NID 2026 Exam Analysis (OUT): Full Memory-based Prelims Question Paper with Expert Analysis & Ideal Solutions

Summary: Dive into the NID 2026 exam analysis for DAT Prelims & Mains covering difficulty level, good attempts, section-wise review (GAT + CAT), expected cut off, and student reactions.

This analysis is written to help you understand what actually came in the exam, how it differed from previous years, what skills were tested, and what this means for cut-offs and results, with a strong focus on SEO-relevant keywords like NID 2026 exam analysis, NID DAT 2026 paper review, NID M.Des exam analysis, NID 2026 question paper analysis, and more.

NID 2026 Exam Analysis: Live Updates (21 Dec 2025)

• Overall difficulty: Moderate (but lengthy)
• GAT difficulty: No Aptitude Questions were asked.
• CAT difficulty: Moderate, but there were a total of 6 questions with around 3 sub parts in each. A candidates were required to make around 14-18 drawings in 3 hours.
• Good attempts: The NID 2026 prelims question paper was completely subjective and those who've attempted maximum questions showcasing exceptional ideation, story-telling, and visual communication skills, would be able to crack this stage.
• Expected cut off: Looking at the paper, we expect the NID DAT Prelims cut off to go down as compared to last year.

Download Free Study Material for NID 2026 by CreativeEdge

The National Institute of Design has conducted NID Prelims on today 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 is going to walk you through an overview of the exam live from the NID exam centres. With this reference, you can analyze your's and other competitors' performance in today's exam. 

According to the NID 2026 exam analysis, the exam lasted for 180 minutes (3 hours) and contained a total of 6 questions from subjective section only. No aptitude questions were asked.

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

Table of Contents

1. NID 2026 Exam Analysis : Highlights
2. NID Exam Analysis 2026 (B.Des & M.Des) - Question Paper Review & Overall Difficulty
3. NID Exam Analysis 2026 (B.Des):GAT vs CAT Detailed Breakdown
4. NID DAT 2026 Exam : Types of Questions Asked
5. NID 2026 Exam Analysis [M.Des]
6. NID 2026 Expected Cut Off
7. Previous Years NID Exam Analysis

NID 2026 Exam Analysis : Highlights (Quick Summary)

Exam: NID DAT Prelims 2026 - B.Des & M.Des

Total Marks: 100

Paper Type: 100% subjective

Number of Questions: 6 main drawing-based questions

Sub-parts: Almost 3 sub-parts per question

Aptitude Section: ❌ Completely removed

Focus Areas:

• Conceptual thinking
• Ideation & interpretation
• Storytelling
• Visual communication
• Writing skills in limited words

Nature of Paper: Highly unexpected & unconventional

Student Reaction: Surprise + confusion due to drastic pattern shift

Result Type: Qualifier only (marks not added to final merit list)

Expected Shortlisting: ~750 candidates to move to next stage NID DAT Mains (Studio Test + In-person sensitivity test for B.Des & Studio Test + Interview round for M.Des).

Also check: NID Toppers List 2026

Download PYPs with Solutions for NID Exam by Creative Edge

NID Exam Analysis 2026 - Students Reactions 

The NID 2026 exam concluded on 1 PM today (21st December 2026). LIVE students’ reaction to the NID DAT 2026 Prelims exam is now available. Detailed NID 2026 Exam analysis and feedback from candidates who appeared for B.Des and M.Des DAT Prelims 2026 will be collected and updated here shortly. It will cover all aspects such as paper difficulty, section-wise experience, time management challenges, and overall exam level.

NID DAT B.Des Prelims Exam - Overall Students' Reaction 

Students outside the NID Exam Centres said - “It didn’t feel like a typical NID paper at all.”

• Paper was very unexpected
• No aptitude questions at all
• Entirely subjective, there was no GAT or aptitude section. 
• Many students felt unsure about performance
• Time pressure due to writing + drawing balance. The CAT section required strong time management, as creative questions demanded ideation, planning, and clean execution within limited time.
• Many students felt the paper was slightly lengthy, especially because it was all subjective (CAT), making it important to balance idea development and presentation speed.
• Candidates who focused on design thinking during preparation, practiced with previous year papers and timed NID mock tests found the paper more approachable.

NID DAT M.Des Prelims Exam - Overall Students' Reaction

• There were no aptitude questions in M.Des paper also. Which means, no GAT section.
• The CAT section was more idea-driven, requiring candidates to clearly articulate design thinking through sketches and short explanations.
• Several students mentioned that the paper felt time-intensive, particularly when detailing ideas in the creative section.
• Aspirants with prior exposure to design problem-solving and studio-based tasks felt more confident during the exam.

