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.
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 NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam will be conducted in the first week of January 2026. The exam will be conducted in the following 22 cities - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kurukshetra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada.
The candidate has to select their choice of exam city at the time of filling out the NID DAT 2026 Application form. Note that an exam city may have one or more test centres. The allotment of exam centres will be made considered available seats in respective centres and choice of the candidate.
The National Institute of Design (NID) will conduct the Studio Test for the B. Des program in April 2025. The Studio Test will be conducted offline. Note that B. Des candidates are not required to appear in any interview, unlike the M.Des applicants. Admit cards for the Studio Test will be released a few days in advance.
On the day of the Studio Test, the candidate had to report at the exam center with the admit card and a valid photo id proof. The Studio Test (or that Mains) is the 2nd stage of the two-stage NID that admission process. The final results of NID DAT 2025 is prepared by considering the performance of the candidate in DAT Mains and DAT Prelims.
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.
- 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 studio test and personal interview for M.Des DAT Mains are conducted on the same and in some cases different days.
For instance, in the previous edition of the NID DAT exam, for the New Media Design program, the studio test was conducted on March 4, 2024. However, the personal interview were conducted between March 4 & 7, 2024.
Therefore the candidate has to consult their DAT Mains admit to confirm their studio test and interview schedule.
The National Institute of Design (NID) will conduct the DAT Prelims exam on December 21, 2025.
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.
NID DAT 2026 (Mains) exam for the B. Des programme will be held in the last week of April 2026. The timings for the DAT Mains exam will be mentioned in the NID DAT 2026 admit card. Candidates need to reach the DAT Mains exam centre as per the timings given in the admit card.
| 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
Answered 3 weeks ago
The result for NID DAT Prelims 2026 will be announced on April 07, 2026 around 4 PM.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
The details that cannot be modified in NID DAT 2026 Application window are programs applied, name of the candidate, date of birth, registered mobile number and registered email address.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
NID DAT 2026 Application edit window will open from December 02, 2025 to December 04, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
The last date to fill the application form for NID DAT 2026 for B.Des and M.Des programme is December 01, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Registration - 11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25
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.