NIFT Exam Analysis 2025 Out: Check All Shifts and Previous Year Question Paper Analysis

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

NIFT Exam Analysis 2025 helps two types of students, namely, the ones who took the exam this year. Secondly, the aspirants who are preparing for the exam in the 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 the desired college. Likewise, students waiting to take the exam can benefit by understanding the type of questions appearing in the exam, pattern, important questions and much more. 

Our experts from CreativeEdge have shared the experiences of the students who took the exam this year. Let's dive to check the NIFT Exam Analysis 2025.

Download Free Study Material for NIFT by Creative Edge

NIFT Exam Analysis 2025 - Overview

According to initial reports, the overall difficulty level of the examination was moderate. Candidates noted that the General Knowledge section of the GAT was particularly challenging compared to other sections. The CAT section required candidates to demonstrate strong drawing and design skills, emphasizing creativity and innovation.Here is the section-wise analysis of the NIFT 2025 exam:

Here is the section wise analysis of the NIFT 2025 exam:

Section	Highlights	Difficulty Level
Creative Ability Test (CAT)	Assessed creativity, innovation, and design thinking	Moderate
General Ability Test (GAT)	Included quantitative, communicative, and analytical skills	Moderate to Difficult
Quantitative Ability	Focused on basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry	Moderate
English Comprehension	Tested grammar, vocabulary, and reading skills	Easy to Moderate
Analytical & Logical Ability	Required problem-solving and pattern recognition	Moderate
General Knowledge & Current Affairs	Featured static GK and recent events	Difficult

The General Knowledge section was noted as the most challenging, while English comprehension was relatively easier. The overall difficulty level of the exam was considered moderate

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, logical, English language, and general knowledge skills, while the CAT evaluated creative and drawing abilities.

According to NIFT analysis 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 totaling 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: 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.

Know more: NIFT Entrance Exam Preparation Tips

Previous Years NIFT Exam Analysis

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.

A few CAT questions were related to the following topics. 

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. 

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

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 

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.

Ans 1. 

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

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

Ans 3. 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.

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: 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

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.

Practice with:  NIFT Online Mock Test Series