NATA 2026 Exam: Exam Dates, Results, Registration, Syllabus, Eligibility Criteria

The National Aptitude Test in Architecture or NATA, is the qualifying exam for admission to the Bachelor of Architecture program in colleges/universities in India. The actual admissions are carried out only by the competent authorities of the respective states & institutions based on a valid NATA score. The official website of NATA, has details regarding nata question paper & nata exam pattern.

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What is NATA?

The NATA entrance exam is an entrance test that is designed to evaluate aptitude for a career in architecture. It is mandatory to take this exam and submit nata score cards to colleges when applying to architecture programs. NATA measures the aptitude of the applicant for studying architecture, through assessment of cognitive skills, visual perception, aesthetic sensitivity tests, logical reasoning and critical thinking ability, etc., besides the learning that the candidate has acquired over the past years.

NATA Exam Dates

Candidates can appear for a maximum of 3 attempts in NATA 2026 in one academic year. The best score out of all the attempts shall be considered for declaration of results. The score of the NATA Test is valid for a period of 2 academic years.

Registration Start Date:	March 1st, 2026
Exam Date:	All weekends from April to July, 2026

NATA Examination 2026 Paper Pattern

The NATA EXAM 2026 is an online & offline test that consists of multiple-choice questions, drawing tasks and assessments to measure the creativity & analytical abilities of students. The medium of the exam is in english & hindi.

Part A - Drawing & Composition Test - Offline Test	1.5hrs
A1 - Composition & colour question	25 Marks
A2 - Sketching & composition question	25 Marks
A3 - 3D Composition question	30 Marks
Total 3 questions	80 Marks

Part B - MCQ - Computer based online Test	1.5 Hrs
B1 - 30 questions x 2 Marks	60 Marks
B2 - 15 questions x 4 Marks	60 Marks
Total 45 questions	120 Marks

Part B of the nata entrance examination is online test of 45 general aptitude questions with sections including Multiple-Choice Type (MCQ), Multiple Select Type (MSQ), Preferential Choice Type (PCQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAQ). There will be no negative marking in NATA 2026. You will be tested on the following topics in the general aptitude section.

Diagrammatic Reasoning	Tests the ability of logical reasoning, using diagrams and scenarios
Numerical Reasoning	Tests mathematical ability through simple problems
Verbal Reasoning	Assesses the ability to assess verbal logic
Inductive Reasoning	Tests the ability to see patterns and analyze given data
Situational Judgement	Tests problem-solving ability
Logical Reasoning	Tests the ability to recognize patterns, sequences, or relationships between shapes and imagery
Abstract Reasoning	Will assess general knowledge and ability to utilize knowledge in new situations

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NATA Exam 2026 Eligibility Criteria

There is no upper age limit for appearing in the NATA entrance examination.

Passed or appearing in 10+1 Examination OR Passed or appearing in 10+2 Examination with Physics & Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with either Chemistry or Biology or Technical Vocational subject or Computer Science or Information Technology or Informatics Practices or Engineering Graphics or Business Studies with at least 45% marks in aggregate.

Passed or appearing in 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as compulsory subject with at least 45% marks in aggregate.

NATA Exam 2026 Application Form

Visit the official website of the NATA 2026 exam, register online, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents. Remember your user name, security question / answer and password. Choose the city of the Test centre carefully. Upload colour photograph and signature of specified size only. Retain a copy of the Confirmation Page.

NATA 2026 Application Fees

Category of Candidate	Single Test	Two Tests	Three Tests
General / OBC Male	Rs. 1750	Rs. 3250	Rs. 4500
General / OBC Female	Rs. 1250	Rs. 2250	Rs. 3000
SC/ST/EWS/PwD male	Rs. 1250	Rs. 2250	Rs. 3000
SC/ST/EWS/PwD female	Rs. 1000	Rs. 1750	Rs. 2750
Transgender	Rs. 1000	Rs. 1500	Rs. 2500
Outside India	Rs. 10000	Rs. 18000	Rs. 25000

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NATA 2026 Exam Part A Syllabus

Composition & colour: Creating suitable compositions for various situations and colouring them appropriately. Re-arranging various shapes in a visually appealing manner and colouring it suitably.

