What Is a Good LNAT Score for Oxford, UCL and More?
Compare recent Section A applicant and offer-holder averages, then understand how universities assess the separate Section B essay.
The LNAT
ScoringA good LNAT score depends on the university. The latest public national mean for Section A is about 23 out of 42, while recent offer-holder averages range from the mid-20s to about 30. This page compares the published figures and explains how to use them without treating an average as a cut-off.
23.0/42Latest public national mean
~30/42Oxford and Cambridge offer-holder average
6Universities with published data
The national average
Section A is scored out of 42, one point per correct answer, no penalty for guessing. Across the universities that disclose applicant-pool figures, the average applicant scores between 22 and 25. The latest public national figure is 22.97, from the 2015/16 Pearson VUE technical report. A score of 24 is just above that older benchmark, though the current national mean is not public.
Average LNAT score, by university
Section A scores are directly comparable across universities because they are all reported out of 42. The figures below are the most recent published or FOI-disclosed averages for each school’s applicant pool and its offer-holders. Where a university doesn’t publish a figure, or doesn’t use the LNAT at all, that’s noted rather than guessed at.
| University | Applicant avg | Offer-holder avg | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | 24.94 | 30.48 | 2025 |
| Cambridge | 24.85 | 29.95 | 2025 |
| UCL | ~22–24 | 29.4 | 2024/25 |
| LSE | 22.3 | 25.5 | 2021/22 |
| Durham | 23.9 | 26.0 | 2022/23 |
| King’s College London | not published | 27.51* | 2025 |
| Bristol | not published | not published | current LNAT university |
| Glasgow | not published | not published | current LNAT university |
| SOAS | not published | not published | selective use, not universal |
*KCL’s published figure is an enrolled-student average, not an offer-holder average, so it is not exactly comparable with the other rows. Bristol and Glasgow currently require the LNAT for relevant undergraduate Law routes, but neither publishes a directly comparable applicant and offer-holder average. See which universities require the LNAT for the current, full picture.
Compare like with like. Applicant averages describe the whole pool. Offer-holder averages describe successful candidates and are usually higher. Neither is a published cut-off, and the difference between them also reflects grades, context and the rest of the admissions process.
Free tool
Is your score good enough, university by university?
Pick the places you are applying to and set your Section A mark. The verdict is measured against each university's own published offer-holder average, not a general rule.
26 / 42
Oxfordoffer-holders avg 30.48 (2025)
Well below the offer-holder average.
UCLoffer-holders avg 29.4 (2024/25)
Below the offer-holder average, inside the range where the rest of the application has to carry more.
applicant pool reported only as a ~22–24 range
Verdicts compare your mark with each university’s published offer-holder average for the cycle shown. The LNAT is one input among grades, personal statement and interview, so a verdict here is a position in a distribution rather than a prediction.
The essay: scored differently everywhere
Section B isn’t centrally marked, so essay averages aren’t comparable across universities the way Section A scores are. Oxford converts essays into a 0-100 scaled score using a comparative-judgement platform (No More Marking), where the 2025 offer-holder average was 65.21. Cambridge scores out of 10, with an offer-holder average of 7.49. UCL scores out of 5. Durham reads the essay without publishing a numerical scale. King’s has stated in an FOI response that it does not use the essay in admissions. Oxford’s 65 and Cambridge’s 7.49 come from different systems and are not directly comparable.
Essay policy varies by university. Several read both sections together, while King’s does not use Section B. See how to prepare for the LNAT for how to split your prep time across both.
What counts as a good LNAT score?
- 22/42 and below: below the latest public national mean. Universities do not publish a universal cut-off, but this is below the centre of every recent applicant pool in the table.
- 23-25/42: around the national mean and several university applicant averages. It is a reasonable score, but below recent offer-holder averages at the most selective universities.
- 26-28/42: above the general applicant average and near published offer-holder averages at Durham, LSE and King’s.
- 29-32/42: close to or above recent offer-holder averages at Oxford, Cambridge and UCL. This is a strong Section A range across the published data.
- 33+/42: above every published offer-holder average in the table and uncommon even within selective applicant pools.
FAQ
Is 25 a good LNAT score?
It’s just above the national applicant average, which makes it a reasonable but not standout score. At Oxford and Cambridge, where offer-holders average 29-30, it is below the recent offer-holder average. The comparison is closer at universities with lower published averages.
Does a low Section A score rule me out?
Not on its own. Most consortium universities assess the LNAT with grades and the rest of the application rather than publishing a hard Section A cut-off. The weight given to each part varies by university.
Why do offer-holder averages vary so much by university?
Partly how heavily each university weights the LNAT versus grades and the personal statement, and partly how many applicants they’re choosing between per place. See each university’s own admissions guide for its specific shortlisting process.
Can I compare my essay score across universities?
No, not directly. Oxford’s 0-100 comparative scale, Cambridge’s /10, and UCL’s /5 aren’t the same measurement. Treat each one relative to that university’s own published average, not against another school’s number.
Sources and method
MCQ and essay averages are drawn from each university’s own published admissions data or Freedom of Information disclosures, as cited in our individual university admissions guides. Where a university hasn’t published or disclosed a figure, we say so rather than estimate one. Figures are the most recent full cycle on file for each university and can move from year to year. They are benchmarks, not current-year cut-offs.
Continue reading
Where these numbers come from, and what to do about your own score.
Overview
What is the LNAT?
Format, sections, and how the test is scored in the first place.
Read the guide →Preparation
How to prepare for the LNAT
A 12-week plan for closing the gap to the offer-holder average.
Read the guide →Universities
Which universities require the LNAT?
The current, full picture of who requires it and who doesn’t.
Read the guide →