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NIFT 2025 Question Paper: Free PDF Download (GAT & CAT)

Author : Vineeta Agrawal

July 26, 2026

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Quick Answer:

The NIFT 2025 question paper included both CAT (Creative Ability Test) and GAT (General Ability Test) papers. There were 100 objective aptitude questions in B.Des GAT section and 3 creative design tasks in CAT.

The overall difficulty level was considered moderate, with strong emphasis on visual reasoning, fashion awareness, creativity, and analytical problem-solving skills in Stage 1 of the exam.

NIFT 2025 Question Paper PDF Download

Click the downloadable link below to access the official NIFT 2025 question paper PDF along with the answer key:

Question Paper

Download Link

NIFT 2025 Question Paper with Answer Key PDF 

Source: Official NIFT Website

Important Notes

  • Official NIFT 2025 question paper with solution PDF may be released after the answer key.
  • CAT answers vary because evaluation is subjective.
  • Only GAT section usually have fixed solutions.

Key Highlights - NIFT 2025 Question Paper

Parameter

Details

Exam Name

NIFT Entrance Exam (Stage 1 - CAT & GAT)

Exam Date

9th February 2025

Programs Covered

B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech, MFM (structure varies slightly)

Mode of Exam

GAT – Computer Based Test (CBT)  - For B.Des, M.Des, B.FTech, M.FTech, MFM
CAT – Paper Based Test (PBT) - For B.Des & M.Des

Total Questions (GAT + CAT)

100 Questions in GAT + 3 Questions in CAT

Total Marks (Stage 1)

Approx. 200 Marks (CAT + GAT combined evaluation)

Difficulty Level

Moderate overall; CAT required deeper ideation, GAT focused on reasoning & awareness

Answer Key Availability

GAT Answer Key released by NTA; CAT evaluated subjectively

Whether you want to analyze the difficulty level, understand the exam pattern, or download the NIFT 2025 question paper pdf, this guide covers everything aspirants need after the exam.

From section-wise analysis to good attempts and how to use the paper for future preparation, this blog provides a complete breakdown of the NIFT question paper 2025 pdf.

NIFT 2025 Question Paper: Overview

The NIFT 2025 entrance exam consisted of two major sections:

Section

Skills Tested

Nature of Questions

NIFT GAT

Quantitative aptitude, reasoning, GK, English

Objective MCQs

NIFT CAT

Creativity, storytelling, drawing

Subjective

The balance between CAT and GAT varies slightly depending on the program (B.Des, B.FTech, etc.), but overall the exam maintains a dual-evaluation approach.

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Best NID, NIFT & UCEED exam preparation books

What Actually Appeared in NIFT 2025 Question Paper? (Section-wise Breakdown)

The NIFT 2025 question paper included a mix of analytical and creative questions across GAT and CAT sections. Based on memory-based analysis and student feedback, the exam maintained a balanced structure while slightly increasing conceptual depth in the creative section.

GAT Section – Questions Asked in NIFT 2025

Subject Area

Number of Questions Asked

Share of Paper

Types of Questions Asked

Difficulty Level

Quantitative Aptitude

20

20%

Ratio & proportion

Moderate

Algebraic simplification

Speed/time questions

Approximation based Maths

Logical Reasoning + Visual Reasoning

15

15%

Visual reasoning puzzles / Figure analogy

Moderate

Arrangement-based logic

Analytical inference questions

3D block problems

Pattern logic

Spatial reasoning puzzles

English Comprehension + Communication Ability

40

40%

RC passage (analytical tone)

Easy to Moderate

Contextual vocabulary

Sentence improvement

Phrase replacement

Tone-based comprehension questions

General Knowledge / Fashion Awareness

25

25%

Fashion industry awareness

Easy to Moderate

Design icons

Contemporary fashion trends

Current affairs linked to culture

GAT Insight:

  • Logical reasoning and visual reasoning formed the core difficulty areas.
  • NIFT GK questions were concept-based rather than heavily factual.

NIFT 2025 GAT Question Paper: Section-Wise Sample Questions

1. Communication Ability & English Comprehension (40 Questions)

The communication ability section opened with two comprehension passages - one on animal camouflage, one on sustainable fashion and vegan leather, followed by vocabulary, grammar, and letter-writing format questions.

