March 30, 2026
Quick Answer: The NATA exam analysis 2026 indicates that the exam will be conducted for 200 marks, including Part A (3 drawing questions - 80 marks) and Part B (50 aptitude questions - 120 marks: 42 MCQs + 8 NCQs). The paper will test drawing, visual reasoning, logical reasoning, architecture awareness, language interpretation, design thinking, and numerical ability.
According to the NATA 2026 exam analysis, the overall difficulty level is expected to be easy to moderate, with aptitude questions being more scoring and drawing moderately challenging. A good attempt in NATA 2026 will require high accuracy in aptitude questions along with well-structured drawing responses..
1. Total exam marks: 200 marks (as per recent NATA pattern).
2. Exam sections: Drawing and Cognitive Skills (aptitude-based questions).
3. Overall difficulty level: Expected to be easy to moderate.
4. Section difficulty trend:
5. Expected cutoff range (General): 70-90 marks (based on past trends).
6. Most questions expected from:
7. Drawing questions expected to test:
8. Paper trend (based on past year papers):
9. Time management expected to play a crucial role in scoring.
The Council of Architecture (CoA) will conduct the NATA entrance exam 2026 in two sessions this year. NATA Phase 1 exam will be conducted every Friday and Saturday from April 4, 2026 to June 13, 2026 and Phase 2 on August 7 & 8, 2026. We have provided an in-depth exam analysis (expected) of NATA 2026 in this article.
Going through the NATA 2026 exam analysis will help you get an understanding of the difficulty level of the paper, the type of questions asked, and the number of good attempts. Also, it will help you understand the areas to focus on more for better results.
According to the NATA 2026 exam analysis, Part A of the exam will be conducted in offline mode for 80 marks with 3 drawing questions. This section is expected to be moderate in difficulty and will test creativity, visualization, and design thinking skills
|
Question |
Type |
Marks |
Difficulty (Expected) |
Topics Asked (Expected) |
|
A1 |
Composition & Color |
25 marks |
Easy-Moderate |
Scene composition, color application, storytelling |
|
A2 |
Sketching & Composition |
25 marks |
Moderate |
Perspective drawing, environment sketching, objects & people |
|
A3 |
3D Composition |
30 marks |
Moderate |
3D form creation, spatial composition, model-based visualization |
Part B will be conducted in online adaptive mode for 120 marks with 50 questions (42 MCQ + 8 NCQ). This section is expected to be easy to moderate and more scoring.
|
Section |
Questions |
Difficulty (Expected) |
Topics Asked (Expected) |
|
Visual Reasoning |
Moderate weightage |
Easy |
2D-3D shapes, spatial reasoning, pattern recognition |
|
Logical Reasoning |
Moderate weightage |
Easy-Moderate |
Series, analogy, reasoning puzzles |
|
Few questions |
Easy |
Architecture awareness, current affairs |
|
|
Language Interpretation |
Few questions |
Easy |
Vocabulary, comprehension |
|
Design Sensitivity |
Moderate weightage |
Moderate |
Observation, design thinking |
|
Numerical Ability |
Few questions |
Moderate |
Basic maths, geometry |
Based on the NATA 2026 exam pattern and past trends, a good attempt in NATA depends on accuracy in Part B (Aptitude) and quality of drawings in Part A. Since NATA follows a 200-mark format, students should aim for balanced performance across both sections.
|
Section |
Total |
Good Attempt (Expected) |
Difficulty |
|
Part A – Drawing |
3 Questions |
Attempt all 3 with quality output |
Moderate |
|
Part B – Aptitude |
50 Questions |
35-40+ accurate attempts |
Easy-Moderate |
Check: Short tricks to crack the NATA exam on the first attempt
|
Performance Level |
Attempts |
Expected Score Range |
|
Excellent |
40+ aptitude questions with high accuracy + strong drawings |
130-150+ marks |
|
Good |
35-40 aptitude questions with high accuracy + decent drawings |
110-130 marks |
|
Average |
25-35 aptitude questions with high accuracy + average drawings |
90-110 marks |
|
Section |
2025 Difficulty |
2026 Expected Difficulty |
|
Part A Drawing |
Moderate |
Moderate |
|
Part B NATA Aptitude |
Easy-Moderate |
Easy-Moderate |
|
Overall |
Easy-Moderate |
Easy-Moderate |
The NATA 2026 exam analysis begins with understanding the exam structure that candidates can likely expect. Though the official pattern for 2026 will be released by the authorities close to the exam date, based on trends from previous years, here is the expected pattern:
|
Section |
Question Type |
Number of Questions |
Marks |
Duration |
|
Part A |
Mathematics |
~30 MCQs |
60 |
2 hrs |
|
Part B |
General Aptitude & Logical Reasoning |
~40 MCQs |
80 |
2 hrs |
|
Part C |
Drawing / Architectural Awareness |
~2‑3 tasks |
60 |
2 hrs |
|
Total |
— |
~80 questions |
200 |
3 hrs approx |
|
Feature |
NATA 2026 |
NATA 2025 |
Change |
|
Best Score Considered |
Best of 2 scores |
Best of 3 scores (including previous year attempts) |
🔼 Changed |
|
Eligibility (Subjects) |
Physics & Maths compulsory |
Maths compulsory |
🔼 Changed |
|
12th Marks Requirement |
45% minimum aggregate |
45% minimum aggregate |
No Change |
|
Minimum Qualifying Marks |
❌ No minimum qualifying score |
✅ 20 marks Part A + 20 marks Part B + 60/200 overall |
🔼 Major Change |
|
Part A |
Drawing & Composition |
Drawing & Composition |
No Change |
|
Part A Questions |
3 Questions |
3 Questions |
No Change |
|
Part B |
MCQ + NCQ |
MCQ + NCQ |
No Change |
|
Part B Questions |
50 Questions |
50 Questions |
No Change |
|
Total Marks |
200 |
200 |
No Change |
According to the official NATA 2026 brochure, the exam will follow percentile-based scoring with Phase-1 (April–June) and Phase-2 (August) attempts for admission purposes.
