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    UPES DAT Exam Pattern 2026 Released, Marking Scheme, Paper Pattern, Duration, Mode

    UPES DAT Exam Pattern 2026 Released, Marking Scheme, Paper Pattern, Duration, Mode

    Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 13 Oct 2025, 03:51 PM IST

    The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) Dehradun has released the UPES DAT 2026 exam pattern on the official website - upes.ac.in. The exam pattern of UPES DAT 2026 informs the candidates about the structure of the UPES DAT entrance test, such as mode, total questions, type of questions, and more. Read the complete article to know all about the UPES DAT 2026 exam pattern.

    This Story also Contains

    1. UPES DAT 2026 Exam Pattern Details
    2. UPES DAT Marking Scheme 2026
    3. UPES DAT 2026 Exam Process Flow
    4. UPES DAT Portfolio Requirements
    5. UPES DAT Syllabus 2026
    UPES DAT Exam Pattern 2026 Released, Marking Scheme, Paper Pattern, Duration, Mode
    UPES DAT Exam Pattern

    UPES Dehradun conducts the UPES DAT in online, remote proctored mode for admissions into its B.Des and M.Des programmes. In addition to the design entrance exam, candidates also have to appear for a personal interview and portfolio presentation round. Candidates with a valid score in NID/UCEED/CEED/NIFT/ can also apply for UPES design admissions without appearing for UPES DAT.

    UPES DAT 2026 Exam Pattern Details

    Having in-depth knowledge of the UPES DAT exam pattern 2026 will help the candidates to prepare well for the entrance test. The exam pattern of UPES DAT 2026 includes the exam duration, mode of the exam, type of questions, marking scheme, and many more. The table below provides the UPES DAT test pattern for both B.Des and M.Des programmes.

    UPES B.Des Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 29th April | Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings

    Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2026

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

    UPES DAT Exam Pattern for BDes

    Particulars

    Details

    Exam ModeOnline

    Question Paper type

    Objective (MCQs)

    Total no. of questions

    40

    Total marks

    40

    Exam duration

    1 hour (60 minutes)

    Medium of language

    English

    UPES DAT Paper Pattern: BDes - Number of questions

    Sections

    No. of Questions

    Visual Analogy

    20

    Design Awareness

    20

    Total No. of Questions

    40


    UPES DAT Exam Pattern for MDes

    Particulars

    Details

    Exam ModeOnline

    Question Paper type

    Objective (MCQs)

    Total no. of questions

    40

    Total marks

    40

    Exam duration

    1 hour (60 minutes)

    Medium of language

    English

    UPES DAT Paper Pattern: MDes - Number of questions

    Sections

    No. of Questions

    Visual Analogy

    15

    Design and General Awareness

    15

    Quantitative

    10

    Total No. of Questions

    40

    UPES DAT Marking Scheme 2026

    • +4 marks will be awarded to candidates for marking every correct answer.

    • No mark will be deducted from the total score of the student for leaving a question blank or failing to attempt it.

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    UPES DAT 2026 Exam Process Flow

    Given below is the exam process flow in UPES DAT-

    • Candidates complete UPES DAT 2026 registration and book their slots
    • The link to the exam is sent on the candidate's registered email id one day prior to the exam
    • The exam window is between 10 am to 1 pm. Candidates can login within the give time frame and complete the test.
    • Personal interview/portfolio review after the exam or as per slot booking
    ITM Institute of Design and Media Admissions 2026

    Faculty from A+ Design schools of India and Abroad | 100% Placement Assistance

    IIAD Admissions 2026

    Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students

    UPES DAT Portfolio Requirements

    The portfolio is the backbone of every design aspirant. The candidates need to showcase an impressive portfolio to the interviewers during the personal interview session which is a part of the selection process. The following are the requirements for the UPES DAT 2026 portfolio review during the interview

    • Candidates must include their hand-drawn sketches in the portfolio. The graphic must be drawn using a simple pencil, colour markers/ pencils, or any other media such as natural dyes, charcoal, and many more. The theme could be an everyday object, nature, symbolic or experimental.

    • Candidates can also showcase their photography skills in their portfolios. They can show their digital media experimentation such as sketching, drawing, and rendering using digital media tools and techniques in 2 or 3-dimensional.

    • It is imperative to carry any physical model or prototype made out of clay, wood, plastic, cardboard, etc

    • Candidates can also carry out any experiment done by them apart from those mentioned above to express their creative skills.

    UPES DAT Syllabus 2026

    Candidates must go through the syllabus along with the UPES DAT exam pattern 2026 to know all the important topics of the entrance test. The syllabus of UPES DAT includes all the important topics on which the questions of the entrance test will be framed. Having insight into the syllabus will help the candidates to identify which topics they must focus on. UPES DAT is conducted to assess candidates’ design aptitude, visualization skills, and creative thought processes.

    UPES DAT Recommended Books

    Candidates appearing for UPES DAT 2026can rely on the books given below. These books give a fair idea of the syllabus and pattern of the exam. Some reference books are mentioned below:

    UPES DAT Books

    Book Name

    Author

    NIFT, NID & IIFT Entrance Exam Guide (01 Edition)

    Dharmendra Mittal

    NIFT / NID and IIFT Entrance Exam 2014

    Mittal D

    Seeds For CEED

    Bhushan Patil

    Design drawing

    Francis Ching

    Rendering in Pen and ink

    Robert Gill

    Perspective Drawing handbook

    Joseph Amelio

    Top Design Entrance Exams

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the examination mode of UPES DAT 2026?
    A:

    UPES DAT 2026 will be conducted in online remote proctored mode.

    Q: Is there a negative marking in UPES DAT 2026?
    A:

    According to the exam pattern of UPES DAT, there is no negative marking for the wrong answers. 

    Q: What are the type of questions asked in the UPES DAT 2026 entrance test?
    A:

    The format of the question asked in the UPES DAT will be MCQs.

    Q: What is the syllabus UPES DAT B.Des 2026?
    A:

    The UPES DAT for B.Des will have sections on visual analogy and design awareness.

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