NIFT Exam Analysis 2026: Check All Shifts and Previous Year Question Paper Analysis

Summary: Let's check the general analysis and difficulty level amongst the competitors NIFT exam 2026.

NIFT Exam Analysis 2026 helps two types of students, namely, the ones who took the exam this year. Secondly, the aspirants who are preparing for the exam in 2027 or coming years.

The 1st set of candidates can identify the difficulty level of the paper amongst other competitors, which helps in predicting the possibility of getting a seat in their desired NIFT colleges. Likewise, students waiting to take the exam can benefit by understanding the type of questions appearing in the exam, pattern, important questions, difficulty level and much more. 

Our experts from CreativEdge shares the experiences of the students who took the NIFT exam every year. Let's dive to check the NIFT Exam Analysis 2026.

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NIFT Exam Analysis 2026 (What to Expect)

As you gear up for the NIFT 2026 entrance exam, here are the likely trends and strategic shifts based on previous pattern and competition data.

• The number of applicants is expected to increase, driven by growing awareness of design education.
• The General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT) structure will likely remain, but the cut-offs may rise given greater competition.
• The Situation/Studio Test (for B.Des and certain programmes) will be critical. Greater emphasis may be placed on creative execution and material use.
• More weight may be put on design-awareness and current-affairs in design within the GAT, given recent trends.
• Campus-wise seat adjustments may change the shortlisting ratio, meaning candidates must aim higher rather than rely on minimal passing scores.

What this means for you:
Focus not only on finishing the syllabus, but on gaining comfort with speed, innovation and execution (especially CAT/Studio). Also strengthen your GK as much as possible. This is the most scoring section, if you are well aware of facts. No calculations, no math, just awareness needed. Use the 2025 analysis as a benchmark for difficulty and question-type exposure.

NIFT Exam Analysis 2026 – Section-wise Weightage and Topics (Expected) :

Section	Approximate Weightage	Difficulty Level	Key Topics to be Covered	Remarks
GAT (General Ability Test)	~50%	Moderate overall; GK tougher	Quantitative (Basic 10th class level – Geometry, Probability, CP/SP, Area/Volume, etc.) English Comprehension Logical Reasoning (syllogism, seating arrangement, visualization, series completion) General Knowledge (Imp monuments, ncert-level history, civics & geography, materials, national art/crafts, Imp days)	GK might be challenging for many
CAT (Creative Ability Test)	~30%	Moderate	Sketching, Scene Creation, Visualization of Design Problem	Creativity and innovation could be key differentiators

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

NIFT Exam Analysis 2025

Here’s a detailed review of the 2025 NIFT entrance examination based on official statistics and student feedback.

Key Statistics

• Total unique candidates registered: 17,974 for Stage 1.
• Total test-entries appeared (GAT + CAT): 31,061 (attendance ~91.69%)
• The exam pattern remained consistent with previous years.

NIFT Exam Analysis Weightage Overview: (UG)

B.Des		B.F.Tech		B.F.Tech candidates opting for B.Des
Exam	Weightage	Exam	Weightage	Exam	Weightage
GAT	30%	GAT (Sec–A)	30%	GAT (Sec–A)	30%
CAT	50%	GAT (Sec–B)	70%	CAT	50%
Situation Test	20%	--	--	Situation Test	20%
TOTAL	100%	TOTAL	100%	TOTAL	100%

NIFT Exam Analysis Weightage Overview: (PG)

M.F.M		M.Des		M.F.M candidates opting for M.Des		M.F.Tech
Exam	Weightage	Exam	Weightage	Exam	Weightage	Exam	Weightage
GAT (Section–A & Section–B)	70%	GAT (Section–A)	30%	GAT (Section–A)	30%	GAT	70%
--	--	CAT	40%	CAT	40%	--	--
Personal Interview	30%	Personal Interview	30%	Personal Interview	30%	Personal Interview	30%
TOTAL	100%	TOTAL	100%	TOTAL	100%	TOTAL	100%

NIFT Exam Analysis 2025 – Section-wise Difficulty Level

Section	Number of Questions (out of 100)	Estimated Difficulty Level	Remarks
Quantitative Ability	20	Moderate	Included Class 10-level mathematics such as probability, simple interest/compound interest, basic arithmetic equations, etc.
Communication Ability & English Comprehension	40	Easy to Moderate	Two passages; vocabulary and grammar questions.
Analytical & Logical Ability	15	Easy to Moderate	Pattern-recognition and reasoning questions were reported to be manageable.
General Knowledge & Current Affairs	25	Difficult	Many students rated this section as the toughest.
Creative Ability Test (CAT)	3	Moderate	Drawing-based/design-based section required creativity and concept clarity.

