Top 5 LAT Mistakes – And How to Avoid Them

Preparing for the Law Admission Test can be daunting, especially for Year 12 students juggling school commitments and other exams. The LAT isn’t about how much you know – it’s about how well you think, argue, and write under pressure. Over the years, we at LAT Plus have seen students make the same key mistakes that hurt their performance, regardless of how strong they are academically.

Here are the top five LAT mistakes – and how you can avoid them:

1. Treating the LAT Like an English Exam

The Mistake: Many students approach the LAT like it’s another English assessment – focusing on poetic language, literary techniques, or storytelling.

Why It’s a Problem: The LAT is about building an argument using logic, critical analysis, and structure – much closer to what’s expected in law school. You can be creative, but this depends on the purpose and context of the particular exam question.

How to Avoid It:

• Improve and practice your critical thinking skills using multiple types of stimulus texts.

• Focus on clarity and reasoning.

• Practice writing persuasive and analytical responses with clear theses, structured paragraphs, and logical progression.

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2. Ignoring the Exact Wording of the Question

The Mistake: Skimming the question or responding to what you think it’s asking – not what it actually says.

Why It’s a Problem: LAT prompts are carefully worded and often contain multiple components and subtle nuances. Misinterpreting or generalising the questions leads to off-topic writing.

How to Avoid It:

• Underline or highlight key words and phrases in the question.

• Read and understand the question before planning your response or reading through the stimulus materials.

  
  

3. Writing Without Planning

The Mistake: Jumping straight into writing without a plan due to time pressure or overconfidence.

Why It’s a Problem: Without a clear plan, arguments often become disorganised, repetitive, or inconsistent. Even strong writers lose marks if their responses lack structure.

How to Avoid It:

• Spend 5 minutes planning each response before writing.

• Use a quick essay map: introduction with a clear thesis, three to four body paragraphs with topic sentences, explanations, examples and evidence, and a conclusion.

• Make a few attempts at planning with a timer so it becomes second nature under exam conditions.

  
  

4. Failing to Show Both Sides of an Argument

The Mistake: Not acknowledging counterarguments.

Why It’s a Problem: Legal reasoning involves weighing perspectives. The LAT rewards students who can present a strong view while also responding to opposing arguments.

How to Avoid It:

• Always include a counterargument and rebuttal.

• Present “the other side”, then explain why your view is stronger.

  
  

5. Neglecting Time Management in the Exam

The Mistake: Spending too long on the first task and rushing the second – or vice versa.

Why It’s a Problem: The LAT is two hours for two tasks. An uneven split can mean one weak or unfinished response, which heavily affects your overall result.

How to Avoid It:

• Complete full LAT simulations with strict timing: one hour per response.

• Use alarms or a watch to track your pace during the test.

• Don’t aim for perfection – aim for complete, well-reasoned responses for both tasks.

Success in the LAT

Success in the LAT comes down to how you think and how you write, not what you know. By avoiding these common mistakes and developing a disciplined approach to practice, you’ll give yourself the best chance of performing at your peak.

Need more guidance in preparing for the LAT or expert feedback? Join one of our LAT Plus Accelerator Programs today!