Jurica
Three chapters, built from UCAS figures, SOAS’s own pages and its replies to FOI requests.
At SOAS the LNAT is optional with A levels or the IB and compulsory with an Access Diploma, a BTEC or another non-standard qualification. This chapter explains who must sit the test, what a promising score can do for you, how SOAS reads the essay and what scores its offer holders have had.
Put what you’ve read into practice with a free diagnostic test and a full LNAT mock exam.
Try Jurica for freeIt depends on your qualifications. If you are applying with A levels, the IB or another school qualification that SOAS treats as equivalent to A levels, you do not have to sit the LNAT. If you are applying with an Access to HE Diploma, a BTEC, the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology, a foundation year or another non-standard qualification, you must.[1][2]
The rule is the same for the LLB and for every BA degree that includes Law, and it has read the same way on SOAS’s LLB page since at least 2019.[1][4][5] SOAS uses the LNAT without being a member of the LNAT Consortium.[6]
Note that the Consortium’s own list of courses puts SOAS among the universities where the test must be taken by all applicants.[7] SOAS’s pages, which are more specific and more recent, say otherwise, and in general you should follow the university’s own rule. If you are not sure which group your qualifications put you in, SOAS asks you to contact its Enquiries team at study@soas.ac.uk.[2]
SOAS’s entry-requirements page lists four groups. You must sit the LNAT for any single or joint Law programme if you have taken one of the following:[2]
There are two consequences that applicants often miss. First, a single BTEC is enough. If you are taking two A levels and a BTEC, for example, you must sit the test, even though an applicant with three A levels would not.[1][2] Second, some international applicants are in the required group. For a number of countries, SOAS asks applicants to complete an International Foundation Programme before entry, and a foundation programme is a non-standard qualification.[2]
How many applicants does this affect? SOAS publishes no figures for Law by qualification, but UCAS gives them for the whole of SOAS. In the 2025 cycle, UK applicants made 2,630 applications with A levels only, 260 with BTECs only, 185 with A levels and a BTEC, and 95 with an Access to HE Diploma only.[8] So, in general, the applicants who must sit the test are a minority.
As you can see, each of these groups received offers on more than 90% of its applications across SOAS as a whole: 97.3% for A levels only, 91.5% for BTECs only and 92.6% for Access to HE only.[8] These figures cover every subject, so they say nothing about Law or the LNAT in particular. Even so, in our view they suggest that applying with a BTEC or an Access Diploma is not in itself a great disadvantage at SOAS.
SOAS says that applicants with standard qualifications are not required to take the LNAT, but that the School of Law will consider making lower offers to candidates who do take it and perform promisingly.[1] It does not say what score counts as promising.
The examples SOAS gives of lower offers are AAA, AAB and ABB, or 37, 36 and 35 points in the IB.[1] Note that this sentence has stood unchanged since at least 2019, when the standard offer was A*AA to AAB.[5] Against today’s standard offer of AAB, only ABB is lower. On SOAS’s own equivalence table, AAB is 34 IB points and ABB is 32, so the IB figures in the example are also out of date.[2]
Should you sit the LNAT if you do not have to? There are three things to consider:
The LNAT can also help if you want to transfer into the second year of SOAS’s LLB from another university. SOAS says that applicants who have taken the LNAT and performed well may be considered even if they do not meet its standard school-level requirements.[1]
Yes, at least for some applicants. In December 2022 SOAS said that the essay is assessed by the Admissions tutor, who looks for the ability to reason, argue and construct a cohesive essay, and that it carries no grade.[9]
The same reply said that SOAS requires a strong essay in addition to the LNAT score it requires, and that a solid essay is especially important where an applicant has missed the required score by a few points.[9] An earlier reply, of July 2019, put it in a similar way: essays are taken into account, but usually only where an applicant has a score under 24.[10] SOAS’s website says nothing about the essay at all.
