NIFT 2025 Question Paper: Free PDF Download (GAT & CAT)

The NIFT 2025 question paper (exam held 9 February 2025) had a GAT (100 objective questions for B.Des; +1 / −0.25 marking) and a CAT (3 creative drawing tasks, B.Des & M.Des only, no negative marking).

Difficulty was moderate, with a concept‑driven CAT and reasoning/fashion‑GK‑heavy GAT. The GAT answer key was released by NTA; CAT is evaluated subjectively. 

Download the memory‑based NIFT 2025 GAT & CAT question paper below, reconstructed from official recorded responses and verified student recall to benchmark your 2027 prep. (NIFT/NTA releases recorded responses and the GAT answer key to examinees via login; the full paper is not published officially.)

Download Free Study Material for NIFT 2027 by Creative Edge

NIFT 2025 Question Paper PDF Download

Click the downloadable link below to access the official NIFT 2025 question paper PDF along with the answer key:

Question Paper	Download Link
NIFT 2025 Question Paper with Answer Key PDF - GAT	Download PDF
NIFT 2025 Question Paper PDF - CAT	Download PDF

Source: Official NIFT Website

Important Notes

• GAT answer key is available at the end of the question paper PDF above.
• Only GAT section usually have fixed solutions.
• CAT answers vary because evaluation is subjective.

Key Highlights - NIFT 2025 Question Paper

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	NIFT Entrance Exam (Stage 1 - CAT & GAT)
Exam Date	9th February 2025
Programs Covered	B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech, MFM (structure varies slightly)
Mode of Exam	GAT – Computer Based Test (CBT) - For B.Des, M.Des, B.FTech, M.FTech, MFM CAT – Paper Based Test (PBT) - For B.Des & M.Des
Total Questions (GAT + CAT)	100 in B.Des GAT (120 for M.Des; 150 for B.FTech/MFM/MFTech) + 3 CAT tasks.
Total Marks (Stage 1)	200 Marks (CAT + GAT combined evaluation)
Final B.Des merit	CAT 50% + GAT 30% + Situation Test 20%
Difficulty Level	Moderate overall; CAT required deeper ideation, GAT focused on reasoning & awareness
Answer Key Availability	GAT Answer Key released by NTA; CAT evaluated subjectively

Download 100 GK Sample Questions for NIFT 2027 by Creative Edge

NIFT 2025 Question Paper: Overview

The NIFT 2025 entrance exam consisted of two major sections:

Section	Skills Tested	Nature of Questions
NIFT GAT	Quantitative aptitude, reasoning, GK, English	Objective MCQs
NIFT CAT	Creativity, storytelling, drawing	Subjective

The balance between CAT and GAT varies slightly depending on the program (B.Des, B.FTech, etc.), but overall the exam maintains a dual-evaluation approach.

NIFT 2025 marking scheme:

For GAT:

• +1 for a correct answer
• −0.25 for a wrong answer
• 0 for un‑attempted.

CAT has no negative marking (it's a subjective drawing paper). Because wrong answers cost 0.25 each, accuracy beats volume in GAT - a "good attempt" is a high‑accuracy attempt, not simply a high number of questions marked.

Download NIFT Drawing Questions with Solutions PDF by Creative Edge

What Actually Appeared in NIFT 2025 Question Paper? (Section-wise Breakdown)

The NIFT 2025 question paper included a mix of analytical and creative questions across GAT and CAT sections. Based on memory-based analysis and student feedback, the exam maintained a balanced structure while slightly increasing conceptual depth in the creative section.

Subject Area	Number of Questions Asked	Share of Paper	Types of Questions Asked	Difficulty Level
Quantitative Aptitude	20	20%	Ratio & proportion	Moderate
			Algebraic simplification
			Speed/time questions
			Approximation based Maths
Logical Reasoning + Visual Reasoning	15	15%	Visual reasoning puzzles / Figure analogy	Moderate
			Arrangement-based logic
			Analytical inference questions
			3D block problems
			Pattern logic
			Spatial reasoning puzzles
English Comprehension + Communication Ability	40	40%	RC passage (analytical tone)	Easy to Moderate
			Contextual vocabulary
			Sentence improvement
			Phrase replacement
			Tone-based comprehension questions
General Knowledge / Fashion Awareness	25	25%	Fashion industry awareness	Easy to Moderate
			Design icons
			Contemporary fashion trends
			Current affairs linked to culture

GAT Insight:

• Logical reasoning and visual reasoning formed the core difficulty areas.
• NIFT GK questions were concept-based rather than heavily factual.

