NID 2026 Exam Analysis: Check Complete Question Paper Review Difficulty Level, Expected Cut Off & Student's Reaction

Summary: Dive into the NID Exam Analysis 2026 for a strategic edge! Discover the nuances of DAT Prelims and Mains, unravel the question types, difficulty levels, and expert insights from past exams. Perfect for aspirants, this NID 2026 Exam analysis is your key to mastering the National Institute of Design's entrance test.

Download Free Study Material for NID 2026 by CreativeEdge

The National Institute of Design will conduct NID Prelims on December 21st, 2025, (10:00 AM to 1:00 PM), in pen and paper mode at multiple test centres across India. 

Our expert and dedicated team from CreativEdge will walk you through an overview of the exam live from the NID exam centers. With this reference, you can analyze your's and other competitors' performance in today's exam. 

This post shall guide you through the detailed NID 2026 Exam Analysis, such as:

• Difficulty level
• Number of good attempts
• Number and type of questions asked
• Marking scheme
• Expected cut off, and more.

According to the NID exam analysis 2026, the exam lasted for 180 minutes (3 hours) and contained a total of 24 questions: 19 questions in (GAT section) and 5 in (CAT section).

The overall difficulty level of the NID DAT 2026 exam, according to NID DAT candidates and experts, will be released soon. Check out LIVE UPDATES of every single detail of the NID exam analysis 2026, here in this article, right after the exam.

[The video was the LIVE exam analysis of 2025 NID exam. This will be updated for 2026 as soon as the NID 2026 exam concludes.]

NID Exam Analysis 2026 - Expert Predictions

As you prepare for the upcoming NID DAT 2026 (Prelims + Mains), it’s important to anticipate trends and strategies. Based on previous years NID exam analysis, we expect:

The overall difficulty level - Moderate ( as per trend from 2022-2025)

NID 2026 GAT section expected weightage (Quantitative, Reasoning, GK + Verbal) - 20-30% of the marks

The Creative Ability Test (CAT) or drawing/sketching section will continue to dominate - 70-80% marks

Type of Questions in NID 2026 CAT - Expect more complex scenario-based drawing/sketching prompts

Type of Questions in NID 2026 GAT - Expect 10 to 11 questions on GK/Practical and scientific knowledge and Design awareness + Easy to moderate logical reasoning questions + More layered visualization nets

Time-management will become ever more crucial.

Some new themes may appear in NID GK & drawing questions (e.g., sustainable design, hybrid digital-physical concepts) given the evolving design trends globally.

Shortlisting cut-offs may tighten because of increasing competition and limited seats, aspirants should aim to finish with safe margin, not just minimum pass marks.

[NID 2026 Exam Analysis To Be Updated Soon, Dec 21]

NID Exam Analysis 2026 [Overview]

Particulars	B.Des	M.Des
Date of Exam	21st December 2025	21st December 2025
Mode of Exam	Offline	Offline
Expected No. of Questions	Section A: 14-25 questions (Objective)	Section A: 10-17 (Objective)
	Section B: 4-5 (Subjective)	Section B: 2-3 (Subjective)
No. of Sections	2	2
NID Prelims Total Marks	100	100
Negative Marking	No	No
Duration	3 hours	3 hours to 3.5 hours (depending on the number of specializations)
Type of questions	CAT: Scene creation, perspective/proportions, object transformation GAT: Reasoning, Mathematical Aptitude, Language, GK/General Awareness	CAT: Scene creation, perspective/proportions, object transformation, ideation/design thinking GAT: Logical Reasoning, Mathematical Aptitude, Language, GK/General Awareness

The NID 2026 exam hasn’t been conducted yet, so a full NID exam analysis 2026 isn’t out at the moment. Once the exam is over and students start sharing their experiences, we’ll update this section with detailed NID 2026 exam analysis insights on difficulty level, question types, and overall feedback.

Also Check: NID Colleges in India

NID Exam Analysis 2026 - General Ability Test (GAT) [Expected]

GAT is becoming more varied with design-awareness, GK and reasoning gaining weight.

