NATA Exam Guide:
Eligibility, Format & Admission Pathway
Learn about NATA and its role in the B. ARCH admission pathway. Use the current official brochure for eligibility, exam format, registration and dates.
Explore preparation programs: Prakhar Foundation · Prakhar Focus · Prakhar Preparation · Prakhar Crash
Explore the test before choosing your preparation plan.
The official sources reviewed on October 6, 2026 provide 2026 information. No 2027 brochure was found in this review. The 2026 details below are a reference, not confirmed 2027 rules or dates.
What is NATA?
NATA is the Council of Architecture’s aptitude assessment for students seeking admission to the five-year B. ARCH degree. It evaluates visual perception, reasoning, creative sensitivity, and critical thinking.
Understand the test
Explore the assessment and the abilities it examines before building your study routine.
Check your pathway
Keep exam eligibility and college admission requirements as separate checks.
Plan your preparation
Use the guide, practice resources, and official links to organize your next actions.
Two parts. Different skills.
Balance hands-on drawing with aptitude practice. Review both parts when planning your preparation.
Drawing & composition
90 minutes · 80 marks · 3 questions
- Composition and color: 25 marks
- Black-and-white sketching and composition: 25 marks
- 3D composition: 30 marks
Aptitude assessment
90 minutes · 120 marks · 50 questions
42 MCQs and 8 NCQs.
Visual reasoning, logical derivation, architecture and design awareness, language interpretation, design sensitivity, and numerical ability.
Total: 200 marks. Source: NATA 2026 brochure, Section 4 ↗
Eligibility starts with your academics.
Taking NATA
Passed or appearing: eligible 10+2, or 10+3 diploma with Mathematics.
Read Sections 5.1 and 5.2 together in the official brochure.
B. ARCH admission
10+2: Physics and Mathematics plus Chemistry, Biology, Technical Vocational subject, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics, or Business Studies; at least 45% aggregate. Alternatively, 10+3 diploma with compulsory Mathematics and at least 45% aggregate.
Source: CoA-hosted NATA 2026 brochure, Section 5 ↗. Verify the rules for your admission year and target institutions.
Turn the syllabus into regular practice.
Suggested study habits from AICT’s guide. These are preparation suggestions, not additional exam rules.
Observe carefully
Sketch everyday spaces and objects. Review proportion, perspective, light, and shadow.
Explore composition
Try several arrangements before choosing one. Explain your decisions about balance and color.
Practice reasoning
Keep a record of errors. Revisit the reasoning behind an answer rather than memorizing it.
Review your work
Use timed sessions and feedback to identify what needs attention in your next practice cycle.
Register through NATA’s website.
Apply online: enter details, upload documents, pay the fee, save the confirmation, and download the appointment card.
Use the official portal for the current document specifications and instructions.
| Candidate category / location | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC (NCL), in India | ₹1,750 |
| SC / ST / EWS / PwD, in India | ₹1,250 |
| Transgender, in India | ₹1,000 |
| Outside India | ₹15,000 |
Exam application fees are separate from AICT coaching fees. Official application fees are nonrefundable. Source: NATA fee structure ↗
View the completed 2026 exam schedule
Phase 1: April 4–June 13, 2026, on designated Fridays and Saturdays, excluding public holidays. Phase 2: August 7–8, 2026. These dates have passed. Official schedule ↗
A score is one step in the admission journey.
Qualifying does not guarantee admission. Institutions and admission authorities apply their own admission procedures.
Shortlist institutions
Create a comparison sheet for the colleges you are considering, including location, course, costs, and accepted entrance pathway.
Check requirements
Review each institution’s current notices. Keep a separate checklist of documents and deadlines.
Follow the process
Track the applicable admission rounds and required actions. Do not assume that taking an exam completes your college application.
2026: two attempts in Phase 1 or one in Phase 2. Score validity: 2026–27. See Sections 3 and 10 in the official brochure ↗ for score interpretation and previous-year score conditions.
Explore AICT’s existing resources.
Use these pages alongside the official syllabus. Older question papers and examples may use an earlier exam format.
Know what to check next.
Where should I check NATA 2027 dates and rules?
Use nata.in and coa.gov.in. This guide labels all year-specific information so you can avoid applying an older rule to a new admission cycle.
Can a Class 11 student take NATA?
Do not rely on an older website description. Read the eligibility section above and verify the official brochure for the year you intend to take the exam.
What score do I need to qualify?
Use Section 10.1 of the official 2026 brochure. Check the admission-year rules before relying on a threshold from a previous year.
Are NATA fees and coaching fees the same?
No. The table above is the official exam application fee. Contact AICT separately to discuss preparation programs and coaching fees.
Do I need to choose a program immediately?
First review the exam, your academic stage, and your available study time. Then compare preparation options and discuss a realistic schedule with the faculty.
How do I compare NATA with JEE Main B. ARCH?
Return to the Architecture Entrance Hub comparison, then check the current official information for each exam and your target colleges.
Official information. Clearly referenced.
Reviewed October 6, 2026. Exam facts on this page are based on the following official sources. Preparation suggestions are presented separately.
- NATA official website
- NATA 2026 brochure: Sections 3–7 and 10
- Council of Architecture copy of the brochure
- Official application fees and exam schedule
AICT Design Academy is a preparation provider. Official examination and admission decisions belong to the respective authorities.
Make a clear preparation plan.
Discuss your current studies, drawing experience, and available preparation time with AICT Design Academy, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune.
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