Also Check: NID Colleges in India

[NID 2026 Exam Analysis OUT NOW!]

NID Exam Analysis 2026 - Question Paper Review & Overall Difficulty Level (B.Des vs M.Des)

Parameter	B.Des Remarks	M.Des Remarks
Difficulty Level	Moderate	Moderate
Paper Length	Slightly Lengthy	Lengthy
Major Weightage Areas	GAT: No aptitude questions CAT: Problem-solving + Creativity + Innovation	GAT: No aptitude questions CAT: Discipline related questions
Part B - Drawing	Moderate level questions on problem solving and sketching.	Moderate number of concept heavy questions (Fewer, explanation-based).
Part A - Aptitude/Reasoning/GK	No aptitude, GK, or reasoning questions were asked in NID 2026 Question Paper for B.Des	No aptitude, GK, or reasoning questions were asked in NID 2026 Question Paper for M.Des
Common Student Feedback	Manageable but time pressure in CAT	Conceptually demanding & time-intensive.

Check: NID Question Papers

Comparison with Previous Years (Till 2025)

Year	Drawing Marks	Aptitude Marks
Till 2025	70	30
NID 2026	100	0

However, despite being a 100-mark drawing paper, this cannot be called a traditional drawing-based exam.

The paper heavily tested:

• Creative thinking
• Conceptual clarity
• Interpretation of abstract ideas
• Writing + visual balance
• Design reasoning

NID Exam Analysis 2026 B.Des - GAT vs CAT Detailed Breakdown

The following table gives full insights on NID 2026 section-wise difficulty level and types of questions asked:

Criteria	NID GAT Section	NID CAT Section
Number of Questions	0	6
Difficulty Level	-	Moderate (But Lengthy)
Key Topics that Appeared	-	visual storytelling, reimagining everyday objects, situational design and innovation, problem-solving, write-ups

Looking for exact questions? Check NID 2026 Question Paper with Solutions.

Detailed NID 2026 Paper Analysis - Questions at a Glance

NID DAT 2026 Prelims had 6 drawing-based questions, each testing a different design skill. Below is a quick snapshot of what was asked and what each question evaluated.

For the full questions with expert model solutions, scoring tips and a downloadable PDF, use our dedicated paper page - this analysis focuses on difficulty, attempts and cut-off trends.

#	What was asked (in brief)	Skill NID tested	Marks
1	Illustrate key scenes from a given story, showing transformation over time	Visual storytelling, sequential narration, character consistency	Multi-part
2	Show three alternative functional uses of a given rigid product	Functional creativity, reimagining form, usability	15
3	Write an opinion on solar energy + design three awareness social-media posts	Balanced thinking, opinion-to-visual translation, social awareness	Multi-part
4	Design three child-safety solutions (other than seat belts) for bus seats	Empathy-driven design, safety logic, age-appropriate thinking	15
5	Redesign a water bottle for three different users (hospital, restaurant, family)	User-centric design, adapting one product across contexts	15
6	Draw a hand holding an object (hammer / plant / rope) as a visual metaphor + caption	Symbolic thinking, metaphor, concept clarity	20

→ See all 6 NID 2026 questions with expert solutions

NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) Exam Analysis - Topic-wise Analysis of NID B.Des 2026 Paper

Section	Difficulty Level	Key Remarks
Problem-solving	Moderate	Dominant section; Require creative design-oriented thinking based on user needs
Scene Creation	Moderate	Required speed and clean execution
Storyboarding	Moderate	Time-heavy but manageable if you know the right tricks
Ideal Attempts	-	Required better time-management

Also check: Important questions for the NID GAT exam

Download High Yield NID GK Questions with Answers PDF

NID 2026 Exam Analysis [M.Des]

The NID M.Des exam pattern for 2026 has undergone a significant structural shift compared to 2025, and this change has directly influenced the nature, difficulty level, and evaluation approach of the NID DAT 2026 M.Des question paper. Major changes include:

• Prelims not to be counted in Final Result
• No Aptitude Questions
• One question paper for candidates of ALL design streams.

The Prelims paper included questions on design aptitude, ideation skills, and conceptual clarity through a single common question paper for all faculty streams.

• Questions were conceptually demanding but time-bound,
• Emphasis was on clarity of thinking rather than depth of specialization,
• Lengthiness was a challenge for most students, as reported in previous years also, requiring strong time management.