• The GAT quantitative & reasoning parts offered moderate difficulty, while General Knowledge emerged as more difficult than in past years.
• The CAT required stronger design sensibility rather than just drawing, applicants had to interpret a scenario and deliver conceptually.
• Time management remained a challenge, especially in the CAT section where ideation + execution were both assessed.

• Higher competition and seats remaining nearly constant meant that only well-prepared students with creative clarity had a significant edge.

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NIFT 2024 Exam Analysis

The NIFT 2024 exam, aimed at candidates seeking admission to B.Des and M.Des programs, featured two main components: the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Creative Ability Test (CAT). The GAT assessed quantitative reasoning, logical reasoning, English language, and general knowledge skills, while the CAT evaluated creative and drawing abilities.

According to NIFT exam analysis, the paper was easier than expected, suggesting higher cut-offs and indicating well-prepared candidates could achieve favorable scores. This year's exam structure and difficulty level provided a comprehensive measure of aspirants' aptitude and creativity in design.

NIFT General Ability Test (GAT) Insights

Content Coverage:

• Quantitative Ability: Time & work, speed, percentages, profit & loss, simple interest
• Logical Reasoning: Coding-decoding, blood relations, series, seating arrangements
• English Language: Reading comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, spelling correction
• General Knowledge: Focused on history, social science, political science

Difficulty Level: Easier than expected

NIFT Creative Ability Test (CAT) Insights

• Question Format: Three questions totalling 100 marks, focused on creativity and drawing skills without sub-questions.
• Notable Question: Storyboard or scene creation using numbers with scenarios like a public park, playing room, or play school.
• Use of Color: Recommended for extra marks, though not mandatory.

Overall NIFT 2024 Exam Analysis

Section	Highlights	Difficulty
GAT	Comprehensive coverage of expected topics; GK favored commerce/humanities backgrounds	Easier than expected
CAT	Focused on creativity; no sub-questions; color usage recommended	Straightforward

• Paper Difficulty: The NIFT exam analysis for 2024 suggested that the paper was generally easier than anticipated, potentially leading to higher cut-offs.
• Preparation: Well-prepared students likely to score well.
• Advice: Candidates unsure of their next steps should consider strategic planning for future endeavors, whether within NIFT's scope or in alternative educational paths.

This summarization offers a clear, bullet-pointed overview and tabled analysis of NIFT 2024 Exam, highlighting its ease, structure, and areas covered, aiming to assist candidates in understanding the exam's dynamics and expectations.

Check: NIFT Entrance Exam Preparation Tips

Previous Years NIFT Exam Analysis

Year	Overall Difficulty Level	Key Changes / Highlights	Bottom-Line Insight
2023	Moderate	Increased reasoning & design-awareness questions in GAT; CAT prompts became scenario-based	Candidates needed stronger analytical + creative ability, not just drawing speed
2022	Moderate-Easy	More straightforward quantitative and logical questions; CAT had traditional sketching prompts	Students with basic drawing + moderate aptitude could perform well
2021	Easy to Moderate	Emphasis on visualization + observation; GK/design awareness questions higher than earlier	Preparation needed to cover observation + pattern detection in addition to drawing
2020	Moderate	Traditional format; mix of standard topics across GAT + CAT; fewer “surprise” prompts	Classic prep strategy worked best. Strong fundamentals + timed practice

NIFT Exam Analysis 2023

The overall difficulty of the paper was easy to moderate. 

• The CAT paper was much easier compared to GAT. The general ability test section had several lengthy and tough passages; however, there was no change in the exam pattern.
• For CAT, questions related to shapes and lines were asked. 
• Comic strips were comparatively much easier this year.
• In the GAT section, the English section had long passages. Therefore, time management was an issue. 
• Questions from GK was easy to moderate. 
• However, the difficulty level of Maths was on the higher end.

For CAT, random lines were given, and students were instructed to create automobiles, utility products etc. 

The Comic strip related to Akbar and Birbal, Vikram Betal Covid related comic strip had to be created. 

Tear drop-related questions and short answers of 40 marks were also asked. 

Also Check: NIFT 2024 Result

NIFT 2022 Exam Analysis 

As per the NIFT Entrance Exam Analysis, both CAT and GAT exams were quite easy.

The exam was majorly based on Color Theory which made it easier for students to be more creative in the exam.

“GK was moderate while the questions based on Aptitude were extremely easy” most of the students claimed.

Learn more: Which NIFT campus is better?

NIFT Question paper Analysis for CAT

Here are a few highlights related to the Creative Ability Test from our NIFT Entrance Exam Analysis 2021 Live from the Centre:

• CAT exam had three interesting questions that were predictable.
• One question was based on the current virus outbreak, and another question was based on Logo Drawing using Emojis.
• The third question was a situation-based description wherein one had to imagine the scene and draw.

