NIFT Entrance Test 2026 General Ability Test (GAT) Preparation Tips

National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam 2026 ( NIFT Entrance Exam )

Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Oct 13, 2025 09:57 IST

By Dr Anup

NIFT GAT comprises of MCQs in Quantitative Analysis, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and General Awareness. Go through NIFT prep tips and find out what to expect in GAT 2026.

The NTA will conduct the NIFT Entrance Exam 2026 in the second week of February 2026. The NIFT exam will be conducted in TWO stages. The 1st stage includes the written exams - The General Ability Test (GAT) and the Creative Ability Test (CAT). The GAT is common for all the courses, meaning that irrespective of which program you select for admission, you need to take the GAT.

Meanwhile, only B.Des and M.Des candidates need to take the CAT. The GAT exam will be conducted in a computer-based mode and could be a scoring option if the candidate prepares well. In this article, we will be talking about what to expect in the GAT (General Aptitude Test) of NIFT. This test comprises MCQs in Quantitative Analysis, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability & General Awareness. Note that B.Des candidates who qualify in the written exam need to appear in a Situation Test. Meanwhile, PG candidates need to appear in a Personal Interview.

General Ability Test (GAT) Preparation Tips for NIFT Entrance Test 2026

Here are some useful tips to prepare for the GAT paper.

Essentials:

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To score the maximum marks in GAT, students are required to focus on Mathematics up to Class 10 level, should have a logical bend of mind, continuous usage of English as a language, and finally, an aptitude for garnering knowledge from around the world. 

Verbal Aptitude and Reading Comprehension:

Q:   When do I need to start my preparation for NIFT 2026 exam?
A:

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.

Q:   Is admission to NIFT Kangra entrance based or merit-based?
A:

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.

Q:   How to get admission to the BDes course at NIFT Bhubaneswar?
A:

NIFT Bhubaneshwar offers admission to BDes course based on NIFT Entrance Exam. The test comprises of General Ability Test, Creative Ability Test and Situation Test. Below is the weightage of each selection parameter for BDes course:

Entrance ExamWeightage
CAT50%
GAT30%
Situation Test20%

The exam tests the all-around performance of the student, so the students should be voracious readers of newspapers and Magazines. This improves their ability in Communication Skills, Reading Comprehension and most importantly General Awareness. A habit of reading will abreast the student with vocabulary, sentence formation, usage of prepositions and other grammatical rules. This will also improve their reading speed along with comprehension techniques. With proper guidance, they should be able to understand the techniques to comprehend.

Quantitative Ability:

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On the other hand, Quantitative Aptitude requires practice to the core. Any standard book or apt coaching should be sufficient to understand the basics of Quantitative Ability. However, after that, the student is required to practice the questions within a specified time limit. Some standard books for the practice of Quantitative Analysis may include Objective Quantitative Ability by RS Aggarwal and Quicker Maths by M Tyra.

Logical reasoning:

Logical Reasoning is one section where the students are required to apply their understanding and application of mind. It tests the basic application of ideas. At the outset, the student should go through the topics that form part of the NIFT entrance exam, and then they should practice. The book by Dr RS Aggarwal for Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning will be a good source for the students for practice. 

General Tips:

Q:   What is the selection process for NIFT Shillong BDes course?
A:

To register for the admission test, applicants for NIFT Shillong must go to the institutes official website. Candidates' performance in the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance test, which consists of the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Creative Ability Test (CAT), determines their admission to the NIFT Delhi BDes programme. Candidates who have been shortlisted based on their CAT/GAT test results must next show up for the Situation Test, which is administered by NIFT in order to be admitted to the B.Des programme.

Q:   Can students get direct admission at NIFT Jodhpur?
A:

Direct admission is not possible at the National Institute of Fashion Technology NIFT Jodhpur. Candidates must follow the eligibility criteria to apply for admission to several courses at the National Institute of Fashion Technology. The eligibility criteria for the admission to undergraduate courses is passed a three or four-year Diploma recognised by the AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) or to pass Class 12 from a recognised board or the State Board of Technical Education. The accepted entrance exam is NIFT Entrance Exam and others.

Q:   What information will be included in the NIFT important dates 2025?
A:

The important dates of NIFT 2025 will cover the entire admission schedule of NIFT 2025 admission process. The important dates will therefore cover events like release of admission notification, application form, and admit cards, conduct of the exam, declaration of results, counseling schedule, and date of commencement of classes. The candidate by consulting the important dates will know in advance about an upcoming event and so will be able to plan in advance. The exam schedule for NIFT 2025 will be released by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Note that in some cases previously scheduled event may be postoned, prepponed, or even cancelled. So, it is recommend to keep visiting this page for the latest updates.

Nothing is better than the practice of Mock Tests and the past years' NIFT question papers. During the last week of examination, the students should take as many tests as possible to acclimate themselves to the examination conditions. Regular reading of newspapers, magazines and articles should be in the curriculum of the student.

Read More:

Prep Tips for NIFT Entrance Exam

Tips to prepare for NIFT Creative Ability Test

How to Crack CAT Paper in NIFT Written Entrance?

Understanding NIFT Entrance Exam Pattern

About the Author:

Dr Anup has been a facilitator in various areas of test prep for the last 18 years. His expertise has been utilized by various colleges and institutes in Delhi/NCR. He has been instrumental in guiding students for Aptitude Training for various programmes in Delhi, Gwalior, Agra, Mathura, and Jhansi. He has been associated as an Aptitude Trainer for AFA since 2008 for all its Delhi branches. He offers guidance with regard to the preparation of the Test Series for NIFT and editing the content for the AFA webpage - www.afaindia.com.

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