Since NATA 2026 has removed minimum qualifying marks, the cut-off will now depend entirely on college admissions, competition level, and difficulty of the exam. Based on NATA 2025 trends and previous years' admission cut-offs, here is the expected NATA 2026 cut-off range:
| Top 10 NATA Colleges List | Target Safe Score in NATA (GEN) | Target Safe Score in 12th boards (GEN) |
| CEPT, Ahmedabad | 170+ | 85%+ |
| Faculty of Architecture, JMI | 120 - 130+ | 85%+ |
| Department of Architecture, BIT, Mesra | 120+ | 85%+ |
| Amity University | 110-120+ | 85%+ |
| Nirma University | 130+ | 85%+ |
| BMS College of Architecture | 130+ | 85%+ |
| Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dr APJ Abbdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow | 120-130+ | 85%+ |
| Manipal School of Architecture and Planning | 110+ | 85%+ |
| Sir J. J College of Architecture, Mumbai | 120+ | 85%+ |
The aptitude of the applicants who appeared for the NATA entrance exam was assessed using some or all of the following techniques:
The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) 2024, held on April 6th and 7th, is a critical step for candidates pursuing a career in architecture. Administered by the Council of Architecture (CoA), it assesses a broad spectrum of skills necessary for architectural studies.
The exam challenged participants with 125 questions over three hours, aimed at a total of 200 marks. It featured a variety of question types, including MCQs, MSQs, PCQs, and NFAQs, designed to evaluate candidates' abilities in areas such as sketching, observation, aesthetic sensitivity, and critical thinking.
Here’s a succinct breakdown of the exam sections, their difficulty levels, and the key focus areas:
| Section | Difficulty Level | Focus Topics | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Moderate | Elevation, top and side views | Questions were lengthy, requiring efficient time management. |
| General Aptitude | Moderate | Architectural terminology, historical monuments, building materials | Tested a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical application. |
| Drawing | Easier | Logo and sculpture design | Emphasized creativity and conceptual understanding, comparatively easier than other sections. |
NATA 2024 Phase 1 Exam Analysis and Student's Review:
The analysis of NATA 2024 Phase I underscores the necessity for aspirants to adopt a comprehensive approach to their NATA preparation, balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application. As the field of architecture evolves, so do the expectations from its future professionals, making such insights invaluable for candidates aiming to excel in this competitive examination.
NATA Exam 2024 Highlights:
| Name of the Exam | National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) 2024 |
| Type of Exam | UG Level National Entrance Exam |
| Conducting Body | Council of Architecture (CoA) |
| Exam Frequency | Twice a Year |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Mode of Exam | Online at Exam Center |
| Exam Language | English |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| NATA Exam Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Official Website | www.nata.in |
NATA 2024 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme:
| Particulars | Details |
| Number of Sections | The exam will have only one part- Aptitude Test |
| Number of Questions | 48 Questions |
| Type of questions | Drawing and Composition Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) |
| Total Marks | 200 Marks |
| Marking Scheme | Online Test Section B1 - 2 marks Section B2 - 4 marks |
As per the nata exam pattern observed in Phase 1, had questions divided into two sections. However, both of them focused on testing the aptitude knowledge of the students.
The second section was drawing-based. However, students didn't have to draw anything. An image was displayed for 30 seconds, and there were corresponding questions related to the image.
Read more: NATA 2025 Marking Scheme
COA successfully concluded the NATA Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 exams on 21 April, 28 May and July 9, 2023, respectively, in two sessions, i.e., from 10 AM to 1 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The exam was conducted online, i.e., a computer-based test.
