certain number of points in the test, and then the results of your LNAT are considered alongside your qualifications and your Personal Statement.
There is no fixed threshold to define good and bad LNAT results, so you simply have to wait to hear from the LNAT universities you have applied to.
Remember, if you do get a low score it is not the end of the world. While you may not get a place at your preferred university, you can look at other options such as non-LNAT universities or deferring entry to the following year.
How Do The LNAT Universities Use My Results?
Since the scores expected vary between universities, a good LNAT score for Oxford is generally different from a good LNAT score for Nottingham for example. As a result, it is important to understand how the different universities use your score.
Your LNAT score and essay will be used by each university in the way that best suits its own admissions system. The use of the essay Section B is dependent on each participating universityâs admissions policy.
Some universities may use it as the basis for Interview questions. Others may compare it with the Personal Statement, or use it as a means of distinguishing between borderline candidates.
Do note that candidates applying to Cambridge for 2023 will now have to sit the LNAT, but with no data available as to what they are looking for the assumption is it would be in line with Oxfordâs expectations.
University of Bristol
At the University of Bristol, candidates are scored and ranked based on their academic record, according to their achieved or predicted results with the following weightings:
GCSE 20% | A-Level 40% | LNAT 40%
The overall LNAT grade used by the university uses the following weightings:
60% multiple-choice questions and 40% essay.
The University of Bristol looks for candidates who can demonstrate the ability to make and sustain a persuasive argument and have a strong command of language in the essay section.
Durham University
At Durham Law School, performance in the LNAT is one of a number of grounds on which admissions selectors determine the relative merit and potential applicants. As a part of this process, performance in the LNAT may be used to distinguish between otherwise similar candidates.
It is important to note the following:
- Both parts of the LNAT are always considered by Admissions Tutors when assessing an application.
- No minimum score is required for the multiple-choice part of the LNAT.
In Durhamâs assessment of an LNAT essay, Admissions Tutors look in particular for evidence of the following positive attributes:
- Focus on the particular question
- Clarity of expression and fluency of prose
- A logical progression and structure
- Reference(s) to relevant evidence
- An ability to recognise, and address, counter-arguments
- A concise and effective conclusion
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow, is probably the least competitive when it comes to the LNAT. On average, a successful candidate will score 23 out of 42.
The essay is viewed as an add-on to your Personal Statement, with the Admissions Tutor assessing the writing ability of the applicant.
King's College London
KCL strongly encourages applicants to sit the LNAT by mid-December to best facilitate the assessment of your application.
KCL only assesses Section A of the LNAT, with offer holders tending to score around 26.
This is quite a fair amount above the usual national average but it tends to be slightly less than other London Law Schools such as LSE and UCL. This reflects the fact that KCL tends to rank slightly lower than LSE and UCL in the Law School rankings.
London School of Economics
At present, LSE only uses the multiple-choice score in their assessment of applicants; for most applicants, the essay will not be considered.
However, they might assess the essay for applicants taking non-traditional qualifications or less well-know qualifications.
There is no set minimum score in the multiple-choice section that applicants are expected to achieve in order to be successful, instead, the score may be used to help distinguish between similarly qualified applicants.
University of Nottingham
Uniquely, the University of Nottingham considers an LNAT cut-off score. Whilst information is not precise and changes every year based on the performance of the cohort you should consider the score to be about 25.
The essay is taken into account as well. The criteria are qualitative and the tutors are primarily looking for a candidate to prove their ability to present a logical argument and observe structural conventions of English essay writing.
University of Oxford
As Oxford admissions are centred on the Interview performance, half of the job is getting to the Interview in the first place. For this, the LNAT is crucial.
The average score of a successful candidate in previous years was about 29. Furthermore, only 2% of applicants scored above 34. This indicates that you should be aiming for 30 or above.
However, due to the high calibre of candidates, the scores have a very narrow window. Therefore, the essay is taken very seriously and is assessed through an official marking scheme.
High scoring essays will normally exhibit:
- Application
Close attention to the question(s) asked and sustained and focussed treatment of the issues. - Reasoning ability
Well-drawn distinctions, a keen eye for relevance, awareness of more than one possible line of argument, and an element of independent critical judgment. - Communication
Clear and fluent writing and notable clarity and appropriateness of structure and argument.
Low scoring essays will normally exhibit:
- Application
Poor attention to the question(s) asked, no sustained and focussed treatment of the issues. - Reasoning ability
Poorly developed arguments, a preponderance of irrelevant points, few or no well-drawn distinctions, a lack of awareness of more than one possible line of argument, no evidence of independent critical judgment. - Communication
Lack of fluency and clarity and no clear or appropriate structure or argument.
The essay is to be marked as a percentage and tutors marking the test are asked to mark by analogy to the conventional understanding of marks in examinations. For example, it will only be the rarest of cases that a candidate would obtain a mark of 75 or above.
SOAS
Applicants with standard qualifications (such as A-Levels, International Baccalaureate or other high school qualifications considered equivalent to A-Levels) are not required to take the LNAT.
However, SOAS will consider making lower offers to candidates who do so and perform well in the Admissions Test.
Usually, a minimum score of 25 and a strong essay is what SOAS consider to be a high performing candidate.
University College London
The LNAT essay is given considerable weight in UCLâs consideration as it is the only piece of writing they receive under exam conditions, and demonstrates a candidates abilities to reason, argue and to construct a cohesive essay.
When assessing the essay, Admissions Tutors will consider:
- Aptitude for reasoning skills
Including high-level comprehension, interpretation, analysis, synthesis, ability to draw broad and fine distinctions, induction and deduction - Aptitude for exploring arguments and ideas
Including in writing, the ability to formulate, develop and defend argument - Communication
Including accuracy of syntax, breadth of vocabulary and ability to formulate ideas succinctly
As for the multiple-choice section:
- On average, a successful home candidate presented a score of about 28.
- On average, a successful international candidate presented a score of about 30.
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