Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2025
No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings | Last Date to Apply: 31st August
Hi there, students. To help you prepare for the NID DAT 2026 Exam, this article offers you NID previous year question papers with answers for the years 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and more. Students are encouraged to check the NID previous year question papers with solutions pdf in order to get a sense of the kinds of questions that will be covered in NID entrance exam.
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NID PYQS can assist candidates in familiarizing themselves with the format of the NID DAT 2026 in order to prepare for the NID entrance exam. To obtain NID DAT last year question papers for the following years: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, and more, read the entire post.
Initially the NID-DAT Prelims can feel challenging and complex initially, to help you navigate strategically have distilled the key insights from the last five years (2020-25) are given:
NID DAT Year 2025
The NID DAT 2025 question paper was considered moderate to easy, with Part-A (GAT) emphasizing daily interactions and observational skills. Candidates had to identify logos and symbols such as Nirma and ICICI Bank, along with spatial reasoning and visual interpretation. Part-B (CAT) was scoring for those with strong attention to detail, functionality, and presentation. Design challenges included user-centric problems and situation-based drawing. The paper was well-balanced, accessible, and leaned heavily on application-based design thinking, with a focus on drawing-led creative problem-solving. Students can go through the NID DAT 2025 Exam analysis to understand the NID 2025 Question paper better.
NID DAT Year 2024
The NID DAT 2024 Question paper was moderately difficult but lengthy. Part-A continued to test general awareness including topics like the G-20 Summit and sustainable development, while moving away from mathematical aptitude and toward visual interpretation and logo recognition. The CAT section tested real-world problem-solving through tasks like logo/poster creation, making it moderately challenging. Time management was critical due to the paper’s length, and there was a consistent emphasis on visual reasoning and interpretation.
NID DAT Year 2023
In NID DAT 2023 Question Paper, the difficulty level was moderate to difficult. The general awareness section was easier than prior years, covering topics such as the Padma Awards and Covid-19. However, pictorial diagram-based questions posed a challenge. The CAT section was time-consuming and included both subjective and objective questions totaling over 25. Drawing tasks were reported to be tricky and lengthy, demanding effective time management. Visual interpretation was a key focus, making the section scoring but tough.
NID DAT Year 2022
The 2022 exam was moderately difficult, with Part-A focusing on aptitude topics like Venn diagrams, seating arrangements, mirror/water images, and general awareness themes such as UPI and Olympic symbols. Part-B saw a shift with reduced weightage (from 60 to 40 marks), placing more importance on Part-A. Drawing challenges in CAT included product design, storyboarding, and proportional sketching—questions were moderate and manageable. There was some confusion in question categorization, such as visual interpretation being considered mathematical aptitude.
NID DAT Year 2021
The 2021 paper was rated moderate to easy but was lengthy. Part-A had technically oriented questions, such as different viewing angles. In Part-B, emphasis was placed on technical sketching—one example asked candidates to depict a sibling interrupting another to create distraction. Another question focused on poster design around bullying. The paper challenged candidates in thinking, drawing, and technical skills. New themes like “question interpretation” demanded accurate contextual understanding, adding to the time-consuming nature of the exam.
For NID DAT 2026, candidates should expect a continued emphasis on design and creative problem-solving, with less focus on traditional reasoning, making practice in creative skills and time management crucial for success.
Various coaching institutes such as DQ Labs released the NID previous year question paper with solution . Aspirants are provided with a direct link to download NID question papers for previous years on this page. Using DAT question papers, candidates can have a better understanding of the NID entrance exam syllabus.
Similar to NID DAT previous year question papers, attempting sample papers is also beneficial for effective preparation. The authorities release the official NID DAT sample paper every year. NID DAT sample papers are designed in the pattern similar to the actual exam pattern. NID DAT sample paper download link is available in the table below.
