The Complete Law Admission Test (LAT) Guide

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

2025 will be the last year we offer the Law Admission Test (LAT) for entry into UNSW's Bachelor of Laws programs

Only students seeking entry in 2026 should sit the LAT in 2025.

The Law Admission Test (LAT) for entry into law at the University of New South Wales is a unique challenge to tackle. In this guide, we will unpack the secrets to success in the LAT exam, delving into how to gain entry to Law at UNSW, preparing for the exam, structuring your responses and the best strategies to maximise your score.

First, some credentials. I sat the LAT exam back in Year 11 (pre-COVID – all the way back in 2017 when the exam was still handwritten!). I scored 95 which was also the 95th percentile in the exam and have since assisted hundreds of IB students who are also looking to gain admission into law.

Law at UNSW and the LAT Exam: How does it work?

All domestic applicants who are aspiring to pursue Law at UNSW need to sit the Law Admission Test (LAT). It consists of two writing tasks (Task A and Task B) over two hours, designed to assess your ability to think critically and articulate your ideas clearly. No prior legal knowledge is needed, instead, the LAT focuses on your reasoning and argumentation skills. Performing well on the LAT can significantly boost your chances of admission into UNSW's law program.

In 2024 the LAT will be offered on Monday, 30 September 2024, at an in-person testing venue in Sydney. The LAT is only offered once per year, and results are valid for 2 years after. Anyone looking to register for the LAT must do so via the ACER LAT site. There's still a week and a bit to go until standard registrations ($200) close, so if you want to register make sure to do so before 5pm Friday, 9 August 2024.

Now let's unpack the tips and tricks to performing at your best in the LAT Exam Task A and Task B!

Acing The LAT Exam - Task A

Task A examines your ability to judge the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments presented within an extended text, usually a blog post, opinion piece or letter. Within your response, you have a few key requirements to meet:

1. Title: Generate an engaging title

2. Strengths AND Weaknesses: Consider both the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments

3. Structure: Your piece of writing should have a logical structure and be well-organised

But what do you write about? And how should you structure your analysis?

Well let's think about this task as though we were a lawyer in the courtroom (and for this example, let's think classic TV lawyer, Saul Goodman type). While the substance of your argument is important, the way it is presented, the impression you leave and the emotions evoked within the mind of the judge or jury are just as important. So it is incredibly important that we not only evaluate the arguments themselves but the writer themselves and how they make their claims to the reader.

"Reason cannot defeat emotion, an emotion can only be displaced or overcome by a stronger emotion" – Baruch Spinoza

For those reasons, I suggest the following approach to Task A:

1. Extract 2-3 Key Arguments From The Text:

It is often best if they are organised chronologically, but try to extract 2-3 key arguments which the writer uses to advance their case. You can then structure your response around these points, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each argument made within each body paragraph.

2. Evaluate Each Argument Holistically:

Reason and Logic:

• Do the arguments make logical sense?

• Are the arguments well-supported by facts and evidence, or are they merely asserted?

• Does the writer consider and address counter-arguments?

• Do the writer's arguments come together to build an overall case?

Tip: While no external knowledge is formally required for the LAT, learning some logical fallacies can be very helpful in identifying and critiquing arguments.

Emotion and Persuasiveness:

• Are the arguments presented in a way which is persuasive?

• Does the writer effectively appeal to the reader's emotions to engage them in their argument?

• Does the language used attract or isolate the reader?

• Does the writer portray themselves as a sophisticated expert on the topic?

• Does the tone, formality and diction used by the writer match the target audience, purposes and message?
  

3. Balance Your Analysis:

While the best arguments are those which are both logical and persuasive, you should provide a balanced analysis which considers the strengths and weaknesses of the text. For example:

Perhaps their arguments are logical and well-supported however the writing style is crude and the tone/diction used does not engage the reader. You would note the logic and substance of the arguments as a strength, but also note that it is presented in a manner which is not highly engaging or persuasive.

Alternatively, it may be the case that the arguments presented are full of logical fallacies but the way it is presented is elegant and convincing, drawing the reader in and appealing to their emotions effectively. You would note the substance of the arguments as a weakness but their compelling presentation as a strength.

4. Signpost and Structure:

Keep your structure logical and organised – start by using your opening sentence of each paragraph to introduce the argument which you will be evaluating. Then, consider strengths/weaknesses of the argument, using direct quotes and examples from the text to support your claims. Finally, close your paragraph with a direct and impactful evaluation, summarising succinctly your overall take on their argument.

And that's it – remember you are not being marked on the quantity but the quality of your piece of writing. Particularly since there is no right or wrong answer, it is more about how YOU convey your ideas – ensure you are taking the opportunity to show off your writing skills, using a wide vocabulary but clear, concise and succinct language to persuasively make your point.

Acing The LAT Exam - Task B

Task B is a whole different ballgame – think Year 10 History primary source analysis blended with Year 6 exposition writing.

Your task is straightforward…almost too straightforward, which tends to be the downfall for many IB students who are used to employing complex structures, discussing nuanced ideas and taking a balanced approach to their writing. Yet succeeding in Task B requires only two things:

1. Make a logical, convincing and persuasive argument

2. Use the text and graphic items as evidence for your argument

As we always do at IB Solved, let's take a step back and consider the LAT from the perspective of a marker, and more broadly, an educational institution of law.

What is it that they are looking to examine here?

Well, they are judging your potential to act as a lawyer. So it's time to channel your inner Harvey Specter and think like a lawyer:

1. Choose Your Side:

While lawyers don't get to choose which party in a matter they will represent, in the LAT, you do (so choose wisely). It is less important which side you choose and more important that you can support whichever side you choose with strong arguments and evidence from the items provided.

Tip: While there is no right or wrong side to choose, often the items provided will be more supportive of one side than another, so it can be a good idea to follow the items

2. Build Your Case:

Come up with 2 or 3 main arguments which support your case and ensure you are certain that you can connect them to the items provided.

Tip: Rather than generating arguments and then trying to fit them to the source material, consider a bottom-up approach: read through the source material first, extract the key claims made by the evidence and try to group them into 2 or 3 overarching arguments which can form your body paragraphs.

3. Support Your Case with Evidence:

After introducing your point with a concise, succinct and direct topic sentence and expanding on the reasoning behind your argument, it is time to integrate the evidence. Bring in the source materials and use them to support your argument, explaining in detail how the points made by the items advance your own claim.

Tip: It is important to also incorporate the items that contradict your case. But once again, let's think like a lawyer, what would we do with evidence from the other side? We wouldn't just ignore it but we would engage with it and try to show how it is false or incorrect. So use pre-emptive counter-arguments: you may say something like, "while opponents to [Your Argument] make claims of XYZ as reflected in Item A, this is incorrect because…"

And that's everything you need to know about the LAT exam! From here, you should be well-equipped with the secrets to success in your Law Admissions Test (LAT). However, we've found that a lot of students facing such a unique challenge benefit greatly from receiving specialised support in their preparation.

At IB Solved, many of our expert tutors have also excelled in their LAT exam and are now studying Law at UNSW. So if you're looking for some more personal assistance, from experts who can teach you their unique tips and tricks to acing the LAT, click below and reach out to us!

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