LNAT Essay Writing 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'signpost' sentence in an LNAT essay?
- To introduce a famous quote that supports the argument
- To tell the reader what point is being made and how it relates to the overall thesis (Correct answer)
- To summarize the entire essay in one sentence at the start
- To acknowledge that the essay cannot fully cover all aspects of the topic
Correct answer: To tell the reader what point is being made and how it relates to the overall thesis
Signpost sentences orient the reader by making the function of each paragraph clear in relation to the central argument.
Question 2: When an LNAT essay prompt presents an extreme position (e.g., 'The law should never interfere with personal choices'), the most sophisticated response is to:
- Fully agree to show decisiveness
- Fully disagree to show independence
- Examine whether a more nuanced position (e.g., law may intervene only to prevent harm to others) better withstands scrutiny (Correct answer)
- Avoid taking any position on such a controversial statement
Correct answer: Examine whether a more nuanced position (e.g., law may intervene only to prevent harm to others) better withstands scrutiny
Extreme prompts are designed to invite nuanced engagement; wholesale agreement or rejection usually misses the complexity.
Question 3: In terms of argument quality, which essay is stronger?
- One that makes ten points briefly without developing any of them
- One that develops three or four well-reasoned points with evidence and logical links (Correct answer)
- One that provides the longest possible list of examples
- One that agrees with the most popular academic view without independent analysis
Correct answer: One that develops three or four well-reasoned points with evidence and logical links
Depth and development of fewer points demonstrates stronger analytical ability than a superficial survey of many ideas.
Question 4: An essay on 'whether the minimum wage should be abolished' must address which of the following to avoid a one-sided argument?
- The history of wage legislation in the UK
- The potential efficiency gains from abolition and the distributional harms it may cause, with a reasoned weighing of both (Correct answer)
- Only the economic theory supporting wage floors
- Whether the question applies to part-time workers only
Correct answer: The potential efficiency gains from abolition and the distributional harms it may cause, with a reasoned weighing of both
A balanced treatment that honestly weighs trade-offs and arrives at a justified conclusion is stronger than ignoring counterevidence.
Question 5: Which of the following most accurately describes the tone expected in an LNAT essay?
- Passionate and emotive, appealing primarily to the reader's feelings
- Objective, analytical, and measured, with personal views expressed through reasoned argument rather than assertion (Correct answer)
- Neutral to the point of avoiding any personal conclusion
- Informal and conversational to appear relatable
Correct answer: Objective, analytical, and measured, with personal views expressed through reasoned argument rather than assertion
LNAT essays reward analytical detachment combined with a clear, argued position — not emotional appeals or unjustified assertions.
Question 6: If time is running short during the LNAT essay, the best strategy is to:
- Write faster and omit punctuation to fit everything in
- Skip writing a conclusion entirely to add more body paragraphs
- Finish the current point, write a brief conclusion summarizing the argument, and stop (Correct answer)
- Leave the essay mid-sentence to show the examiner how much material you had
Correct answer: Finish the current point, write a brief conclusion summarizing the argument, and stop
A complete essay with a brief conclusion is always preferable to an essay that ends abruptly mid-argument.
Question 7: The phrase 'it goes without saying' in an LNAT essay is problematic because:
- It is grammatically incorrect in formal writing
- It signals the writer is about to skip justifying a claim that may actually need support (Correct answer)
- It makes the essay sound too confident
- It is too informal only if used in the introduction
Correct answer: It signals the writer is about to skip justifying a claim that may actually need support
Phrases like 'it goes without saying' often precede exactly the kinds of claims that require the most careful justification.
LNAT Essay Writing 5
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'signpost' sentence in an LNAT essay?