Updated On : April 18, 2023
Summary: Once you know that you want to pursue a career in architecture, you must shortlist the exams to write. This article gives a comparison of NATA vs JEE Main B.Arch: Which is better?
NATA and JEE Main B.Arch are competitive exams for admission to Architectural courses.
Both exams require a good understanding of the subject and good preparation.
NATA focuses more on drawing skills, whereas JEE Main B.Arch focuses more on drawing and other aptitude subjects. The choice between these two exams should be based on the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate.
Therefore, assessing the candidate's aptitude and competency is important before deciding.
Let's take a look at the facts of these Architectural exams.
Parameters | JEE MAIN B.Arch | NATA |
Conducting Body | The National Test Agency (NTA) | The Council of Architecture (COA) |
Exam Level | National Level exam | National Level Exam |
Programs Offered | BE (Bachelor of Engineering), B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology), B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture), and B.Planning. | Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) |
Participating Institutes | The National Institute of Technology (NITs) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) | School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) |
Frequency of Exam | Twice a year | Twice a year |
Eligibility | 12th-pass students from PCM backgrounds with a minimum aggregate of 50% are eligible for JEE Main (Paper-II). Students Appearing in the class XIIth exam and those who have passed their qualifying exam in the last two years are also eligible. No minimum or maximum age limit to appear in JEE Main (Paper-II) | 12th pass students from PCM background with a minimum aggregate of 50% are eligible for NATA Minimum age limit is 17 years for NATA (on the 01st of July of the year of admission) |
Appearing Candidates (2020) | 1,38,409 | 22,853 |
Subjects in Exam | General Aptitude, Drawing, and Mathematics | Drawing, Mathematics, and General Aptitude |
Number of Questions | Total of 83 (General Aptitude has 50 questions, mathematics has 30 questions, and Drawing has only 3 questions) | Total of 62 (Part A contains 60 questions, and Part B contains 2 questions) |
The Language of Paper | English, Hindi, and Gujarati for candidates belonging to Gujarat, Daman, Diu, and Nagar Haveli | English |
Duration of Examination | 3 hours | 3 hours (Part A - 90 minutes and Part B – 90 minutes) |
Mode of Examination | Online mathematics and General Aptitude test and drawing exams will be in offline mode/pen and paper-based | Part A – online Part B – online |
Question Pattern | Multiple choice questions with one correct answer for Aptitude and Mathematics, whereas for drawing, a candidate has to represent his/her sketching skills | Part A- Multiple Choice Questions (Online-mode) Part B- Drawing sheets (Offline-mode) |
Marks Allocation | 4 marks will be given for each correct answer, 1 mark will be cut for every wrong answer, and 0 marks will be given for unanswered questions. | 2 marks will be given for each correct answer; there is no negative marking |
Total Marks Allocated | 390 Marks | 200 marks (Part A will be allotted 110 marks, and Part B will be allocated 90 marks) |
Check: Logical Reasoning Questions for NATA
Both exams are highly prestigious and hold equal significance. However, there are major differences that the two exams hold, and exam pattern is one of them.
The table below shows the JEE Main and NATA exam patterns:
Check the table below for a detailed JEE Mains Paper 2 Exam Pattern.
Specifications | JEE Main 2021 Pattern for Paper 2 (B.Arch.) |
Exam Mode | Mathematics and Aptitude - CBT Mode; Drawing - Pen and paper mode |
Subjects | Aptitude Tests, Mathematics, Drawing |
Type of Questions | Maths - 20 (MCQs) + 5 (Questions for which answer is a Numerical Value) + Aptitude- 50 MCQ + Drawing - 2 Questions |
Medium of Exam | English and Hindi (All Centre Cities) English, Hindi, and Gujarati (Centre Cities in Gujarat, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli) |
Duration of Exam | 3 hours |
Total Marks | 400 Marks |
Marking Scheme |
For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked. For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions. For the Drawing Test: 2 questions of 100 marks |
The following table explains the detailed NATA Exam Pattern, such as exam mode, number of questions, type of questions, and more.
Particulars | Details |
Mode of Examination | Online |
Medium of Examination | English |
Duration of the Exam | 3 hours |
Number of Sections | The exam will have only one part- The aptitude Test |
Number of Questions | 125 Questions |
Type of questions | Multiple-Choice type (MCQ), Multiple Select types (MSQ), Preferential Choice type (PCQ), and Numerical Answer type (NAQ) |
Total Marks | 200 Marks |
Marking Scheme | The questions will carry either 1 mark, 2 marks, or 3 marks |
The level of difficulty of JEE Main examination is moderate to high, but the NATA examination level is easy to moderate
Here below are some of the points mentioned on the difficulty level of both examinations: -
Check: JEE Main Paper 2 Drawing Questions with Answers
Check: JEE Main Preparation Strategy
Both NATA and JEE Main B.Arch exams are equally important for aspiring architecture students. However, the choice of either of the two exams depends on the student's score and preferences.
NATA assesses the aptitude of the student in the field of architecture, while JEE Main B.Arch exam assesses the student's knowledge in the subject of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Both exams are tough and require rigorous preparation to crack them. It is also important to note that some colleges accept scores of both exams for admission.
Therefore, it is essential to keep track of the updates of both exams before appearing for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is JEE Main better than NATA?
NATA is considered easier than JEE Main. But both of the exams are equally better at their stages.
Which is the best college for the B.Arch course?
The best college for B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) is School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi.
Can I join Architecture without NATA and JEE main B.Arch?
You can join B. arch without NATA only if you are getting into some IIT or NIT through JEE. Both the exams have an equal importance in the field of arch. You can either appear for one of them or both.
Is NATA exam easier than JEE Main B.Arch?
The aptitude section is very easy. Gk and logic questions are easy to crack. The drawing section isn't very demanding and is just a basic approach. It has a drawing paper which requires you to analyse views (like bird's eye view, ant's eye view etc), It is tougher than JEE drawing paper.
Is architecture a good career?