How many questions are asked in NIFT GAT?

The exam pattern for NIFT GAT varies from one course to another. The total number of questions asked in NIFT GAT is mentioned below: BDes: 100 questions, BFTech: 150 questions, MDes: 120 questions, MFTech: 150 questions, MFM: 150 questions. Note that the GAT or the General Ability Test will be conducted in a computer-based mode. Questions will be objective-type. The GAT paper for the B. Des and M.Des programs will be of 120 minutes. However, the GAT paper for the B.FTech, M.FTech, and MFM courses will be for 180 minutes.

What is the NIFT 2025 exam pattern for the GAT paper (M.F.M)?

As per the official exam pattern released by NIFT, the question paper for GAT M.FTech will be of 180 minutes. The exam will be conducted in a LAN-based, CBT mode. The GAT paper will have 150 multiple-choice questions. These questions will be asked from - Communication Ability and Comprehension, Case Study, Quantitative Ability, Analytical & Logical Ability, and GK and Current Affairs. Also, the GAT paper will be bilingual, meaning the candidate can appear in the GAT paper either in English or Hindi language. The choice of language has to be made when filling out the NIFT 2025 online application form.

What is the exam pattern for the NIFT CAT paper?

Candidates seeking admission to the B. Des and M.Des course also need to take the Creative Ability Test CAT written exam, in addition to the GAT. The CAT exam will be conducted in an offline, pen-pencil mode. CAT will be a drawing-based exam of 3 hours duration. The CAT will evaluate various skills of the candidate including Intuition skill, power of observation, innovation in the development of a concept as well as design ability. Further, it will examine the creative as well as innovative use of color and illustration skills of aspirants. It is mandatory for B. Des and M.Des candidates to appear in the CAT paper, or else they will not be invited for the Situation Test.

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

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.

What are some quick tips to prepare for the NIFT exam?

Here are tips for NIFT exam preparation. Check NIFT exam pattern and syllabus. Check the topics and plan accordingly Ensure you follow only the updated syllabus. Stay updated with trends, fashion shows, exhibitions, etc. Make a timetable taking into account the difficulty level of each topic. Solve sample papers and previous years' question papers. Take mock tests.

What is the NIFT GAT exam pattern for the M.Des program?

The GAT paper for the M.Des programme will be of 120 minutes and will include 120 multiple-choice questions. The questions will be set in English and Hindi, and the candidate will be able to select their language at the time of filling out the NIFT application form. Questions will be asked from the following topics: Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Analytical Ability, and GK and Current Affairs. The Communication Ability, English Comprehension, and Quantitative Ability sections will each include 30 questions, whereas Analytical Ability will have 20 questions, and GK and Current Affairs will have 15 questions. The candidate must strictly follow the official exam pattern only, as questions will be asked from the given syllabus.

What is weightage carried by GAT, CAT and Situation Test/ Interview for NIFT 2026?

The NIFT will be a multi-stage exam. For instance, for admission to the B. Des programme, the candidate has to first appear in the written exams GAT and CAT; if shortlisted, the candidate has to next appear in a Situation Test. M.Des candidates, on the other hand, who get shortlisted (based on GAT and CAT scores) have to appear in a Personal Interview (instead of the Situation Test). Note that the final result of NIFT will be prepared by giving weightage to each test component. In case of the B. Des programme, the final result will be prepared by giving 50% weightage to CAT, 30% weightage to GAT and 20% weightage to the Situation Test. In case of the M.Des programme, the CAT carries 40% weightage, while the Personal Interview and GAT carry 30% weightage each.

What is the exam pattern for NIFT 2026 Situation Test?

Candidates will be shortlisted for the Situation Test on the basis of their performance in the CAT and GAT written exams. The Situation Test will evaluate the - material handling and the innovative ability - of the candidate. Some of the key parameters that will be evaluated include Space Visualization, Innovative and creative use of given material, the composition of elements, color scheme, construction skill, the finesse of the model and overall presentation, etc. After making the model, the candidate will also have to draft a write-up explaining the model. The write-up should clearly explain the concept/idea behind the model constructed. Also, the write-up should be in English only. Write-ups in any other language will not be accepted. The candidate has to make the model using material provided inside the exam hall. No other material will be allowed.

Where can I download NIFT sample papers?

Candidates can download the official sample papers from the official NIFT website. The sample papers are available in the form of PDFs.

How many sample papers do I need to prepare for NIFT?

There is no fixed number of sample papers that the candidate needs to solve for the NIFT exam. That being said, the candidate must solve as many sample papers as possible to improve their problem-solving and time-management skills. To get the most out of the sample papers, it is recommended that the candidate start solving sample papers as early as possible. For instance, the candidate may solve sample questions after completing a chapter. Along with solving the sample papers, it is also important for the candidate to analyze their performance. This exercise will help the candidate identify weak areas or pain points and fix them.

NIFT Entrance Exam MDes, MFM Pattern 2026: Know Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

628 Students Q&A

This exam is conducted for courses given below:

B.Des BFTech MDes, MFM MFTech

Updated on Oct 16, 2025 17:03 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 - The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is likely to revise the B.Des and B.F.Tech courses in the upcoming NIFT Entrance Examination 2026. However, no changes are expected to be made to the PG courses.

As per the latest NIFT exam pattern, the NIFT 2026 exam is conducted in two stages. Stage 1 includes the written exams - GAT and CAT. The GAT is common for all the courses, while B.Des and M.Des candidates also need to take the CAT. The GAT paper will be conducted in a computer-based test (CBT) mode, while the CAT paper will be held offline. The scores of NIFT exam are used to shortlist candidates for a Situation Test/ Personal Interview.

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