Best Books for NIFT 2025: Subject-wise Books recommended by Experts and Toppers
National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam 2025 ( NIFT Entrance Exam )
Counselling - 7 Jul '25
An often overlooked aspect of NIFT exam preparation is the quality of the study material. It is because if you use poor-quality books, you are most likely going to falter in the exam. So, getting the best books for NIFT 2025 preparation is non-negotiable. Here we bring you subject-wise NIFT 2025 books recommended by toppers and experts.
Best Books for NIFT 2025 - There is a common saying that well begun is half the work done. But how exactly do you START your preparation for NIFT 2025? Here is how.
By getting the best possible collection of books for NIFT 2025. If the study material is good, then it will be up to date, explain the concepts crisply, won’t confuse and deviate aimlessly, and contain few to no errors.
Considering the market is flooded with books, making it difficult to zoom in on any one specific one, here we have compiled a list of the best study material for the NIFT exam. Make them a part of your preparation arsenal, and there will be no stopping you from cracking the NIFT 2025 entrance exam.
But before we jump into deciding which book is the best for NIFT exam preparation, let's take a bit to understand the NIFT 2025 exam pattern.
Explore colleges based on NIFT Entrance Exam
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.The NIFT entrance exam is conducted in two rounds:
The NIFTEE Exam for the B.Des programme doesn't ask very difficult maths questions; so, even if you are not from Science background and have average skills in the subject, you can manage. Just solve previous years question and sample papers, and read book for NIFT preparation.
For the Common Aptitude Test (CAT), the candidate needs to practice various forms of drawing, including - photorealism, cartoon, caricature, line drawing, figure, etc. The candidate must also know how to blend colors, do shading, etc. As for the GAT paper, NIFT preparation books by Arihant are pretty reliable. For additional reading, RS Aggarwal book is recommended. As for GK and Current Affairs section, read leading newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express, or the Times of India.
The FINAL merit list for admission will be prepared by giving weightage to both the written exams and the Situation Test/ Personal Interview.
NIFT 2025 - Test components and Weightage
Each of the test components, CAT, GAT, and Situation Test (Personal Interview in case of PG courses) carries a definite weightage (as shown in the table below).
| Programme |
Test |
Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Design |
CAT |
50% |
| GAT |
30% |
|
| Situation Test |
20% |
|
| Master of Design |
CAT |
40% |
| GAT |
30% |
|
| GD/PI |
30% |
|
| Bachelor of Fashion Technology |
GAT |
100% |
| Master of Fashion Technology |
GAT |
70% |
| GD/PI |
30% |
|
| Master of Fashion Management |
GAT |
70% |
| GD/PI |
30% |
Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates
3 Jul '25 - 9 Jul '25
11 Jul '25
25 Mar '25 - 15 Jul '25
19 Jul '25
17 Jul '25
Candidates may also check out the NIFT 2025 exam pattern in DETAIL.
NIFT Best Books 2025 - Recommended by Experts and Toppers
Now that we know the composition and structure of the entrance exam, let's dive into which books are best for NIFT 2025 exam preparation.
In the table below, you will find a list of books that can help you ace the NIFT 2025 entrance exam. Note that the list is kept minimalistic, but it should be enough for you to easily ace the exam. Remember, it is easy to make a long collection of books, but it is even easier to get lost in the pile.
Unless it is necessary, keep the books to a bare minimum. The mantra is to prepare smart, not hard!
The candidate should focus on news of national and international importance; don't spend precious time reading up on local or even sometimes national (or international) news of little importance. For example, some times newspapers carry some news for the sake of entertainment. The candidate also needs to practice difficult words and meaning given in editorials and opinion pieces.
Read new relatd to the fashion industry, fashion events like Cannes, Met Gala, Lakme Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, Seoul Fashion Week, etc. Read fashion magazines for more trending updates.
When selecting study material for the NIFTEE Exam, candidate should make sure the books are as per the current syllabus and pattern, are well written, easy to follow, explains the concepts in detail, etc.
Also go through articles and videos which have last year question papers.
In an ideal situation, one year is a good enough time to cover the entire NIFT syllabus, solve sample papers, and take mock tests. But considering there is only 6 months or so left for the NIFT exam, the candidate can still prepare for the exam in that period. But for that to happen, the candidate needs to get hold of the best study material available, manage their time efficiently, follow a strict study routine, get familiar with the exam syllabus and pattern, and prepare in earnest.
NIFT 2025 Study Material - Subject-wise books and Smart tips
The following table presents the books and tips to prepare well for the NIFT Exam:
| Subject |
Books |
|---|---|
| Arihant Books |
|
| Current Affairs and GK |
Read newspapers: The Hindu, The Times of India What to read:
|
| Maths |
NIFT Arihant Why - It covers the entire Maths portion needed for NIFT 2023. However, if you want to do additional reading:
|
| English |
NIFT Arihant |
| GAT |
Solve previous years' NIFT questions and sample papers for the last 10 years or so. The trick is to solve as many sample papers as you can; also, you may solve the same sample paper 3-4 times to check your progress. Important:
|
| Mock Test Books |
|
| Taking notes |
While it is well and good to follow the best books and solve sample papers, it is equally important that you make it a habit of taking notes. Jot down all the important or troubling points in it. This notebook will work as a reference material in the future for quick revision. If your notes are well prepared, you can revise all the topics in the syllabus in a jiffy! On the other hand, if you don’t take notes, you will have to go through each paragraph, chapter, or book to revise the key points. |
Also Read:
- UCEED vs NID - Which is Better?
- NID vs NIFT - Differences, Participating colleges, Admission Process, Placement
- How to Crack UCEED in 6 Months
- NIFT 2024 Quantitative Ability Syllabus, Questions & Preparation Tips
Books for NIFT Situation Test
The Situation Test is conducted to test the 3-D making skills of the candidate. Test materials for making the model will be provided to the candidate.