Topic-wise Analysis of NID GAT 2026

Also check: NID Toppers List 2026

NID Exam Analysis 2026 - Creative Ability Test (CAT) [Expected]

Expect more emphasis on practical creativity rather than decorative drawing. NID has been rewarding clarity, originality, and problem-oriented thinking.

Topic-wise Analysis of NID CAT 2026

Section	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Key Remarks
Problem-solving	Easy-Moderate	1 to 3 questions	Dominant section; Require basic knowledge of Indian art/design + Practical & scientific knowledge
Scene Creation / Perspective Drawing	Easy-Moderate	1 question	Direct questions based on visual identification of popular logos and their corresponding brands.
Proportion Drawing	Moderate	1 to 2 questions	Required conceptual clarity.
Storyboarding	Moderate	1 to 2 questions	Time-heavy but manageable if you know the right tricks
Ideal Attempts	-		Good balance between speed and accuracy.

Also check: Important questions for the NID GAT exam

Download High Yield NID GK Questions with Answers PDF

NID Exam Analysis 2026 - Overall Difficulty Level (Expected)

Based on previous years NID exam analysis trends:

Parameter	Remarks
Expected Difficulty Level	Moderate to Moderately Difficult
Major Weightage Areas	Problem-solving + creativity + visual interpretation
GK Expected Trend	More applied, less static
Aptitude	Slightly higher complexity in logical reasoning and figure-based visualization questions

Refer: Important NID Reasoning Questions and Answers PDF

NID Exam Analysis 2026 (What to Expect - With the Latest Changes in Exam Pattern)

As you prepare for the upcoming National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test (DAT) 2026, it’s crucial to understand not only what has changed in the exam structure but also how these changes will impact strategy, competition, and question-type focus. Here is a comprehensive NID 2026 exam analysis based on the latest handbook updates and trends, highlighting what you need to know.

S.No.	Official Change (2026)	What It Means for Students	Possible Effect on Prelims	Possible Effect on Mains	Overall Impact on Competition
1.	DAT Prelims score will NOT be included in the final merit list	Prelims is now only a qualifying stage; final selection depends 100% on Mains	Paper may become slightly more filtering-oriented (moderate difficulty but high accuracy needed)	Mains becomes the sole ranking stage; more pressure on studio test, design thinking, idea clarity	Students cannot rely on Prelims marks; they must excel in Mains to secure a seat
2.	Only 1.5× the number of seats will be shortlisted for Mains	Fewer students will reach the Mains stage compared to previous years	Cut-off expected to rise; every mistake becomes costly; competition intensifies	Mains batch size will be smaller, so evaluation becomes more focused and competitive	Harder to get shortlisted; high precision needed in Prelims
3.	Mains (Studio Test + Interview/Interaction) becomes 100% of the final merit score	Final ranking depends entirely on design thinking, creativity, execution, communication	Prelims serves only as a gatekeeper; may test fundamental aptitude more sharply	Mains difficulty may increase; evaluators may expect deeper reasoning and polished creative output	Aspirants with strong design-thinking skills gain major advantage
4.	Prelims becomes a “filter exam” rather than a scoring exam	Clearing Prelims is no longer enough, you must outperform the competition early	Expect more questions testing observation, logic, visual thinking (quick elimination-type questions)	Mains performance becomes decisive; students must prepare studio test skills even before shortlist	Students must adopt a two-phase prep strategy: Prelims survival + Mains excellence
5.	Higher weight on design reasoning & execution over MCQ-based aptitude	NID shifts toward assessing real design capability rather than exam-taking skills	Prelims may include more conceptual visual reasoning questions	Mains task instructions may become more layered and analytical	Students with superficial preparation will fail; deeper conceptual prep becomes essential

 Recommended Candidate Strategy for 2026

• Phase 1 (Prelims): Build strong fundamentals in GAT & Visualization; solve Prelims-style mock tests; treat the exam as ‘get shortlisted’ first.
• Phase 2 (Post-Shortlist): Shift to intense Studio Test preparation - scenario sketches, product/design prompts, interaction practice; use previous years’ CAT questions as drills.
• Focus heavily on creative clarity, idea execution, presentation skills since merit now depends only on Mains.
• Monitor your performance across both stages: ensure you don’t just clear, you compete.