Download NIFT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions (FREE PDF)

NIFT 2025 GAT Question Paper: Section-Wise Sample Questions

The communication ability section opened with two comprehension passages - one on animal camouflage, one on sustainable fashion and vegan leather, followed by vocabulary, grammar, and letter-writing format questions.

Sample Question:

Choose the most appropriate term that refers to the practice of advertising products as eco-friendly without actually adopting concrete measures to improve business practices.
(a) Greenwashing (b) Transparency (c) Sustainability (d) Alternatives
Answer: (a) Greenwashing

Sample Question:

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom, 'hand to mouth'.
(a) the action of eating food (b) measurement of Body Mass Index (c) to live in poverty and have only enough for basic needs (d) height of a person
Answer: (c)

Covered probability, mensuration, compound/simple interest, coordinate geometry, permutations & combinations, time-work, and ratio-based word problems - several framed around fashion-business scenarios.

Sample Question:

Preeti invested in a startup of kids' ethnic-wear. The cost of making an ethnic-wear depends on three items - fabric, tailoring, and designing, in the ratio 5:3:1. If tailoring costs Rs. 150 per piece, find the cost of a single piece.
(a) Rs. 600 (b) Rs. 750 (c) Rs. 450 (d) Rs. 900
Answer: (c) Rs. 450

Sample Question:

In how many different ways can the letters of the word DESIGNING be arranged?
(a) 22680 (b) 90720 (c) 45360 (d) 15120
Answer: (c) 45360

Included figure-embedding, blood-relation puzzles, seating arrangements, mirror/water images, and design-business case-study reasoning questions.

Sample Question:

An accomplished fashion designer, Shreya, specializes in wedding outfits. Her business is unexpectedly moving slow, customers only visit for special occasions, not regularly.

What measures should she incorporate to scale up her business? (Options included increasing online availability of in-store collection and advertising in local newspapers.)
Answer: (d) C and E only

Spanning art history, textiles/fibres, government structure, geography, and fashion-specific GK (embroidery types, fashion forecasting bodies).

Sample Question:

India's First Fashion Forecasting Initiative is ________.
(a) Fashionforcast (b) Visionnext (c) 'VisioNxt' (d) 'Fashionext'
Answer: (c) 'VisioNxt'

Sample Question:

The term used for silver and gold metal embroidery is:
(a) Zardozi (b) Chikankari (c) Phulkari (d) Kashida
Answer: (a) Zardozi

See the full list of NIFT subjects these questions draw from.

Explore All NIFT Previous Year Papers

CAT Question Type	Nature of Tasks Observed	Difficulty Level
Conceptual Illustration	Situation-based drawing requiring visual storytelling	Moderate to High
Emotion/storyboard based sketch	Storytelling through sketching	Moderate
Creative product visualization	Concept-based sketch responding to a real-life user scenario	Moderate

 CAT Insight

• Time pressure was higher due to ideation depth rather than drawing complexity.
• Creativity and concept clarity were the primary evaluation criteria.

If you're unsure which paper you'll sit, our guide on the difference between CAT and GAT breaks down who takes what.

Download 10 Months NIFT Preparation Guide

NIFT 2025 Question Paper: Difficulty Level

Based on expert analysis, the NIFT 2025 question paper was considered:

• GAT: Moderate difficulty with a mix of conceptual and speed-based questions
• CAT: Moderately challenging due to ideation depth and time pressure

Section	Difficulty Level	Key Insight
Quantitative Aptitude	Moderate	Calculation speed mattered
Logical Reasoning	Moderate	Visual patterns required attention
GK & Fashion Awareness	Easy to Moderate	Conceptual awareness based
CAT	Moderate to High	Strong ideation required

These shifts are clearer across years in our year‑wise NIFT exam analysis.

Download NIFT Verbal ability Practice Qs with Answers (FREE PDF)

Good Attempts in NIFT 2025 Exam (Stage 1) for B.Des

Understanding a good attempt in the NIFT 2025 question paper depends on both sections of Stage 1 - CAT (Creative Ability Test) and GAT (General Ability Test). Since CAT carries higher weightage in B.Des admissions, aspirants needed a strong balance of creativity and accuracy rather than attempting maximum questions blindly.

