NIFT Exam Pattern 2026: Total Marks, Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme, No. of Questions

NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 - Highlights

• As per the NIFT exam pattern details, the GAT test will be a computer-based test (CBT) and will be conducted online and the CAT test will be a paper-based test (PBT).
• The total number of questions in the BDes paper, according to the NIFT paper pattern, will be 100.
• The NIFT question paper pattern 2026 will be in 2 languages, i.e., Hindi and English.
• The objective-type tests will have NIFT negative marking. The negative marks for any question will be 25% of the full marks for the question (for each wrong answer).
• As per the NIFT BFTech entrance exam pattern, the question paper will have two sections - A and B.

NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 for the Situation Test

Candidates can check the NIFT 2026 exam pattern for the situation test online in the official brochure. However, the NIFT situation test exam pattern is a hands-on test to assess the candidates' creative and innovative skills by creating a model with the given set of materials. Also, the aspirants need to explain the created model, wherein their communication skills will also be evaluated. The NIFT situation test weightage varies for different courses offered through the NIFT entrance exam.

NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern

The foremost task for the candidates is to go through the NIFT 2026 exam pattern to know about the NIFT marking scheme and the NIFT question paper pattern or format. The entrance exam for NIFT admission consists of 3 parts. NIFT exam pattern 2026 includes:

• Creative Ability Test (CAT)
• General Ability Test (GAT)
• Situation Test

However, students planning to get NIFT admission into the Bachelor of Fashion Technology will have to attempt the NIFT GAT question paper only.

NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern UG Courses

The candidates who will appear for the NIFT entrance exam should check the NIFT exam pattern 2026 beforehand. With the help of NIFT 2026 exam pattern, the candidates can know important details based on which the NIFT 2026 exam will be conducted such as NIFT exam duration, exam mode, NIFT marking scheme and types of questions asked, etc.

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). The candidates are also advised to refer to the NIFT syllabus, along with the NIFT exam pattern.

Further, the candidates will be provided with the NIFT exam pattern 2026. The CAT and GAT exam for NIFT are very different. A detailed description of the CAT and GAT exam pattern for all the courses is provided for your reference.

NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern for CAT (Creative Ability Test)

The Creativity Ability Test (CAT) will be for 3 hours as per the NIFT 2026 exam pattern. The NIFT CAT marks in total will be 100. As per NIFT CAT syllabus, the paper evaluates the candidate’s intuitive and design abilities, observation power in developing a concept and its design, innovative use of colour, and illustration skills. The NIFT CAT exam question paper will have questions that require drawn answers based on which students will be evaluated.

NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 - GAT (General Ability Test)

Also Check:

• NIFT application form
• NIFT entrance exam syllabus
• NIFT eligibility criteria
• NIFT exam date

NIFT Entrance Exam Pattern 2026 BDes - Number of questions

NIFT BFTech Exam Pattern 2026

The BFTech course will consist of Sec-A and Sec-B in the GAT exam.

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NIFT 2026 Entrance Exam Paper Pattern for BFTech - Number of questions

NIFT Paper Pattern for PG Courses

Aspirants can check the NIFT exam pattern for MDes, MFTech, and MFM below.

NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern - MDes

Also Check:

• Fashion Design Entrance Exams in India
• What is NIFT?
• How to get admission in NIFT?
• Career Opportunities after NIFT

NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 for MFTech Programme

For admission into the Fashion Technology programmes, the candidates have to appear and qualify for the NIFT entrance exam which consists of a General Ability Test (GAT).

NIFT Entrance Exam Paper Pattern for MFTech - Number of questions

NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern - MFM Programme

To get admitted to the NIFT MFM programme, the candidates must qualify for the NIFT entrance exam GAT test.

NIFT Entrance Exam Paper Pattern for MFM - Number of questions

NIFT Total Marks

The NIFT exam total marks for the entrance exam may vary depending on the authorities decision. The entrance exam details will vary for the NIFT programmes. The NIFT exam total marks are as follows.