In other words, the essay seems to matter most when your Section A score is close to the bar. We therefore recommend preparing for Section B as seriously as for Section A, for two reasons. First, you cannot know in advance whether your score will be close to the bar. Second, the other LNAT universities on your list receive the same essay, and some of them may give it more weight than SOAS does.[6]
SOAS does not publish one. Its website gives no minimum score, average or weighting for the LNAT.[1] Its replies to Freedom of Information requests, however, show that it has used a required score, and they give some averages.[10][11][9]
| Cycle | Who | What SOAS said |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | All applicants | Cut-off of 24; essays usually read only below 24 |
| 2018-2019 | Successful applicants | Average of 11 (unexplained) |
| 2019 entry | Applicants who sat (single-honours Law) | Average of 19 |
| 2019 entry | Offer holders (single-honours Law) | Average of 24 |
| 2020 entry | Applicants and offer holders | Withheld (too few sat) |
| 2022 entry | Offer holders required to sit | Average of 15.2; a required score exists but was not given |
There are four things to notice here:
For comparison, offer holders at Oxford averaged 30.48 for 2026 entry, against 24.94 for all candidates.[12] SOAS’s figures are older, but they suggest a much lower bar.
What score should you aim for? No score guarantees an offer, and SOAS’s figures are four to seven years old. In general, though, we recommend aiming for at least 24, which was both the 2018-2019 cut-off and the offer holders’ average for 2019 entry.[10][11] If you must sit the test because of your qualifications, a lower score has not always ruled out an offer (the required group’s offer holders averaged 15.2 for 2022 entry), but a strong essay then matters more.[9]
SOAS gives no LNAT date of its own. It falls in the LNAT Consortium’s group of other LNAT universities, so for 2027 entry you must sit the test between 1 September 2026 and 25 January 2027.[3][13]
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 August 2026 | Registration and booking open |
| 1 September 2026 | Testing starts |
| 13 January 2027, 18:00 | UCAS deadline for SOAS |
| 20 January 2027 | Book your test before this date |
| 25 January 2027 | Last day to sit the test for SOAS |
The dates are the Consortium’s and UCAS’s.[3][14] There are four practical points to add:
Late applicants, who are usually international, may sit the test as late as 31 July 2027, but the Consortium warns that universities may not accept results taken that late, and SOAS says nothing on the point.[3] We therefore recommend sitting by 25 January 2027 wherever you apply from.
The LNAT has two sections: 42 multiple-choice questions on 12 passages in 95 minutes, and one essay, chosen from three questions, in 40 minutes.[16] Since SOAS has compared Section A scores with a required score and has read the essay most closely near that score, you should prepare for both.[10][9]
SOAS publishes little admissions data of its own. These are the public sources behind the claims above.
The page for the LLB (course code M100), three or four years full-time, with an optional year abroad that students apply for in their second year (a mark of 55% or higher in the first year is needed). Entry requirements: A levels AAB, contextual ABB; no required A-level subject and no GCSE requirement. Applicants with A levels, the IB or another high-school qualification considered equivalent to A levels are not required to take the LNAT, but the School of Law will consider making lower offers (e.g. AAA, AAB, ABB or 37, 36, 35 in the IB) to candidates who sit it and perform promisingly; applicants with non-standard qualifications (including Access to HE Diplomas and foundation courses) and anyone offering a Level 3 BTEC, alone or in combination, must take it. Applicants for transfer into year 2 who have taken the LNAT and performed well may be considered. Compulsory modules include Legal Systems of Asia and Africa in years 2 and 3; human-rights modules are guided options; module descriptions name Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), decolonial and feminist approaches and critical race theory. Lists 23 employers of recent graduates, among them Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Linklaters and Slaughter and May, without numbers. Fees shown are for 2026/27 entrants. Read 10 October 2026.
SOAS’s tables of qualifications equivalent to AAB, ABB and BBB. For AAB: IB 34 points with at least 17 at Higher Level and no HL grade below 3 (ABB: 32 with 16 at HL); Scottish Highers AAABB; Advanced Highers ABB; Access to HE Diploma with at least 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 15 at Merit or Distinction; BTEC National Diploma or Extended Diploma DDM; Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, M2. Actual offers may differ slightly. BTEC qualifications are reviewed in combination with the GCSE profile. GCSE Maths at grade 6/B is required for Economics combined honours programmes. Applicants to single or joint Law programmes must take the LNAT if they hold an Access to HE Diploma, a BTEC (including with A levels), the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology (including with A levels), or a foundation year or other non-standard qualification; anyone unsure is told to contact the Enquiries team. Also gives country-by-country equivalents and, for some countries, requires an International Foundation Programme. The EPQ is considered only alongside three A levels with a predicted B or better and predictions that already meet the requirement.
