NATA Exam Pattern 2026: Check Pattern, Marking Scheme & Test Duration

Q: When will NATA 2026 be conducted?

NATA 2026 will be conducted from March 2026, to June 2026. The candidates will be able to attempt a maximum of three tests of NATA 2026 and the best score will be considered for admission. The exam will be conducted on designated Fridays and Saturdays, with one session on Friday and two sessions on Saturday. This test is conducted offline and is a computer-based test (CBT). The duration of the test is 180 minutes or 3 hours.

Q: Is NATA exam pattern important for the preparation?

Yes. The candidates are advised to download and check the NATA exam pattern to understand how the entrance examination will be held. Using the exam pattern of NATA 2026, the candidates will be able to know how the authorities will conduct the entrance examination. Through the exam pattern, the candidates will understand the nature of the questions, sections, marking scheme and more. By having prior knowledge of the pattern, the candidates will be able to boost their preparation progress.

Q: What type of questions will be present in the NATA paper?

NATA paper will be prepared to assess the aptitude of the candidates for BArch admissions. Within the 3 hour duration, the candidates will have to attempt a total of 48 questions. NATA questions will be Multiple-Choice type (MCQ), Drawing and Composition. The question paper will be prepared so that the candidates can be assessed on basic concepts in mathematics, Physics and Geometry, language and interpretation, elements and principles of design, aesthetic sensitivity, colour theory, lateral thinking and logical reasoning, visual perception and cognition, graphics and imagery, building anatomy and architectural vocabulary, basic techniques of building construction and knowledge of material, general knowledge and Current Affairs etc. and may not be limited to those outlined.

Q: How are the sections divided in the NATA 2026 question paper?

NATA 2026 will consist of two sections. The first section will be held as an offline test and will consist of drawing and composition questions. The second section will have multiple choice questions. The questions will be prepared to assess the candidate's basic conceptual knowledge in the various subjects that are important in the architectural field. A total of 48 questions will be present in the NATA question paper.

Q: What are the NATA 2026 assessment factors?

Candidates will be assessed on various factors during NATA 2026. The authorities will prepare the NATA 2026 question paper after considering various assessement factors - Inductive Reasoning (ability to analyze data and patterns), Diagrammatic Reasoning (ability to analyze drawings and use logical reasoning), Numerical Reasoning (ability to solve simple numerical problems), Verbal Reasoning (verbal logic), Situational Judgment (problem-solving abilities), Abstract Reasoning (general knowledge and their ability to apply it in situations) and Logical Reasoning (ability to recognize patterns, relationships, sequences and more).

Q: What is the marking scheme of NATA?

CoA will release the official marking scheme of NATA 2026. The allotted marks vary as per the type of question. The NATA 2026 question paper will consist of 48 questions that have to be answered in 180 minutes. It is to be noted that there will be no negative marking. The total marks of the NATA 2025 question paper are 200. The exact marks of every question can be checked during the NATA 2026. Since there is no negative marking, the candidates are advised to attempt as many questions as they can to score well.

Q: Will there be a drawing section in NATA paper?

Yes. The CoA has added the drawing and composition section in the NATA paper. During the examination, the candidates will have to attempt questions on composition and colour, sketching and composition (black and white) and 3D composition. All three questions have to attempted within 90 minutes. Therefore, the candidates are advised to carefully prepare for the drawing and composition section.

Q: What is the medium of NATA paper?

As per the NATA exam pattern, the medium of the question paper will be English and Hindi. The candidates will be able to know the detailed information regarding the medium of languages through the NATA 2025 question paper. In case the candidates face any problems during the examination, they can request help from the invigilators.

Q: Will NATA be held online?

NATA will be conducted by the authorities as an online i.e., computer-based and offline test. The MCQ section will be held as a computer-based test, while the drawing and composition test will be held as an offline test. CoA will conduct NATA at various centres. All registered candidates will have to report to their allotted centres and attempt the examination through the systems provided there. The detailed information regarding NATA exam pattern has been announced online.