There were a total of 125 questions for 200 marks, and the time duration of the exam was 3 hours (180 minutes) for all the 3 sessions NATA Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3.
In the NATA 2023 entrance exam, the question paper was divided into two sections:
The questions were based on design, mathematics, and aptitude.
We have provided a detailed exam analysis for NATA phase 3 exam to help the candidates understand the types in the above video.
Our experts have provided a detailed exam analysis covering subjects such as mathematics, aptitude, general science, and english. They have discussed various questions from ach section in both the shifts of NATA Phase 3 Exam.
Aptitude
General Science
English
Mathematics
We have provided section-wise analysis here to help applicants understand the type of questions from each topic and the difficulty level of the NATA 2023 question paper.
Check out the table below to know the subject-wise NATA Exam Analysis for Phase 2 exam.
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| Memory-based drawing questions | Easy-Moderate |
| Aptitude | Moderate |
| Mathematics | Easy |
| Overall | Moderate |
Aptitude
As per students who appeared for the NATA 2023 Phase 1, the aptitude section was easier as compared to Phase 1. The aptitude section consists of all the questions from quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning and verbal reasoning sections which are provided below:
Physics
Architectural Aptitude
Mathematics
Design & Drawing
Learn more: How to Prepare for NATA 2025?
Experts on NATA 2023 Phase 2 Exam Analysis:
According to experts, the NATA 2023 Phase 2 exam was moderately difficult. The first section, on general aptitude, was a little more challenging than the second.
Students were tested on a number of topics in the general aptitude section, including counting and figures, orthographic projections, time and work, speed and distance, ratio and proportions, and clocks. Some of the problems were fairly difficult, and students with strong analytical skills performed better in this section.
The drawing section was based on the previous year's patterns, and questions were asked on form concepts of design, perspective, shading, and rendering. The questions were generally straightforward, but few candidates may have found the time pressure to be challenging.
Overall, the NATA 2023 Phase 2 exam offered a thorough evaluation of student's knowledge and abilities. Students who prepared appropriately and used their time efficiently should have performed well on the exam.
Check out the table below to know the subject-wise NATA Exam Analysis for phase 1 exam.
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| Memory-based drawing questions | Easy |
| Aptitude | Moderate |
| Mathematics | Easy |
| Overall | Easy |
NATA Phase 1 Exam Analysis 2023 (Section-wise)
There were a total of 125 questions in the NATA 2023 Exam, and the paper was of the same difficulty as compared to the previous year.
The exam analysis of NATA 2023 is based on the candidate’s reviews, experts’ analyses, and more. The overall paper was easy and based on the previous year's papers.
The NATA Exam Analysis 2023 provides useful information on subject-specific difficulty levels, questions asked, and a review of question papers. This analysis will help future NATA aspirants prepare effectively. Stay up to date on the most recent developments and use this knowledge to excel in the NATA and gain admission to your selected college.
Prepare for NATA Phase 2 with: NATA Free Mock Test Series
Our expert team from CreativeEdge will provide a detailed exam review of the NATA phase 2 as soon as the exam gets over.
The exam analysis will be provided based on the feedback received from the students who have appeared for the exam.
Only those who will score above the NATA Cut Off are eligible to get admission to the architecture programs at architectural colleges.
COA successfully concluded the NATA Phase 1 exam on 12 June 2022 in a single session i.e., from 10 AM to 1 PM. The exam was conducted online i.e., a computer-based test.
There were a total of 125 questions for 200 marks and the time duration of the exam was 3 hours.
In the NATA 2022 entrance exam, the question paper was divided into two sections:
The questions were based on design, mathematics, and aptitude. Check out the table below to know the subject-wise NATA Exam Analysis for phase 1 exam.
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| Memory-based drawing questions | Easy-Moderate |
| Aptitude | Easy |
| Mathematics | Easy |
| Overall | Easy |
As said above, there were a total of 125 questions in the NATA 2022 Exam and the paper was very easy compared to the previous year.
We have provided the section-wise analysis here to help you understand the type of questions from each topic and the difficulty level of the paper.
Quantitative Aptitude
Design
Aptitude
In the NATA aptitude section, the questions were asked on the following topics.
Puzzle
Know more: What is Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT)?
As we all know, the Council of Architecture conducted the NATA exam in three phases last year.
Have a look at the table below to know the overall difficulty level of phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3 of NATA exam.
| Phase | Difficulty Level |
| Phase 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| Phase 2 | Easy-Moderate |
| Phase 3 | Easy |
Our expert, Konark Bhatia from CreativeEdge, spoke to the students who appeared for the exam and gathered our insights in the article.
Overall, the difficulty level of the exam was elementary and easier than the phase 2 exam. A total of 125 questions were asked for 200 marks.