The material kit is not standard, but ideally contains items like clay, metal wire, thermocol sheet, straws, paper clippings, aluminum foils, etc.
NIFT Situation Test 2025 - Book Suggestion
| Name of the book |
Author (Publication) |
|---|---|
| Don’t make me think |
Steve King |
| Universal Principles of Design |
Tom Kelley and David Kelley |
| 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People (Voices That Matter) |
Weinschenk Susan |
| The Design of Everyday Things |
Don Norman |
| Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things |
Don Norman |
| NIFT Situation Test 2023 - Download free 10 years papers |
NIFT 2025 Stationery Items/ Materials
If you are appearing in an entrance exam like NIFTEE or NID DAT, you need to practice drawing a lot. And for that, you have stationery items, like the one mentioned in the table below.
| Level |
Pencils |
|---|---|
| Beginner |
The student can use pencils by popular brands like Camline and Artline: They are affordable, with each packet costing around Rs. 50 and contacts 6 pieces. |
| Mid Level |
As your shading skills are more refined, you can use drawing pencils - Peroci and Faber-Castell are good to go. |
| Give fine detailing to sketches |
Microns Pen Note: Microns are available at many points like 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, etc. So, you can make even the finest details with these pens. |
| Color Pencils |
Staedtler Color Pencil, Faber-Castell Color Pencil |
| Blending Stumps: |
|
The books and tips suggested above can work like magic only if you are persistent and dedicated. Study regularly, make a timetable, and focus on all the sections and stages of the NIFTEE Examination. Also, stay updated with any news and information provided by NTA NIFT.
Sayeba is an editorial professional with over 5 years of experience in content creation, editing and proofreading. She holds a master's degree in commerce, which has helped her develop a strong attention to detail a... Read Full Bio
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
19 Jun '25 | NID B.Des Provisional Offer of... |
12 Jun '25 - 15 Jun '25 | NID B.Des Seat Allotment Round... |
3 Jul '25 - 9 Jul '25 | Seat Allotment Round IV |
29 Jun '25 - 11 Jul '25 | Round IV: Withdrawal of seat /... |
Jan '25 | UID DAT 2025 exam date |
12 Sep '24 | UID DAT 2025 Registration STAR... |
19 Jun '25 - 20 Jun '25 | Comprehensive Aptitude Intervi... |
18 Jun '25 | Admit Card for Comprehensive ... |
1 Jul '25 | AIEED Batch Starts |
25 Jun '25 | AIEED Examination |
30 May '25 | Cycle 2: Semester 1 Fee Paymen... |
17 May '25 | Cycle 2: Acceptance Deadline |
1 Jul '25 | M Des: Programme Commencement |
1 Jul '25 | B Des: Commencement of Program |
Jul '25 | PESSAT DAT 2025 Application Cl... |
Jan '25 | PESSAT DAT 2025 Exam START Dat... |
11 May '25 | FDDI AIST 2025 Exam date |
8 May '25 | FDDI AIST Admit Card (for stud... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
There are no marks requrired for mfm admission . You have to give the college exam for admission.
A
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 4 days ago
With an EWS category rank of 69, you have a very strong chance of getting into NIFT Delhi for most B.Des. courses, and even some Master's programs, especially compared to the closing ranks for the EWS category in previous years.
For example, for B.Des. Fashion Design, which is highly competitive, th
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
The NIFTEE written exam 2026 will be conducted in computer-based mode, while the sketching-based CAT paper will be held in offline mode.
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
The NIFT 2026 admit card will be available for download in the first week of February 2026. Candidates who have successfully registered for the exam can download the admit card from the NIFT admission portal.
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Unless you have finished the NIFT 2026 syllabus and solved the sample papers, it is a safe bet not to start with any new chapters or topics, simply because there is not so much time left and revision needs to be the priority.
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, it is very important to solve NIFT sample papers to gauge one's exam readiness. In addition, sample papers will help the candidate rectify silly mistakes, learn time management, and learn how to use various concepts to solve problems.
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
The NIFT 2026 Entrance Exam Stage 1 is expected to be conducted in the second week of February 2026. The exact dates will be out on the NTA NIFT official website.
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
The table below shows the top government Fashion Design colleges in India accepting NIFT entrance exams along with their tuition fees and their India Today ranking 2024:
Public/Government Colleges | Tuition Fee | India Today 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Delhi Admission | INR 12.34 lakh | 1 |
| NIFT Bangalore Admission | INR 12.34 lakh | 3 |
| NIFT Hyderabad Admission | INR 12.34 lakh | 4 |
| NIFT Gandhinagar Admission | INR 12.34 lakh | 6 |
| NIFT Kolkata Admission | INR 12.34 lakh | 7 |
| NIFT Patna Admission | INR 12.34 lakh | 8 |
| NIFT Bhubaneswar Admission | INR 9.26 lakh | 13 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ counselling body and may vary.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
According to India Today ranking 2024, NIFT Delhi emerged to be as the No. 1 ranked Fashion Design colleges in India accepting NIFT exam secured 1st position followed by other colleges like NIFT Mumbai and NIFT Bangalore.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
NIFT Bangalore inducts students to its BDes programme via the NIFT Entrance Exam. For admission to the 2025 batch, this test was conducted by NTA on Feb 9, 2025. Moreover, NTA has also released the entrance exam results. Students who took the exam can check their results and download their scorecar
S
Contributor-Level 10
If you want a short and effective answer, then NIFT entrance preparation books by Arihant are considered to be reliable. They touch all the syllabus and are also recommended by toppers. Also, note that the GAT paper for B.Des carries only 30% weightage, so it is not wise to get bogged down by heavy-duty books.