Sample Question:

Choose the most appropriate term that refers to the practice of advertising products as eco-friendly without actually adopting concrete measures to improve business practices.
(a) Greenwashing (b) Transparency (c) Sustainability (d) Alternatives
Answer: (a) Greenwashing

Sample Question:

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom, 'hand to mouth'.
(a) the action of eating food (b) measurement of Body Mass Index (c) to live in poverty and have only enough for basic needs (d) height of a person
Answer: (c)

2. Quantitative Ability (20 Questions)

Covered probability, mensuration, compound/simple interest, coordinate geometry, permutations & combinations, time-work, and ratio-based word problems - several framed around fashion-business scenarios.

Sample Question:

Preeti invested in a startup of kids' ethnic-wear. The cost of making an ethnic-wear depends on three items - fabric, tailoring, and designing, in the ratio 5:3:1. If tailoring costs Rs. 150 per piece, find the cost of a single piece.
(a) Rs. 600 (b) Rs. 750 (c) Rs. 450 (d) Rs. 900
Answer: (c) Rs. 450

Sample Question:

In how many different ways can the letters of the word DESIGNING be arranged?
(a) 22680 (b) 90720 (c) 45360 (d) 15120
Answer: (c) 45360

3. Analytical & Logical Ability (15 Questions)

Included figure-embedding, blood-relation puzzles, seating arrangements, mirror/water images, and design-business case-study reasoning questions.

Sample Question:

An accomplished fashion designer, Shreya, specializes in wedding outfits. Her business is unexpectedly moving slow, customers only visit for special occasions, not regularly.

What measures should she incorporate to scale up her business? (Options included increasing online availability of in-store collection and advertising in local newspapers.)
Answer: (d) C and E only

4. General Knowledge & Current Affairs (25 Questions)

Spanning art history, textiles/fibres, government structure, geography, and fashion-specific GK (embroidery types, fashion forecasting bodies).

Sample Question:

India's First Fashion Forecasting Initiative is ________.
(a) Fashionforcast (b) Visionnext (c) 'VisioNxt' (d) 'Fashionext'
Answer: (c) 'VisioNxt'

Sample Question:

The term used for silver and gold metal embroidery is:
(a) Zardozi (b) Chikankari (c) Phulkari (d) Kashida
Answer: (a) Zardozi

Also Check: All About NIFT Subjects

CAT Section – Questions Asked in NIFT 2025

CAT Question Type

Nature of Tasks Observed

Difficulty Level

Conceptual Illustration

Situation-based drawing requiring visual storytelling

Moderate to High

Emotion/storyboard based sketch

Storytelling through sketching

Moderate

Creative product visualization

Concept-based sketch responding to a real-life user scenario

Moderate

 CAT Insight

  • Time pressure was higher due to ideation depth rather than drawing complexity.
  • Creativity and concept clarity were the primary evaluation criteria.

Check: Difference Between CAT and GAT for NIFT

NIFT UG Exam 2025 Results

Top NIFT Results by CreativEdge

NIFT 2025 Question Paper: Difficulty Level

Based on expert analysis, the NIFT 2025 question paper was considered:

  • GAT: Moderate difficulty with a mix of conceptual and speed-based questions
  • CAT: Moderately challenging due to ideation depth and time pressure

Section

Difficulty Level

Key Insight

Quantitative Aptitude

Moderate

Calculation speed mattered

Logical Reasoning

Moderate

Visual patterns required attention

GK & Fashion Awareness

Easy to Moderate

Conceptual awareness based

CAT

Moderate to High

Strong ideation required

Must Read: Year-wise NIFT Exam Analysis

Good Attempts in NIFT 2025 Exam (Stage 1) for B.Des

Understanding a good attempt in the NIFT 2025 question paper depends on both sections of Stage 1 - CAT (Creative Ability Test) and GAT (General Ability Test). Since CAT carries higher weightage in B.Des admissions, aspirants needed a strong balance of creativity and accuracy rather than attempting maximum questions blindly.

Based on student feedback, difficulty level, and past year paper trends, the Stage 1 exam was considered moderate, with CAT requiring deeper ideation and GAT focusing on logical reasoning and visual aptitude.

Section

No. of Questions

Strong Good Attempts

GAT (General Ability Test)

100 Questions

80 - 85+

CAT (Creative Ability Test)

3 Questions

High concept + neat execution

Total Stage-1 Score Potential

103 total items

Strong conceptual clarity

Good Attempt Range:

While NIFT does not officially release answer keys for CAT, analysis suggests:

  • GAT Section: Attempting around 70-80% of questions with strong accuracy was considered a good performance.
  • CAT Section: Completing both creative tasks with strong ideation and clear layouts significantly improved Stage 1 scores.

