LNAT essay structure: planning a clear argument
Choose a prompt, define your position and make each paragraph advance the argument.
Choose for reasoning, not familiarity
Select the prompt on which you can define terms, take a defensible position and develop examples. Extensive specialist knowledge is less useful than a controlled argument that directly addresses the wording.
Build a line of reasoning
- State a qualified thesis.
- Give each paragraph one distinct reason.
- Explain why examples support that reason.
- Address a serious counterargument rather than a weak caricature.
Edit for precision
Check whether the conclusion follows from the body, whether key terms stay consistent and whether any claim is broader than its evidence. Prefer direct sentences over inflated vocabulary. Rewrite one weak paragraph after feedback before writing another full essay.
Try the questions before reviewing the answers
Read or write under time before consulting guidance. Identify where your reasoning went wrong, review the method and try a new passage or prompt.