Students can check preperation strategies and exam pattern to crack NID DAT in first attempt. NID DAT is an important design entrance exam conducted by the National Institute of Design (NID).
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NID DAT is a design entrance exam for admission to the undergraduate (B.Des) and postgraduate (M.Des courses). It is a highly competitive exam conducted by the National Institute of Design (NID). This Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is the most important design entrance exam through which you are selected, and is scheduled to be held in the first week of January 2026.
There are two stages of this NID DAT 2026 exam: Prelims and Mains. You need to qualify for these two stages to be eligible for admission into NIDs and other design institutes in India. This comprehensive assessment procedure evaluates the knowledge, creativity, and design thinking of a candidate. Hence, scoring excellent marks in this entrance exam opens the door for you to pursue design courses and have a successful career.
Tips to Crack the NID DAT Exam in the First Attempt
The competition in the NID DAT entrance exam is very high. You should study in a specific way to clear the NID DAT exam on the first attempt. Preparation of the syllabus, practice of all the topics, and regular revision are all part of the preparation strategy. Here are some NID DAT preparation tips 2026 that you need to follow strictly, which are mentioned below.
1. Follow the Proper Syllabus
Preparing the syllabus is the first thing any aspirant must do to score good marks in the NID DAT exam. There is no official syllabus for the NID DAT exam as the National Institute of Design does not publish any official syllabus. However, a syllabus is available for the NID DAT exam on the internet which is created based on the previous year’s question papers. You must download this syllabus and check all the details such as topics included, weightage of the topics, etc.
Also Read: What is a Good Score in NID DAT 2026?
2. Understand the NID DAT Exam Pattern
The NID DAT entrance exam consists of two stages: prelims and mains. Both are offline exams and the mode of exam is in English in either stage. Exam pattern is also different in these two stages.
NID DAT Prelims Exam: Prelims is a written exam consisting of objective, subjective, and design-based questions. There are a total of 100 marks in this paper where questions are from General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Analytical Ability, English, and Design representation. You have to complete the whole paper within 3 hours. The prelims exam carries 40% weightage of the total entrance test. In the preliminary exam for the PG course, the pattern is similar to the UG exam. However, the weight of the exam is 30% of the total entrance test.
NID DAT Mains Exam: In the Mains exam for admission into the UG courses, candidates need to answer a total of 100 marks of questions within 3 hours. There will be a 60% weightage of the total entrance test for the Mains exam of the UG admission. In the PG entrance test, the main exam is crucial as it carries 70% weightage of the total entrance test. You must be very good at sketching and drawing to be successful in the NID DAT entrance exam.
3. Prepare a Fixed Schedule for the Study
You need to study and practice regularly to score good marks in the NID DAT entrance test. For this, candidates must prepare a schedule to prepare for the entrance exam in a disciplined way. It will help them to practice regularly and get well-prepared for the entrance exam. You must practice sketching, designing, and drawing during your preparation.
4. Collect the Best Study Materials Available
There are study materials and books available for the preparation of the NID DAT exam. Students preparing for this exam must collect some good books and prepare for the entrance exam. You can also purchase pdf files of the study materials which are available online and enhance their level of preparation.
5. Practice Sketching and Drawing
You need to work on practice sketching required for their NID DAT entrance exam. In the main exam, students have to work on sketching and drawings. There will be a lot of weightage on the sketching part of the entire syllabus. Hence, students need to practice drawings regularly to become ready for the entrance exam.
6. Revise Everything that you Study
Practising and revising each topic is the key to success in this entrance exam. Students must practice design and sketching regularly. After completing each chapter, students need to revise regularly. In this way, students will be prepared for the NID DAT entrance exam.
7. Solve Previous year’s Questions
Students need to rely on the previous year’s question papers the most. As there is no official syllabus for the NID DAT exam, students need to follow the questions from the previous years carefully. They have to figure out the trends and patterns of the questions that were in the NID DAT question papers in recent years. It will help them prepare for the entrance exam.
8. Take Mock Tests
After completion of the entire syllabus, students need to start taking mock tests to have better preparation for the NID DAT exam. There are mock tests available on both online and offline. Students can get mock tests from the available books for the NID DAT entrance exam. Apart from this, students can get mock tests on different online platforms. Therefore, students need to take their mock tests seriously after their preparation.
9. Stay Relaxed and Fit
You need to stay calm and relaxed throughout their preparation for the NID DAT exam. There will be a lot of students participating in this entrance exam. Therefore, you must stay fit both physically and mentally throughout their preparation. They need to eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and sleep properly during their preparation.
Also Read: Tips & Tricks to Score Well in NID DAT Exam for Design Courses 2026
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