LAT Essay: How to Write It Well in the Time Given
The essay carries 15 marks. Examiners are not looking for difficult words; they want a clear position on the topic, organised paragraphs and correct language.
A structure that works for any topic
- Introduction (3–4 lines) Say what the topic means and state your main point in one sentence.
- Body paragraph 1 Your strongest reason, with one example.
- Body paragraph 2 A second reason, with an example from Pakistan where possible.
- Body paragraph 3 The other side or a difficulty, and your answer to it.
- Conclusion (2–3 lines) Restate your point in new words and end with a suggestion.
Plan for three minutes before writing
Write the topic at the top of your rough space, then four words: one for each body paragraph and one for the conclusion. Students who start writing immediately usually repeat themselves by the third paragraph.
Topic areas to prepare
- Law and justice: rule of law, access to justice, rights and duties of citizens.
- Education and youth.
- Social issues: poverty, women's education, social media.
- Pakistan: democracy, climate change, the economy.
Prepare ideas and examples for each area rather than memorising whole essays. A memorised essay rarely fits the exact wording of the topic, and going off-topic costs the most marks.
Common mistakes
- Writing about a related topic instead of the one given.
- One long paragraph with no breaks.
- Quotations you cannot remember accurately.
- No time left for the personal statement.