NMIMS DAT Exam Pattern 2026: Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme, Duration

NMIMS DAT Exam Pattern 2026: Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme, Duration

Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 18 Aug 2025, 11:57 AM IST

NMIMS School of Design prescribes the NMIMS DAT exam pattern 2026 on the official website - ndat.nmims.edu. The NMIMS DAT 2026 exam pattern lays out the structure of different components of the NMIMS DAT entrance exam. The three components of the NMIMS DAT 2026 include - studio test, portfolio submission, and interview. All the three components of the NMIMS DAT will be held on the same day in offline mode. In this article, get complete details of the NMIMS exam pattern 2026, including the type of questions, marking scheme, and more.

The NMIMS DAT syllabus is aimed at evaluating the candidate's design aptitude and suitability to pursue a design course. Through the NMIMS DAT 2026 entrance exam, candidates will secure a seat in the 4-year B.Des programme of the institute.

NMIMS DAT Exam Pattern 2026: Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme, Duration
NMIMS DAT Exam Pattern

NMIMS DAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Details

NMIMS School of Design will release the exam pattern of NMIMS DAT 2026 in the admission handout. The NMIMS DAT pattern 2026 include details such as total marks, sections included, number of questions and much more. Candidates preparing for the Design Aptitude Test should check the NMIMS DAT exam pattern 2026 and strategize accordingly. Candidates can check the NMIMS DAT paper pattern below.

NMIMS DAT Paper Pattern 2026 Overview

Steps

Details of Section

Duration

Evaluation criteria

Studio Test - Part A

50 MCQ Questions of one mark each


Time - 20 minutes

Studio Test - Part B

Design Challenge - 2 Questions of 25 marks each

Requirement: Candidates must carry the below items for the Studio Test

  • Cartridge paper A3 size.
  • Pencil HB/2B, 4B/6B, erasers, sharpener, pencil colours, Sketch pens, etc.

NOTE: Usage of scale is strictly prohibited in the studio test/ design challenge.

Time - 40 minutes
  • Creative thinking
  • Representation of the concept
  • The uniqueness of the solution

Portfolio

Show your talent via; Sketching/ Drawing/ Photography

Minimum of 5 pages.

  • Pages 1, 2, and 3 will be as per candidate's choice, whereas Pages 4 and 5 should include Product Sketching and Rapid Sketching
  • For Product & Rapid sketching, candidates must refer to the instructions provided by the institute.
Submit portfolio during the personal Interview round
  • Sketching skills
  • Creativity & Originality

Personal Interview

Candidate should carry any extracurricular activity or creatives, hobbies & accomplishment certificate or proofs if any. The same will be reviewed and marks awarded for the same.
Time - 10 to 20 minutes
  • Reasoning skills
  • Observation skills
  • Alignment of Interest

Also Check:

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

UPES B.Des Admissions 2025

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

NMIMS DAT Duration

The authorities will conduct the Studio Test, Submission of Portfolio and personal interview on a single day. The duration of each section of NMIMS DAT varies. Part A of NMIMS DAT studio test will be held for 20 minutes, while part B will be conducted for 40 minutes.

Duration of NMIMS DAT

Steps

Duration

Studio Test - Part A

20 Minutes

Studio Test - Part B

40 minutes

Portfolio

Submit during a personal Interview.

Personal Interview

10-20 Minutes

NMIMS DAT Marking Scheme

Parts

Number of Questions

Marks Per Question

Total Marks

Part A

50

1

50

Part B

2

25

50

NMIMS DAT Syllabus 2026

Along with the NMIMS DAT 2026 exam pattern, candidates should also refer to the syllabus. The syllabus of NMIMS DAT 2026 includes the topics on which the questions will be based. NMIMS DAT studio test will be held in two parts - A & B.

NMIMS DAT Syllabus

Steps

Details of Section

Studio Test - Part A

  • Visual & Spatial ability
  • Environmental & Social Awareness
  • Logical reasoning
  • Observation & Memory

Studio Test - Part B

Design Challenge

Problem Solving & Sketching of the Concept

Portfolio

Show your talent via: Sketching/ Drawing/ Photography

Minimum of 5 pages.

  • Pages 1, 2, and 3 will be as per the candidate's choice, whereas Pages 4 and 5 should include Product Sketching and Rapid Sketching
  • Product sketches are time consuming and capture the essence of the product.
  • Rapid sketching is quick and not detailed, capturing the essence of the figure, nature or action.

You may also like:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the mode of the NMIMS DAT entrance test 2026?
A:

NMIMS DAT will be conducted in offline mode.

Q: What is the type of questions asked in NMIMS DAT 2026?
A:

The format of the questions asked in NMIMS DAT is multiple-choice questions.

Q: When will the authority conduct NMIMS DAT 2026 entrance test?
A:

NMIMS DAT DAT 2026 phase 1 is expected to be conducted in March 2026 as per last year's trends.

Q: What is the duration of the NMIMS DAT entrance test?
A:

The duration of the NMIMS DAT entrance exam will be 60 minutes.

Articles
|
Next
Upcoming Design Exams
Ongoing Dates
SEED Application Date

1 Aug'25 - 30 Nov'25 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
GLS DAT Application Date

17 Aug'25 - 31 Jan'26 (Online)

Certifications By Top Providers
Certificate Program in Machine Learning and AI with Python
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Artificial Intelligence
Via Columbia University, New York
Certificate Program in Design Thinking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Online BCA
Via Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham AHEAD Online
Post Graduate Certification in Data Science and Machine Learning
Via Management Development Institute, Murshidabad
VLSI Design using Verilog
Via National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Haridwar
Udemy
 1087 courses
Coursera
 505 courses
Edx
 330 courses
Vskills
 157 courses
Swayam
 136 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe