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    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern 2026, Marking Scheme, Duration, Timings, Marks

    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern 2026, Marking Scheme, Duration, Timings, Marks

    Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 20 Feb 2026, 12:18 PM IST

    The BFA entrance exams are an important first step to secure admission into BFA programmes. Candidates applying for BFA admission must be aware of the entrance exams conducted to select students among those who applied, which will help them to have a structured plan to study and score well. Through the design entrance exams, candidates can seek admission into various design programmes of participating colleges. Through this article, aspirants can check the BFA entrance exam pattern conducted for admission to fine arts colleges in India.

    This Story also Contains

    1. BFA Entrance Exam Pattern - Overview
    2. Jamia Millia Islamia BFA Entrance Exam Pattern
    3. BFA Entrance Exam Pattern for JMI Painting
    4. BFA Entrance Exam Pattern for JMI Sculpture Paper
    5. BFA Entrance Exam Pattern for JMI Art Education
    6. BFA Entrance Exam Pattern JNAFAU
    7. CUET BFA Exam Pattern
    8. MAH AAC CET Exam Pattern
    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern 2026, Marking Scheme, Duration, Timings, Marks
    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern

    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern - Overview

    The students after 12th can join the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree by appearing in the BFA entrance exams and other components of the selection process. These aspirants need to understand the BFA exam pattern of the common entrance tests. The students must prepare according to the BFA entrance exam pattern prescribed by the entrance exams to score better. Here is the exam pattern for some of the popular BFA entrance exams.

    Jamia Millia Islamia BFA Entrance Exam Pattern

    The BFA entrance exam Painting at Jamia Millia Islamia has three papers. One of the papers would be an objective-type paper, and it would include theory. The students will be allowed 40 minutes to answer questions worth 40 marks. The first practical paper would consist of a composition worth 30 marks, which the students need to attempt within 1 hour and 20 minutes. The second practical paper will consist of life drawing, which carries 30 marks and will have a duration of 1 hour.

    UPES B.Des Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 26th March | Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings

    Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2026

    No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings

    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern for JMI Painting

    Papers

    Subjects

    Full Marks

    Duration

    Theory

    Aptitude Test

    40

    40

    GK from sculpture

    Current affairs

    Practical 1


    30

    1 hr 20 mins

    Practical 2


    30

    1 hour

    The BFA Sculpture paper consists of three papers, out of which one would be theory of 40 marks. This theory paper will have objective questions and is OMR-based. It would include Aptitude Test, GK from sculpture, current affairs etc. The second paper would be of 20 marks and students have to show life drawing from a model on a ½ Imperial sheet with pencil. The third paper will consist of a composition of 40 marks and students will have to work in clay.

    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern for JMI Sculpture Paper

    Papers

    Subjects

    Full Marks

    Duration

    Theory

    Aptitude Test

    40

    40

    GK from sculpture

    Current affairs

    Practical 1


    20


    Practical 2


    40


    The BFA entrance exam pattern for art education consists of three papers and has a total of 100 marks. The students will have to solve an objective-based paper, which will test their aptitude and general knowledge. In the first practical paper they have to create composition using watercolor or pastel colour. In the second practical paper, the students will have to create a life drawing on a cartridge sheet using a pencil. The first paper would consist of 40 marks, and the second and third paper which are practical, would consist of 30 marks each.

    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern for JMI Art Education

    Papers

    Subjects

    Full Marks

    Theory

    Aptitude Test

    40

    GK from sculpture

    Current affairs

    Practical 1


    30

    Practical 2


    30

    BFA Entrance Exam Pattern JNAFAU

    The Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University in Hyderabad conducts JNAFAU FADEE for admissions to the fine arts program. It prescribes the JNAFAU FADEE syllabus on its official website. The paper A consists of memory drawing and colouring, which has the full marks of 100 and a duration of 90 minutes. Students applying for BFA applied arts, painting, sculpture, and animation have to appear for this entrance examination. Paper A requires the candidates to draw day-to-day activities of human beings, animals, birds etc. as given in the question. The paper B consists of multiple choice questions from GK, English, and general art-oriented questions. The paper C will consist of single object drawing, which will be placed in front of them and they need to replicate it using paper and pencils only.

    JNAFAU BFA Applied Arts, Painting, Sculpture, and Animation

    Paper

    Subjects

    Full Marks

    Duration

    Paper A Memory Drawing


    100

    90 minutes

    Paper B Common Objective Paper

    GK & Current Affairs 15 questions

    50

    50 minutes

    English 15 questions

    General Art Oriented 20 questions

    Paper C Single object drawing


    100

    90 minutes

    For the candidates who are getting admissions into BFA photography, the paper D consists of composition and visual communication. The students also have to appear on paper E, which is an objective-type paper consisting of GK and current affairs, English, and general art-oriented questions worth 50 marks and having a duration of 50 minutes.