Also Check: NID Exam Eligibility 

NID Exam Analysis 2025 - GAT & CAT Detailed Table

The NID DAT Prelims 2025 maintained its traditional two-part format:

• GAT (Objective + Short Answer)
• CAT (Drawing + Creativity + Observation)

Section	Subject / Part	Total Questions	Difficulty Level
Part I – Objective	General Knowledge & Design Awareness	11 questions	Easy
Part I – Objective	Logical Reasoning / Visual & Spatial Ability	8 questions	Easy to Moderate
Part II – Subjective	Design Aptitude / Drawing / Creative Tasks	5 questions	Moderate but lengthy
Overall	-	26 questions (100 marks total)

Overall Exam Difficulty and Structure

• Overall, the NID exam analysis 2025 suggests that students found it moderately difficult.
• The objective section was considered straightforward, with questions on topics like sustainable development and the G20 Summit.
• However, the drawing section posed challenges, requiring tasks like designing creative posters, which tested candidates' ability to interpret prompts uniquely and within time constraints, as reflected in the practice exercises found in NID sample papers
• Time management emerged as a critical factor, as some students found the paper lengthy, though a few managed to complete it early.

Download Most Important NID Logical Reasoning Questions PDF

Specific Insights

Preparation strategies like practicing NID previous years' papers and refining drawing skills proved beneficial for many aspirants. The lack of negative marking was an added advantage.

Below is a detailed, precise, paper-based analysis table for your blog:

Section	Approx. Weightage	Difficulty Level	Types of Questions Asked (Based on Actual Paper)	Key Remarks
GAT (General Ability Test)	25% (Approx.)	Easy to Moderate	1. Logical Reasoning: Pattern completion, series, coding/decoding, figure identification, clocks 2. General Knowledge + Current Affairs: Design awareness, Indian art/craft, brands/logos, government schemes, environment/sustainability initiatives related questions. 3. Visual Reasoning (Mild): Counting shapes, folding/unfolding cube, identifying top/side views	GAT in 2025 was scoring, with few tricky logic questions. No high-level math. 11 out of 19 GAT questions were based on GK. These focused more on design awareness, not static facts. Overall, students finished early and gained marks easily here.
CAT (Creative Ability Test)	75% (Approx.)	Difficult	1. Bird’s Eye View Drawing: visualize a scene from top view 2. Scenario Visualization: depict a real-world situation with storytelling details 3. Object Transformation & Redesign: redesign or modify an object with purpose 4. Conceptual Sketching: express an idea visually with clarity 5. Creative Thinking Questions: unusual design problem-solving type prompts requiring imagination and functional thinking	CAT dominated the exam, with time pressure being the biggest challenge. Questions demanded clarity, neatness, proportion sense, and creativity, not just drawing ability. Texture-based tasks and scene-creation were high-weight tasks. Students who pre-planned the composition scored well.
Overall	100%	Lengthy but easy	Overall, the exam needed design awareness, problem-solving skills and time management skills the most.

Check: NID Drawing Tips and Tricks

NID Previous Year Exam Analysis [Last 3 Years] by Creative Edge

Year	Difficulty Level	Section-wise Highlights
2024	Moderate	GAT: Very easy in quantitative, moderate in GK/awareness. CAT/Drawing: Moderate, more creative prompts (e.g., sustainable fashion, conscious buying)
2023	Moderate	GAT: Moderate, with non-verbal reasoning and visual puzzles. CAT: Tricky drawing and scenario-based questions. Time pressure high.
2022	Easy to Moderate	GAT: Easier numerical and reasoning CAT: moderate, fewer full-scale scenario questions. More straightforward than later years.

