NID DAT Study Material 2026: Best Books, Sample Papers, Mock Tests

NID DAT Study Material 2026: Best Books, Sample Papers, Mock Tests

Ongoing Event

NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25

Achyuth NambiarUpdated on 14 Oct 2025, 11:00 AM IST

The NID DAT is extremely demanding and need a great deal of preparation in advance. To be ready for the entrance exam, it is crucial to rely on effective NID DAT study material. Therefore, students have to buckle up with their NID 2026 preparation and strategies. In addition, students need to thoroughly comprehend the exam format by solving the NID sample papers and the NID previous year question papers. The NID Entrance Exam is among the top design entrance exams and has high competition. This further enhances the importance of good NID study material. NID DAT 2026 will be conducted on December 21, 2025 on a Sunday.

This Story also Contains

  1. NID Study Material 2026
  2. Books for NID 2026
  3. NID Sample Papers 2026
  4. NID DAT 2025 Question Paper
  5. NID Mock Tests - Free PDF Download
NID DAT Study Material 2026: Best Books, Sample Papers, Mock Tests
NID DAT Study Material

Students must have an understanding of the requirements of NID 2026 syllabus. They are advised to review the NID study material 2026 thoroughly. The NID 2026 Study Material is hence given in the following article.

NID Study Material 2026

The NID study material prepares students for admission to various design programs offered across NID campuses, including B.Des, M.Des, and other specialized design courses. Candidates need to create an effective exam plan and use the best NID study materials for 2026 to prepare for the entrance exam. Choosing the right NID 2026 study material is essential for students who aim to excel in the design entrance exam. The NID entrance exam is held annually in multiple cities across India. To fully understand the exam requirements, prospective students must review the NID exam pattern. Below is a list of the best NID study materials to help students in their preparation.

Books for NID 2026

Preparing students often end up choosing multiple unreliable books that contribute to much waste of time. Students must choose books apt for the NID entrance exam syllabus. Hence aspiring students must smartly pick out the best NID study material 2026 for preparation. Applicants can also download the free NID preparation books, which will contribute to the list of the NID preparation books listed in the table below:

Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2026

No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings

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

Section

Name of the Book

Authors Name

  1. Quantitative Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

R.S. Aggarwal


Objective Quantitative Aptitude

OSWAL Books


Mathematics for class X

NCERT


Fast Track Objective Arithmetic

Rajesh Verma

  1. Logical and Analytical Reasoning

A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning

R.S. Aggarwal


Analytical Reasoning by Magical Book Series

Arihant Publications ,

M.K Pandey


Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

R.S. Aggarwal

  1. Design Aptitude

Design of Everyday things

Don Norman


Design Drawing

Francis D. K. Ching


Basic Rendering

Robert W.Gill


NIFT/ NID/ IIFT entrance exam guide

Surendra

  1. General Knowledge

General Knowledge Digest

OSWAL books


Manorama Yearbook


General Knowledge

Manohar Pandey

  1. Sketching and modelling

The Fundamentals of Figure Drawing (Dover Art Instruction)


Charles Oliver


Profit From The Psychology of Color: Discover the Meaning and Effects of Color: 2


Richard G. Lewi

NID Sample Papers 2026

Aspiring students are required to solve previous years' sample papers to apply topics from NID study material better. This will help them identify and understand the question paper syllabus and NID exam pattern. Practicing a lot of NID previous question paper is advisable to understand the DAT and Sketching ability required for the examination. Solving sample papers will also boost aspiring students confidence for the actual exam. Candidates can check the sample papers here:

NID DAT 2025 Question Paper

The NID DAT 2025 exam saw a shift in its pattern, with Part A focusing solely on non-verbal reasoning, removing verbal reasoning and quantitative aptitude. Part B, emphasizing sketching and creative design tasks, became more challenging and time-consuming. This shift made the exam more focused on creativity and time management. 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.

It is important for students to practice question papers and understand their weak and strong points. Students should practice NID question papers every week to get a hang of time constraints and pick up the pace while solving. Candidates can refer to NID DAT 2025 prelims question paper for better command on the preparation. This will also help students in creating a better study plan tailored to them.

Since NID does not release its official question papers every year, here are some previous years’ question papers below.

NID DAT 2026 Full Study Material
Students preparing for NID 2026 can access this study material for both prelims and mains. Download now to strengthen your preparation and boost your chances of success.
Download EBook

NID Mock Tests - Free PDF Download

Why is it important to take Mock Tests for NID? The exam pattern is altered yearly, but the overall standing concepts being tested remain the same. Timed NID mock test series will give a student a true analysis of the question paper and how to solve it on time. Study guides and NID study material 2026 also serve as a great help in terms of solving the question paper section-wise and with speed. Here are links to NID entrance exam study material, guide, and mock tests:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How can I prepare for NID exam 2026?
A:

Students can begin by picking out important and productive NID Study material 2026. Solve many NID DAT sample question papers to get a clear idea of the exam’s requirements.

Q: What is the NID exam syllabus 2026?
A:

Students will be tested based on these categories in the Prelims : 

  • Quantitative Aptitude

  • Logical and Analytical Reasoning

  • Design Aptitude

  • General Knowledge

Q: How to pick the best study material for NID DAT?
A:
  • Study material must be comprehensive.

  • It must teach, make you understand, and apply concepts.

  • Pick study material with question banks if possible

  • Solve mock tests and sample papers up-to-date with the current NID Entrance exam syllabus and Exam pattern.

Q: What are the best books for NID preparation?
A:
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S.Aggarwal

  • Analytical Reasoning by Magical Book Series by Arihant Publications and MK Pandey

  • Design Drawing by Francis D.K.Ching

  • General Knowledge Digest by Oswal Books

Q: What are the best books for NID sketching?
A:
  • The Fundamentals of Figure Drawing (Dover Art Instruction) by Charles Oliver

  • Basic Rendering by Robert W. Gill

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Questions related to NID DAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NID DAT ?

Yes you are eligible to appear for NID DAT for the M.Des programme. Since you are in final make sure you will have completed your BA by the required deadline. Also go through the specific specializations you want to apply for, some may require certain specific backgrounds to be eligible to apply for them. You can find more details here design.careers360.com/articles/nid-dat-eligibility-criteria

Hello,

To prepare for M.des exams like CEED or NID DAT, here are some points which you can follow:

Understand the pattern – focus on creativity, design aptitude, and problem-solving.

Practice sketching daily and improve visualization.

Study basics of color, form, and design concepts.

Solve previous papers and build a strong portfolio.

Stay consistent and observe everyday designs for new ideas.

THANKU.

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:

  1. Understand the Syllabus : Focus on key areas like design principles, creativity, visualization, and observation skills.
  2. Solve Previous Papers : Practice with past NID DAT papers to understand question types and patterns.
  3. Time Management : Dedicate daily hours to sketching, problem-solving, and revision.
  4. Strengthen Drawing Skills : Practice daily to improve speed and accuracy.
  5. Use Online Resources : Utilize free tutorials, sample papers, and design blogs.
  6. Mock Tests : Take regular mock exams to assess progress and manage time efficiently.

Hope it helps !