Sketching & composition (Black and White): Ability to draw, visualise, depict a situation, involving buildings or building components, people, environment, products with an understanding of scale, proportions, textures, shades and shadow etc.

Composition: Creating interesting 3D composition for a given situation using the provided kit.

NATA 2026 Exam Part B Syllabus

Visual Reasoning: Ability to understand & reconstruct 2D and 3D composition, knowledge about its composition & technical concepts.

Logical Derivation: Ability to decode a situation, composition, context & generate meaning. Understanding the minute information hidden in a particular situation & drawing conclusions.

G.K., Architecture & Design: General awareness of architecture and design, current issues, recent episodes etc., Knowledge about important buildings, historical progression, innovation in materials and construction technology.

Language Interpretation: Ability to correctly & logically generate meaning of words, sentences, understanding about English grammar.

Design Sensitivity: Ability to observe, record and analyse people, space, product, environment. Critical thinking, reasoning and ability to identify the subtle communications.

Design Thinking: Ability to understand semantics, metaphors, problem identification and definition, analysis of a given situation.

Numerical Ability: Basic Mathematics & its association with creative thinking. To unfold a space with the use of geometry.

NATA entrance exam changes the syllabus periodically, make sure to review the previous years NATA syllabus/question papers to get insights into the exam structure and question types.

NATA Exam 2026 Admit Card

The NATA Admit Card is a mandatory document for entry into the exam center. It includes details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, and test center. Candidates must download their admit card from the official NATA website before the exam. For those appearing for multiple test attempts, a new admit card must be generated after the previous test results are announced.

NATA 2026 Exam Centers

Candidates need to indicate their preference for city of examination while registering at NATA portal www.nata.in NATA tests are conducted in Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ahmednagar, Aizawl, Akola, Amravati, Amritsar, Aurangabad, Bareilly, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bijapur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Ernakulam, Faridabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Guwahati, Gwalior, Haldwani, Hubli, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jammu, Jhansi, Kalburgi, Kalyan, Kangra, Kannur, Kanyakumari, Kochi, Kohima, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Madurai, Malappuram, Manipal, Mohali, Mumbai, Mysore, Nagpur, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Pallakad, Panaji, Patna, Puducherry, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Ratnagiri, Rohtak, Roorkee, Sagar, Salem, Sehore, Shillong, Shimla, Siliguri, Solapur, Sonipat, Srinagar, Surat, Thane, Thanjavur, Thrissur, Tiruchirappall, Thiruvananthapuram, Tumkur, Udaipur, Vadodara, Varanasi, Vellore, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada

NATA Previous Exam Question Paper

Solving the NATA Previous Exam Question Paper will help the candidate understand the pattern of the exam, and the frequently asked questions. Candidates might want to take time and look at some old question papers to better understand how they should prepare and appreciate how the questions are asked.

NATA Exam 2026 Answer Key

After taking the exam, candidates can get the NATA EXAM 2026 Answer Key on the official website, which allows them to self-assess and understand the correct responses to the questions that are attempted.

