Just got my LNAT results back and I scored 21 out of 42 on Section A, which puts me somewhere around the 62nd percentile from what I can tell. I know that's not a disaster but it's not what I was aiming for either. My A-level predictions are AAA and my personal statement is strong, so I'm trying to figure out whether 21 is competitive enough for Bristol or Durham specifically.
I spent about 5 weeks preparing, doing roughly 1.5 hours per day of argument analysis practice and three full timed Section A mock sets. I genuinely underestimated how fast 95 minutes goes when you're working through 42 MCQs. My accuracy was fine on standalone inference questions but I kept losing time on the longer passage sets near the end.
The essay in Section B I felt better about — I picked the question about judicial independence and wrote about 650 words. I'd done a lot of EPQ work on constitutional reform so the material felt familiar. But I know most universities weight Section A much more heavily in their decisions.
Anyone with recent admissions data on what Bristol and Durham actually look for? I've used a LNAT practice test series that had some historical score benchmarks but they were from 2021 so I'm not sure how current they are.
Also worth knowing that LNAT scores are only valid for the cycle you're applying in. If you're considering reapplying next year, you'd retake it then anyway. But honestly 21 with a strong academic profile is worth submitting to both schools.
The timing issue you described is really common. Most people who underperform on Section A aren't failing on comprehension — they're running out of time on the later passages. 95 minutes for 42 questions is about 2 minutes 15 seconds each and you need to bank time on easier questions to cover the hard ones.
I got into Durham last year with a 20. My A-levels were A*AA and my personal statement focused heavily on a specific legal research project I'd done. The tutor feedback I got afterwards mentioned the essay more than the Section A score, so don't completely discount that component.
Apply. A 21 doesn't close the door at those schools.
Bristol's average LNAT score for admitted students has been hovering around 22-24 in recent cycles from what I've seen in UCAS data. A 21 with AAA predictions isn't a write-off but it's probably on the lower edge of their comfortable range. Durham tends to be slightly more forgiving on LNAT if your academic profile is strong.