NIFT Entrance Exam Preparation

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 well in advance, say with around 1 years time in hand. Note that the 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, meaning the candidate will be evaluated on parameters like intuitive ability, power of observation in concept development, and design ability. Now unless the candidate is already well-versed, developing these skills will take time. So, it is prudent to start early. The same goes for the GAT.

Along with doing through the textbooks and solving problem Sets the candidate must also solve previous years question papers to prepare for NIFT 2024. One of the main benefits of solving sample papers is the candidate will get to know the difficulty level, types of questions asked, and marking scheme. Also, previous years papers are great tools to improve ones time-management and problem-solving skills. By analyzing the previous years question papers, the candidate may also figure out trends that are followed in drafting question. Further, note that there are some questions that may be repeated, with a slight change in the wording or concept. If the candidate solves previous years question papers, the candidate will be able to easily solve them.

The NIFT 2024 Situation Test will evaluate the candidate on the following parameters:
Concept development, which evaluates how one has answered the main subject of the question while remaining creative at its core. Whether the candidate is able to beautifully and intelligently convert the concept into a design/ product? How real-life is the 3D model? How much innovation is required to create the model. The amount of material exploration, experimentation and treatment given to otherwise simple craft raw material. Is the student able to explain the concept in the write up. If the student able to combine different types of materials considering their texture and weight. If the materials usage appropriate. Whether the student is able to utilise the resources not only in variety but also in quantity, that is, managing the limited supply.

The Creative Ability Test or CAT will evaluate the intuitive ability, power of observation in concept development, and design ability of the candidate. To prepare for CAT the candidate must develop their observation skills, learn the basics of geometrical shapes, understand conceptualization, learn product drawing and shading. Additionally, the candidate must also work on their line quality. For instance, the candidate needs to ensure there are no jittery or multiple lines. To imporve ones drawing skills, one may start with simple drawings, and then move on to complex shapes. Also, while shading is not so important for the exam, shading skills can definitely help the candidate get a positive nod from the evaluator.

The NIFT 2024 entrance exam for the B. Des programme will include CAT and GAT written tests in stage 1. Candidates who qualify stage 1 have to next appear in a Situation Test. To prepare for the GAT written exam, the candidate needs to work on improving their analytical and logical abilities, and also keep track of GK and Current Affairs. Some of the best books to prepare for the NIFT exam are: NIFT/NID/IIFT entrance exam guide by Surendra Kavimandan, Arihant NIFT Entrance Exam Self-Study, NIFT Entrance Examination (Guide) by D Mittal, and Bright Careers Guide NIFT Entrance Exam. To practice for the CAT paper, the candidate needs to work on their drawing, observation, and creative skills. The candidate must lean various types of drawing, including line, silhouette, cartoon, sketch, figure, photorealism, etc.

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) may or may not conduct mock tests. So, the candidate can take mock tests conducted by coaching institutes or by online outlets to practice for the exam. Typically, the more mock tests a candidate takes, better it is from an exam point of view. That being said, mock tests are usually taken closer to the exam to give finishing touches to ones preparation. For instance, by taking mock tests, the candidate will learn to hone ones time management skills, along with improving problem-solving skills. Note that the candidate must solve sample papers and previous years NIFT question papers, along with taking mock tests, to effectively prepare for the exam.