December 19, 2025
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 page will be updated with live exam-day insights on 21 December 2025.
The NID 2026 exam analysis helps you quickly evaluate your performance and understand how the paper went across GAT and CAT. Our mentors at CreativeEdge will share the latest updates on difficulty level, good attempts, and key takeaways so you can better analyse yours and other candidates’ performance.
Expected (based on recent trends): NID DAT Prelims is typically 180 minutes (3 hours) and may include around ~24–26 questions across GAT + CAT.
Live Update Snapshot
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.
According to the NID 2026 exam analysis, 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.]
The students’ reaction to the NID DAT 2026 Prelims exam will be available after the exam is conducted on 21st December 2026. Once the exam concludes, detailed feedback from candidates appearing for B.Des and M.Des DAT Prelims 2026 will be collected and updated here, covering aspects such as paper difficulty, section-wise experience, time management challenges, and overall exam level.
Also Check: NID Colleges in India
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.
Based on previous years NID exam analysis trends:
|
Parameter |
B.Des Remarks |
M.Des Remarks |
|
Difficulty Level |
Moderate to Moderately Difficult |
Moderate to Easy |
| Paper Length | Slightly Lengthy | Lengthy |
|
Major Weightage Areas |
GAT: GK/Design Awareness & Logical Reasoning CAT: Problem-solving + Creativity + Innovation |
GAT: GA questions based on design principles, material science, Indian culture + logical reasoning 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 |
|
|
| Common Student Feedback | Manageable but time pressure in CAT | Conceptually demanding & time-intensive. |
Refer: Important NID Reasoning Questions and Answers PDF
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 | 19 | 6 |
|
Difficulty Level |
Moderate |
Moderate (But Lengthy) |
|
Key Topics that Appeared |
|
|
Insight: GAT is becoming more varied with design-awareness, GK and reasoning gaining weight as compared to previous years NID papers.
Also check: NID Toppers List 2026
| Section | Difficulty Level | No. of Questions | Key Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK & Design Awareness | Easy-Moderate | 7 to 10 | Dominant section; Require basic knowledge of Indian art/design + Practical & scientific knowledge |
| Brand logos and designers | Easy-Moderate | 1 to 4 | Direct questions based on visual identification of popular logos and their corresponding brands. |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate | 2 to 4 | Required conceptual clarity. |
| Visualization & Observation | Moderate | 5 to 7 | Time-heavy but manageable if you know the right tricks |
| Ideal Attempts | - | Good balance between speed and accuracy. |
Check: NID Question Papers
| Section | Difficulty Level | Key Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Problem-solving | Easy-Moderate | Dominant section; Require creative design-oriented thinking based on user needs |
| Scene Creation / Perspective Drawing | Easy-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
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:
The Prelims paper included questions on design aptitude, analytical thinking, visualization skills, and conceptual clarity through a single common question paper for all faculty streams.
Expected Selection Process: More holistic, favouring candidates with strong conceptual thinking, design maturity, and articulation skills rather than rote preparation.
Also Check: NID Exam Centres List
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 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 |
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 |
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 |
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
| 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 |
Also Check: NID DAT Syllabus 2026
|
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.
The NID DAT Prelims 2025 maintained its traditional two-part format:
| 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) |
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
Design awareness, Indian art/craft, brands/logos, government schemes, environment/sustainability initiatives related questions.
Counting shapes, folding/unfolding cube, identifying top/side views |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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
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) |
|
Year |
Difficulty Level |
Section-wise Highlights |
|
2024 |
Moderate |
|
|
2023 |
Moderate |
|
|
2022 |
Easy to Moderate |
|
Must Read: NID DAT Counselling Process 2026
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
Specific Insights
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
The NID exam analysis 2023 suggests that it had a moderate level of difficulty. Here are the key highlights of the exam:
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 |
|
| Marks allotted in each section |
|
Know more: Mastering the NID Marking Scheme
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 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.
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.
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:
Questions asked in the Logical Reasoning/Aptitude section
Questions Asked in Drawing Paper
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
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.
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
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
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.
Read more: NID DAT Counselling 2024
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:
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
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 NID 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!
Frequently Asked Questions
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