How to Prepare For NIFT Situation Test 2026?

Candidates seeking admission to the B.Des program at the NIFTs need to appear in a Situation Test if they qualify in the NIFT written exam. The Situation carries 20% weightage and requires a different preparation strategy. Here we bring you easy and useful tips to ace the exam.

The NIFT Entrance Exam for B.Des is conducted in TWO stages. The candidate has to first appear in the NIFTEE, conducted by NTA, which includes a written exam comprising a Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT). If the candidate is shortlisted, then he or she will have to appear in a NIFT Situation Test/Studio Test and a Personal Interview.

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will conduct the Situation Test in May 2026. Note that the NIFT 2026 written exams were held on February 9, 2026. The candidate can check their qualifying status by logging into the NIFT 2026 result portal. Candidates who qualify in the written exam will have to book their slots for the Situation Test. The Situation Test carries 20% weightage. If a candidate scores well on the test, it can greatly improve their chances of getting admission to their chosen NIFT college. So, we bring you here the important tips to prepare for the NIFT 2026 Situation Test.

NIFT 2026 Situation Test - 2nd Stage of Admission Process

The NIFT 2026 admission process for the B.Des program comprises two stages:

1. Stage 1 - NTA NIFTEE (Written tests), which include GAT and CAT
2. Stage 2 - Shortlisted candidates have to appear next in the Situation Test and Personal Interview

The FINAL merit list of NIFT 2026 for the B.Des will be prepared by giving weightage to CAT (50%), GAT (30%), and the Situation Test (20%).

Exam Pattern of NIFT 2026 Situation Test

NIFT Situation Test is a hands-on model-making test, where candidates will be given materials to create a three-dimensional model based on a given theme or problem. It will be a practical, creative examination. The duration of the exam is two hours. The exam is typically conducted at NIFT campuses in an offline mode. 

• During the exam, the candidate will be provided with a set of materials; using these materials, the candidate will be required to make specific models. NIFT provides all necessary materials such as paper, glue, tape, and other crafting supplies. Candidates cannot bring their materials.
• In this test, candidates are required to create a 3D model based on the question asked for, which they are given 2 hours. Within which, they need to conceptualize and complete the model and leave it supported with a write up which is evaluated by the jury later.

Let us address the preparation for the NIFT Situation Test by setting a goal of answering questions that help us set our preparation strategy.

The following parameters are evaluated during the NIFT Situation Test 2026

Though at face value it seems a simple craft examination, it studies a candidate far beyond. A candidate is evaluated upon:

• Concept development, that is, how one has answered the main subject of the question while remaining creative at its core.
• How beautifully and intelligently has the student converted the concept into a design/ product?
• How successfully the student has been able to transform a design/ product from paper to 3D
• How much innovation has been put into the end product
• The amount of material exploration, experimentation and treatment given to otherwise simple craft raw material.
• If the student has been able to explain the concept through the write-up.
• If the student has the knack of combining different types of materials according to their texture and weight.
• If the materials have been appropriately used for the right component in the model.
• If the student has been able to utilize the resources not only in variety but also in quantity, that is, managing the limited supply.

Besides material exploration & management skills, NIFT also lays great emphasis on time management skills, and students are closely monitored on the fact that whether they have managed to complete the task at hand in two hours or not.

So, be assured that the NIFT Situation test is not just a simple art and craft examination but much beyond that. Let’s now move to the second part of the address, which is how to approach your preparation for the exam:

Also Read:

• NIFT 2026 Toppers - All India Rank, Scores, Interviews
• NIFT Situation Test, Group Discussion and Personal Interview; Get Past 10 Years Questions
• NID vs NIFT - Differences, Participating colleges, Admission Process, Placement
• NIFT 2026 Quantitative Ability Syllabus, Questions & Preparation Tips

How to prepare for the NIFT Situation Test 2026:

• Prepare a tool kit with all utilities like a geometry box, foot ruler in metal & plastic, paper knife, scissors big & small, cello tape, glue stick, fevicol, all pins, markers, etc.
• Practice handling all types of craft materials. You could work on the following given materials by trying to practice how to cut and attach within the same material category & also across the material category.
• Some materials to practice with are – cardboard, thermocol (thick & thin), glaze papers, kite papers, handmade sheets, cellophane, fabric, colored clay, aluminum foil, aluminum sheet, sun pack, foam, straw pipe, mouldable aluminium wire, transparency sheet, cotton, rubber sheet, gift wrapping sheet, beads & sequences, etc.
•  Always Work Time Bound. It is pointless to keep sitting with a single assignment for more than 2 hours, as that is the time limit you have.
• Explore the possibilities with the materials at hand.
• Work through a contact session with an experienced and trusted mentor, following a video can only help in developing your skill and that too for only that one model you watch being made. But a mentor nurtures and develops you into an independent thinker and explorer with a heightened creative quotient, which helps you handle any variety.

If you follow the tips given above, you will put yourself in a great position to score well in the NIFT 2026 situation test. Do remember, nothing replaces a mentor, so find a good one. Also, stay glued to Shiksha to know more about sample questions asked in the NIFT Situation Test.

About the Author:

Shipra Anand is the Founder Director of Academy for Fashion Careers in Lucknow.

Read More:

• List of NIFTs in India: Rankings, Admissions, Courses and Fees
• Fee Structure for UG and PG Design Courses in NIFTs
• Why join NIFT – How is National Institute of Fashion Technology different from other design colleges