NIFT Question paper Analysis for GAT

• The pattern was predictable for the exam. The exam was easy for most of the students.
• The 15 questions in GK had quite confusing options. However, strong memorization has helped many students.
• There were 35 aptitude and 50 English questions in total as per the NIFT Exam Pattern.

Section	Number Question	Difficulty level
Quantitative Ability	20	Difficult
Communication Ability	25	Moderate
English Comprehension	25	Easy
Analytical Ability	15	Moderate to easy
General Knowledge and Current Affairs	15	Easy

Follow these: NIFT Exam Day Instructions

NIFT Exam Analysis 2021 

Questions Asked in NIFT 2021 CAT Exam:

In CAT, here are the questions given to us by students:

• Design a virtual space for a webinar. (Related to the recent virus outbreak). Design a background.
• Draft creative emoji for any of these: Good morning/Good night/ Silence Please
• Design various (precisely 4) festivities using a musical instrument.

The third question related to musical instruments raised the brows of many students. They had been confused about how to be creative or if they had to use four different instruments to depict 4 festivals.

Questions Asked in NIFT GAT Exam 2021

Check out the table below to know the type of questions asked in the NIFT Entrance Exam 2021.

NIFT GAT sections	Topics
Quantitative Ability	Speed and time, numerical ability, number systems
Communication Ability and English Comprehension	Passages, grammar, antonym, synonym, word meaning
Analytical Ability	Rearrangement, sequencing, coding-decoding
General Knowledge and Current Affairs	Brand and brand ambassadors, awards, Nobel peace prize, sports, Joe Biden, coronavirus vaccine

Read more: Life at NIFT 

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NIFT Entrance Exam Analysis 2020

The student's reviews on the NIFT CAT Exam and NIFT GAT Exam were mixed. A few students found the exam easy to moderate, while a few couldn't attempt the required number of good attempts. 

NIFT GAT Exam Analysis 2020:

According to the NIFT Paper Analysis, the GAT paper was easy overall. A total of 100 questions were asked, and students had to answer them in 2 hours.

• The questions from the mathematics section were difficult
• English comprehension was length and time-consuming
• The general knowledge section was the easiest
• The NIFT GAT Pattern and marking scheme were similar to the one mentioned in the brochure.

Check: NIFT Cut Off 2024

NIFT CAT Exam Analysis 2020:

The CAT was easier than the GAT Exam as per 80% of students who appeared for the exam. Most of the students found that the questions were relatively easy while some of them find moderately difficult.

The three questions that were asked in the creative ability test were:

Q.1. A bike was given and candidates were asked to complete the picture by depicting either two animals or an animal or a human being or two human beings. Candidates had to give captions from the same.

Q.2.Prepare a comic strip in which candidates were given four boxes were given and we had to make it in black white

(i) Visiting a dentist

(ii) my trip to mars

(iii) Me as a fish

Q.3. There were three patterns that were given and it was of fabric and candidates had to color as per them any one of the following themes. At the same time, candidates were also asked to write and tell the reason why they had used a particular color.

(i) Travel

(ii)Festival

(iii)Meditation

Check: NIFT Answer Key 2024

NIFT Exam Analysis 2019

The exam for NIFT had put all the anxieties of the students to rest by following the same exam pattern as per the brochure. 

The experts mentioned that the students found the CAT Exam extremely easy. The time given to them to attempt the three questions in the exam was enough to express their creativity in the exam.

Since CAT tests the quality of the drawing presented by the student, many students were satisfied with their performance in the exam. 

NIFT CAT Analysis 2019 focused on aspirants’ ability to identify and pre-empt futuristic needs, product design, innovation and improvisation, shape explorations, and creative visualization and observation in day-to-day life. The time at hand allowed for detailed rendering.

NIFT CAT Exam Analysis & Questions Asked:

The exam has a separate set of questions depending on the course applied. The difficulty level, however, remains the same.

The marking scheme or the way of marking the creativity of a B.Des and M.Des student varies for the NIFT Exam.

Here is the detailed NIFT Exam Analysis for CAT Exam for B.Des students. The first two questions hold a weightage of 30 marks each while the last question holds a weightage of 40 marks. Students can check the questions asked and their solutions below:

Ques 1. From the following choices draw any one of the products for the year 2050:

- Umbrella

- Lunch Box

- Door Lock

Also, color the drawing using dry colors.

Approach: This question demanded the quality of visualization of the candidate to think about 30+ years ahead of time and innovate the product as per the customer/consumer usage.

For example, using plastic in Lunchbox shall be a non-existent idea due to the growing environmental changes and health concerns. So, one can opt for adding smart features to the Lunchbox by adding a Bluetooth-based heating system to it or a convertible spacing system, self-steam cleaning systems, etc. 

