LNAT dates and deadlines 2026-27
The LNAT runs on a strict calendar, and the single most common mistake applicants make is booking late rather than preparing late. Test slots in September and October fill quickly, especially near the Oxbridge deadline. Book your slot early even if you plan to sit later.
The key dates for 2027 entry
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 August 2026 | LNAT registration and booking open. UCAS applications also open. |
| 1 September 2026 | Testing begins worldwide. |
| 15 September 2026 | Oxford and Cambridge applicants must have registered and booked. Late registration is not permitted for these two universities. |
| 15 October 2026 | Oxford and Cambridge applicants must have sat the test, and the UCAS form deadline for those applications falls the same day. |
| 31 December 2026 | King's College London, LSE and UCL applicants must have sat the test by this date. |
| 13 January 2027, 6pm UK time | The main UCAS application deadline. Bristol and Durham applicants must also have sat the LNAT by this date. |
| 20 January 2027 | Last day to register and book for most other LNAT universities. |
| 25 January 2027 | Final sit-by date for most other LNAT universities. |
| 31 July 2027 | Absolute end of the testing cycle (late applications only). |
When are results released?
Section A scores for tests taken by late January are released to candidates in mid-February 2027. Tests sat later in the cycle are scored in the August release. Universities receive your score directly regardless; the essay is sent to your chosen universities and read by admissions staff rather than centrally scored. For what those scores mean, see our guide to LNAT scores; for Section B, see the LNAT essay guide.
Planning backwards from your deadline
Give yourself four to eight weeks of preparation ending a few days before your test date, and include at least two full timed practice tests in the final fortnight. If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, that means starting preparation in August or the first days of September at the latest. For a January sit, starting in November still leaves a comfortable runway.
A sensible sequence: sit one timed test cold to find your baseline, spend the middle weeks on your weaker section with untimed then timed practice, and finish with full timed tests under exam conditions.
Try the format before you book
The fastest way to understand what you are planning for is to sit a realistic test. Our free full-length practice test runs in a simulator styled on the real Pearson interface: six argumentative passages, 21 multiple choice questions, and an essay section, with no card details required.
Book early, and be ready when you sit it
Give yourself time to practise full papers before your deadline arrives.