How to Crack NIFT Entrance Exam 2026?: Check NIFT CAT & GAT Prepartion Plan & Previous Year Question
National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam 2026 ( NIFT Entrance Exam )
The NIFT entrance exam is currently conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to shortlist aspirants for admission in courses like Bachelor of Design (BDes), Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech), Master of Design (MDes), Master of Fashion Management (MFM), and Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech) offered at NIFT campuses. Go through the list of colleges offering admission based on NIFT Entrance Exam scores/ranks. Sources share that each year, more than 40,000 students appear in the NIFT entrance exam to secure admission to fill around 4,387 seats. Although NIFT Entrance Exam is not high on the difficulty level but one needs to be at his/her creative best to crack the exam. And what better way to form a prep strategy for it than to know what to expect in the entrance test?
To secure admission to the BDes course offered at any of the NIFT campuses, candidates need to know NIFT entrance exam pattern. For NIFT BDes admissions, aspirants need to appear for three tests, which are the Creative Ability Test (CAT), the General Ability Test (GAT), and the Situation Test. On the other hand, for MDes course admissions, aspirants need to appear for CAT, GAT and PI admission rounds. However, for the BFTech course, candidates need to take only the GAT. But for MFM and MFTech course admissions, aspirants need to appear for the GAT and GD/PI admission round.
- NIFT Entrance Exam GAT Pattern 2026
- NIFT Entrance Exam Evaluation Criteria for CAT 2026
- NIFT Entrance Exam Evaluation Criteria for GAT 2026
- NIFT Entrance Exam Evaluation Criteria for Situation Test 2026
- Tips to Crack NIFT Entrance Exam 2025
NIFT Entrance Exam GAT Pattern 2026
The NIFT Pattern for GAT are:
| Program | B.Des | M.Des |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | GAT | GAT |
| Mode of exam | Computer-based exam | Computer-based exam |
| Language | English/ Hindi | English/ Hindi |
| Test Duration | 120 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Sections | Number of Questions | Number of Questions |
| Communication Ability |
40
|
30 |
| English Comprehension | 30 | |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 | 20 |
| Analytical Ability | 15 | 25 |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 25 | 15 |
| TOTAL | 100 | 120 |
NIFT GAT 2026 Exam Pattern (Revised) - B.F.Tech
The expected NIFT GAT Pattern for B.F.Tech are:
| Program | B.F.Tech | |
|---|---|---|
| Paper Name | GAT - Section A (CBT) | GAT - Section B (CBT) |
| Language of written test | English/Hindi | English/Hindi |
| Test Duration | 180 minutes | |
| Sections | Number of questions | Number of questions |
| Communication Ability and English Comprehension |
40 | NIL |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 | 15 |
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 15 | 15 |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs |
25 | NIL |
| Case Study | NIL | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 50 |
NIFT GAT 2026 Exam Pattern - M.F.M & M.F.Tech
Note that no changes have been made to the exam pattern for the M.F.M. and M.F.Tech courses.
| Program | M.F.Tech | MFM |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | GAT | GAT |
| Language of written test | English/Hindi | English/Hindi |
| Duration | 180 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Sections | Number of questions |
Number of questions
|
| Communication Ability & English Comprehension | 45 | 50 |
| Case Study | 25 | 40 |
| Quantitative Ability | 30 | 10 |
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 25 | 25 |
| General Knowledge And Current Affairs | 25 | 25 |
| TOTAL | 150 | 150 |
NIFT Entrance Exam Evaluation Criteria for CAT 2026
In the Creative Ability Test, candidates are evaluated on the basis of their power of observation, intuition skill, innovation in the development of a concept, as well as their design ability. An important aspect to keep in mind while attempting this section is the creative and innovative use of colours and illustration skills.
Explore colleges based on NIFT Entrance Exam
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
Read More:
Admission to NIFT Kangra is entrance based for the UG and PG programmes.
NIFT Kangra admits students on the basis of entrance and other admission rounds.
Step 1: Applicants must first pass the "written test," also referred to as the NIFT entrance exam.
Stage 2: Candidates who made it through the first round take the situation test. The overall outcomes of both phases are examined in order to make the choice.
