Last week Preparation Tips for NID Entrance Exam 2026
National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2026 ( NID Entrance Exam )
Registration - 11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25
NID DAT Prelims 2026 exam is expected to be conducted in the first week of January, 2026, for B.Des and M.Des Programme. The exam is expected to be conducted offline in 22 cities across India. Here we bring last week's NID DAT preparation tips to ace DAT Prelims. Candidates who qualify for DAT Prelims have to next take the DAT Mains.
NID Preparation Tips
The National Institute of Design (NID) will release the detailed exam schedule on its admission portal for UG and PG Programmes. Application for NID DAT 2026 is expected to be out in the first week of September 2025. Eligible candidates could fill out the NID DAT 2026 application form. On the day of the exam, the candidate may carry the NID DAT admit card 2026 and a valid ID proof. Without these documents, the candidate will not be allowed inside the NID DAT 2026 exam center. Also, make sure that you follow the NID DAT 2026 exam-day guidelines.
When it comes to doing well in an entrance exam like NID DAT, it is not just about the effort you put in the months preceding the exam, but also about how well you handled the last few weeks leading up to the exam. In fact, in the last week of Prelims exam preparation, you must pay special attention to handling your nerves and staying focused. Read here how you can manage the last week of NID DAT 2026 Prelims exam and get a good score.
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- How to prepare for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) in the Last week?
- Last week's NID 2025 Preparation Tips - Getting Ready for the Exam
- NID DAT 2025 - Exam-day Dos and Don’ts
How to prepare for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) in the Last week?
Here are some important NID preparation tips to help you sail through the final week smoothly:
- Revise and revise - In the final week of NID exam preparation, each day is crucial. Therefore, plan it well and revise all the important topics that you have studied so far. If you created any notes while studying, this is the best time to revise them as well.
- Do not study any new topic - In the last week of NID DAT preparation 2026, do not pick any new topics for study. It will lead to unnecessary confusion, as it is difficult to grasp new concepts in a short span of time. Just focus on revising what you already know.
- Polish your Sketching skills - Pick up some designing exercises to practice daily. Study the dimensions, size, and form of the figure and try to incorporate them in what you sketch. Try to be original and innovative in your sketching. However, remember not to spend too much time of the day on drawing. Sketching and drawing are crucial parts of the exam, but they are not all it. Divide your preparation time for objective and subjective sections of the exam wisely.
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Practice previous year NID question papers - This is the time when you should focus on attempting as many NID previous question papers as possible. Candidates should also attempt NID sample papers. This will not only help you improve your time management skills but also boost confidence.
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Keep a tab on Current Affairs - Keep a tab on the latest happenings around you and the world. Keep reading newspapers and magazines regularly.
- Focus on time management: The NID Entrance Exam pattern has two sections – Section A and Section B. The first section will contain multiple choice objective type questions, and the latter will comprise subjective-type questions. Since NID DAT Prelims comprises subjective questions as well, so, candidates need to manage time well so that they get sufficient time to analyse and solve such questions. Aspirants are also advised to read every question as well as instructions mentioned in NID Entrance Exam with utmost care. Apart from this, one should see the marks allotted to each question and invest time in solving that specific question accordingly.
- Time allocation for a question during the exam - You must allocate time for all the questions in the question paper. Avoid taking all the allotted time on a few questions. Remember, unless and until you manage to answer a majority of the questions, you won't be able to get a good score in the exam. So, the moment you get the question paper and answer sheet, think about time management and how to solve each question as quickly as possible.
Last week's NID 2025 Preparation Tips - Getting Ready for the Exam
The reporting time for NID DAT will be mentioned in the Admit card, along with gate closing time, and exam timings and date.
The candidate needs to report for the DAT Prelims exam at 8 am. The gates of the exam center will close at 9:30 AM (or 30 minutes before the commencement of the exam). After that no candidate will be allowed inside the exam hall.
