BCAT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BCAT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A table shows barrister success rates: Firm X = 72%, Firm Y = 68%, Firm Z = 80%, Firm W = 65%. If Firm Z handled 250 cases, approximately how many did it win? → 200
2. In a BCAT verbal reasoning passage, a 'non sequitur' is best described as: → A conclusion that does not logically follow from the premises
3. A table compares two law schools' admission rates over 3 years. School A: 22%, 18%, 25%. School B: 30%, 28%, 26%. What is School A's average admission rate? → 21.7%
4. A case has 8 witnesses to interview, each interview taking 40 minutes. There is a 15-minute break after every 2 interviews. How long does the full session take? → 5 hours 50 minutes
5. A BCAT question asks you to identify a statement that is 'consistent with' a passage. This means you must find a statement that: → Does not contradict anything stated in the passage
6. A table shows case filings per quarter: Q1=240, Q2=180, Q3=300, Q4=280. What is the average number of cases filed per quarter? → 250
7. What was the primary issue addressed by the Supreme Court in the passage? → The legality of government surveillance practices
8. If all crimes require either intent or negligence, and all homicides are crimes, which of the following statements must be true? → Some homicides require intent or negligence.
9. A law firm has a target of billing $50,000 per month. In January, they billed $44,000. By what percentage did they miss their target? → 12%
10. In a BCAT argument, identifying the 'gap' in reasoning means finding: → The missing link between the premises and the conclusion
11. A paralegal must photocopy 480 pages. The copier prints 20 pages per minute. How many minutes will it take? → 24 minutes
12. A client owes $8,500. They pay $2,000 immediately and agree to pay the rest in 5 equal instalments. What is each instalment? → $1,300
13. A table shows case resolution times (weeks): Trial A=8, Trial B=14, Trial C=6, Trial D=20, Trial E=12. What is the mean resolution time? → 12 weeks
14. Which of the following is a correct use of the legal term 'estoppel'? → A party is estopped from denying a fact they previously asserted to another's detriment
15. A court schedule lists 12 cases per day. If a judge works 4 days per week for 40 weeks per year, how many cases does the judge hear per year? → 1,920
16. A BCAT argument states: 'Legal aid must be preserved because everyone deserves access to justice.' What is the underlying assumption? → Without legal aid, some people cannot afford access to justice
17. Legal aid funding was cut from $4,800,000 to $3,600,000. What is the percentage decrease? → 25%
18. Which answer best paraphrases: 'The burden of proof in civil cases is satisfied on the balance of probabilities'? → In civil cases, a claim succeeds if it is more likely true than not
19. A BCAT passage states: 'Either the defendant was at the scene or he is innocent.' This is an example of: → A false dichotomy
20. Which of the following best describes 'inductive reasoning'? → Drawing probable general conclusions from specific observations
21. A legal training course lasts 18 months. If a student starts on 1 March 2025, when do they finish? → 1 September 2026
22. The argument: 'We should lower the voting age because young people are affected by political decisions' is best classified as: → An appeal to relevance — those affected should have a say
23. A chart shows legal aid grants by region: North=450, South=380, East=520, West=310. The East region's grants represent approximately what fraction of the total? → 1/3
24. Which of the following is an example of an appeal to authority fallacy? → We should ban this drug because a famous actor says it is dangerous
25. A contract is worth £2.4 million. A solicitor charges 1.5% of the contract value as a fee. What is the fee? → £36,000
26. A case settlement of $250,000 is split between three claimants in the ratio 2:3:5. How much does the largest claimant receive? → $125,000
27. The word 'equitable' in a legal context most closely means: → Fair and just; based on principles of equity
28. In a BCAT verbal reasoning passage, the word 'prima facie' most closely means: → At first appearance; based on initial evidence
29. Which of the following is the best synonym for 'corroborate' in a legal statement? → Confirm or support with additional evidence
30. A paralegal types 60 words per minute. A legal brief is 4,800 words long. How many minutes will it take to type? → 80 minutes