Students who balanced creative thinking in CAT with accuracy-driven attempts in GAT were more likely to perform competitively.

Check: NIFT Fee Structure

How Good Attempts Translate Into Rank Potential

(Based on past trends + official weightage)

According to the exam weightage mentioned in the bulletin:

  • CAT = 50%
  • GAT = 30%
  • Situation Test = 20%

This means even a slightly lower GAT score can be compensated by a strong CAT performance - which is why good attempts are calculated differently for design aspirants compared to purely MCQ exams.

Good Attempts Strategy Based on NIFT 2025 Question Paper

A “good attempt” depends on both accuracy in GAT and creativity in CAT.

Suggested Practice Approach for 2027 & 2028 Exam:

  • Attempt all CAT questions with clear ideation.
  • Focus on accuracy rather than speed in NIFT Quantitative Aptitude.
  • Avoid over-detailing drawings; clarity matters more.

NIFT 2025 Cut Off (B.Des) - Rank Range & Score Analysis

The NIFT cut off for B.Des in 2025 remained competitive, especially for top campuses like NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

NIFT Delhi Cut Off 2025 – Round 1 & Round 3 Opening & Closing Ranks (OPEN Category)

Round

Institute

Program

Quota

Category

Opening Rank

Closing Rank

Round 1

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)

All India Quota

Open

8

86

Round 1

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design)

All India Quota

Open

142

446

Round 1

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)

All India Quota

Open

47

151

Round 1

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)

All India Quota

Open

2

54

Round 1

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)

All India Quota

Open

92

302

Round 1

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)

All India Quota

Open

2

41

Round 1

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Leather Design)

All India Quota

Open

183

800

Round 3

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)

All India Quota

Open

321

324

Round 3

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Leather Design)

All India Quota

Open

905

967

Round 3

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design)

All India Quota

Open

494

539

Round 3

NIFT New Delhi

Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)

All India Quota

Open

155

155

All About Campus-wise NIFT 2025 Cut Off - Click for cutoff details of other NIFT Cmapuses like NIFT Mumbai, NIFT Bangalore, NIFT Chennai, etc. 

Campus-Wise Cutoff Insight

Past counselling data shows how competitive top campuses are:

  • NIFT Delhi Fashion Communication closing ranks have historically stayed within top-100 ranges for general category.
  • NIFT Mumbai and Bengaluru programs also close within top few hundred ranks depending on specialization.
  • Mid-tier campuses like Hyderabad or Chennai usually extend into higher rank ranges.

Factors that Affected NIFT 2025 Cut Off

Several factors influence how the cutoff changes every year:

  • Difficulty level of the NIFT 2025 question paper
  • Number of applicants appearing for the exam
  • Seat matrix across NIFT campuses
  • Overall performance in CAT vs GAT
  • Reservation categories and counselling rounds

Because CAT carries higher weightage for B.Des admissions, students with strong creative scores can sometimes achieve better ranks even with moderate GAT performance.

Check: NIFT Result 2025 - Steps to Download Scorecard

NID, NIFT and UCEED Mock Tests

 NID, NIFT and UCEED Mock Tests

NIFT 2025 Question Paper vs NIFT Previous Year Papers

Section

NIFT 2023 Question Paper

NIFT 2024 Question Paper

NIFT 2025 Question Paper

General Ability Test (GAT )

Paper folding, 3D visualization, Fashion designers & brands, Textile facts, Series completion, Coding-decoding, Direction sense, Percentages & ratios, Profit & loss, Reading comprehension passages (fashion + general theme), Synonyms & Antonyms, etc.

Block visualization, Surface counting, Object rotation, Static design GK, Fashion weeks, Sustainable fashion topics, Mirror images & visual logic, Data interpretation basics, RC passages with inference-based questions, Active/passive type questions

Spatial reasoning puzzles, Current affairs linked to culture, fashion & textile awareness, ratio/proportion, RC Passages etc.

