The Cambridge Law Test: A Guide
What is it?
The Cambridge Law Test is a subject-specific admissions test designed and used by most Cambridge colleges to assess whether candidates will be suitable for a place to study Law courses at the university.
Does it apply to me?
The test is used by nearly all Cambridge colleges, though it is worth checking the official University website for information on all participating colleges. If you are applying to an undergraduate Law course at the University of Cambridge, it is likely you will be required to sit the test. Applicants to the University of Oxford will be required to sit the LNAT.
When is it?
The test is taken as part of the Cambridge interview, so the exact date will depend on when you have your interview. You should receive all the information if and when you are invited to attend interview.
What do I have to do?
The Cambridge Law Test is a paper-based test lasting 1 hour, during which time applicants are expected to answer one question. The questions are selected from a central bank and come in three types:
- Essay Questions – Essay questions typically ask candidates to consider a statement of opinion and to discuss it, giving reasons for their answer. This may be done by asking for discussion of a quotation or asking a direct question.
- Problem Questions – In a problem question, applicants are given a statement of law – for example, an excerpt from a statute or a passage from a judgment of a judge given in a court – and are asked to explain how it would apply in certain factual situations.
- Comprehension Questions – In a comprehension question, applicants are presented with a passage of text—for example, an excerpt from a judgment or article—and are asked to summarise it and to answer specific questions about it.