How to prepare for NIFT 2026 Creative Ability Test (CAT): Components, Weightage, Important Topics

Doing well in CAT is mandatory to get a good score in NIFT 2026. Get the ball rolling with the tips given here and ace the CAT paper. Read on to know more.

Candidates seeking admission to the B.Des or M.Des program at the NIFTs have to appear in a Creative Ability Test (CAT). CAT is a written test that carries 50% weightage for the B.Des program and 40% weightage for the M.Des program. This means the candidate's performance in the CAT can be a make-or-break factor. 

If you didn't know already, the NIFT entrance exam is conducted in two stages:

• Stage 1 - Comprises the CAT and a General Ability Test (NIFT GAT)
• Stage 2 - The candidate has to next appear in a Situation Test (B.Des) /Personal Interview and Group Discussion (M.Des).

This article takes you through the step-by-step process to prepare for the CAT component of NIFT 2026

Latest Updates:

• NIFT 2026 LIVE Updates: Shift Timing, Exam Day Guidelines, Question Paper Analysis, Difficulty, Student Review
• NIFT Admit Card 2026 Out Now
• NIFT Exam 2026: Common Mistakes Students Make During the Paper
• NIFT 2026 Exam Anxiety and Preparation Pressure: Tips to Stay Calm Before Test Day

What is the NIFT Creative Ability Test (CAT)?

Candidates seeking admission to the B.Des and M.Des courses at the NIFTs must appear in a NIFTEE Creative Ability Test (CAT) and a General Ability Test (GAT).

The Creative Ability Test or CAT, is designed to test the:

1. Intuitive ability
2. Power of observation in concept development
3. Design ability of the candidate. 

To perform well in the test, the candidate must be able to creatively and innovatively use color and illustration techniques.

Also Read:

• NIFT 2026 Most Repeated Questions for CAT and GAT

NIFT 2026 Entrance Exam - Weightage of Test Components

The weightage of NIFTEE Entrance Exams is as follows:

Exam Weightage for PG Programs:

Tips to Prepare for NIFT CAT 2026

Develop your drawing skills for NIFT 2026 CAT by following the tips listed below.

1. Develop your observation skills  - Keenly observe the world around you and take mental notes of things. 
2. Learn the A-B-C of geometrical shapes - This skill will come with practice.
3. Conceptualization - Before you put a brush or pencil to paper, make sure you have a pretty solid conceptualization of the drawing or shape, or want to create. 
4. Learn product drawing - Product drawing is the process is pictorially representing 3D objects in 2D. The 3D object can be anything that you see around you - the water flask, the laptop, the mobile phone, bed, sofa, etc. 
5. Work on your line quality - Avoid jittery or multiple lines when drawing. To improve your line drawing skills, start with simple line drawings. With confident lines and basic shapes, progressing to complex shapes would be much easier. Also, practice drawing circles. Note- make sure that your pencil is well-sharpened; avoid a blunt pencil. 
6. Shading - At the outset, let me tell you that shading is not an important part of the design exam. That being said, here are some shading skills that can make your drawing stand out: reflected light, full light, case shadow, halftone, and shadow edge. 
7. Human figures - One easy way to learn the process of perfectly drawing human figures is to start with stick drawing. In the next progression, you can make block drawing. Once you have mastered stick drawing and block drawing, you can add clothes and other elements. In the final step, you can work on the face, eyes, fingers, etc. 
8. Learn the principles of composition - A drawing includes many small components, depending on the subject. For instance, if you draw a kitchen, it may include the stove, sink, water tap, fridge, kettle, jar, basket, table, etc. There are certain rules or principles for incorporating such elements in a drawing. These rules are called the principles of composition. While you can easily make an image without following these principles, the drawing in such cases may look incomplete or may not have elements that the examiners are looking for. Here are the key principles of composition: Alignment, Balance, Proportion and Emphasis.

Additional Tips for NIFT CAT 2026 Preparation

Here are some of the more generic tips to prepare for the NIFT CAT: 

• Refer to the current syllabus - The syllabus for NIFT will be released at the official admission portal of NIFT.
• Follow the exam pattern - The NIFT exam pattern will contain information pertaining to the question paper structure, including types of questions asked, marking scheme, test duration, etc.
• Solve question papers - Checking out and solving the previous years’ question papers will help the candidate:
• Get insights into how questions are framed
• Learn which topics are covered
• The nature of drawing skills is tested.
• Practice one’s drawing and creative skills.
• Learn time management

• Follow good and reliable books - If the NIFT study material is top-notch, you can start your preparation on the front foot; in contrast, poor study material can derail your progress.
• Take notes during your study and practice session - You can take short notes, jotting down important points or observations that can come in handy during revision or for understanding a topic better. 
• Remove Psychological Barriers - Every battle is first won in the mind and then on the ground. Psychological battles start before the real battle comes in. And the greatest battle is not physical, but psychological.
• Never quit mid-way - Some people are in the habit of leaving jobs half-finished. Quitting is a negative habit and won’t take you far in life.
• No Plagiarism, No shortcuts - Avoid focus dilution: Do not copy answers from any available resources. Avoid plagiarism, as it would damage your imagination abilities and would deplete your thoughts, ideas, and observations regarding the subject and topics, and you will not be able to come up with any innovative answers. Your focus should be strong and cemented; do not get distracted from unnecessary ideas or logics that are not applicable or impractical with respect to your preparation. Remember, there is no shortcut for developing your skills; you have to keep practicing and observing.
• Prepare a methodology: Make a draft methodology chart for your preparation, as you have to prepare for the test in stages ,and skipping or shuffling the stages can confuse you and may affect the quality of your work, which may hinder your performance in the examination. Start with the fundamentals of design. This would keep you updated about your progress and would set a strong foundation for further stages.

Dos and Don’ts for the NIFT CAT 2026

The candidate is not allowed to disclose their identity in any way, including by:

• Writing any personal details
• Placing identification marks. 

Important Topics for NIFT CAT 2026

Some of the important topics for NIFTEE CAT are: 

The CAT (Creative Ability Test) in NIFT is an important part of the exam. It checks how creative and original a student is, and how well they can show their ideas through drawings and design. It’s not just about being good at art, but also about thinking differently and solving problems creatively. To do well, students should practice regularly and try to come up with unique ideas. This test helps NIFT choose students who have real creative talent.