• Creative ability test - NIFT CAT marks - 100
• General ability test - NIFT GAT total marks - 100
• NIFT marks for Situation test - which will be conducted for B.Des candidates who qualify the written test. The NIFT marks for the situation test may vary each year.
• Personal Interview - Will be conducted for postgraduate programmes like M.Des and M.F.Tech, etc

NIFT 2026 Negative Marking

The NIFT 2026 negative marking is for the objective-type test. The NIFT negative marking 2026 will be given as -0.25 (25% of full marks) for each incorrect answer. Candidates can check the NIFT paper pattern to know the negative marking in NIFT.

NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 for the Situation Test

The candidates of BDes who will be shortlisted based on the entrance exam (CAT & GAT) will take the next stage as NIFT Situation Test 2025.

The situation test is a hands-on test conducted to evaluate the candidate’s skills to test the “material handling and innovative ability” with a provided set of materials in a given situation.

Here in the situation test, the candidates have to create a model and that model will be evaluated on these parameters:

• Space visualization
• The composition of elements
• Innovative and creative use of given material
• Construction skill
• The colour scheme
• The finesse of the model
• The overall presentation

The above-mentioned parameters will be checked along with the write-up, explaining the concept/idea behind the model constructed. The write-up will have to be in the English language as the medium of instruction in NIFT is English. No NIFT marks will be given for write-ups in any other language.

NIFT 2026 Section-Wise Weightage (GAT, CAT, Situation Test)

The passing marks for NIFT entrance exam varies every year. The candidates need to score NIFT exam total marks above the pass marks to obtain a seat in the colleges.

How to fill out the NIFT 2026 OMR sheet?

The candidates have to mark their answers in the OMR sheets carefully because they will be digitally scanned. Ensure that there will not be any mistakes while marking the OMR sheet. Any small mistakes may end up being wrongly encoded by the computer while scanning. Below provided are the ways to fill the NIFT 2026 OMR sheet.

• The NIFT answer sheet 2026 will be scanned by the machines to provide the score calculation.
• In objective-type questions, there will be 4 answer options. To mark the correct answer, the candidates have to use only blue or black ballpoint pens to darken the corresponding circle of the answer.
• Marking more than one option or improper shading will result in an incorrect response.
• All the candidates are advised in the NIFT exam hall as to how to mark/shade the answer options. However, there will be ‘Important Instructions’ provided on side - 1 of the answer sheet. Read them carefully before proceeding with the test.
• The candidates are not allowed to tear, bend, or mutilate the OMR answer sheet.

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NIFT Written Exam Timings

The NIFT exam timings for each course will be scheduled and varied according to the test requirements of the programmes. Candidates will be advised to reach the examination centre at least an hour before the scheduled time to complete the pre-exam formalities, such as verification of the candidate and seat arrangements. Refer to the table below for NIFT exam timings:

NIFT Exam Timings

NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 for Lateral Entry

The NIFT lateral entry admission (NLEA) exam pattern is designed to assess the skills of candidates who wish to join directly into the third semester of the undergraduate programme. The candidates who have completed Diploma/Degree will appear for NIFT entrance examination to get lateral admission in the 3rd semester of UG programmes of NIFT. The NIFT selection process will be evaluated based on the studio test/technology aptitude test, and a personal interview. The NIFT studio test will be designed to test the knowledge and skill aptitude of the candidate. Candidates who clear the NIFT entrance examination and practical tests will be invited for an interview. The NIFT final selection will be based on a merit list. Below is a breakdown of the NIFT exam pattern:

NIFT Negative Marking for NLEA

The NIFT objective-type questions will carry negative marking. The NIFT negative marking will be 25% of the full marks for each wrong answer.

NIFT Duration

The NLEA exam pattern will include 3 main components, and each segment will have a specific duration. Refer to the below table for NLEA exam duration:

Duration for NIFT NLEA BDes

Duration for NIFT NLEA B.F.Tech

NIFT NLEA Weightage

The NLEA exam is structured with specific weightage for the students who want to join NIFT’s undergraduate programme directly in the second year. Check the table provided below for the NLEA weightage.

NIFT BDes Weightage

NIFT B.F.Tech Weightage