The NIFT entrance exam, sometimes referred to as the "written test," is the first requirement for candidates seeking a master's degree or a UG degree. Successful applicants undergo in-person interviews following the screening process. Candidates are selected by summing up their performances in various rounds.
No, the admission criteria for the BDes programme is entrance-based. NIFT Delhi BDes course admission is granted based on applicants performance in the NIFT Entrance Exam. Candidates shortlisted based on exam score are called for the personal interview round followed counselling. The students looking for direct admissions are advised to contact the admission office.
NIFT Entrance Exam Evaluation Criteria for GAT 2026
In this section, candidates are evaluated on the basis of their knowledge of General Knowledge and Current affairs, English comprehension, communication ability, quantitative ability, and analytical ability.
Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates
1 Aug '25 - 30 Nov '25
30 Nov '25
11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25
1 Sep '25 - 7 Dec '25
1 Nov '25 - 19 Dec '25
1 Nov '25 - 31 Dec '25
1 Jan '26
2 Jan '26
8 Sep '25 - 13 Jan '26
1 Sep '25 - 15 Jan '26
NIFT Entrance Exam Evaluation Criteria for Situation Test 2026
Though at face value the NIFT Situation Test seems like a simple craft examination, the fact is that it evaluates candidates at a far more in-depth level. Besides material exploration and management skills, NIFT also lays great emphasis on time management skills, and students are closely monitored in the Situation Test on whether they have managed to complete the task at hand in two hours or not.
Also read:
Read the following for the NIFT Situation Test 2025:
Tips to Crack NIFT Entrance Exam 2025
Some pointers that candidates need to keep in mind to crack the NIFT entrance exam are as follows:
NIFT situation test will evaluate the candidate on Colour scheme, Space visualization, Construction skill, Finesse of the model, Composition of elements, Overall presentation, Innovative and creative use of given material, etc. The Situation Test will be evaluated on the spot. Also, the model made by the candidate will not be preserved for future reference. The candidate must make sure that their model is unique and stands out from the crowd. After making the model, the candidate must make a write-up explaining the model.
The NIFT 2024 application form will open shortly. When filling out the form, the candidate will have to upload the following documents.
Self-attested certificates of qualifying examination, i.e.10+2/degree (marks sheet and certificate)
In case the candidate has appeared for qualifying exam/compartment (of final year/semester) and the result is due, the date sheet /admit card for examination has to be uploaded.
Birth certificate (Secondary School Mark Sheet & Certificate) (Original and Photocopy).
SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD certificate that is issued in the name of candidate.
Certificate of Medical Fitness to be signed by a Registered Medical Practitioner in the prescribed format.
Self declaration for seeking provisional admission only in case, the result of qualifying examination is yet to be declared.
Additionally, the candidate will also have to upload an undertaking regarding anti-ragging and refund of fees.
Admission criteria for MDes at the NIFT, Kannur, the candidates should have passed B. Des or any other graduate degree in a relevant discipline.
1. Be innovative: In order to stand out from the crowd, candidates need to present original ideas while answering questions in the exam. Experts share that NIFT CAT as well as GAT evaluate candidates on the basis of how creative and unique their solution to a problem is.
2. Work on Time management: Managing time while appearing for NIFT Entrance Exam is of a lot of importance. This is because while attempting any question in NIFT exam, candidates not only need to present an innovative idea but also need to ensure that they complete their paper in a given time duration. So, they have to draw the complete answer and that too as per timelines. Thus, candidates need to work on their speed to neatly represent scenarios for a given question in the exam.
Candidates need to lay emphasis on speed because while attempting questions in the NIFT exam, they would not have adequate time to make changes to their answer (drawing). Thus, while attempting questions in the exam, aspirants are advised to first create a rough drawing with a light hand, and only once they are satisfied with it should they work on the finer details of the sketch. To ace this aspect of the exam, aspirants are advised to practice sketching as much as they can.
3. Practice sample papers/past years’ questions
Candidates are advised to practice as many sample questions as well as past years’ question papers as they can. This simple exercise will offer them an opportunity to develop an idea of the type of questions asked in the NIFT Entrance Exam. Apart from this, aspirants will also be able to gauge the difficulty level of the questions asked in this design entrance exam.
Another aspect that is catered to by solving past years’ papers/sample papers is that candidates can work on their time management strategy and formulate a plan on how they can quickly and effectively attempt their NIFT Entrance Exam.