Creative Ability Test (CAT)

Product design sketching

Scene composition with narrative

Conceptual illustration

Story-based illustration

Product redesign sketch

Emotion/storyboard based sketch

Colour application tasks

Perspective-based drawing

Creative product visualization

Difficulty Level

Moderate

Moderate to slightly analytical

Moderate but concept-driven

Major Trend Observed

Balanced GAT + CAT

More analytical reasoning increase

Creativity + logic balance strengthened

Read moreHighly Recommended Books for the NIFT exam

Key Observations:

1. English Section Trend

Across 2023 → 2025, English has shifted from direct vocab toward:

  • Context-based vocabulary
  • Analytical RC interpretation
    Which aligns with official GAT syllabus expectations like synonyms, antonyms, comprehension and idioms.

2. Logical & Visual Reasoning Became Stronger

From 2024 onward:

  • Visual reasoning + spatial aptitude increased.
  • Less textbook logic, more design-oriented reasoning.

This is consistent with NIFT’s objective to test creative analytical thinking rather than academic logic.

3. Quantitative Ability Stayed Basic (But Trickier)

Across all three papers:

  • Arithmetic remained dominant.
  • No heavy math - mostly speed-based calculation.

4. GK Became More Fashion-Industry Focused

2023 → broader GK
2024 → sustainability & design
2025 → fashion awareness + contemporary trends

5. CAT Section Evolution

Based on the CAT papers:

Year

CAT Direction

2023

Traditional drawing + storytelling

2024

Composition + perspective

2025

Conceptual creativity & narrative thinking

So difficulty didn’t increase technically - but idea generation demand increased.

Check: NIFT Salary and Job Opportunities

NIFT 2025 Answer Key - Release Date, Challenge Process & How It Works

After the completion of the NIFT 2025 question paper, the National Testing Agency (NTA) follows a structured process for releasing recorded responses, provisional answer keys, and the final answer key.

Understanding this process helps students estimate their scores early and analyze performance.

As mentioned in the official NIFTEE 2025 Information Bulletin, NTA is responsible for conducting the exam, displaying answer keys, inviting challenges, and declaring results.

NIFT 2025 Answer Key Process - Official Stages

Stage

Date of Release

What Happens

Why It Matters for Students

Display of Recorded Responses

February 15, 2025

Candidates can view the responses they marked in GAT CBT exam

Helps compare answers with memory-based solutions

Release of Provisional Answer Key

February, 2025

NTA publishes the provisional answer key for the GAT section

Students can estimate expected score before results

Challenge Window Opens

February 15 to February 17, 2025

Candidates can submit objections if they find discrepancies

Ensures transparency and fairness in evaluation

Final Answer Key Release

April 25, 2025

Revised answer key published after reviewing challenges

Used for calculating final results

Note: CAT answers are not released publicly because they are subjective drawing-based responses.

How to Use NIFT 2025 Question Paper for Future Preparation

The NIFT 2025 question paper is a valuable learning tool for aspirants targeting upcoming exams.

For 2027 & 2028 Aspirants

  • Practice CAT questions under timed conditions.
  • Analyze GAT patterns to identify frequently repeated topics.
  • Study fashion awareness trends from the GK section.

Using the NIFT 2025 question paper with solution PDF helps students understand exam expectations realistically.

Conclusion

The NIFT 2025 question paper reflects NIFT’s evolving exam structure, combining analytical aptitude with creative problem solving. Analyzing the paper allows aspirants to understand trends, improve preparation strategy, and build confidence for future attempts.

Other NIFT Previous Year Question Papers

NIFT PYQ Download Link
NIFT 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key 
NIFT 2024 Question Paper with Answers 
NIFT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions
Sample NIFT 2022 Question Paper with Solutions
NIFT 2021 Question Paper PDF with Answers 
NIFT 2020 Question Paper B.Des  with Answers
Sample NIFT 2019 Question Paper with Solutions
Sample NIFT 2018 Question Paper with Solutions
Sample NIFT 2017 Question Paper with Solutions
NIFT 2016 Question Paper with Solutions (CAT only)

Preparing for NIFT 2027 or 2028? We can help you with exact strategic roadmap, study material and crucial feedback required to ace this exam.

Join the best NIFT Online Coaching by Creative Edge and get expert guidance on all NIFT subjects. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

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About the Author

Faculty
Vineeta Agrawal

Communications Executive

Vineeta Agrawal is a seasoned content writer with 3 years of experience and a flair for turning ideas into impactful stories across industries. She blends creativity with strategy to craft content that clicks and converts. Off the clock, she’s a fiction film buff always chasing her next cinematic escape.... more

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