NID DAT Exam timings:
- B.Des - 10 am - 1 pm
- M.Des - 10 am - 12.30 pm
Candidates who get shortlisted based on their DAT Prelims scores for the M.Des programme has to next appear in DAT Mains, which comprises a Studio Test and Interview. The Personal Interview is conducted after the Studio Test and carries a weightage of 30%. The interview will be conducted by a panel, which may include experts from industries/academics. The purpose of the interview is to assess the general awareness, extracurricular activities, academics, and the field of interest of the candidate. It is mandatory for candidates to appear in the Personal Interview or else the candidate will not be included in the final merit list.
The National Institute of Design (NID) has released the schedule for NID DAT 2024 (Mains).
Also, check out some quick do’s and don’ts that you must keep in mind for NID DAT 2026 below:
- Go through the NID DAT Prelims exam pattern thoroughly once.
- Start assembling the things and documents that you need to carry on the day of the exam to avoid any last-minute rush.
- Confidence is a major key to success in practically anything. Therefore, keep yourself calm, take a proper diet, sleep well, and be confident.
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- Studying is a good thing, but do not over-study as it will lead to restlessness and exhaustion.
- Do not practice sketching on A3-sized sketchbooks, but practice only on A4-sized sheets, as the exam sheets in the paper are also of A4 size.
- Do not avoid revision. A major part of your time during the last week should be invested in revising old topics only.
- Do not panic and try to keep your nerves under control, as panicking usually leads to memory loss, thus leading to poor performance in the exam
NID DAT 2025 - Exam-day Dos and Don’ts
The dos and don’ts that candidates must follow on NID DAT 2026 exam center are given below:
The NID DAT 2025 (Mains) exam for the B. Des programme will be held from April 26 - May 4, 2024. The timings for the dat Mains exam will be mentioned in the NID DAT 2025 admit card, along with the reporting time. The candidate needs to reach the DAT Mains exam centre as per the timings given in the admit card. Note that you may not be allowed entry inside the exam venue once the exam commences. So, it is advisable to reach the exam venue with time in hand.
The NID DAT 2026 Studio Test and Interview for the M.Des program will be conducted from in the first week of March 2026. Candidates will be shortlisted for DAT Mains on the basis of their performance in DAT Prelims.
The Studio Test and Interview will be conducted programme-wise from. Candidates who have qualified DAT prelims are eligible to appear in DAT Mains, which comprise a Studio Test and Interview for the M.Des programme. The Studio Test is usually conducted from 9 am - 12 noon. The Interview will be conducted after the completion of the studio test.
The National Institute of Design will release schedule for NID DAT 2025 counseling on its admission portal soon after DAT Mains results are declared.
Eligible candidates seeking admission to the B.Des program has to submit campus preferences.
The 1st round of seat allotment for B.Des program will be announed around the last week of May 2025. Note that the seat allotment for the M.Des program will be announced in April 2025.
The counseling process will be conducted online and include one or more seat allotment rounds.
NID counseling notification will include information like the mode of the counseling, application process, fees, etc. The candidate needs to carefully go through the notification to learn about the process. The NID counseling will be conducted for admission to the B. Des and M.Des courses. For the current session, there ate 425 B. Des seats, and 247 M.Des seats.
| Dos |
Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Bring a printout of the NID DAT Admit Card |
Electronic Items, including mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, and calculators, are not allowed inside the exam hall. |
| Carry a photo ID proof in the original. Photocopies will not be accepted. The list of acceptable IDs is given below.