A door lock can be configured with a biometric entry system, can be connected to emergency numbers or fenced with an electric current to make an aesthetical design.

An umbrella can be imagined to be a small instrument generating an invisible, water-repelling magnetic shield including a special feature of being modified to different sizes so that it can be carried easily. 

Students who mention the details of the product in terms of the concept implied and functional innovation definitely get an advantage over others having the same idea.

Ques 2. From the given basic geometric shapes - rectangle, circle, hexagon, right-angled triangle, triangle over a circle (teardrop), create any one product given below and explain in 100 words. Note that you can rotate, and repeat but not slice any of the shapes.

• Letterbox
• Personal computer
• Windchime

Approach: Here, the candidates were tested on their form exploration keeping the chosen product’s application/ function intact was of importance. Also, the write-up was to analyze the creative aesthetic expressions to understand the inspiration and concept of the composing design.

Check: NIFT 2025 Syllabus

Ques 3. The 4 boxes given illustrate any one of the following

• Bird flying taking flight
• Rosebud to bloom
• Steps of a wet shirt being dried

Approach: This question was a repeated question from the previous year's paper. This question tested the students on their observation of day-to-day life. The representations of nuanced details in each frame at four stages are crucial here, besides composing the whole block with a suitable backdrop.

Eg: The dripping water puddle beneath the wet shirt should be shown shrinking and drying too as the shirt dries up across the four stages.

Colors too play a very noticeable role here as the wet shirt looks darker than the dry shirt. Similarly, the feet and wing coordination at different stages of the flight for a bird also show the level of observation.  

NIFT Exam Analysis 2018

The NIFT entrance exam was conducted on 21 January 2018. As per the students' review, the overall paper was easy and the questions asked were straightforward.

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NIFT GAT Exam Analysis 2018:

• The General Ability Test saw no change in the exam pattern
• Some of the Maths questions were tricky and time-consuming
• The general knowledge section was a bit tricky
• Most of the reasoning questions were based on logical and thinking abilities

Refer: NIFT CAT Question Paper

NIFT CAT Exam Analysis 2018:

The creative ability test had only three questions and choices were provided within the questions. The questions that were asked in the CAT were:

• The first question was based on instructional design, where students were required to draw the steps involved to change a bulb or make a paper boat.
• The second question was based on a design wherein students were asked to make a bag either for marriage, a picnic, or for shopping.
• The third question was based on the graphic, where students were asked to depict their personalities with basic geometric shapes.

Know more: NIFT Counselling 2025

Benefits of NIFT Exam Analysis

• Performance Benchmarking: NIFT exam analysis allows candidates to compare their performance against the overall difficulty level and competition, helping them understand where they stand.
• Strategic Preparation: Future candidates can tailor their study strategies based on the types of questions and topics highlighted in the analysis, focusing their efforts where it counts.
• Understanding Exam Trends: Analysis reveals trends in question types, exam formats, and subject emphasis, guiding candidates on what to expect in upcoming exams.
• Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses: Both current and future candidates can identify their strong points and areas needing improvement, enabling focused preparation.
• Skill Development Guidance: By highlighting the skills tested in the exam, such as creativity and analytical thinking, the analysis guides candidates on which skills to develop further.
• Enhanced Confidence: Knowing what to expect in the exam and understanding the competition can boost candidates' confidence, reducing exam anxiety.
• Efficient Use of Study Materials: With insights from exam analysis, candidates can make better use of study materials, focusing on resources that cover the most relevant topics and question formats.
• Adaptability: Understanding past exam patterns and difficulty levels helps candidates adapt their preparation strategy to meet the changing demands of the NIFT exam.

Prepare for NIFT exam: NIFT Online Coaching Classes by Creative Edge

What is a Good Rank in NIFT 2025?

Your NIFT rank is good enough or not depends on your target NIFT campus and the program you have applied for. For example, required NIFT rank for admission to B.Des program in top campuses like NIFT Delhi, NIFT Mumbai, and NIFT would be higher than others.

Generally, for these campuses, a rank under 100 is considered competitive. While for NIFT Chennai, a rank between 101 to 500 can be considered good. If your rank is below 1000, you can expect admission into good mid-tier campuses like NIFT Hyderabad.

Please note that the rank required for admission to various NIFT campuses also depends on your social category, overall exam difficulty, seat availability, number of candidates and NIFT cut off scores.

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Conclusion

The detailed analysis of NIFT exams provides a multitude of benefits that can significantly enhance a candidate's preparation strategy and performance. By offering a clear understanding of exam trends, difficulty levels, and key focus areas, exam analysis is an invaluable tool for anyone looking to succeed in the NIFT entrance exam.

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