NIFT Topper Interview 2020: AIR 2, Vartika Bhardwaj says time management is key to success

Vartika Bhardwaj topped the NIFT 2020 exam with All India Rank (AIR) 2. Know about her NIFT preparation strategy, success mantra and a lot more.

Vartika, who is currently pursuing BDes Fashion Communication from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi, secured 67.73/80 marks in the NIFT Entrance Exam 2020 and gives credit of her success to her family. She likes to read, write, sketch, dance and sing in her leisure time.

Shiksha spoke with Vartika wherein she discusses about her NIFT preparation strategy, time management skills and mistakes to avoid while preparing for the exam. Read the complete interview below to know how she cracked the exam.

Q. Congratulations! Did you expect to be the topper of NIFT exam?

A. It was totally unexpected. I had worked hard and prepared well for the NIFT Entrance Exam , but I expected to get a rank around 500. As the result day drew nearer, I thought that I might not get a good rank. Fortunately, all turned out well.

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

A. The most important thing is time management and identifying your strengths and weaknesses. I was not very good at drawing and was almost unaware of what all techniques existed. I was thoroughly guided by my teachers who held regular feedback sessions, which helped me determine my strengths and weaknesses. So, there is no particular preparation strategy, you just need to focus on your strengths, weaknesses, skill set and learning power.

Q. Did you take any coaching for this exam?

A. Yes, I joined a Design coaching institute in Dehradun a year before the exam. I would not have been able to achieve such good results without coaching.

Q. What study plan did you follow for the exam?

A. For most part of the year, I focused on brushing up on my artistic skills. As I was an amateur, so I had to start from scratch. I made notes on key happenings so that I can refer to them in the end. Besides, I also took aptitude tests.

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

A. I did not refer to any book as all study material was provided by my coaching institute. Also, I have been regularly following Vogue website.

Q. Are there any important topics to score well?

A. You have to be good at art if you want to score well in NIFT Entrance Exam. If you are just beginning your preparation, focus on making your artistic skills better. Other than that, I believe English plays a very important role. If you can express your thoughts well in English, it definitely helps you score good marks in the exam.

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

A. I think guesswork should be avoided until and unless you are like 70% sure that your answer is correct. Moreover, one should avoid detailing every answer as one moves forward. The time in which you have to complete the paper is not enough to create fully detailed artworks. I suggest you first read the NIFT question paper carefully, look at break-up of marks and then move ahead as to which questions require more attention and detailing. Sometimes simple and minimal works better than flashy and detailed.

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

A. For managing time, I resorted to the old school method of drawing up a schedule, which I followed diligently. I devoted at least 3 hours to my illustrative skills everyday. This was when there were around six months left for the NIFT examination. I had my boards to manage alongside. Being a Science student, I had to devote time to that as well. So, I had to strictly follow a schedule and had very less time for other activities. It got frustrating at times, but when I focused on the bigger picture, I always regained my concentration. That is why, it is really important to have a sense of purpose.

Q. Which as per you was the most difficult part of NIFT exam?

A. I think being unique with your design (artistic) approach is very difficult. While creating your artwork (attempting art questions), it is important to have your own approach. It is not bad to get influenced by good work, but it is bad to not think of anything on your own.

Q. How did you deal with your strengths and your weaknesses while preparing for the exam?

A. My teachers at the coaching institute helped me in identifying my strengths and weaknesses. I think that is the first step towards improvement. I had to work extremely hard to improve my illustrative skills. To have more of open-mindedness and to increase my sensitivity towards creative works, I observed the works of other artists, including my own classmates. When done with concentration and interest, observation can do wonders. Sadly, there is no shortcut to improve your skills. Practice is the only way and that is how I confronted my weaknesses.

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

A. I took NID entrance exam, but unfortunately could not perform that well. Then I took JEE BArch examination and got a percentile of 98.66. I was also preparing for NATA, but my NIFT result was declared before I could take NATA, so I decided not to attempt it.

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

A. I was not always exactly into painting and sketching. But I was always interested in other art forms such as music, dance and other such things often deemed as extra-curricular by schools. So, in a way, I always had a creative bent of mind. I was not sure about what exactly I wanted to pursue until I got in touch with my coaching institute. A career in design gives you an opportunity to keep on exploring and learning and that is what I wanted to do.

Q. What are your future plans?

A. Currently, I am exploring more and more of what lies in the world of art and design . There are a lot of things that I fancy and it is going to be tough trying to narrow it down to one thing. I believe that my education at NIFT will give me a better view of what I want and should do. Right now, I am clear about only one thing, a career in fashion communication .

Q. Any tips for students who are planning to take the exam next year?

A. Firstly, do not panic because that will only block your creativity. Read books to improve your writing skills and vocabulary because that will really come in handy while attempting the NIFT paper. Go weird with your ideas and look at things differently. You will not just be judged on your illustrative skills and ideas, but also on how well you can convey an idea. Learn to keep your ideas clear in your mind. Lastly, do not doubt that you cannot do this.