Must Read: NID DAT Counselling Process 2026

NID DAT 2024 Exam Analysis

The National Institute of Design (NID) Design Aptitude Test (DAT) 2024 was an essential milestone for candidates aspiring to pursue design courses at NID. The exam consisted of two main sections: Aptitude and Drawing.

The total marks allocated for Aptitude were 25, and for Drawing, it was 75. Here's a detailed analysis of the NID DAT 2024.

Overall Exam Difficulty and Structure

• Difficulty Level: Overall, the difficulty was easy to moderate. However, some candidates found the paper lengthy.
• Sectional NID DAT Exam Analysis:
  • Maths: Very easy
  • Drawing: Moderate'

Specific Insights

• Some surprises in the question paper, a norm for NID exams.
• Questions ranged from General Knowledge to Reasoning, with topics like Sustainable Development and the G20 summit.
• Subjective questions included posture drawing on slow fashion and conscious buying.

Section-wise Exam Analysis Table for NID DAT 2024

Section	Total Marks	Difficulty Level	Key Points
Aptitude	30	Varies (Easy to Above Average)	General Knowledge, Reasoning, Sustainable Development, G20 Summit
Drawing	70	Moderate	Posture Drawing, Slow Fashion, Conscious Buying

Check: Total no. of NID Seats in India

Download Toppers' Preparation Strategy for NID 2026

NID Exam Analysis 2023 

The NID exam analysis 2023 suggests that it had a moderate level of difficulty. Here are the key highlights of the exam: 

• The NID DAT prelims test took place in different cities across the country. 
• Candidates found the creative-based questions to be challenging, while the general aptitude questions were of moderate difficulty. 
• The general aptitude questions primarily covered topics related to general knowledge, textiles, and reasoning. 
• The subjective section, which carried 70 marks, consumed the most time as it is the crucial section of the exam. 
• The diagram and pictorial section included some tricky questions. 

NID DAT 2023 Exam Analysis – Overview 

Particulars	Details
Number of questions	32
Maximum marks allotted	100
Types of questions	MCQ + Subjective Type Drawing Questions
Number of questions in each section	1-28 (MCQ) 29-32 (Subjective Type)
Marks allotted in each section	Questions 1 - 28 (1 and 2 marks) Question 29 (15 marks) Question 30 (15 marks) Question 31 (15 marks) Questions 32 (15 marks each)

Know more: Mastering the NID Marking Scheme

NID Exam Analysis 2022

As per the NID 2022 paper analysis, the overall difficulty level of the NID entrance exam was moderate.

The question paper had a total of 31 questions, out of which 27 were MCQs and 4 were NID CAT questions.

• The logical reasoning and aptitude section was easy, while the general knowledge section was easy to moderate level of difficulty.
• The drawing section had lengthy and tricky questions compared to the previous year.
• Students had to manage their time wisely to answer the drawing questions, as the questions were a little tricky.
• In the drawing section, one question was based on perspective. Further, students were asked to draw a kingfisher through 3 slides. 
• In the GK section, the questions were related to Padma Shree Awards and vaccines.

NID Exam Analysis 2021

The NID exam was successfully concluded on 14 March 2021 at various centres across India. 

GAT had 22 general aptitude questions of 40 marks in total, while CAT part had 5 NID sketching & problem-solving questions of 60 marks total.

• As per the paper analysis, the over-difficulty level of the entrance exam was moderate.
• Most of the NID general aptitude questions were related to vaccines and Padma Shree Awards.
• The aptitude test was based on the half-triangle, half-square, half-hexagon, and Tongue Twister sections.
• Also, many students reported that the drawing questions were quite lengthy. However, the general knowledge section was moderate

NID Exam Analysis 2021: Question Asked in Drawing Section

In the drawing section, there were five questions based on perspective drawing, comic strips, poster making, story writing, and compositions.

The following were some of the NID Drawing Questions asked in last year's exam.