Based on student feedback, difficulty level, and past year paper trends, the Stage 1 exam was considered moderate, with CAT requiring deeper ideation and GAT focusing on logical reasoning and visual aptitude.

Section	No. of Questions	Strong Good Attempts
GAT (General Ability Test)	100 Questions	80 - 85+
CAT (Creative Ability Test)	3 Questions	High concept + neat execution
Total Stage-1 Score Potential	103 total items	Strong conceptual clarity

While NIFT does not officially release answer keys for CAT, analysis suggests:

• GAT Section: Attempting around 70-80% of questions with strong accuracy was considered a good performance.
• CAT Section: Completing both creative tasks with strong ideation and clear layouts significantly improved Stage 1 scores.

Students who balanced creative thinking in CAT with accuracy-driven attempts in GAT were more likely to perform competitively.

Once you know your target campus, factor in the NIFT fee structure for 2027‑28.

Attempt Free Full-length NIFT Mock Tests for 2027 Prep

(Based on past trends + official weightage)

According to the exam weightage mentioned in the bulletin:

• CAT = 50%
• GAT = 30%
• Situation Test = 20%

This means even a slightly lower GAT score can be compensated by a strong CAT performance - which is why good attempts are calculated differently for design aspirants compared to purely MCQ exams.

A “good attempt” depends on both accuracy in GAT and creativity in CAT.

Suggested Practice Approach for 2027 & 2028 Exam:

• Attempt all CAT questions with clear ideation.
• Focus on accuracy rather than speed in NIFT Quantitative Aptitude.
• Avoid over-detailing drawings; clarity matters more.

Access Exclusive FREE Demo Class for NIFT 2027 Prep by CreativeEdge

NIFT 2025 Cut Off (B.Des) - Rank Range & Score Analysis

The NIFT cut off for B.Des in 2025 remained competitive, especially for top campuses like NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

Round	Institute	Program	Quota	Category	Opening Rank	Closing Rank
Round 1	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)	All India Quota	Open	8	86
Round 1	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design)	All India Quota	Open	142	446
Round 1	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)	All India Quota	Open	47	151
Round 1	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)	All India Quota	Open	2	54
Round 1	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)	All India Quota	Open	92	302
Round 1	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)	All India Quota	Open	2	41
Round 1	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Leather Design)	All India Quota	Open	183	800
Round 3	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)	All India Quota	Open	321	324
Round 3	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Leather Design)	All India Quota	Open	905	967
Round 3	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design)	All India Quota	Open	494	539
Round 3	NIFT New Delhi	Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)	All India Quota	Open	155	155

All About Campus-wise NIFT 2025 Cut Off - Click for cutoff details of other NIFT Cmapuses like NIFT Mumbai, NIFT Bangalore, NIFT Chennai, etc. 

Check NIFT Colleges Comparison Guide - Fees, Placements & More!

Past counselling data shows how competitive top campuses are:

• NIFT Delhi Fashion Communication closing ranks have historically stayed within top-100 ranges for general category.
• NIFT Mumbai and Bengaluru programs also close within top few hundred ranks depending on specialization.
• Mid-tier campuses like Hyderabad or Chennai usually extend into higher rank ranges.

Several factors influence how the cutoff changes every year:

• Difficulty level of the NIFT 2025 question paper
• Number of applicants appearing for the exam
• Seat matrix across NIFT campuses
• Overall performance in CAT vs GAT
• Reservation categories and counselling rounds

Because CAT carries higher weightage for B.Des admissions, students with strong creative scores can sometimes achieve better ranks even with moderate GAT performance.

Check: NIFT Result 2025 - Steps to Download Scorecard

Download Most Important Topics for NIFT PDF

NIFT 2025 Question Paper vs NIFT Previous Year Papers

Section	NIFT 2023 Question Paper	NIFT 2024 Question Paper	NIFT 2025 Question Paper
General Ability Test (GAT)	Paper folding, 3D visualization, Fashion designers & brands, Textile facts, Series completion, Coding-decoding, Direction sense, Percentages & ratios, Profit & loss, Reading comprehension passages (fashion + general theme), Synonyms & Antonyms, etc.	Block visualization, Surface counting, Object rotation, Static design GK, Fashion weeks, Sustainable fashion topics, Mirror images & visual logic, Data interpretation basics, RC passages with inference-based questions, Active/passive type questions	Spatial reasoning puzzles, Current affairs linked to culture, fashion & textile awareness, ratio/proportion, RC Passages etc.
Creative Ability Test (CAT)	Product design sketching	Scene composition with narrative	Conceptual illustration
	Story-based illustration	Product redesign sketch	Emotion/storyboard based sketch
	Colour application tasks	Perspective-based drawing	Creative product visualization
Difficulty Level	Moderate	Moderate to slightly analytical	Moderate but concept-driven
Major Trend Observed	Balanced GAT + CAT	More analytical reasoning increase	Creativity + logic balance strengthened