Also Read:
| NIFT Statistics 2025: How Many Students Appeared for the Exam; Attendance and Participation | NIFT Marks vs NIFT Rank: What Your Score Means | NIFT vs Other Design Colleges: Which one is right for you? |
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25 | NID DAT 2026 Registration Date |
2 Dec '25 - 4 Dec '25 | NID DAT 2026 Application Corre... |
2 Jan '26 | UCEED 2026 Issue of Admit Card... |
18 Jan '26 | UCEED 2026 Exam DATE |
Nov '25 | UID DAT 2026 Application |
11 Jan '26 | UID DAT 2026 exam date |
8 Sep '25 - 13 Jan '26 | Pearl Academy Application Form... |
17 Jan '26 - 19 Jan '26 | Pearl Academy Admit Card 2026 ... |
Nov '25 | AIEED 2026 Application START D... |
20 Dec '25 | AIEED 2026 Exam Date |
30 May '25 | Cycle 2: Semester 1 Fee Paymen... |
17 May '25 | Cycle 2: Acceptance Deadline |
1 Aug '25 - 30 Nov '25 | SEED 2026 Online registration ... |
5 Jan '26 | SEED 2026 Admit Card (B.Des) |
Jul '25 | PESSAT DAT 2025 Application Cl... |
Jan '25 | PESSAT DAT 2025 Exam START Dat... |
11 May '25 | FDDI AIST 2025 Exam date |
8 May '25 | FDDI AIST Admit Card (for stud... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 months ago
The fee for M.Des programme offered at NIFT is around INR 8 Lakhs.
| Fee Components | Fee Amount (2 Years) (2025) |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | 5.86 Lakhs |
| Hostel Fees* | 2.21 Lakhs |
| One-time payment* | 27,200 |
| Total fees | 8.35 Lakhs |
* Hostel fee is calculated on the basis of 1st year. Actual amount may vary. The fees might include components other than hostel fees. Meal Plan is not included in the mentioned fee.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The fee of the B.Des programme at NIFT is around INR 14 lakhs.
| Semester | NIFT Fees 2024 (INR) | NIFT Fees 2025 (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 1,83,200 | 1,91,700 |
| Semester 2 | 1,43,000 | 1,50,000 |
| Semester 3 | 1,69,800 | 1,78,700 |
| Semester 4 | 1,50,000 | 1,58,000 |
| Semester 5 | 1,78,700 | 1,87,800 |
| Semester 6 | 1,58,000 | 1,66,000 |
| Semester 7 | 1,93,700 | 2,03,200 |
| Semester 8 | 1,66,000 | 1,74,000 |
| Total (4 Years) | 13,42,400 | 14,09,400 |
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi, is the best based on the India Today ranking (2025).
NIFT Delhi is considered the best NIFT campus in India because of the following:
It consistently ranks No. 1 among all NIFTs (India Today Ranking: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021)
It has
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The NIFT entrance exam is considered moderately difficult. The level of difficulty of the exam depends on a student's strengths and preparation. Since seats are limited and competition is high, even average questions feel tougher due to the pressure.
B.Des exam tests creativity, design aptitude, obse
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The educational qualification for NIFT admissions varies from course to course:
| Programme | Educational Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| B.Des (Bachelor of Design) | Passed 10+2 (Class 12) in any stream (Science, Commerce, Arts, Humanities) from a recognised board |
| B.FTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology) | Passed 10+2 (Class 12) in any stream, but Mathematics as a subject in 10+2 is compulsory |
| M.Des (Master of Design) | Undergraduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university |
| M.FTech (Master of Fashion Technology) | B.FTech from NIFT or B.E./B.Tech from a recognised university |
| MFM (Master of Fashion Management) | Undergraduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university |
S
Contributor-Level 10
The NIFT exam is among the competitive and is also considered among the toughest. So, it is recommended that the candidate starts their exam preparation early. NIFT exam has various components like written exam and Situation Test /Personal Interview. Candidates seeking admission to the B. Des and M.Des courses need to prepare for both the CAT and GAT. The CAT is a drawing-based exam. Now unless the candidate is already well-versed, the exam will be very difficult. So, start early. The same goes for the GAT.