How to Prepare for NID DAT 2026 in 3 months (B.Des/M.Des Prelims & Mains)

If you are starting your NID DAT 2026 preparation now, you have come to the right place. Here we explain how you can start your preparation and ace the DAT Prelims exam in three months flat. Read on.

The National Institute of Design will release the exam schedule for NID DAT 2026 soon on the official website. The NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam is expected to be conducted in the first week of January 2026.

Preparing for the NID DAT in just three months may seem challenging, but with the right strategy and consistency, it’s absolutely achievable. This design entrance exam tests not only your creativity but also your observation, visualization, and problem-solving skills. With limited time on hand, it's important to focus on smart planning—balancing concept building, sketching practice, solving past papers, and understanding the exam pattern. Whether you're aiming for B.Des or M.Des, a well-structured three-month plan can help you build a strong portfolio of ideas and sharpen your creative instincts for the NID entrance exam.

So, here we bring you some tips that you can follow to prepare for the NID DAT 2026 exam in three months.

Latest updates:

• NID B.Des 2025 Round 2 Seat Allotment Window Open: Confirm Seat by June 15 - Check Details Here
• NID Released B.Des 2025 Provisional Offer Letters for Ahmedabad and Assam Campuses: Download Now 

• NID M.Des 2025 Round 2 Provisional Offer Letters Released: Check Details Here

How to prepare for NID DAT 2026 Entrance Exam in three months?

To prepare for the DAT Prelims exam in 3 months, follow the tips listed below.

• Follow the NID syllabus - The National Institute of Design doesn’t release any official syllabus. That being said, you can refer to the NID DAT syllabus here which has been crafted by considering previous years’ question papers. Questions in the NID DAT exam are likely to be similar to those given in the syllabus. Also, check the important topics and the weightage they carry. Note that some topics will carry more weightage than others; you need to pay more attention to topics that carry maximum weight. If you can complete the entire syllabus, you will be in a good position to ace the NID DAT 2026 exam.
• Consult the NID Exam Pattern - The exam pattern for NID DAT 2026 will be outlined in the NID DAT 2026 admission handbooks. The DAT Prelims exam for the B.Des program will be of 3 hours duration and include textual and visual questions. There is no negative marking in NID DAT. By consulting the exam pattern, the candidate will be able to know about the types of questions asked, the difficulty level, the weightage of questions, the number of questions asked in every section, the mode of the exam, etc. So, the exam pattern will act as a guiding lamp that the candidate needs to strictly follow. 
• Choose the best Study Material - The job well begun is half done. Here, the adage applies to the NID DAT 2026 study material. If you manage to get a solid and reliable collection of NID DAT books that covers the entire syllabus, you have in effect one leg inside the door. To get the other foot inside the door, all you have to do is master the topics given in these books. However, if the study material is of poor variety, your efforts won’t bear the desired results. Examples of poor quality NID DAT study material could be books with lots of errors, that use complex language to explain a concept when a simple one would suffice, etc.
• Make a Study Plan - Once you are clear about the syllabus and exam pattern, you need to draw a study plan. The plan should be such that it takes into account the entire syllabus, the difficulty level, the approximate time it will take to complete the syllabus, etc. Considering you have around three months to prepare for DAT Prelims, you will have to prepare in double-quick time. There will not be enough time for you to lose or waste on trivialities. You must be on your toes and be focused when you are studying. Of course, when you are not studying, you need to stay relaxed so that you don’t get stressed out. In your downtime, you mustn’t think too much about the exam or think too far ahead. Instead, stay in the moment and focus on the task at hand. Depending on how your study progresses, you may be required to make slight changes to the study plan from time to time. For instance, if a topic turns out to be more difficult than you anticipated, you will have to allocate more time by adjusting somewhere else. 
• Solve Sample Papers - You need to download the NID DAT sample papers and start solving them as soon as you can. Maybe you can complete a few topics and start working on the sample papers. By solving the NID sample papers, you will get a clear idea of where your progress stands. Sample papers will also help the candidate hone their problem-solving and time-management skills. These skills can’t be learned elsewhere, but only through rigorous practice, aka by solving sample papers, can you master them. So, download the sample papers or buy them from the market and practice as much as you can. Ideally, you must solve at least half a dozen sample papers to get decent practice. Along with sample papers, also solve previous years’ question papers, as they will give you an idea of what questions are asked, topics covered, emerging trends, and much more.
• Take Mock Tests - You need to take the mock tests closer to the exam. The purpose of the mock tests is to get your mind and body accustomed to the exam environment. Also, the mocks will help you fine-tune your preparation and fix silly errors. The mocks will have the same types of questions as those asked in the NID DAT exam. So, you will have much to gain by taking the mock tests.

Best Books for NID DAT 2026 Preparation

Here is a list of books for NID DAT 2026 that you can use for exam preparation:

• Design Drawing – Francis D. K. Ching
• Origami Design Secrets: Mathematical Methods for an Ancient Art - Robert J. Lang for NID Preparation
• NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by RPH Editorial Board
• Arihant's Ultimate Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam
• NIFT/NID (Admission Test) Previous Years' Papers (Solved) by R Gupta
• NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by D Mittal

Last-minute Tips to Prepare for NID DAT 2026

In the days leading up to the DAT Prelims exam, you need to remember the following points:

• Don’t begin any new topic: This is because the last few days should be reserved for revision and solving sample papers. If you start a new topic now, it is only likely to bog you down.
• Keep healthy: The last thing you want is to fall sick on exam day. So, pay close attention to your health - sleep the full quota of hours, stay hydrated, and eat light, especially at night.
• Stay happy and avoid stress: If you stay in exam mode 24/7, you will only get burned out. So, when you are not studying for the exam, let your hair down, have some fun, have some light moments, or even watch a quick movie. It will make your life so much easier, and fun, and will also replenish you with energy.

Read more about NID DAT 2026 last-minute preparation tips here.