How Class 12 Students can Crack NIFT in Their First Attempt?

How Class 12 Students can Crack NIFT in Their First Attempt?

Ritika JonwalUpdated on 15 Jan 2026, 06:07 PM IST

As the NIFT 2026 exam is approaching fast, students preparing for the NIFT exam ask this question: “ How can class 12 students crack the NIFT exam in their first attempt?”. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) conducts NIFT exam for admission to its graduate and post graduate design courses in India. To learn how to study and prepare for the NIFT 2026 exam, students can refer to this article and maximize their performance by understanding these important tips and strategies.

This Story also Contains

  1. Tips and Strategies to crack the NIFT 2026 exam in First Attempt
  2. Tips to Prepare for the NIFT GAT (General Ability Test)
  3. Tips to Prepare for the NIFT CAT (Creative Ability Test)
  4. Tips to Prepare for the NIFT Situation Test
  5. Other Useful Study Resources - NIFT 2026 Exam (Free PDF Download)
How Class 12 Students can Crack NIFT in Their First Attempt?
How Class 12 Students can Crack NIFT in Their First Attempt?

Tips and Strategies to crack the NIFT 2026 exam in First Attempt

Here are some important preparation tips and strategies to create a successful study plan by the experts to help students in preparing for the NIFT 2026 Exam:

NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Aspiring candidates for the NIFT entrance exam are advised to go through the NIFT exam pattern 2026 and NIFT 2026 Exam syllabus to understand the topics and types of questions that can be asked from each section.

The NIFT entrance exam 2026 CAT will be conducted in a pen and paper-based mode test, while the NIFT exam details for GAT test is that it will be held in a computer-based test mode (CBT-online).

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Start Early for NIFT 2026

It is always good to start early, immediately after the intermediate/board examination, to cover the entire course, covering the whole syllabus for both the GAT (General Aptitude Test) & CAT (Creative Ability Test).

NIFT 2026 Study Plan

Distribute the time to focus on all the subjects related to the NIFT - exam preparation strategically which is explained below in detail under the "Section-wise Preparation Strategy" section.

Preparation Stage

Key Topics

Daily Hours

Foundation (Early Stage)

Read articles, books and resources with daily practice exercises.

3-4 hours

Mid Stage (5-6 months left)

Solve sample papers with revision

3-6 hours

Intensive stage (3 months left)

Solve previous year question papers and take mock tests

6-8 hours

Last stage (1 month left)

Solve mock test, focused revisions

10-12 hours

Time management for NIFT 2026

An aspirant must maintain speed and accuracy by regularly practising the questions from NIFT previous years' papers in their preparation for the NIFT Exam. Time management is crucial here as outlined in the past. Regularly take NIFT 2026 mock tests and solve NIFT sample Papers under timed conditions.

Tips to Prepare for the NIFT GAT (General Ability Test)

  • Speed & Accuracy: An aspirant must maintain speed and accuracy by regularly practising the NIFT sample questions from NIFT previous years' papers in their preparation for NIFT GAT Exam.

  • Focus on Strength Areas/Topics: It is always good to work on topics and practice the sections first so that it feels more confident. It is only sometimes necessary that one excels in all the sections, but it is better to focus on topics one feels most optimistic about.

  • Study Precise and Revise More: The human mind tends to forget the old information to retrieve new information. However, we can train the mind to retrieve more information by revising the concepts frequently. Thus, if time is short, focus more on revision instead of focusing on new topics.

UPES B.Des Admissions 2026

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

Tips to Prepare for the NIFT CAT (Creative Ability Test)

Aspiring students can follow these tips given below for their preparation for NIFT CAT Exam:

  • Avoid Overdoing

    • It is a common observation that aspirants waste more time overdoing than required.

    • In most cases, either over-detailed or over-colouring the solutions should be avoided unless asked or if it is essential to highlight the concept.

    • For a fashion accessory inspired by the beetle, only elements driven by a beetle need to be highlighted.

  • Focus on Visual Articulation of Idea

    • The approach should focus more on visual narration of the simple idea instead of thinking very complex or futuristic.

  • Practise Human Figures

    • Most solutions we provide are around users, such as fashion accessories, futuristic apparel, footwear, etc.

    • A good sketch of the idea with human interaction is an incomplete story. It also gives an idea of the scale proportion of the proposed solution.

  • Plan the outcome through Thumbnail Sketches:

    • It is always advisable to quickly and sketch the composition in a thumbnail format before jumping directly to answer sheets.

    • It helps to plan better and save time while executing the final concept.

NIFT 2026 Most Important Topics
Get ready for NIFT 2026 with this comprehensive eBook covering CAT & GAT, featuring key topics, tips, and sample questions.
Download EBook

Tips to Prepare for the NIFT Situation Test

  • Plan the model in 2D on the given sheet through sketch before proceeding with the provided materials. This helps you quickly visualise the proposed concept/solution and make any modifications easily without wasting time.

  • Use the materials wisely; this should also be planned while exploring the concept on the paper. Tentatively plan the dimensions on paper only.

  • Get more proficient in solving the Situation Test questions by practising the previous year's NIFT Situation Test questions and some sample questions to prepare for the NIFT Situation Test.

IIAD Admissions 2026

Last Date to Apply – 23rd January | Exam Dates – 31st Jan (online), 1st Feb (Online & Offline) | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students

Manav Rachna-MRIIRS B.Design Admissions 2026

Courses offered in- Fashion Design, Product Design, Communication Design, Interior & Spatial Design & Animation & VFX Design

Other Useful Study Resources - NIFT 2026 Exam (Free PDF Download)

It is important for students to refer to important books and resources for effective NIFT study plans. Students can go through these free PDFs and resources for the candidates to effectively prepare from.

10 Free NIFT Mock Tests of BDes with Detailed Solutions

Download Here

NIFT B.Des Sample Papers with Solutions

Download Here

NIFT 2026 Most Important Topics

Download Here

NIFT Communication Ability and English Comprehension (A Complete Guide)

Download Here

NIFT 2026: Quantitative Ability Section (Full Study Material)

Download Here

NIFT Official BDes CAT Sample Questions with Solutions

Download Here

NIFT UG - A Complete Preparation Guide

Download Here

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Upcoming Design Exams
Ongoing Dates
GLS DAT Application Date

17 Aug'25 - 22 Jan'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
UPESDAT Application Date

12 Sep'25 - 20 Jan'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
BITSDAT Application Date

16 Oct'25 - 1 Feb'26 (Online)

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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,

I am providing you the link below through which you will be able to download the NIFT Question papers with solutions PDF

Here is the link :-

https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-question-paper

In the above link , you will get the direct links to download the year vise question papers with solutions ,

Hello,

Yes, a diploma holder in Computer Engineering can apply for the NIFT entrance exam , but only through the lateral entry route.

NIFT allows candidates with a 3-year or 4-year engineering diploma from a recognized board to apply for B.F.Tech (Fashion Technology) through lateral entry. The diploma must be

Hello aspirant,

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has determined the official date for NIFT 2026 applicant registrations, which is expected to open in November 2025. Online applications will be accepted through January 2026.

For complete information, you can visit our site through following link:

https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam

Thank you

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

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!!