NID 2021 Topper Interview: Dipra Arora, AIR 2, says focus on thoughts not aesthetics while sketching

Dipra  Arora topped  the NID 2021 exam with All India Rank (AIR) 2  in open category. Scroll  down to know  about her NID preparation strategy, success mantra and more.

Dipra  Arora bagged AIR 2 by securing 83/100 marks in NID DAT Prelims 2021 and 99.88 percentile in NID DAT Mains 2021. Dipra is currently pursuing Bdes from the National  Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. She  comes from a family of doctors. Her mother is a gastrointestinal  pathologist and father an ENT  surgeon. She  enjoys  reading, writing, and gardening.

Shiksha  talked  to Dipra where  she shared NID Entrance Exam preparation strategy,  important books and tips.  Read the complete interview below. 

Q. Did you expect to be the topper of NID 2021?  

A. When I left the examination hall, I was quite happy with my performance and expected a positive result. But I had never imagined I would score this well. 

Q. Could you tell us about your NID preparation strategy that helped you crack the exam? 

A. Well, my main goal was to keep learning, reading and researching about a wide range of topics so as to implement them in the theory as well as sketches. I made sure that I watched as many relevant documentaries as I could, read as many articles, books and other relevant material that I could lay my hands on. 

I was very clear that I needed to make my sketches unique and interesting and at the same time showcase my skills and knowledge. Keeping this in mind, I tried to improve my sketches with each passing day.  

Q. Did you take any coaching for NID 2021 exam? 

A. Yes, I attended a coaching institute for one year, which helped me in my NID preparation. 

Q. What study plan did you follow for NID 2021? 

A. I had taken a gap year, after being unable to clear it in the first attempt, so I had the entire day to dedicate fully to the preparation. NID is an exam where one cannot predict the NID exam pattern, so I made sure to give equal importance to both parts, i.e. theory and sketching. Hence, I had divided my day in such a way that I studied GK and theory in the first half and sketched in the second half of the day.  

Q. Which books or study material did you read to clear the NID 2021? 

A. Since it is a design exam, there is no set syllabus or books as such. The majority of my theoretical knowledge came from YouTube and GK websites. As for books, I solved all of the GAT books I received from my coaching institute, and also the previous year papers. 

Also read: 

• Sample  Questions for NID Entrance Exam 2021 
• Last  week preparation tips for NID Entrance Exam 2021 
• NID  Entrance Exam: Sample Questions for DAT (Prelims) 
• NID  Entrance Exam Syllabus 2022 for BDes Admission 

Q. Are there any important topics to score well? 

A. For Part A, focus on topics such as current affairs, awards, festivals, textiles, reasoning, art history and culture. For Part B, make sure to get the basics cleared in the initial stages. Practice topics such as perspective, object drawing, memory drawing, human figures, etc. Start with live sketching because the more you live sketch, the easier it will be to draw from memory. The most important thing is to make your sketches unique and interesting.  

A common misconception is that you need to have amazing drawing skills, with perfectly realistic sketches. This is not true. Yes, having a good hand at sketching definitely helps, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Your idea is what’s more important. Show them your creativity and how observant and unique you are. Think of what the most common answer could be. Then, scrap that and dig deeper to come up with your best ideas.  

Q. What as per you are the mistakes one should avoid while preparing for NID? 

A. Do not limit yourself to a particular set of books or topics, considering the fact that it is a design exam. There is no ‘one size fits all’ formula for these exams. Every person who clears the exam has a different strategy and approach. Something that works for me, might not work for you. So, analyse NID previous year papers, see what is asked and then devise your own strategy.  

Also, do not skip out on timed mock tests. These help you with time management. And most importantly, always have feedback discussions with your teachers/friends.  

Q. How did you manage time while taking the exam? 

A. One day, I sat down and analysed a few previous year NID papers to see marks distribution of different parts. It is a 100-mark paper with each MCQ carrying one mark, so I decided to spend only 30 seconds on each MCQ as I was quite confident about my theoretical ability.  

For Part B, I divided time depending on how much marks a question carries. For example, if there is a 10-mark question, I would need at least 20-25 minutes to complete it. So, before starting, I would write the approximate time I would need to complete each question. Keep a close eye on the clock and ensure you are not using more time than what you have decided for that particular question.  

Q. How did you deal with your strengths and weaknesses while preparing for NID 2021? 

A. The first step is to identify your strengths and weaknesses. I realised that I enjoyed theory more than sketching. But, I needed more practice in sketching. So, I tried to sketch everyday and practiced reading only when I was on a break. So, the key is create a balance between your strengths and weaknesses.  

During exam, I knew that my ideas are my strengths. So, I confidently came up with good ideas and sketched in a way in which I could showcase my strengths in the best way possible.  

Q. What other design entrance exams did you take or are planning to take? 

A. Apart from NID, I have appeared for NIFT, UCEED and MITID exams. 

Q. Was design always your first preference? Why did you think of pursuing your studies in design stream? 

A. Creativity and design has always fascinated me, so yes, it was my first preference. I formally started preparing for design entrance exams in the beginning of Class 11.  

Q. Any tips for students who are planning to appear for NID 2022? 

A. The most important point is to have a thirst for knowledge. Ask questions, be curious, try to read about any and every topic you think is relevant. Any knowledge is good and will definitely help you somewhere. Be aware of your surroundings. For instance, if you are on a busy street, notice what you can smell, hear and see? Observe logos, change your perspective to generate ideas. 

Secondly, develop your theoretical base. This will help you a lot with drawing as well. Part A is where you know the answer or you don’t. But Part B is a place to showcase the knowledge you have. It is not just about making pretty sketches. It is about how well-thought sketches you can make and how you can add your personal touches to it. Taking an example of memory drawings, everyone knows what a basic railway station looks like. But when you are asked to draw a scene from the station, you need to include a little bit of your personality to it by adding the things that catch your eye and make the station an interesting place.  

And lastly, have fun with your preparation as well as the exam. It is an enjoyable paper with a really interesting preparation journey!  

Q. What are your future plans?  

A. Well, I plan on making the most out of my time at NID. As of now, I have not decided what discipline I want to go into, so I am looking forward to the foundation year and then exploring what I want to specialise in.  

Read more: 

• NID  2021 Topper Interview: Khushi Purohit, AIR 1, says stay focused, be  original in ideas 
• NID  DAT 2020 Topper Interview: AIR 1, Krishna Gilda wants to be an  entrepreneur 
• Colleges  accepting NID Entrance Exam Scores for BDes & MDes Courses