Q: Where can I access the NATA exam pattern?

CoA will release the NATA exam pattern online at nata.in. The details regarding the NATA exam pattern are available along with the official information brochure. Candidates can check the details on how the entrance examination will be held through the exam pattern of NATA. During the preparation period, the candidates are advised to become familiar with how the entrance examination will be held. NATA will be held as a computer-based and offline test.

4.6K Students Q&A

Updated on Aug 21, 2025 11:34 IST

By Dhanya B

NATA 2026 exam pattern is now available online at nata. in. Candidates are advised to check the NATA exam pattern 2026 to understand how the entrance examination is conducted by the authorities. As per the NATA exam pattern, the entrance examination will be held online, i.e., as a computer-based and offline test. The candidates will be given 3 hours to complete the entrance examination. NATA 2026 will have two sections in the examination: the Drawing and Composition Test and the MCQ section. Candidates are advised to check the NATA 2026 exam pattern to be well-prepared for the entrance examination. Read to know more about the NATA Exam Pattern 2026.

Q: What is the marking scheme of NATA?

Q: Will there be a drawing section in NATA paper?

Q: What is the medium of NATA paper?

Table of content

NATA 2026 Exam Pattern
NATA 2026 Exam Pattern - Assessment Factors
NATA 2026 Exam Pattern Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

NATA 2026 Exam Pattern

Candidates can check the NATA 2026 exam pattern from the table given below.

Particulars	Details
Exam Mode	Computer-Based and Offline Test
Duration	3 Hours Part A - Drawing and Composition Test - 90 Minutes Part B - MCQs - 90 Minutes
Medium	English and Hindi
Section	Part A - Drawing and Composition Test Part B - MCQs
Total Number of Questions	48 Questions
Division of Questions	Part A - Drawing and Composition Test A1 - 1 Question - Composition and Colour A2 - 1 Question - Sketching and Composition (Black and White) A3 - 1 Question - 3D Composition Part B - MCQs B1 - 30 Questions B2 - 15 Questions
Total Marks	200
Marking Scheme	Part A - Drawing and Composition Test A1 - 1 Question - Composition and Colour - 25 marks A2 - 1 Question - Sketching and Composition (Black and White) - 25 marks A3 - 1 Question - 3D Composition - 30 marks Part B - MCQs B1 - 30 Questions x 2 marks - 60 marks B2 - 15 Questions x 4 marks - 60 marks

Commonly asked questions

Q: Will NATA be held online?

Q: Where can I access the NATA exam pattern?

Q: What is the duration of NATA?

NATA 2026 Exam Pattern - Assessment Factors

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following factors. The questions will also be set by the authorities keeping in mind these factors.

Inductive Reasoning - Candidates will be tested on their ability to analyze data and patterns.
Diagrammatic Reasoning - Candidates will be tested on their ability to analyze drawings and use logical reasoning.
Numerical Reasoning - Candidates will be tested on their ability to solve simple numerical problems
Verbal Reasoning - Candidates will be assessed on their verbal logic.
Situational Judgment - Candidates will be tested on their problem-solving abilities.
Abstract Reasoning - Candidates will be tested on their general knowledge and their ability to apply it in situations.
Logical Reasoning - Candidates will be assessed on their ability to recognize patterns, relationships, sequences and more.

Commonly asked questions

Q: What type of questions will be present in the NATA paper?

Q: How are the sections divided in the NATA 2026 question paper?

Q: What are the NATA 2026 assessment factors?

NATA 2026 Exam Pattern Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Read to know the NATA 2026 Exam Pattern Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Commonly asked questions

Q: When will NATA 2026 be conducted?

Q: Is NATA exam pattern important for the preparation?

NATA Exam

Student Forum

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Do I need NATA or JEE Paper for admission to Chandigarh University Architecture course?

