NIFT Entrance Exam

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.

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.

The participating institutes of NIFTs offer a 4-year B.FTech programme. Admission to the programme is based on GAT scores. The NIFT 2025 GAT question paper for the programme will be of 180 minutes and will be bilingual. Candidates will have the option to take the exam either in English or Hindi. The question type will be multiple-choice. The question paper will have a total of 150 questions. Questions will be asked from the following FIVE sections - Communication Ability and Comprehension, Case Study, Quantitative Ability, Analytical & Logical Ability, and GK and Current Affairs. The mode of NIFT 2025 exam for the GAT paper will be computer-based-test (or CBT).

It is important for the candidate to note that mock tests and sample papers have very different purposes. For instance, sample papers are meant to be used in conjunction with early exam preparation. Once can start solving sample papers in the very first week itself, usually after completing a topic a chapter. The sample papers will allow the candidate to improve their understanding of concepts and problem-solving skills. Time management is another skill one can develop by solving sample papers. 

Mock tests are on the other hand are tools to help the candidate get an exam-like ambience and understand the question paper structure. Typically, mock tests are taken and are more effective in the last few days leading up to the exam.

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.

The NIFT 2025 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.

NIFT is not only one of the most competitive entrance exams in the country, with a large number of applicants, but it is also among the toughest. The syllabus for the NIFT exam is quite vast, and most of the questions can range from medium to difficult. So, to prepare for an exam like NIFT 2026, you need to have enough time in your hands.

If you are only beginning your NIFT now, i.e., with only a few months left for the exam, you need to pace your preparation accordingly. For instance, it will be foolhardy to try to complete the entire syllabus from the get-go, because you will put unnecessary pressure on yourself and things can only get complicated.

Instead, what you can do is make a list of high-scoring, easy-to-prepare topics. First, master these topics as fast as you can. Make a plan if you need to. Once you are done with these topics, you can move to the next category of topics, and continue this strategy until you complete the entire topics.