How to Prepare for NID 2026 (Prelims & Mains): Check Preparation Strategy

The National Institute of Design, or NID, is one of the most well-known design schools. The NID administers a nationwide entrance exam called the Design Aptitude Test (DAT). The NID DAT 2026 is one of the hardest entrance exams for design schools. Students must have a good NID 2026 preparation strategy to perform well on this test.

Making an effective study plan, selecting the appropriate NID study materials, routinely studying and completing exercises, working through sample papers, and taking notes are all part of preparing for the NID exam. Additionally, the candidate will be required to take a few NID mock tests in the weeks preceding the NID DAT exam. Thus, to replicate exam conditions, students should take the NID mock test online. It will also be beneficial to do well on the test and boost students' confidence for the actual exam.

This Story also Contains

1. Stages of NID Exam - Prelims and Mains
2. How To Crack NID Entrance Exam 2026 - Stages of Preparation
3. Preparation Strategy for NID DAT Prelims 2026
4. Preparation Strategy for NID DAT Mains 2026
5. Additional Tips for NID Mains/Studio Test
6. Recommended Books For NID Preparation 2026

Stages of NID Exam - Prelims and Mains

Well, the students who are preparing for the NID 2026 exam well in advance will have the best chance of passing it with ease. The NID DAT 2026 competition is fierce. Thus, you must exert maximum effort.

There are two steps in the NID admissions process (Prelims and Mains): NID DAT Prelims is where candidates must first appear. The candidates are narrowed down for the NIT DAT Mains, a studio test, based on their prelim results.

How To Crack NID Entrance Exam 2026 - Stages of Preparation

Aspirants need to qualify for the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) to gain admission to NID campuses. Those aspirants who make up their minds to appear in the NID DAT exam should go through on how to prepare for the NID entrance exam thoroughly. It will help you while in NID exam preparation. In this article, Careers360 offers a set of top-notch suggestions on how to prepare for NID 2025. The list of preparation tips are as follows.

1. Understand the NID DAT exam pattern

Before beginning the NID DAT preparation, one must be thorough with the exam pattern. However, In the NID 2025 exam, significant changes have been made in the NID exam pattern. Since NID DAT is conducted in 2 stages Prelims and Mains. The NID DAT prelims now feature an altered structure, notably with an increase in the drawing section and a decrease in the aptitude portion. Previously, the total marks for the Aptitude and Drawing sections were 25 and 75, respectively. Primarily, the NID DAT 2025 exam included a total of 23 questions. These modifications represent a realignment of focus and temporal distribution among sections to efficiently evaluate candidates' competencies.

2. Know your NID Syllabus 2026

Familiarizing yourself with the NID entrance exam syllabus is essential for structured and focused preparation. Students should refer to the NID DAT Syllabus 2026 to gain a clear understanding of the topics covered across different sections. This will help you identify key areas to focus on, plan your study schedule efficiently, and ensure you are well-prepared for all aspects of the exam.

3. Create a Study Plan

Every person has a different amount of preparedness depending on their study habits and capacity for critical thinking and problem - solving approach. Hence, there are few things that students should keep in mind when they study.

• Analyze your strengths and weaknesses first.

• Second, categorize the list of important topics from NID DAT study material according to their weightage. Divide them into the most and least significant topics.

• Third, begin by studying simple topics for the NID DAT preparation and gradually advance to more challenging ones.

• Maintain a regular study schedule because consistency is the key

• Continue to practice the questions and take the mock exams on a regular basis.

• Follow up on current affairs and read on general knowledge topics daily.

• Practice at least one drawing exercise on a daily basis to create more accuracy and speed for the exam.

4. Solve Previous Year's Question Papers

Solve all previous years' question papers for NID DAT to boost your preparation. Also check the NID DAT 2025 prelims question paper for recent changes in the pattern. After that, give daily mock tests. For more practice you can also download NID DAT B.des Prelims eBook from our website in which you can find 10 free mock test series of NID DAT Prelims exam.

Also Read: How to Crack NID DAT in 3 Months

Preparation Strategy for NID DAT Prelims 2026

The Prelims exam is conducted in two parts, Part A and Part B. Given below is the effective preparation strategy for NID DAT Prelims. To study more in detail please refer to the article on how to prepare for NID DAT Prelims.

The Prelims exam is conducted in two parts, Part A and Part B. Given below is the effective preparation strategy for NID DAT Prelims.

• Conceptual Understanding: Pay close attention to learning the foundational concepts of design, such as perspective, color theory, form, and composition. Examine the contributions made by renowned designers and the history of design.

• Practice questions: NID DAT prelims comprise three parts that are NAT, MCQ and MSQ. So Practice the MCQs, MSQs and NATs from past years' practice papers.

• Refer Books: After attempting the mock test, analyze your answer sheet examine for the incorrect answers and comprehend the underlying ideas. Refer to the NID books for easy review. Write down key formulas, ideas, and shortcuts in a notebook which will help in the last-minute revisions.

• To study more in detail please refer to the article How To Prepare For NID DAT Prelims

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Preparation Strategy for NID DAT Mains 2026

The NID-Studio Test is the advanced stage of evaluating admission at NID in different streams. It further evaluates an aspirant's Sensory Reflection, Agility, and Problem-Solving Skills. The questions in the studio test are practical and situation-based, where one needs to respond immediately to a given scenario. It is usually doable within the time limit if one has meticulously followed the above-shared advice for prelims.

There is no fixed format for questions, but it is doable if you have trained your senses well, no matter the challenge. For example, remember the 10-15 sounds, which you must identify and note in your answer sheet. (Purely Sensory and Cognitive Evaluation).

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Additional Tips for NID Mains/Studio Test

Since the Studio Test is very crucial in NID exam. So here are some additional tips for how to prepare for NID Studio Test effectively.

• Avoid multiple colors in Studio Test: It is advised to keep the sketches minimalist, looking at the time limitations, using mostly pencil for sketching and pencil colors for coloring where only required. Try to communicate using the idea through shading and highlights only.

• Avoiding Complex Solutions/Ideas: For a given situation or question, try to keep your response as practical and simple as possible with clarity of the use case scenario. Evaluators are looking for a skill set capable of generating solutions that seem practical and doable by looking only.

• Time Management: It is one of the most common advice given to any aspirant since time management is the key to scoring well in any exam. Distribute time equally to all the questions, without being carried to any one single question. Try to attempt most questions, while attempting one should always begin with the one where you feel most confident.

• Thumbnail Technique: Before attempting to answer any question on the answer sheet, generate a thumbnail overview of the solution in your mind on a rough sheet. This empowers an individual to think clearly and visualize the proposed solution's requirements.

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Recommended Books For NID Preparation 2026

Given below is the list of NID preparation books that can help in your NID DAT preparation.