|
Don’t Carry Bags or Purses |
| Reach the exam center on time. |
Bags, purses, and clutches are prohibited |
| The NID DAT 2026 exam center reporting time will be mentioned on the admit card. |
Don’t wear unnecessary jewelry, including rings, bracelets, etc. |
| Dress sensibly. |
Take your seat immediately after entering the exam hall. |
| Do Follow the Dress Code |
Don’t leave your seat during the exam |
| Adhere to the dress code and wear simple, comfortable clothing. |
Don’t gossip or disturb other candidates during the exam. |
| Carry the stationery required to attempt the exam: Lead pencils, erasers, ball pens, etc. |
Do interact with other candidates during the exam. |
| Carry two passport-size photos, a transparent water bottle, and sanitizer. |
Don’t cheat or use unfair means. |
| Read the instructions carefully before attempting the exam |
Don’t scribble on the DAT Prelims admit card or answer sheet. |
| Follow all instructions on the admit card and given by the invigilator |
Don’t enter the exam hall late |
| Use the Washroom Before the Exam |
No candidate will be allowed inside the exam hall once the exam has commenced. |
| Carefully fill in all the particulars in the OMR sheet |
Don’t disregard instructions given by exam officials. |
| Mark answers clearly and accurately on the OMR sheet. |
Don’t cheat or indulge in malpractice of any kind. |
| Crosscheck the answers if you have time. |
Don’t waste time. Try to complete the paper within the given time. |
| Do Check Your Answers |
Don’t mess with exam officials. |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
Candidates will be able to apply online by registering on the official portal, filling out the form, uploading documents, and paying the application fee. The registration process will start after the release of the NID DAT 2026 official notification. National Institute of Design is expected to relea
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
The NID DAT 2026 notification will provide information about eligibility, application process, fees, exam dates, exam pattern, and selection process. The notification provides details of seat capacity at each NID campus for both B.Des and M.Des.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NID DAT 2026 notifications will be available on the official website of NID at admissions.nid.edu. Official notification of the NID entrance exam is all set to be out by the first week of September 2025. The notifications will be out for UG and PG programmes.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
National Institute of Design is expected to release the NID DAT 2026 Applications by the first week of September 2025 for B.Des and M.Des programmes. The registration for NID DAT 2026 will be on the official website of NID. Candidates can fill out the application form by registering, filling in info
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NID notification for 2026 is expected to be out by the first week of September 2025. The official notification will be out on the official website of the NID and will contain details about the NID entrance examination.
The NID notifications will include:
General Information
Important Dates
Intake Capa
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
One can follow these tips for NID 2026 preparations:
- Know your NID Syllabus.
- Understand the exam pattern of NID DAT.
- Make the NID DAT 2026 preparation plan.
- Books to refer.
- Practice till you are perfect using mock tests and previous year's papers.
- NID DAT Exam Day Strategy.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
In general, the average salary after passing from NID is between 8-12 lakhs. It can also range between 17 and 50 lakhs, depending on the recruiter and the performance of the student.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, there are placements in NID campuses. NID has separate Placement cells for the placement process. Placement in NID completely depends on the performance of the student during the selection interview. Some of the top recruiters of NID are:
- Malabar Gold & Diamonds
- J.P.Morgan
- Tcs
- The Asian Heritage F
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NID students can get job opportunities in graphic designing, UX designing, animation, fashion communication, furniture designer, fashion consultant, Textile designer, web designer, product designer, film and video communication and much more.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NID Ahmedabad has a good record of placements. NID Ahmedabad consistently leads in placement outcomes among NID campuses. In 2025, the average package was around ?21.3 LPA and the highest package was around ?30 LPA. The Total offers made were 620.
S
Contributor-Level 10
The National Institute of Design (NID) is expected to conduct the DAT Prelims exam in the first week of January 2026.
The B.Des exam will be held around 10 am - 1 pm; meanwhile, the M.Des exam will be held around 10 am - 12.30 am. The candidate needs to report for the exam at 8 am. Gates' closing time is 9.30 am.
The DAT Prelims for the B.Des programme will be conducted in a paper-and-pencil/pen mode. The question paper may include both textual and visual questions. Other details like duration of the exam, marking scheme, etc., will be published in the DAT Prelims admit card.
The DAT Prelims exam for the M.Des programme will be conducted offline and include a mix of objective and subjective questions. The paper will have a total of 100 questions.