• Create three images/frames to depict a story
• Draw a poster showcasing steps on how to make tea
• Depict a scenario where your younger sibling is disturbing/distracting you while you are studying online
• Draw a poster on school bullying
• Make comic characters for TikTok in six parts

NID 2020 Paper Analysis

NID 2020 Exam was a complete creativity-based paper. There were 21 questions based on Aptitude, with the highest number of Logical Reasoning questions. And as per NID exam analysis 2020, there were 6 questions in CAT section (for a total of 70 marks).

Here is a basic overview of the exam:

• At a few centres, invigilators simultaneously gave aptitude question paper and drawing paper. However, it was delayed at a few centres.
• A few students reported that the drawing paper was delayed by 50 minutes, so they couldn't attempt a few questions.
• There were no questions on static GK and 6 questions in drawing section, as per the NID exam analysis 2020.

Questions asked in the Logical Reasoning/Aptitude section

• There were question-based on the half-triangle, half-square, and half-hexagon.
• There was a question on Cake
• There was a question based on Tongue Twister.
• There were 2 questions based on Blood Relations. 

Questions Asked in Drawing Paper

• There was a question based on Unfolded Cube. The squares were numbered so that it was easy to make a cube.
• One point perspective question was asked. The question was that "There is a boy standing on X-mark and one had to draw the kitchen."
• The question paper had a tree-based question to depict the Save Environment message.
• There was a question based on creativity, imagination, and Story Boarding.

There was no question about Color Theory mentioned. One had to judge the colour theory accordingly.

Know more: Short tricks to crack the NID interview on the first attempt

Attempt Full-length Exam-like NID Mock Tests by CreativEdge

NID Exam Analysis 2019

As per the analysis, the overall difficulty level of the exam was easy to moderate. The NID exam was conducted in two stages: Prelims and Mains.

The NID Prelims had objective and subjective questions, and the Mains exam had Studio Test and Personal Interview.

The creative aptitude section had a good mix of questions designed to test students' creativity skills.

NID Question Paper Analysis 2019 (Prelims)

The table below presents a pattern of questions asked in the B. Des Entrance Exam 2019.

The question paper had 22 objective questions and 6 subjective questions. The objective-type questions focused more on General Knowledge, and subjective-type questions focused more on Creativity Skills.

Parameters	Objective Questions	Subjective Questions
Difficulty level	Easy to moderate	Moderate to Difficult
Focus	General Knowledge	Creativity Skills
Length of paper	Short Paper	Lengthy Paper

NID Question Pattern 2019 (Prelims)

Have a look at the table below to learn the detailed NID Exam Analysis 2019 for the B. Des program.

Question	Number of Questions	Marks per questions	Total Marks	Total Time
Objective Type	1-22	Question 1-14= 1 Mark Question, 15-22=2 marks	30 Marks	3hours
Subjective Type	23-26	Question 23= 15 marks ;Question 24=20 marks ;Question 25=15 marks; Question 26=20 marks	70 marks

Read more: Important points to remember before appearing for the NID exam

NID Questions Asked in Objective Type Paper (B.Des 2019) 

The NID Questions were asked in the objective-type section for the B. Des program.

1	A textile pattern was to be identified
2	Question regarding Transgender Symbol
3	The candidates needed to choose the odd one out from Cotton, Coir, Jute, and Wool
4	Choose the non-classical dance form between the options
5	Images of strokes like Caligraphy strokes and flat brush strokes were given, and the candidates were required to distinguish between them
6	The candidates were given to name the instrument that Annapurna plays
7	What was the navigation aid in ancient times?
8	Which animal is the design inspiration for the Japanese Bullet Train
9	Which is the highest Sports Award in India?
10	There were given names of a few Indian personalities, one of whom was not an artist
11	There was a graph-based question
12	Determine relationships based on patterns between siblings, sisters, boys, and girls
13	There was a shape-based question- Rotate the vase and identify the core of the shape
14	The mother and child together were 70kg, the father and child together were 90 kg, the father and mother were 120 kg and the combined weight of the family

Read more: NID Exam Pattern 2024

NID Questions Asked in Subjective Type Paper 2019

The questions asked in the NID DAT 2019 B. Des exam are given below in the table below for your reference.

