Logo Icon

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

Author : Vineeta Agrawal

December 19, 2025

SHARE

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.

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

Live Update Snapshot

  • Overall difficulty: To be updated
  • GAT difficulty: To be updated
  • CAT difficulty: To be updated
  • Good attempts: To be updated
  • Expected cut off: To be updated

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.]

NID Exam Analysis 2026 - Students Reactions 

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.

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

  • The GAT section was considered manageable, with questions based on logical reasoning, basic GK, and visual aptitude.
  • 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 in CAT, making it important to balance idea development and presentation speed.
  • Candidates who practiced previous year papers and timed NID mock tests found the paper more approachable.

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

  • The GAT section was perceived as conceptual, focusing on design-related GK, analytical reasoning, and design related application-based questions.
  • 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 To Be Updated Soon, Dec 21]

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.

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

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

  • Higher number of GK questions (more applied, less static).
  • Slightly higher complexity in logical reasoning and figure-based visualization questions.
  • Easy, application based GK/design awareness questions. 
  • Fewer & Easy Reasoning Questions
Common Student Feedback Manageable but time pressure in CAT Conceptually demanding & time-intensive.

Refer: Important NID Reasoning Questions and Answers PDF

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 19 6

Difficulty Level

Moderate

Moderate (But Lengthy)

Key Topics that Appeared

  • Logical and analytical reasoning
  • Visual reasoning
  • Current affairs related to design, culture, environment, sustainability
  • Indian art, craft, heritage
  • Brand logos and designers
  • Visual storytelling
  • Idea generation
  • Reimagining everyday objects
  • Situational design and innovation
  • Perspective-based drawing
  • Balance between creativity and function

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

NID Exam 2025 Results

NID exam results 2025

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

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

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

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

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
  • One question paper for candidates of ALL design streams.

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.

  • 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, favouring candidates with strong conceptual thinking, design maturity, and articulation skills rather than rote preparation.

Also Check: NID Exam Centres List

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 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 

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/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

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

Best NID, NIFT & UCEED exam preparation books

Best NID, NIFT & UCEED exam preparation books

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.

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


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 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, NIFT and UCEED Mock Tests

 NID, NIFT and UCEED Mock Tests

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

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

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, NIFT, UCEED Demo Classes

 NID, NIFT and UCEED Mock Tests

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

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 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!

Top Coaching in India for NID, NIFT, UCEED, NATA & JEE.BArch

Top Coaching in India for NID, NIFT, UCEED, NATA & JEE.BArch

Frequently Asked Questions

What should candidates not carry on the day of the NID DAT Exam 2026?

Expand Faq Icon

What documents to carry on the day of the of NID DAT Exam 2026?

Expand Faq Icon

Does NID have Hostel facility?

Expand Faq Icon

Who are eligible to apply for NID Exam?

Expand Faq Icon

What is the expected salary after completion of B. des course at NID campus?

Expand Faq Icon

Does NID Entrance Syllabus varies every year?

Expand Faq Icon

What is the NID DAT Prelims Exam Pattern for 2026?

Expand Faq Icon

Is the NID DAT Prelims Exam Date 2026 announced?

Expand Faq Icon

What is the difficulty level of NID exam?

Expand Faq Icon

Where can I find previous year NID Exam Analysis?

Expand Faq Icon

How is the NID 2026 exam Analysis Prepared?

Expand Faq Icon

About the Author

Faculty
Vineeta Agrawal

Communications Executive

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