How To Prepare For NID Prelims (Part A & Part B) 2026

The esteemed National Institute of Design (NID) administers the NID DAT exam. DAT stands for Design Aptitude Test. It is a thorough assessment procedure for those interested in design. This test is designed to find people who have good observational skills, rapid thinking, quick execution, excellent communication skills, and critical reasoning and decision making skills that involve sketching and drawing in real-world contexts. NID seeks to choose applicants who exhibit a comprehensive understanding and capability in the field of design by highlighting these important areas.

This Story also Contains

1. Exam Pattern of NID Exam 2026
2. How to Crack for NID-DAT Prelims 2026
3. Understanding of Part A (Aptitude Section)
4. Understanding of Part B (Drawing Section)
5. How To Prepare for NID-DAT: Studio Test & Interview - An Overview
6. Preparation Books For NID DAT Prelims

Design is about solving problems. Aptitude means your natural talent or what you've learned to do well. Test means when they check how good you are at something. So, the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a test that sees how good you are at solving problems with design, based on what you naturally do well or have learned. Students can also practice NID mock test online to familiarize themselves with the pattern of the exam.

Now the question that arises is, Why does NID conduct DAT? The National Institute of Design (NID) conducts the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) for admission to its B.Des and M.Des programs. The NID DAT consists of a Prelims and a Mains exam. The NID DAT prelims exams for B.Des and M.Des programs are conducted separately. Thus, through this article, we will focus on how to prepare for NID DAT Prelims 2026.

Exam Pattern of NID Exam 2026

Before beginning with the preparation, let's first understand the exam pattern for NID DAT 2026.

Also Read: How to Crack NID DAT in 3 Months

How to Crack for NID-DAT Prelims 2026

Before beginning with the preparation for NID DAT Prelims 2026, let's first get thorough with its exam pattern and NID DAT Syllabus 2026. The list of important topics will help in the effective and smooth preparation of NID DAT prelims 2026. Students can also refer to NID DAT 2025 Prelims question paper for better understanding.

The NID exam consists of two parts A and B. Part- B completely focuses on the Sketching part. On the other hand, Part A has a mix of multiple-choice and subjective questions. The question paper consists of two Sections, with a new format as follows.

PART A: Aptitude Section ( 25 marks)

PART B: Drawing section (75 marks)

Understanding of Part A (Aptitude Section)

This section is usually moderate in difficulty level. It is generally most scoring and mostly logic-based, where fundamental/depth knowledge of concepts is sufficient to answer the questions. However, focused preparation is needed to perform well in an examination.

It is focused on accessing the following skills in an aspirant:

1. Creative Thinking

2. Elements and Fundamentals of Design

3. Working Principles of Everyday Objects.

4. Aptitude Skills

5. Reasoning Skills

How To Prepare For NID DAT Prelims 2026 - Part A

• Conceptual Understanding: Focus on understanding design fundamentals like color theory, perspective, form, and composition. Study design history, famous designers, and their contributions.

• Practice MCQs: To achieve a good mark in NID 2026, hard work and regular practice are going to play a crucial role, in solving MCQs from previous years' papers and practice tests. Use online platforms and books specifically designed for NID DAT preparation. Analyze why certain options are correct and others are incorrect.

• Time Management: During practice sessions, time yourself to improve speed and accuracy. Learn to eliminate wrong options to narrow down choices.

• Review and Learn: Review incorrect answers and understand the concepts behind them. Keep a notebook of important formulas, concepts, and shortcuts for quick revision.

Also Read:

• Download NID DAT Sample Papers

• How to Prepare for NID 2026

• Check NID DAT Study Material

Understanding of Part B (Drawing Section)

This section usually scores but is very demanding in context to a good understanding of using technical and non-technical drawing skills as a medium to communicate the idea in an aspirant's mind.

This Section of Examination has evolved a lot in the past three years, where the focus has shifted not only to Problem-Solving Skills but now demanding more usability-oriented Visualization of a given scenario. This recent update in the 2025 examination has made the question paper lengthy, demanding good sketching skills and speed, along with the selection of appropriate camera angles to present the idea:

How To Prepare For NID DAT Prelims - Part B 2026

• Attempt time for such a question: 20 minutes max. (use pencil 4B/6B)

• Interpreting the Question: Where it has 02 parts basically as per new formats. Firstly, you are given a visual clue, following which you are required to make space for elderly people for safety, accessibility & other needs of an aged person. Secondly, you have to elaborate on an object used by elderly people.

• 
  

  • Time Management: Refrain from getting conveyed when making a very detailed drawing. It is primarily required to keep the sketching minimalist but sufficient to express your thoughts.

  • Focus on Sketching Fundamentals: This is a test of Sketching Fundamentals, which includes understanding perspective, room layout, placement of objects, etc., in a limited time only. All detailing is to be done using pencil through sketching or hatching

  • Think and Plan: What could be the needs of elderly people, like a space with a minimalist layout, limited and necessary objects to meet the daily life needs of an elderly person like a comfortable chair to rest, space for medicines, wall clock, no object should have sharp edges, provision of good ventilation and light, etc.

Also Read:

• Top Design College in India

• Top Fashion Design College in India

• Top Graphic Design College in India

• Top Interior Design College in India

• Top Animation Design College in India

Let's try to understand Part - B with Solved Example Question

Question: For example, given a room layout in perspective view, you must redesign it as a designer to meet an elderly person's needs, such as safety, accessibility, etc. Sketch the design, including furniture & modifications. Briefly describe the layout and significance of products in the room. (MM: 20 Marks)

(Clue Given: Three Lines as layout of space Space Design for Elderly with objects (20 mins))

(Given below: Describing the Significance and Desing aspects of a Product: ( Resting Chair for Elderly))

While describing a product, keep the following things in mind.

1. Always highlight Human Interaction with the Product: It is always more scoring and right to put human interaction with the product. Otherwise, a product only needs to make sense.

2. Choose Simple: Choosing an object to describe should be done smartly, fulfilling the question need otherwise it may be time-consuming.

3. Define Product Highlights: Major attributes that make the product appropriate to the user's needs, e.g., a pocket for medicines for old people in a chair.

Note: Preparation is a strategic game well crafted with time management, where one needs to work simultaneously on his/her strengths and weaknesses.

Top Design Entrance Exam

How To Prepare for NID-DAT: Studio Test & Interview - An Overview

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. Refer to these additional tips for how to prepare for NID Studio Test effectively.

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. Since there is no fixed format for questions, it is doable if you have trained your senses well, no matter the challenge.

Preparation Books For NID DAT Prelims

Given below is the section-wise list of NID DAT preparation books. These books are highly recommended to study for the NID Prelims stage since these books will help in scoring good marks in the examination.