NID Entrance Exam 2017 Topper Interview: Arkita shares NID DAT Mains Experience

National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2026 ( NID Entrance Exam )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25

Updated on Sep 1, 2021 19:30 IST

Arkita, NID DAT Rank 8 Holder

“Pursuing Design was my dream”, shared Arkita who has cleared NID Entrance Exam 2017. She has secured Rank 8 in Strategic Design Management and Rank 11 in Universal design course offered at National Institute of Design (NID). Although she has made it to the rank list of both these courses, this design aspirants revealed that she would be opting for admission in Strategic Design Management (SDM) course offered at NID Gandhinagar.

Arkita has pursued BArch course from School of Planning and Architecture and she shared that her bachelor’s programme helped her realise her interest in design. A passionate sketch artist, Arkita loves to paint and sketch anything and everything.

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Arkita has already shared the NID DAT (Prelims) prep strategy that she followed to crack the written exam and in this article she will shed light on her experience of appearing for NID DAT (Mains) 2017.

Q. What was the most difficult part of the NID DAT (Mains) 2017 exam?

Ans: As per me, the most difficult part about the Mains exam for NID admissions in to “read between the lines”. The questions put to you are not that simple and straight forward.

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Q. How did you prepare for the Studio Test and Interview round?

Ans: So, NID DAT (Mains) has two parts which is the Studio Test and the Interview. So, for the NID Studio Test I tried to explore as many stream specific topics as I could. For the NID Interview round, I would recommend that students remain honest, presentable and humble.

Q. Could you explain the entire process that you went through in the studio test?

Ans: So, I appeared for NID DAT (Mains) twice because I applied for two courses. I appeared for the Studio Test for SDM course at NID Gandhinagar. It was a 3 hours exam and we were made to sit in an auditorium which was thankfully air-conditioned, it was very hot outside. The auditorium was full of chairs and tables. During the exam there was strict surveillance. We were not allowed to talk or borrow things or even getting up from our seats for the three hours.

The three questions that I was asked in my NID Studio Test for SDM course admissions were:

Question 1: A page containing statistical data regarding girl child education and adult literacy and female foeticide. We had to understand it and make it a visual representation so that a layman can understand.

Question 2: We had to list good and bad effects of demonetiation and represent it visually

Question 3: “To control your cow give it bigger pasture”. We had to understand the meaning, explain it in my own words in my own context with an example and represent the same visually

For the Universal Design course, my Studio Test was held at NID Bangalore’s R&D Campus

Question 1: Design a toilet for differently-abled and draw its different views/angles

Question 2: Design signage for given categories (list was given) on transportation to be put up as stickers

Question 3: Make a model of a mobile for grandmother and another one for a child with given material (thermocol) and state the difference in approach in design and elaborate

Q. Any advice for NID aspirants

Ans: I would just like to say that students should be honest, curious and always strive to better themselves.

Other related articles:

NID DAT Topper Amit Kumar shares prep tips for NID DAT Prelims

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Answered 3 weeks ago

The result for NID DAT Prelims 2026 will be announced on April 07, 2026 around 4 PM.

S

Sayeba Naushad

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

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

NID DAT 2026 Application edit window will open from December 02, 2025 to December 04, 2025.

S

Sayeba Naushad

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

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10