NATA Phase 3 Analysis 2021 (Section-wise)
We have provided the section-wise analysis here to help you understand the type of questions and difficulty level.
| Area |
| Volume |
| Ratios & percentage |
| Speed, Time & distance |
| Odd one out |
| Boats and streams |
| Sitting arrangement |
| Analogy |
| Paper folding |
| Paper cutting |
| Basics of algebra |
In the NATA GK section, the questions were a little tricky, you can find some of the sample questions below.
NATA Exam is over for Phase 1. The students came out with happy faces stating that the changed pattern didn't seem difficult. Here is what they added about the NATA Phase 1 Paper Analysis:
NATA 2021 Analysis (section-wise)
There was a total of 5 pictures, and there were 2 questions asked from each picture.
The marking scheme followed for the image-based questions was 3 marks for 1 question, meaning that 1 image held a weightage of 6 mark weight in this section.
Students mentioned 3-4 passages in the exam in the English section, which had 4-5 questions each.
| Section | Number of Questions |
| English (Reading Comprehension) | 30 Questions |
| Non- Verbal reasoning (Orthographic projections- Plan elevations) | 15 questions |
| Maths (Geometry- Area, Volume, Angle) | 10 questions |
| G.K and AAT (Geography, Architectural awareness, Paintings) | 15 questions |
| Aptitude (Ratio, Percentage, Logic-based questions, Riddles, Puzzles) | 10 questions |
| Design and Drawing (Principles of design, elements) | 35 questions |
| Section- B - Observation Based questions | 20 questions |
Read more: How to crack NATA in 1 month
As per the exam review, the overall difficulty level of the exam was moderate. There were 20 questions from Maths, 40 questions from Aptitude, and 2 questions to test the drawing skills of the candidates.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
| Maths | Easy |
| Aptitude | Moderate |
| Drawing | Moderate-Difficult |
| Overall | Moderate |
Check: How to Improve Your NATA Score
Here is the detailed NATA Exam Review of 2019. You can go through the number of good attempts and difficulty levels.
| Section | Easy | Moderate | Difficulty | Good Attempts | Accuracy | Good Marks |
| Maths | 10 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 80% | 25 |
| Aptitude | 25 | 9 | 6 | 34 | 80% | 50 |
| Drawing | - | 2 | - | 2 | 70% | 50 |
Know more: NATA government colleges in india
NATA Section-wise Exam Questions 2019
Check for the section-wise NATA Exam Questions 2019 from below-
Aptitude Questions Asked in NATA Exam: July 07, 2019
This section basically checks students' logical mind, decision-making capability, thinking on feet, analytical skills, and mental fitness. For checking all these skills, there were questions from the following areas:
Puzzle-solving, syllogism, critical reasoning, inferential reasoning, statement assumption and conclusion, pictorial reasoning, mathematical reasoning, logical operations, even diagram, set theory, sets, union, intersection, 3-dimensional figures, visualization, understanding of isometric figures.
The section was tricky and required good analytical skills for cracking the correct answer.
For a well-prepared student, a decent number of attempts would be close to 32 to 34 at an accuracy of 80%, and a score of 50 is a decent score.
Maths Questions Asked in NATA Exam: July 07, 2019
Check what and how many questions appeared from the Maths section as follows:
Questions were doable and were on predictable lines; there was no surprise element in the section.
A decent number of attempts would be close to 15 at an accuracy of 80%, and one can easily score 25 marks in this section.
NATA Exam Analysis of Drawing Questions: Asked July 07, 2019
There were 2 questions of 40 marks each, someone who would have done good preparation and had a knack for drawing and understanding of proportionality, comfortable with freehand drawing and good with visualization of 2 dimensional and 3-dimensional figures can very easily score 50 plus marks in this section.
Imagine a memorable holiday in which u have to. Show your one, and only one family member and u are seeing a monument or nature-related surrounding or a landmark 2. The question was based on composition. The candidates had to use shapes and make a poster on global peace Swacch Bharat and harmony any one of the themes.
Read more: Verbal Reasoning Questions in NATA
In 2018, the difficulty level of the NATA Exam was moderate. You can go through the section-wise analysis below for enhancing preparation levels.
NATA Maths Exam Analysis
NATA General Aptitude Analysis
NATA Drawing Analysis
Check: How to fill NATA application form
The NATA 2026 exam analysis shows that aspirants will face a balanced, competitive exam that tests not just technical knowledge, but creativity, visualization, logic, and design thinking. With an expectation of moderate to high difficulty levels, a strategic study plan, timed mock tests, and creative preparation will be the vehicle to success.
Preparing for NATA 2026? We can help you with exact strategic roadmap, study material and crucial feedback required to ace this exam.
Join CreativEdge NATA Crash Course and get expert guidance on all NATA 2026 subjects.
You can enroll in offline NID batches at your nearest centres also!
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