July 26, 2026
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.
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
|
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 |
|
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.
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 |
|
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.
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.
|
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:
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)
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
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
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 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
Check: Difference Between CAT and GAT for NIFT
Based on expert analysis, the NIFT 2025 question paper was considered:
|
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
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 |
While NIFT does not officially release answer keys for CAT, analysis suggests:
Students who balanced creative thinking in CAT with accuracy-driven attempts in GAT were more likely to perform competitively.
Check: NIFT Fee Structure
(Based on past trends + official weightage)
According to the exam weightage mentioned in the bulletin:
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.
A “good attempt” depends on both accuracy in GAT and creativity in CAT.
Suggested Practice Approach for 2027 & 2028 Exam:
The NIFT cut off for B.Des in 2025 remained competitive, especially for top campuses like NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
|
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.
Past counselling data shows how competitive top campuses are:
Several factors influence how the cutoff changes every year:
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
|
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 more: Highly Recommended Books for the NIFT exam
1. English Section Trend
Across 2023 → 2025, English has shifted from direct vocab toward:
2. Logical & Visual Reasoning Became Stronger
From 2024 onward:
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:
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
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.
|
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.
The NIFT 2025 question paper is a valuable learning tool for aspirants targeting upcoming exams.
For 2027 & 2028 Aspirants
Using the NIFT 2025 question paper with solution PDF helps students understand exam expectations realistically.
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.
| NIFT PYQ | Download Link |
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| 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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