Answered 2 weeks ago

Absolutely, either NATA or JEE Paper 2 (B.Arch Aptitude Test) is compulsory for admission into Chandigarh University's architecture program. Even if a student has scored well in 12th or diploma, the aptitude test cannot be skipped because it is mandated by the Council of Architecture. These tests me

RUHI KHAN

Beginner-Level 4

Is it compulsory to appear for AAT for BArch admission at IIT if I have NATA score?

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, candidates have to qualify AAT after qualifying JEE Advanced to be eligible for IIT BArch admissions.

Akansha Bhandari

Contributor-Level 6

What type of questions are asked in the NATA Drawing section?

Answered a month ago

In the NATA Drawing section, questions are designed to test your creativity, imagination, visualisation, and sketching ability. You won't be judged on artistic perfection, but on clarity, proportion, perspective, and originality.

Here are the common types of questions asked:

Sketching from Memory – Dr

Aishwarya Garg

Beginner-Level 5

Is NCERT Mathematics enough for NATA preparation?

Answered a month ago

Yes, NCERT Mathematics (Class 11 & 12) is generally enough for NATA preparation because most of the topics in the syllabus are covered in NCERT.

The NATA Mathematics section usually tests:

Algebra

Trigonometry

Coordinate Geometry

Matrices & Determinants

Probability & Statistics

Vectors

Differential & Integr

Mohit Shukla

Beginner-Level 5

Do I need to study Architecture topics before NATA?

Answered a month ago

For NATA, you don't need to study architecture as a full subject before the exam. However, having a basic awareness is very helpful because the General Aptitude section includes questions on:

Famous architects (like Le Corbusier, B.V. Doshi, Zaha Hadid, etc.)
Well-known monuments and buildings in Indi

Shikha Hazarika

Beginner-Level 5

What is covered under the NATA General Aptitude section?

Answered a month ago

The General Aptitude section of NATA checks your reasoning, visualization, and awareness related to design and architecture. It generally covers:

Analytical Reasoning & Mental Ability – puzzles, patterns, coding-decoding, sequences, etc.
Logical Reasoning – problem-solving, relationships, analogies, a

Manisha Sahni

Beginner-Level 5

Does the NATA syllabus include Physics and Chemistry?

Answered a month ago

No, the NATA syllabus does not include Physics and Chemistry.
The exam mainly focuses on Mathematics, General Aptitude, and Drawing skills. While Physics and Chemistry are not part of the test, having a basic understanding of these subjects may indirectly help in architectural concepts, but they are

Parul Pandey

Beginner-Level 5

What is the fees at the government top NATA accepting Architecture colleges in India?

Answered a month ago

Students can refer to the table below for some details about the top government Architecture colleges in India accepting NATA:

Public/Government Colleges	Total Tuition Fee	NIRF '24
IIT Roorkee Admission	INR 10 Lakh	1
IIT Kharagpur Admission	INR 10 Lakh	2
NIT Calicut Admission	INR 6.25 Lakh	3
SPA Delhi Admission	INR 4 Lakh	5
NIT Trichy Admission	INR 6.25 Lakh	8

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

Muskan Chugh

Contributor-Level 10

What is the fees at the private top NATA accepting Architecture colleges in India?

Answered a month ago

The table below provides some details about the private top Architecture colleges in India that accept NATA:

Private Colleges	Total Tuition Fee	NIRF '24
CEPT University Admission	INR 22.75 Lakh	6
SRM IST Admission	INR 13.75 Lakh	11
Nirma University Admission	INR 11.1 Lakh	13
Nirma University Admission	INR 11.5 Lakh	19

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

Muskan Chugh

Contributor-Level 10

What is the last date to register for NATA?

Answered a month ago

The Council of Architecture has not yet announced the official last date to register for NATA 2026. However, based on previous years' trends and information from exam sources, the registration process is expected to begin in February 2026 and continue until the third week of March 2026. Additionally

Dhanya B

Contributor-Level 10

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