LNAT dates and deadlines 2026-27

The key dates for 2027 entry

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, whose shared deadline is the earliest, 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.

How booking works, and what to do if slots are full

You register on the official LNAT website and book an appointment through Pearson VUE, choosing a test centre, date and time. Availability varies by location, so popular slots near the busy autumn deadlines can disappear early, particularly in large cities. If your first choice is full, widen the search: look at nearby centres, different times of day, and dates a little earlier or later than your ideal. The practical rule is to book as soon as registration opens, even if you plan to sit later, because you can keep preparing up to the date but you cannot sit a test you never booked. Exact fees, rebooking and cancellation rules, and any access or special-arrangements provisions are set by the LNAT Consortium and Pearson VUE, so check the current details at lnat.ac.uk.

Common timing mistakes to avoid

Three mistakes cost applicants every year. The first is booking late and being forced into an early sit before preparation is ready, or into an inconvenient centre. The second is confusing a university's application deadline with the LNAT sit-by date; they are not always the same, and it is the earlier of the two that governs you. The third is leaving no buffer at all, sitting on the last permitted day with no room for illness or a technical problem. Book early, note both the sit-by date and the UCAS deadline for each of your universities, and aim to sit a few days inside your earliest deadline.

LNAT dates: FAQ

When does LNAT registration open?

Registration and booking open on 1 August 2026, and testing begins worldwide from 1 September, for 2027 entry.

What is the Oxford and Cambridge LNAT deadline?

Oxford and Cambridge share the earliest deadline: register and book by 15 September 2026 and sit the test by 15 October 2026. The UCAS form deadline for both is also 15 October.

When must KCL, LSE and UCL applicants sit?

By 31 December 2026. Bristol and Durham applicants must have sat by the main UCAS deadline of 13 January 2027.

When are LNAT results released?

Section A scores for tests taken by late January are released in mid-February 2027; tests sat later are scored in the August release.

When should I book my LNAT?

Early. September and October slots fill quickly near the Oxford and Cambridge deadline, so book your slot even if you plan to sit later.