Read more: Highly Recommended Books for the NIFT exam

Download Weekly Current affairs for NIFT 2027 by Creative Edge

1. English Section Trend

Across 2023 → 2025, English has shifted from direct vocab toward:

• Context-based vocabulary
• Analytical RC interpretation
  Which aligns with official GAT syllabus expectations like synonyms, antonyms, comprehension and idioms.

2. Logical & Visual Reasoning Became Stronger

From 2024 onward:

• Visual reasoning + spatial aptitude increased.
• Less textbook logic, more design-oriented reasoning.

This is consistent with NIFT’s objective to test creative analytical thinking rather than academic logic.

3. Quantitative Ability Stayed Basic (But Trickier)

Across all three papers:

• Arithmetic remained dominant.
• No heavy math - mostly speed-based calculation.

4. GK Became More Fashion-Industry Focused

2023 → broader GK
2024 → sustainability & design
2025 → fashion awareness + contemporary trends

5. CAT Section Evolution

Based on the CAT papers:

Year	CAT Direction
2023	Traditional drawing + storytelling
2024	Composition + perspective
2025	Conceptual creativity & narrative thinking

So difficulty didn’t increase technically - but idea generation demand increased.

Check: NIFT Salary and Job Opportunities

Get Complete NIFT Self Study Kit by Creative Edge

NIFT 2025 Answer Key - Release Date, Challenge Process & How It Works

After the completion of the NIFT 2025 question paper, the National Testing Agency (NTA) follows a structured process for releasing recorded responses, provisional answer keys, and the final answer key.

Understanding this process helps students estimate their scores early and analyze performance.

As mentioned in the official NIFTEE 2025 Information Bulletin, NTA is responsible for conducting the exam, displaying answer keys, inviting challenges, and declaring results.

Stage	Date of Release	What Happens	Why It Matters for Students
Display of Recorded Responses	February 15, 2025	Candidates can view the responses they marked in GAT CBT exam	Helps compare answers with memory-based solutions
Release of Provisional Answer Key	February, 2025	NTA publishes the provisional answer key for the GAT section	Students can estimate expected score before results
Challenge Window Opens	February 15 to February 17, 2025	Candidates can submit objections if they find discrepancies	Ensures transparency and fairness in evaluation
Final Answer Key Release	April 25, 2025	Revised answer key published after reviewing challenges	Used for calculating final results

Note: CAT answers are not released publicly because they are subjective drawing-based responses.

The NIFT 2025 question paper is a valuable learning tool for aspirants targeting upcoming exams.

For 2027 & 2028 Aspirants

• Practice CAT questions under timed conditions.
• Analyze GAT patterns to identify frequently repeated topics.
• Study fashion awareness trends from the GK section.

Using the NIFT 2025 question paper with solution PDF helps students understand exam expectations realistically.

Download Other NIFT Question Papers with Solution PDF FREE (Year-Wise Papers & Their Deep Analysis)

Download Year-Wise NIFT Question Papers
NIFT 2026 Question Paper	NIFT 2024 Question Paper	NIFT 2023 Question Paper	NIFT 2022 Question Paper
NIFT 2021 Question Paper	NIFT 2020 Question Paper	NIFT 2019 Question Paper

Join the Best NIFT Online Coaching for 2027 & 2028 Exam Prep

Conclusion

The NIFT 2025 question paper reflects NIFT’s evolving exam structure, combining analytical aptitude with creative problem solving. Analyzing the paper allows aspirants to understand trends, improve preparation strategy, and build confidence for future attempts.

Preparing for NIFT 2027 or 2028? We can help you with exact strategic roadmap, study material and crucial feedback required to ace this exam.

Join the best NIFT Online Coaching by Creative Edge and get expert guidance on all NIFT subjects.