Expected Selection Process: More holistic, favoring candidates with strong conceptual thinking, design maturity, and articulation skills rather than rote preparation.

Also Check: NID Exam Centers List

NID 2026 Exam Analysis - Difficulty Level, Student Reaction, & More (B.Des vs M.Des)

Parameter	B.Des - NID 2026 Prelims	M.Des - NID 2026 Prelims
Overall difficulty level	Moderate	Moderate to High
Nature of questions	Creativity-driven, execution-heavy	Conceptual, reasoning-driven
Drawing complexity	Manageable but time-consuming	Conceptually demanding
Thinking depth required	Moderate	High
Time pressure	High	Very High
Key challenge	Completing all sub-parts within time	Balancing concept depth with execution
Student reaction	Paper was lengthy but doable	Paper was mentally demanding and intense

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)	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	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	Cut-off expected to drop; as per experts after looking at the question paper.	Mains batch size will be smaller, so evaluation becomes more focused and competitive.	Harder to get shortlisted; high precision and creativity needed in Prelims.
3.	Mains (Studio Test + Interview/Interaction) becomes 100% of the final merit score	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	Only subjective questions were asked. Scores will completely depend upon your ideation, presentation and visual communication skills.	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	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

Also Check: NID Exam Eligibility 

NID Exam Analysis 2026 - Exam Pattern 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, object transformation, etc. 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

Also Check: NID DAT Syllabus 2026

NID 2026 Expected Cut Off 

Category	Expected Prelims Cut Off (Out of 100)	Expected Shortlisting Range (for Mains)	Remarks
General	68 - 74	Top 1.5× total seats	Slightly higher than 2025 due to tighter shortlisting
EWS	63 - 68	Top 1.5× seats	Will depend on total applications received
OBC-NCL	58 - 63	Top 1.5× seats	May rise by 2-3 marks from 2025
SC	45 - 52	Top 1.5× seats	Moderate increase expected
ST	40 - 48	Top 1.5× seats	Likely to remain close to 2025 trends
PwD	40 - 46	Top 1.5× seats	Likely to remain close to 2025 trends

Note:

These NID cut off data (for both B.Des and M.Des) is based on previous year trends and competition levels. Actual numbers are expected to change to a certain extent because of the major changes announced in NID 2026 exam pattern. 

NID Exam Analysis for Last Year (2025)

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

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

NID Exam Analysis 2025 - B.Des

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

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

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	GAT in 2025 was scoring, with few tricky logic questions.
			2. General Knowledge + Current Affairs: Design awareness, Indian art/craft, brands/logos, government schemes, environment/sustainability initiatives related questions.	No high-level math.
			3. Visual Reasoning (Mild): Counting shapes, folding/unfolding cube, identifying top/side views	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	CAT dominated the exam, with time pressure being the biggest challenge.
			2. Scenario Visualization: depict a real-world situation with storytelling details	Questions demanded clarity, neatness, proportion sense, and creativity, not just drawing ability.
			3. Object Transformation & Redesign: redesign or modify an object with purpose	Texture-based tasks and scene-creation were high-weight tasks. Students who pre-planned the composition scored well.
			4. Conceptual Sketching: express an idea visually with clarity
			5. Creative Thinking Questions: unusual design problem-solving type prompts requiring imagination and functional thinking
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 Exam Analysis 2025 - M.Des

The question papers were different depending on the specializations chosen by candidates at the time of application. They were divided into CDAT (Common DAT) & DDAT (Discipline Specific DAT). The CDAT includes questions on GK, English Comprehension, 3D visualization, Logical Reasoning, Visual Reasoning, etc. While, the DDAT section includes design-based questions specific to each discipline. There are a total of 19 disciplines at NID.

For example: For a student who applied for Product Design at NID, faced questions like sketching perspective view of everyday objects, new concept-based design, sequential drawing of a product's design and so on.

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)

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

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 2026 Exam (B.Des & M.Des) has redefined what it means to prepare for one of the most prestigious design entrance exams - NID DAT. This was not a memory based or formula-driven test, it was a true design thinking evaluation.

If you are preparing for future NID attempts, the NID 2026 question paper sends one clear message:

'Design is not about drawing well. It's about thinking clearly and communicating creatively.'

The NID Exam Analysis in this article includes a detailed overview of the exam structure, NID exam syllabus, topics covered, question types, time allotted, marking scheme and recommended NID preparation strategies. 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 NID important topics. 

Preparing for NID 2027? 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 2027 subjects. 

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