Understanding the LNAT is crucial for anyone preparing to study law in the UK. The LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) is a standardised admissions examination required by a number of leading UK universities for entry into their undergraduate law programmes. It does not assess prior legal knowledge. Instead, it evaluates the core skills essential for studying law: critical thinking, advanced reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and structured argumentative writing.
The examination consists of two sections:
- Section A: 42 multiple-choice questions based on argumentative passages, assessing interpretation, reasoning, and analytical precision.
- Section B: One essay question, testing clarity of thought, structure, persuasive ability, and depth of analysis.
The LNAT is required by top tier institutions in the UK, such as:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- University College London
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- University of Bristol
- Durham University
- King’s College London
Its importance lies in the fact that law is one of the most competitive fields of study in the UK. With many applicants presenting exceptional academic records, the LNAT provides universities with an additional, rigorous measure to differentiate candidates and assess their readiness for the intellectual demands of legal education.
Against this backdrop, Ms Labrini Zaharaki, LNAT expert and senior instructor at CLC, shares her professional insights, experience, and approach to guiding students toward success.
To begin, could you introduce yourself and share your background as an LNAT instructor; how you developed expertise in the test, and how you came to work with CLC?
Thank you very much for this opportunity to both introduce myself and share critical information around the LNAT.
I am a qualified attorney with 15 years of experience across commercial, banking, and real estate law, combined with a strong academic background in European and transnational legal frameworks. Alongside my legal practice, I have developed significant experience in consulting and legal research. I am also an English and German language teacher, licensed by the Greek Ministry of Education; this fusion of law and English teaching has been instrumental in my professional path, but also my engagement with the LNAT and admissions advisory for both undergraduate and graduate law studies abroad. I have been tutoring students for the LNAT for 12 years now and have gained valuable insights into the intricacies of the examination, which allow me to strategically and effectively support and guide my students. I owe my expertise to every single one of them and our common struggles towards admittance to top law schools.
Students who embark on an LNAT preparation journey show impressive commitment to their goals; nothing is random. It is of great significance to me to secure my students have clear goals and ambitions; if not, we set them together. When goals are set, our preparation becomes purposeful, and together we can resist fear and unpredictability.
My relationship with CLC is long and fruitful and one of mutual growth. I was recruited by CLC when still a law student. I started teaching English to young language learners, preparing them for various examinations. However, after graduating from Athens Law School and spending some years in the legal arena, I focused solely on the LNAT, on diverse dimensions of what it means to study law in the UK and beyond, mentoring students on their LLB and LLM applications within the CLC dynamic consulting Team. Thank you very much for this opportunity to both introduce myself and share critical information around the LNAT.
From your experience working with students, how far in advance should a candidate begin preparing for the LNAT to perform at a competitive level?
Although this is very subjective, depending on the student, their learning pace, and, of course, their heavy study schedule, I suggest six to seven months ahead, taking for granted that the student practices on a regular basis. This is because last-minute preparation brings extra stress that distracts students, and results may not reflect their potential.Time is an enemy with the LNAT itself, so giving yourself time to practice without panic is a privilege.
What does an effective LNAT preparation schedule look like, particularly in terms of timed practice, reading strategies, and increasing intensity as the exam approaches?
To effectively prepare for the LNAT, one needs to understand what the examination is about and what exactly it examines in terms of skills. We break down the two different sections. I have my own theory, built upon the experiences of over 300 students and the art of argumentation and persuasion, on how to tackle certain question patterns, read between the lines, assess opinions, detect criticism, and interpret language. Once reading patterns have been mastered, we then start practising under timed conditions. In the beginning, everyone is over time, but through consistent practice, students gradually meet the time standards set and even save time for a review of their answers. A month before the examination practice becomes really intense, with many tests assigned per week. The purpose of early preparation is exactly this one: to sit for the examination with confidence.
Regarding section B, once again, we cover certain theory on structure and argumentation-building and start practising essay writing from day one on more than 100 different essay questions. I take great pride in the progress all students show at the end of the preparation, with competitive, enviable, and quality writing skills that will accompany them in their university steps as well.
Parallel to practice on the LNAT components, I place strong emphasis on exposing my students to foundational legal theories, from the law-making mechanism and criminal law principles to human rights law and codification of Constitutions. Students very often come across law-related essay questions in section B and having explored key legal concepts allows students to develop highly persuasive arguments with confidence.
Could you outline the specific LNAT preparation programmes and support CLC provides, and how these help students at different stages of confidence and readiness?
CLC offers a competitive preparation program that runs from mid-February through the end of October. We have small-group classes once a week, and students practice both in a team setting and at an individual pace, particularly while exams are approaching, and given that each student may sit the exam on a different date.
Students can also be guided on their profile building by the CLC Consulting Team, and can receive support on how to incorporate their achievements, law-related or not, into their personal statement. CLC, as an Educational Institute with a very long and rich history and a powerful ecosystem of consultants and teachers specialising in diverse disciplines, offers holistic support on University Admissions that goes beyond simply preparing for an exam. After all, success does not lie exclusively in an LNAT score, but in a range of diverse criteria that universities look into.
Many students struggle with timing during Section A. How does CLC train students to improve speed, accuracy, and decision-making under pressure?
Timing challenges are addressed progressively. First, students master analytical techniques and reading efficiency. Speed without understanding is counterproductive.
Through repeated exposure to timed conditions, structured feedback, and strategic elimination techniques, students improve both accuracy and decision-making under pressure. The key lies in controlled, incremental training rather than rushed practice.
Based on your experience, what LNAT scores are considered competitive for leading universities such as UCL, LSE, Bristol, and Oxford?
Based on personal experience and longitudinal statistics gathered over the years, students generally require at least 24 out of 42 in Section A to be considered competitive. A strong competitive range typically falls between 26 and 27.
However, a high LNAT score does not automatically guarantee an offer. Admissions decisions are holistic. There have been exceptional cases where a score of 23 secured admission to LSE, while a candidate with 34 did not receive an offer. The overall profile always matters.
7. What percentage of students you teach at CLC achieve LNAT scores that place them in the competitive range for the universities they apply to?
Approximately 70% of our students succeed in their UCAS applications, receiving at least three offers and often four. Strategic university selection plays a crucial role in this success.
Closing Perspective on LNAT performance trends
Reflecting on recent admissions cycles, the average LNAT Section A score has remained consistently in the low-20s out of 42 across the overall testing cohort. This relative stability reinforces what Ms Labrini Zaharaki highlights throughout the interview: the LNAT is intentionally rigorous. It is designed not to reward memorisation or last-minute preparation, but to distinguish candidates who demonstrate advanced critical reasoning, precision in comprehension, and structured analytical thinking under pressure.
While the national average remains around the midpoint of the scoring scale, competitive applicants to leading institutions such as University of Oxford, University College London, and London School of Economics and Political Science typically perform well above that level. As Ms Zaharaki emphasises, however, the LNAT operates within a holistic admissions framework: a strong score strengthens an application, but intellectual maturity, academic consistency, personal statement quality, and strategic university selection are equally decisive.
Ultimately, the consistent scoring patterns of recent years confirm a central message of the interview — success in the LNAT is not about chasing perfection, but about cultivating disciplined thinking, confident argumentation, and the composure to perform at a high level when it matters most.
