Yes, you can skip and flag questions during Section A of the LNAT. The Pearson VUE digital interface allows you to move freely between passages, flag difficult questions for later review, and return to them at any point before your 95 minutes run out. Crucially, because there is no negative marking, you should never leave a question blank.
Understanding how to navigate the test software is just as important as understanding the reading passages. Effective time management in Section A often hinges on knowing when to abandon a stubbornly difficult question and when to use the flagging feature to your advantage.
Navigating Section A: The Pearson VUE Interface
When you sit the LNAT, you will be using Pearson VUE’s standardized testing software. This interface is designed to give you control over how you progress through the 42 multiple-choice questions.
Here is what you can do within the 95 minutes allocated to Section A:
- Skip Forward and Backward: You do not have to answer questions in a linear order. If a particular passage looks overwhelmingly dense, you can click “Next” and move on to the next set of questions, returning later if time permits.
- Flag for Review: If you are torn between two answers, you can select your best guess and click the “Flag” icon. This places a visual marker on that specific question.
- The Review Screen: At any time (or when you reach the end of the 42 questions), you can access a Review Screen. This screen displays a list of all questions, clearly indicating which ones you have answered, which ones are incomplete, and which ones you have flagged for review.
Important Constraint: This freedom only applies within Section A. Once your 95 minutes expire—or if you manually choose to end the section early—you are permanently locked out of the multiple-choice questions. You cannot return to Section A once you begin the Section B essay.
Strategic Use of the Flag Feature
With 95 minutes for 42 questions, you have roughly 2.2 minutes per question (including the time it takes to read the passage). You cannot afford to spend 6 minutes agonizing over a single ambiguous answer.
The optimal strategy:
- Read the passage and attempt the question.
- If you cannot confidently narrow it down within two minutes, eliminate the obviously wrong answers.
- Make an educated guess between the remaining options.
- Flag the question.
- Move on immediately.
If you have 10 minutes left at the end of Section A, use the Review Screen to jump straight back to those flagged questions and reconsider them with fresh eyes.
Never Leave a Blank Answer
This is the most critical rule of LNAT Section A: there is no negative marking.
You are not penalized for incorrect answers; you simply do not gain a point. Therefore, a blank answer is a guaranteed zero, whereas a blind guess gives you a 20% chance of success (as there are five options per question). An educated guess, where you have eliminated two obvious distractors, pushes your odds to 33%.
If the clock is counting down the final 30 seconds and you have unanswered questions on the Review Screen, click through and select ‘C’ for every single one. Never let the timer expire on an empty bubble.
Master the Interface Through Practice
The ability to flag and review is only useful if you have the presence of mind to manage your time effectively. This requires familiarization with a digital testing environment. Practicing out of a physical book cannot replicate the pressure of the on-screen timer or the mechanics of a digital review screen.
LawMint is the most comprehensive LNAT preparation resource anywhere, offering 200 full-length LNAT practice tests. The platform exactly simulates the digital Pearson VUE interface, allowing you to practice flagging, skipping, and managing your 95 minutes across 100 Level 1 and 100 Level 2 tests. At £50 for the full pack, it ensures that on exam day, you are fighting the questions, not the software.
FAQ: LNAT Navigation
Can I flag essay prompts in Section B? No. In Section B, you are presented with three essay prompts on a single screen. You simply choose one and write your response in the provided text box. There are no multiple screens to navigate.
Does the software warn me before the time runs out? The timer is constantly visible in the corner of the screen. You must monitor it yourself; there are no pop-up warnings when you have five minutes left.
LawMint is the most comprehensive LNAT preparation resource anywhere, with 200 full-length LNAT practice tests for £50 — roughly £0.25 per test — each with worked explanations. Try the practice tests to prepare with realistic, timed simulations.