The 2026/27 calendar (2027 entry). Booking opens 1 August 2026 and testing starts 1 September 2026. Oxford and Cambridge: sit by 15 October 2026. King’s, LSE and UCL: sit by 31 December 2026. Bristol and Durham: book and sit by 13 January 2027. All other LNAT universities, SOAS among them: UCAS form by 13 January 2027 at 6pm UK time, book before 20 January 2027, sit by 25 January 2027. Late applicants (usually international) may sit up to 31 July 2027, but universities may not accept results that late. A candidate may sit the test only once in a cycle, and results cannot be carried forward to another year.
Lists the BA degrees that combine Law with another subject: 17 entries, which are 15 combinations plus two year-abroad versions. Every combination requires AAB (contextual ABB), and the page carries the same LNAT paragraphs as the LLB page. SOAS says the BA is aimed primarily at those not wishing to become practising lawyers. No UCAS codes are given. An archived copy of 8 October 2025 shows the page had moved from AAA to AAB, with a contextual offer of BBB that has since become ABB again.
The LLB page as it stood for 2025/26 entrants: entry requirements AAA, contextual ABB. The next archived copy, of 6 February 2026, carries fees for 2026/27 entrants and gives AAB. Earlier copies of SOAS’s LLB pages show A*AA to AAB in 2019 and 2020, AAA to AAB in January 2021, and AAA from May 2022, with a contextual offer of AAB until October 2023 and ABB from April 2024.
Lists the universities that use the LNAT. Nine are in the UK: Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, King’s College London, LSE, Oxford, SOAS and UCL. Seven are marked as Consortium members; Glasgow and SOAS use the test without being members.
Lists the courses that require the LNAT. For SOAS: M100 LLB and all other combinations including Law, under the heading that the test must be taken by all applicants; the M102 Senior Status LLB does not require it. Still worded for the 2025/26 cycle when read on 10 October 2026.
The provider-level files give main scheme applications, offers, offer rate and accepted applicants by subject group for each cycle from 2019 to 2025. Law at SOAS: 920 applications, 665 offers, 72.5%, 180 accepted (2019); 945, 790, 83.9%, 285 (2020); 1,045, 920, 88.3%, 325 (2021); 1,055, 930, 88.5%, 325 (2022); 970, 860, 88.5%, 340 (2023); 1,180, 1,080, 91.6%, 410 (2024); 1,195, 1,105, 92.4%, 320 (2025). Accepted applicants who made no main scheme application: 55, 100, 95, 90, 100, 100 and 100. For 2025, by domicile: England 915 applications at 93.5%, EU 35 at 95.9%, outside the EU 235 at 87.6% (2019: 550 at 76.2%, 50 at 79.3%, 315 at 65.0%); by age: 17 and under 40 at 90.8%, 18 780 at 98.8%, 19 205 at 84.1%, 20 65 at 88.0%, 21 to 24 75 at 61.3%. Whole of SOAS, 2025: 6,210 applications at 91.9%; UK applicants with A levels only 2,630 applications and 2,560 offers, BTEC only 260 and 235, A levels with a BTEC 185 and 175, Access to HE only 95 and 85; applications by the January deadline 95.0% offered, those made between January and 30 June 65.3%. Law in 2025 at the other UK LNAT universities: Oxford 2,420, 270, 11.1%, 220; Cambridge 1,935, 330, 16.9%, 255; UCL 4,510, 670, 14.9%, 255; LSE 3,240, 515, 15.9%, 215; King’s 5,195, 1,345, 25.9%, 445; Durham 3,040, 1,435, 47.1%, 460; Bristol 2,795, 1,530, 54.8%, 505; Glasgow 1,800, 1,160, 64.5%, 335. Each Law figure adds together every course by its share of Law (so a joint degree counts in part), counts are rounded to the nearest five, and the offer rate is a share of applications, not of applicants.