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Our detailed 05-year analysis conclude to the following undeniable trends and should help you better plan the future preparation based on inferences from previous years as follows:
No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings | Last Date to Apply: 31st August
Ranked #46 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings | Last Date to Apply: 31st August | Admissions Closing Soon
Candidates can check NID DAT important topics based on NID previous year question paper with answer below.
NID DAT Important Topics
Subject | List Of Topics |
General Knowledge And Current Affairs | STATIC GK |
Analytical Ability | |
SERIES-NONVERBAL | |
MIRROR IMAGE | |
EMBEDDED/ HIDDEN IMAGE | |
CUBES AND DICES | |
VENN DIAGRAM | |
FIGURE COUNTING | |
DIRECTION BASED | |
PAPER CUTTING | |
SEATING ARRANGEMENT | |
English | ENGLISH COMPREHENSION - DESIGN RELATED |
Analytical Ability | MATCH THE FOLLOWING |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
NID DAT exam question paper consist of two sections - subjective type questions and objective type questions.
Following effective exam tactics will help in securing good marks in NID DAT. Solving the previous year's question will help the candidates in understanding the type of question, and difficulty level and score good marks.
By solving the previous year question, candidates will be able to get rid of exam fears, stress, and time management, enhance the confidence level of the candidates, speed of solving the question, and accuracy level.
To prepare for the NID DAT exam, you need to have a good understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern of both the prelims and mains stages. You can also download the nid entrance exam sample papers pdf and solve them frequently.
On Question asked by student community
Hi daksh
As 563 rank in nid dat exam cannot guarantee admission in designing college but it could be a good chance to explore some campus as if you are not from general category as category role plays an important role . But now you can do one thing focus on your strengthening your protofile or preparing for the studio test (bdes) or interview (mdes).
Thanks.
No, IPU (Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University) does not accept NID DAT Prelims score for admission to the B.Des (Bachelor of Design) program.
Instead, IPU conducts its own entrance test or may consider CUET (UG) scores for B.Des admissions, depending on the latest admission guidelines. Always refer to the university's official prospectus for the year you're applying to for the final admission criteria.
NIT DAT (https://www.shiksha.com/design/articles/nid-admissions-2025-colleges-accepting-nid-entrance-exam-scores-for-bdes-mdes-courses-blogId-13097)
Hello,
Yes, it's possible to prepare for the NID DAT 2025 exam on your own, even with limited time, by following these steps:
Hope it helps !
Hello,
There are numerous websites which give free study material and classes to prepare for entrance exams NID DAT, UCEED, or NIFT. Here are a few popular ones:
YouTube: YouTube has many educators as well as institutes, which have been uploading free video lectures on important topics, on aptitude for design, and how to give these exams. Useful content can be found in the channels "Design Coach" and "NID Preparation".
You can download free courses offered on websites like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy on the topics of design principles, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Official Websites: Both NID and UCEED and also NIFT would usually release sample papers and previous question papers for self-preparation.
Study Groups: One can join online forums or social media groups which are dedicated to NID, UCEED, and NIFT preparation for peer-to-peer learning assistance.
The resource utilization would bring in good preparation for the exams and, therefore, increase in confidence.
Hello,
Preparing for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam involves focusing on several key areas. Here’s a structured approach to get you started:
Familiarize yourself with the NIFT entrance exam format:
Consider joining a coaching institute that specializes in NIFT preparation. They can provide structured guidance, practice tests, and expert feedback.
If you’re applying for design courses, develop a strong portfolio showcasing your creative work. Include sketches, designs, and any relevant projects.
Solving past years' question papers helps you understand the exam pattern and types of questions. It also aids in identifying important topics.
Engage in activities that boost your creativity, such as drawing, painting, or crafting. Keep experimenting with new ideas and techniques.
By focusing on these areas, you'll build a solid foundation for the NIFT entrance exam. Good luck with your preparation!
You can also refer to the following articles to better understand the NIFT examination and its preperation strategy :-
1. https://design.careers360.com/articles/how-prepare-for-nift-entrance-exam
2. https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam
Hope it helps !
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