Common Mistakes to Avoid while Preparing for NIFT 2025

Common Mistakes to Avoid while Preparing for NIFT 2025

Ritika JonwalUpdated on 24 Mar 2025, 10:31 AM IST

Are you getting ready for the NIFT entrance exam? Congrats! You're headed for an exciting and rewarding career in fashion and design! However, you need to be precise and careful in your NIFT 2025 preparations. There will be numerous challenges on this journey, and you will need to stay clear of several traps to succeed. The top 10 mistakes to avoid when preparing for the NIFT entrance exam will be the main topic of this article.

Common Mistakes to Avoid while Preparing for NIFT 2025
Common Mistakes to avoid while preparing for NIFT 2025

Mistakes to avoid while preparing for NIFT 2025

  1. Procrastination is the silent destroyer.

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Procrastination is the archenemy of productivity. Waiting until the last minute to begin your NIFT preparation can be counterproductive to your success. Many aspirants make the error of underestimating the wide syllabus, resulting in cramming. Instead, make a study plan with daily, weekly, and monthly goals. 2025

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  1. Ignore the Value of Previous Years' Papers

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NIFT has a habit of asking the same types of questions from past years. It is a major mistake not to practice with previous year's papers. Familiarizing yourself with these papers will help you understand the exam pattern, question kinds, and difficulty level. It will additionally assist you organize your time effectively during the exam.

  1. Letting go of Innovation and Creative Thinking

The NIFT entrance exam encourages creative thinking among all its candidates and has even provided methods for achieving these goals. Most of the applicants rely on rote learning, spending little time on other creative techniques, such as sketching, ideation, and visualization. Devote your time to developing designs as well as improving your art since it is most helpful in the Creative Ability Test (CAT).

  1. Undermining Time Management Techniques

Improper time usage whether during preparation or during the exam will cost you a lot of opportunities. Focus on looping on one topic or a one section, as it can waste significant time. Engage yourself in completing regular mock tests and have sections bound to time, as to accomplish.

  1. Neglecting Current Affairs and General Knowledge

The General Knowledge and Current Affairs section is used in the General Ability Test exam (GAT). Avoiding them means losing vital points in your final score. Subscribe to newspapers, observe the fashion world, and be aware of major events happening around the world.

  1. Concentrating on Strengths Only

While it is really important to develop and focus on your strengths, not paying attention to areas of weaknesses creates gaps in your preparation. Make sure that you spend time on challenging topics or skills to master like logical reasoning, quantitative reasoning, or even drawing.

  1. Overlooking Portfolio and Interview Preparation

Many candidates focus solely on the written exams but neglect the later selection stages. If you qualify for the Situation Test or Portfolio Review, poor preparation can cost you valuable marks. Develop a strong portfolio showcasing your best creative works and practice explaining your design process confidently.

  1. Not Practicing Under Exam Conditions

Practicing without simulating exam conditions can be misleading. If you don’t time yourself while solving mock papers or sketching, you may struggle with speed during the actual exam. Set up an exam-like environment by solving mock tests under strict time limits to build efficiency.

  1. Overcommitting Without a Structured Approach

Taking on too much without a proper plan can lead to burnout and inefficiency. Avoid blindly following multiple resources or study techniques. Instead, choose reliable study materials and stick to a structured approach.

  1. Avoiding Feedback and Self-Assessment

Many aspirants hesitate to seek feedback on their sketches, designs, or mock test performance. Constructive criticism helps refine your skills and correct mistakes early. Regularly review your work, take guidance from mentors, and make necessary improvements.

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Questions related to NIFT Entrance Exam

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NIFT Entrance Exam ?

Hello Neharika

These are the topics which are most important in the Current affairs section in respect to NIFT Entrance Exam:

1. National and International Awards and Honors
2. Government Schemes and Initiatives
3. Sports
4. Appointments and Newsmakers
5. Science and Technology
6. Indian and World Economy
7. International Relations
8. Fashion Industry Updates
9. Books and Authors
10. Art and Culture
11. Environmental and Social Issues

To know more about NIFT Entrance Exam: NIFT Entrance Exam by CAREERS360

Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!


Hello,

According to the sources, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam for 2026 will be held in February 2026. Also, the registration period may open from November 2025.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,
It’s completely understandable to feel disheartened after not getting a seat in the first and second rounds, especially when you’ve filled all the colleges and have your hopes set on a particular course like Fashion Communication . With an OBC rank of 1910 and CMR 7192, your chances can improve in the upcoming counselling rounds as more students withdraw or shift to other colleges.
So make sure to check the further rounds of counselling and don’t lose hope. Many students get seats in the 3rd, 4th, and mop-up rounds. You can also consider updating your preference list or keeping a wider range of courses and campuses open in case you're okay with related fields.
Keep checking the official NIFT website for updates on seat allotment and further counselling instructions.
Thank you

Dear Candidate ,
Yes , you are eligible for NIFT - UG 2026 . Based on your birthdate , you will be 19 years old as of August 1 , 2026 , which is well within the age limit .
NIFT requires applicants to be under 24 years of age on August 1 of the admission year , with a 5 year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates .

Hello

The syllabus of NIFT 2026 will be released on October 2025 by Nift officials on their official website nift.ac.in . The syllabus comprises of topics General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT). The syllabus is different for UG and PG programmes. The GAT syllabus consists of :

  • Communication ability and English comprehension
  • Quantitative ability
  • Analytical and Reasoning
  • Case study
  • General knowledge and current affairs

The CAT syllabus consists important topics like

  • Creative ability
  • Observation power
  • Discernment ability
  • Design ability
  • Colour combination ability

To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this

https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus

Good luck !