Bennett University B.Design Admissions 2025
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Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT) are the two parts of the NIFT entrance exam. Aspirants seeking NIFT admission are required to clear both GAT and CAT for B.Des admissions. The difference between CAT and GAT in NIFT is one of the common queries of aspirants appearing in the NIFT entrance exam. As per the NIFT exam pattern, the CAT paper is conducted in offline mode, while the GAT is held online. This article explains what CAT and GAT are in NIFT 2026 in detail. Candidates are advised to check the complete article. Through this article, candidates can check all the differences between CAT and GAT in NIFT 2026.
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Particulars | NIFT CAT Exam | NIFT GAT Exam |
Type of Exam | Offline | Online |
Marks | 100 for both BDes and MDes | B.Des 100 M.Des 120 |
Duration of the Exam | 2 Hours | 2 Hours |
Weightage | 50% for B.Des 40% for M.Des | 30% for both |
The Creative Ability Test, or CAT, in the NIFT exam is held for students who have applied for the B.Des or M.Des programmes. The NIFT CAT exam is conducted offline, and the students are required to draw and show their creative abilities based on the NIFT CAT question paper. The CAT in NIFT carries a weightage of 50% in B.Des and 40% in M.Des
As per the NIFT CAT syllabus, the candidates are usually judged on their intuitive ability, observation ability in concept development, illustration ability, and creative and innovative use of colour.
The General Ability Test of GAT in the NIFT exam carries 100% weightage for the B.F.Tech aspirants, 70% for M.F.Tech and MFM aspirants, and 30% for B.Des and M.Des students. The NIFT GAT section tests the candidate’s aptitude for design, quantitative abilities, and general knowledge. The NIFT GAT exam duration is 3 hours, and it is a computer-based test that consists of MCQs. The candidates must note that there is a -0.25 negative marking in the GAT section.
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As per the NIFT GAT syllabus, students must prepare the following topics to score well in this section. The NIFT syllabus 2026 will be released on the NIFT's official website
Quantitative Ability: The students must be well-versed in the basics of addition, multiplication, division, and fractions. Students must practise questions based on percentage, rate of interest, work and task, ratio and proportion, distance questions, etc.
Communication Ability and English Comprehension: The students must be fluent with day-to-day communication, and should be well aware of synonyms, antonyms, word meanings, singular and plural, one-word substitution, etc. Along with that, the student must also know idioms and phrases and answer questions based on comprehension.
Analytic Ability and Logical Ability: For this, the students must have problem-solving abilities, and they must be able to solve questions related to dice, clocks, cards, etc. The students are tested based on their logical reasoning abilities to solve the crux of the problem. Students can practice solving puzzles like number series and coding, and decoding to improve their problem-solving abilities
General Knowledge and Current Affairs: These kinds of questions test the candidate’s general knowledge about environment, politics, history, social studies, etc, along with their interest in the current happenings in the world.
Students appearing for the NIFT exam should be well aware of the question paper pattern. As per the NIFT exam pattern, this fashion design entrance exam will be held in two parts - Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT). In order to get admission in NIFT campuses, aspirants have to mandatorily appear for both CAT and GAT. The NIFT entrance exam is one of the most common tests for students aiming to get admission in fashion design colleges in India.
Section | B.Des | M.Des |
Quantitative Ability | 20 | 20 |
Communicational Ability | 25 | 30 |
English Comprehension | 25 | |
Analytic Ability and Logical Ability | 15 | 25 |
General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 15 | 15 |
Programme | CAT | GAT |
Bachelor of Design (B.Des) | 50% | 30% |
Master of Design (M.Des) | 40% | 30% |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech) | - | 100% |
Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech) | - | 70% |
Master of Fashion Management (MFM) | - | 70% |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The NIFT GAT exam tests the students based on aptitude, communication ability, English, general knowledge, and current affairs.
Yes, appearing for NIFT CAT is compulsory for B.Des admissions at NIFT.
The NIFT GAT exam is online.
Yes, there is a -0.25 negative marking in the NIFT GAT exam.
To join NIFT institutions the student must appear for the NIFT entrance exam conducted by NTA.
The NIFT GAT exam for BDes consists of 100 questions for BFTech, MFTech, and MFM consists of 150 questions while MDes consists of 120 questions.
On Question asked by student community
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!!
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 :
The CAT syllabus consists important topics like
To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus
Good luck !
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