NATA 2026 Preparation Books

Here’s a curated list of books, to help with the preparation for B.Arch entrance exams:

"NATA: National Aptitude Test in Architecture" by Surendra Kumar
"NATA & JEE Main B.Arch: Solved Papers" by R.K. Gupta
"NATA: A Complete Guide" by R.S. Aggarwal
"JEE Main B.Arch (Paper 2) Guide" by R.K. Gupta
"Mathematics for Class 11 & 12" by R.D. Sharma
"Aptitude Test for Architecture" by R.S. Aggarwal
"Design Fundamentals for Architects" by D. B. Dutta
"Architecture: Form, Space, and Order" by Francis D.K. Ching

NATA 2026 Cut-Off Marks

The NATA Exam has a minimum qualifying score, but individual colleges set their own category-wise cut-off marks for B.Arch admissions. Therefore, candidates should review the NATA marking scheme to understand the selection criteria. Each year, the highest NATA score may vary depending on the exam’s difficulty level. However, the minimum qualifying mark for NATA 2026 remains 70 out of 200. Steps to Download the NATA 2026 Admit Card:

Visit the official NATA website.
Log in using your application number and password.
Click on ‘National Aptitude Test in Architecture’.
Select the Download option.
Once downloaded, your NATA Admit Card 2026 will be displayed.
Print a copy for future reference.

Ensure you carry the printed admit card to the exam center to avoid any issues on test day.

NATA 2026 Counselling

The Council of Architecture (CoA) does not conduct centralized counselling for NATA 2026. After qualifying for the exam, candidates must apply individually to their preferred institutes. Since there is no common counselling process, students should research and apply to state-level and private colleges offering B.Arch programs.

JEE Main B.Arch vs. NATA: Key Differences

The JEE Main B.Arch Exam and NATA are both entrance tests for architecture programs, but they differ in purpose and structure. JEE Main B.Arch is conducted by NTA and is primarily for admission to NITs, SPAs, and other centrally funded institutions. It focuses on mathematics, aptitude, and drawing skills. In contrast, NATA, conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA), is widely accepted by state and private architecture colleges and assesses a candidate’s drawing, cognitive skills, and architectural awareness. While JEE Main B.Arch has a fixed syllabus, NATA’s exam pattern and difficulty level may vary each year.

NATA 2026 Exam Results

Results will be available and declared on the nata official website www.nata.in The Qualifying Marks for the NATA 2026 would be based on the following Rules:

A minimum of 20 marks must be secured in PART A
A minimum of 30 marks must be secured in PART B 3.
Overall qualifying marks for NATA 2024 shall be 70 marks out of 200 as aggregate of Part A and Part B.

A Candidate will not qualify in NATA 2026 unless all three conditions mentioned above are satisfied. In case the candidate appears in multiple tests, all the previous scores shall appear on the scorecard. The best score obtained in all attempts shall be taken as the valid score for NATA 2026

NATA 2026 Exam Preparation Tips

To excel in the NATA 2026 exam, candidates should consider the following preparation tips:

Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarise yourself with the structure of the exam.
Regular Practice: Dedicate time for drawing and MCQ practice.
Time Management: Focus on managing the time effectively during the exam
Refer to Good Study Material: Use recommended books and online resources.
Mock Tests: take regular mock tests, assess your preparation & find your drawbacks.

The right preparation from afdindia’s NATA Entrance Training Centre can significantly help to improve your chances of success in the exam. We mentor candidates for the top scores in the NATA EXAM 2026, for a career in the architecture field.

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NATA 2026 Entrance Exam Coaching

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FAQ

1. How can I effectively prepare for the NATA entrance examination?

In preparation for the NATA examination, you must focus on practising drawing, design aptitude, and analytical skills. Practise with previous year question papers and mock tests to improve your preparation.

2. Who is eligible for the NATA Exam?

The eligible candidates who have completed 10+2 level education with mathematics as a subject can apply for the NATA examination.

3. What are the procedures for re-evaluating the NATA 2026 results?

The candidates are required to make an application for rechecking within the time prescribed and must make the payment of rechecking fees on the official nata website.

4. Will the authorities release the NATA result offline?

No, the NATA examination results are only available online on the official nata website.

5. How to check the NATA results 2026?

Follow these simple steps to check your status in NATA Results.

Visit the official NATA website to check the results.

Click on the Results link on the homepage.

Enter your registration number and details.

Click on Submit to view your score.

Click the download option and print your result of future reference