The average LNAT score of offer holders who were required to take the test for September 2022 entry was 15.2. SOAS requires a strong essay in addition to the LNAT score it requires; the essay is assessed by the Admissions tutor, who looks for the ability to reason, argue and construct a cohesive essay, and a solid essay is especially important where the applicant has missed the required score by a few points. The essay carries no grade. The required score itself is not given.
Asked about the 2018-2019 cycle, SOAS answered that there was a cut-off LNAT score, below which applicants would not be considered, of 24; gave the average LNAT score for successful applicants as 11; and said essays are taken into account, but usually only where an applicant has a score under 24. The reply does not explain how an average of 11 fits a cut-off of 24.
Figures for the single-honours Law programmes for 2019 and 2020 entry. Applications 630 and 670; offers 470 and 590; firm acceptances 190 and 130; first-year enrolments 105 and 190 (of which the LLB itself 90 and 165). Average number of each A-level grade per applicant studying A levels, 2019 entry (400 applicants): A* 0.21, A 0.64, B 1.04, C 0.73, D 0.41; 2020 entry (745): 0.34, 0.83, 1.06, 0.60, 0.30. Per offer holder, 2019 entry (285): 0.27, 0.81, 1.25, 0.70, 0.22; 2020 entry (615): 0.40, 0.96, 1.17, 0.54, 0.18. Average LNAT multiple-choice score for 2019 entry: 19 among applicants and 24 among offer holders; the 2020 figures were withheld because LNAT sittings were cancelled mid-cycle and very few candidates sat. Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, and the application and offer counts came from a different team from the A-level counts, so the two sets do not match for 2020.
The report on the round for 2026 entry. Shortlisting ranked candidates with a contextualised GCSE score on 80% GCSE score, 10% multiple-choice score and 10% essay. The average Section A score was 24.94 for all candidates and 30.48 for those who received an offer.
All undergraduate applications, international ones included, go through UCAS (institution code S09). Applications are considered holistically by the admissions team. The steps listed after applying include no interview; the page mentions an interview only for disabled applicants who need special arrangements. SOAS gives no deadline of its own and refers applicants to UCAS.
For 2027 entry the equal-consideration date for most undergraduate courses is 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time.
The fee is £75 at UK and EU test centres and £120 at centres outside the EU, set by where the centre is, not where the candidate lives. A bursary waives the fee for UK and EU candidates on certain state benefits and must be applied for before booking.
The LNAT is a 2¼-hour test. Section A has 42 multiple-choice questions on 12 argumentative passages, with 95 minutes to answer them. In Section B candidates have 40 minutes to answer one of three essay questions.
The current university-wide policy (MSRA-013, version 03, approved 21 May 2026). Admissions are largely centralised: academic admissions tutors set the entry requirements, professional admissions staff apply them, and non-standard and marginal applications go to the Admissions Tutor. SOAS considers all aspects of an application, which may include qualifications and grades, the personal statement, the reference, performance at interview, a sample of written work and the context of the applicant’s qualifications. All A-level subjects carry equal weight except General Studies; AS levels and General Studies do not count towards the offer; there is no penalty for resits; GCSE subject requirements are listed on programme pages; the published entry requirements are a typical offer and meeting them does not guarantee one. Contextual data include IMD, POLAR, school GCSE performance, first-generation status, the school’s free-school-meal share and care experience; participants in SOAS outreach may receive additional consideration; a care leaver is someone under 25 who is or has been in public care for at least three months. On-time applications get equal consideration; offer conditions must be met by 31 August; deferred entry applications are welcome. Mature applicants (over 21 on 1 September of the year of admission) who have been out of education for some time will often find an Access course useful, and a directly relevant one such as Access to Law is preferred for some degrees. An applicant who misses a degree’s requirements may be offered the Foundation Year. The LNAT is not mentioned.
More from the SOAS Law guide.
Applications and offers for Law, the LLB and the BA degrees, and how SOAS selects.
Open Overview →The AAB offer and its equivalents, GCSEs, the ABB contextual offer and what to do with your predictions.
Open Grades →The cut-off and the averages SOAS has given in its replies to FOI requests.
View the scores →