    JNAFAU BFA Photography

    Paper

    Subjects

    Full Marks

    Duration

    Paper D Composition and Visual Communication


    100

    90 minutes

    Paper B Common Objective Paper

    GK & Current Affairs 15 questions

    50

    50 minutes

    English 15 questions

    General Art Oriented 20 questions

    CUET BFA Exam Pattern

    The National Testing Agency conducts a common University entrance test to grant admissions into central universities for Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The students must know the BFA exam pattern, which consists of multiple-choice questions.

    As part of the CUET BFA exam, candidates must attempt the language paper, the general test, and the domain-specific subject.

    The section 1A and 2 would consist of 50 questions, out of which 40 need to be answered. The third section consists of 60 questions, out of which 50 need to be answered.

    Section 1A of languages includes topics on reading comprehension, literary aptitude, and vocabulary. Section 2 includes domain-specific questions that will evaluate class 12th knowledge. The students will be required to select the subject code 312 on the domain subject while filling out the application form.

    Section 3, which is the general aptitude test, includes topics on general knowledge, current affairs, mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning, and logical and analytical reasoning.

    For each correct answer the students are awarded 5 marks, and one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. In case there are multiple correct options, 5 marks will be only awarded to those students who have selected all the correct answers and have attempted the question.

    CUET BFA Exam Pattern

    Section

    Question type

    Questions to be attempted

    Section 1A

    Languages

    Language to be tested through Reading Comprehension (based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary, and Narrative), Literary Aptitude, and Vocabulary

    40 questions to be

    attempted out of 50

    in each language

    Section 2-

    Domain

    Candidates will be evaluated based on the class 12 only. The students are required to choose the subject code 312. The students can refer to the CUET BFA syllabus and prepare for this section carefully based on that.

    40 Questions to be attempted out of 50.

    Section 3-

    General Test

    General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic/algebra geometry/mensuration/statistics), logical and Analytical Reasoning

    50 Questions to be attempted out of 60

    The total duration for CUET BFA entrance exam section 1 and 2 is 45 minutes each and for section 3 the students will be allotted 60 minutes. The students can check the duration of each exam in the table given below.

    CUET BFA Exam Duration

    Section and Subject

    Time Duration

    Section 1A: Languages

    45 minutes each

    Section 1B: Languages

    45 minutes each

    Section 2: Domain-specific

    45 minutes each

    Section 3: General Test

    60 minutes each

    MAH AAC CET Exam Pattern

    The students who are planning to join the top fine arts colleges in Maharashtra can appear for MAH AAC CET exam. As per MAH AAC CET exam pattern, the paper consists of three practical papers, each of 50 marks and one objective type paper of 40 marks. The number of questions in each practical paper would be one, and the three practical papers would be based on design practical, objective drawing practical and memory drawing practical. The students will have multiple choice questions related to art, craft, design, colour and computer graphics/ computer basics in in the theory paper in which 40 marks will be allotted for 40 questions.

    There is no negative marking. It is mandatory for all the candidates appearing for Bachelor of Fine Arts degree to attempt all the papers. The duration of the exam for paper one of design practical is 1 hour 30 minutes paper 2 object drawing practical is 1 hour paper 3 of memory drawing practical is again one hour 30 minutes and paper for objective type theory paper is 1 hour. The expected reporting time, gate closer time, and schedule of the exam along with the marking scheme and duration for MAH AAC CET has been given below in the table.

    MAH AAC CET Exam Pattern

    Exam

    Paper I

    Paper II

    Lunch Break

    Paper III

    Paper IV

    MAH-AAC-CET


    Design

    Practical

    Object Drawing

    Practical

    Memory Drawing

    Practical

    General

    Knowledge

    Marks

    50

    50



    1 hour


    50

    40

    No of Questions

    1

    1

    1

    40

    Duration

    1 Hr. 30 Minutes

    1 Hour

    1 Hr. 30 Minutes

    1 Hour

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What sections to prepare for BFA entrance?
    A:

    Students must practice general knowledge, English and their domain subject which is memory-based drawing/object based drawing

    Q: What are some common entrances for BFA?
    A:

    Some common entrances for BFA are CUET, JMI entrance, MAH AAC CET etc. 

    Q: Is exam pattern fixed for all BFA entrance exams?
    A:

    No, the exam pattern for BFA entrance exams is not the same. Aspirants should check the exam pattern separately for each entrance exam. 

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    Questions related to MAH AAC CET

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to MAH AAC CET ?

    Hi, Generally, it should not create a problem for appearing in the MHT CET 2026 exam. As the candidate’s name as per the Class 10 marksheet is considered the primary document for verification. If your name in the application form matches your 10th marksheet, you should be fine for the