1	The candidates were asked to draw a stamp and colour it to commemorate the 160th birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
2	A picture of a section of a room and a window was given. Assuming that the person was on a ladder and trying to look inside the room. The candidates were required to describe what they saw in the room.
3	The exam-appearing candidates were asked to draw a woman/man sitting on the table with a spoon, folk, and a plate in front of them
4	Candidates were asked to draw something that would represent that all glitters are not gold in a realistic manner
5	The candidates were asked to draw the front view of a picture of the side view Pictures of a dead old man and a dog barking towards a thief were given to the candidates
6	They were required to draw a fork, a spoon that was put together at the handle

Know more: NID Study Plan 2024

NID Question Paper Analysis 2019 (Mains)

Here is the NID Exam Analysis for B.Des 2019. 

Question	Weightage	No. of Questions	Total	Total Time
Objective Type	25 %	12	30 Marks	3hours
Subjective Type	75 %	-	70 marks

Check: NID Exam Preparation Books

NID Questions Asked for Subjective Type (M.Des 2019) 

Look at the table below to know the type of questions asked in the subjective paper for the M. Des program.

1	The candidates were asked to imagine that they were going on a trek. Keeping that in the mind, they were asked to design a product that could be used to keep the bottle, shoe, phone, sandwich, and book. They were asked to explain the usage of the product (Product Design Question)
2	The candidates were told that the future Indians would vote through mobile phones. They were asked to identify three problems regarding this and suggest solutions through illustrations
3	They were also asked to draw five icons from the "UN Sustainable Goals for 2018"

Check: NID Exam Day Instructions

NID Exam Analysis 2018

The NID Prelims and Mains were conducted in English and consisted of both Objective and subjective questions.

The exam was conducted for 3 hours, and both the Prelims and Mains Paper consisted of 100 marks questions.

Given below is the Exam Analysis for NID 2018.

Question Type	Weightage	Difficulty Level	Total Marks	Total Time
Objective	25 %	Easy to Moderate	30	3hours
Subjective	75 %	Moderate to Difficult	70

Refer: NID Interview Questions with Answers

Topics covered in NID Question Paper 2018

Following are some of the topics from which the NID Questions were asked in the 2018 exam.

• Design Theory
• Visual Logic
• Colour Terminology
• Elements and Principles of Design
• Innovation in Design
• Optical Illusion
• Usage of Colors in Composition
• 3D Visualization etc.

Read more: NID DAT Counselling 2024

NID Entrance Exam Analysis 2017

The NID Exam 2017 took place in 22 centres. There was a slight change in the Question pattern in previous years. Aspirants were tested and selected based on the following parameters:

• Visual Sense Skills
• Observation & Selection Skills
• Environmental Awareness
• Mental Ability & Communication Ability
• Problem-Solving Design Skills

The below table represents the Exam Analysis of NID 2017.

Question Type	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Total Marks	Total Time
Objective	88	Moderate	30	3hours
Subjective	3	Moderate to Difficult	70

Check: NID Cut off Marks

Boost your NID DAT Exam 2026 Prep with Best Online Coaching by CreativEdge

Conclusion

The NID Exam Analysis includes a detailed overview of the exam structure, NID exam syllabus, topics covered, question types, time allotted, marking scheme and recommended NID preparation strategies. And can add up to your study plan and NID preparations. 

It also provides insights into the exam pattern and the types of questions asked in the exam, helping you prioritize the type of questions and important topics. 

Analyzing previous years' NID papers is as essential as solving them for those aspiring to get admission into the prestigious National Institute of Design 

Preparing for NID 2026? We can help you with exact strategic roadmap, study material and crucial feedback required to ace this exam.

Join CreativEdge, India’s leading NID online coaching and get expert guidance on all NID 2026 subjects. 

You can enroll in offline NID batches at your nearest centres also!