LNAT/Critical Thinking

Hello everyone!

I discovered these forums a few days ago and have so far found them an invaluable source of 'insider' information. It can all be pretty daunting when you're my age (16) and you're faced with so much to do and think about for the next few years.

I'm currently at Sixth Form, studying History, Economics, Eng Lit, Eng Lang, and Critical Thinking. As you can probably tell, I'm really hoping to study Law at Uni. (GCSEs - 2A*s, 8As, 1B)

I'm looking at Oxbridge (optimistic?), then the London Unis (UCL/KCL/LSE), and possibly others like Bristol/Nottingham.

I'd like to know a few things:

1) When do I sit the LNAT? Also, where can I get sample questions for this?

2) My college told me that Critical Thinking is 'liked' by the top Unis, how true is this?

3) Will I need 4 A2s as well as my 5ASs, or will 3 A2s be sufficient.
Also, will those A2s need to be straight As for the aforementioned Unis.

4) Will the Unis above require some hefty extra-curricular input from me in my time at sixth form?

If anyone can help me out with any of this I'd be most thankful.

Ta,
Ryan :smile:

Reply 1

poltroon

Ryands

Hello everyone!

I discovered these forums a few days ago and have so far found them an invaluable source of 'insider' information. It can all be pretty daunting when you're my age (16) and you're faced with so much to do and think about for the next few years.

I'm currently at Sixth Form, studying History, Economics, Eng Lit, Eng Lang, and Critical Thinking. As you can probably tell, I'm really hoping to study Law at Uni. (GCSEs - 2A*s, 8As, 1B)

I'm looking at Oxbridge (optimistic?), then the London Unis (UCL/KCL/LSE), and possibly others like Bristol/Nottingham.

I'd like to know a few things:

1) When do I sit the LNAT? Also, where can I get sample questions for this?

2) My college told me that Critical Thinking is 'liked' by the top Unis, how true is this?

3) Will I need 4 A2s as well as my 5ASs, or will 3 A2s be sufficient.
Also, will those A2s need to be straight As for the aforementioned Unis.

4) Will the Unis above require some hefty extra-curricular input from me in my time at sixth form?

If anyone can help me out with any of this I'd be most thankful.

Ta,
Ryan :smile:

1. See the LNAT website for precise details. It will be in your second year of college, most probably somewhere between September and December.

2. As an additional qualification, yes. But it is certainly not accorded the full weight of a more traditional A-level.

3. You would be advised to take four. Especially if you are considering making an application to the top-tier of universities.

They most certainly will need to be straight A's, with the exception of Bristol and KCL (AAB), for the universities which you specifically mention.

4. For the elite universities, extra-curricular activities are of trifling importance in comparison to the manifestation of academic ability.

Good luck. :smile:

Reply 2

Ryands

OP

1

Thanks a lot for the reply, extremely helpful.
:smile:

Reply 3

Sami C

1

In regard 4 A2's and mountains of extra curricular, it's one of those things that will not define your application, but will make nice tick marks next to your name to put you ahead of other applicants who also have straight A's.

The LNAT has varying importance, but it is used as a discriminator, so while Critical Thinking is not the same as a full a-level, the skills it teaches you are invaluable for the LNAT, and doing well in that will do wonders for your application.

Reply 4

moonspoon

1

Sami C

The LNAT has varying importance, but it is used as a discriminator, so while Critical Thinking is not the same as a full a-level, the skills it teaches you are invaluable for the LNAT, and doing well in that will do wonders for your application.

Yup, I found that doing Critical Thinking for AS helped me in the LNAT, same kind of skills needed for both.

Reply 5

TommehR

13

2) As mentioned above, they won't like you taking it in place of another A-level. Bristol for example, don't recognise it as an A-level. It is good to do though and it supposedly will help a lot with the LNAT.

3) I actually saw an article in The Times the other day in which some tutor from Cambridge was saying that people taking four A-levels were missing the point of them as you are supposed to begin specialising at this level. They claimed that people doing four didn't have as much depth and knowledge of their subjects as those people doing three. Still, take what you want from that. Universities only expect you to be doing three A-levels. A fourth is just a bonus really.

As for what grades, the standard offer at KCL is AAB so for their AAA is perhaps not necessary. Regarding all the others you listed, I'd say that by and large they will require you to get AAA unless you are truly superb and ace your LNAT.

4. No, well, Oxbridge don't at least. We had people come to our college and tell us that some universities look for a broad range of extra-curricular activities. However, they (and the other top unis) are looking for academic potential.

Sorry, to repeat a few things that others have said, just trying to clarify.

LNAT/Critical Thinking

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