Comprehensive Guide to NATA Entrance Exam 2025
How do I get into architecture after high school? What is the NATA exam? Are there other entrance exams to know about? What important dates and eligibility criteria should you keep in mind?
We cover it all in this comprehensive guide! Read ahead to find everything you need to start your journey into the field of architecture.
Entrance Exams and Planning for colleges!
For students who are looking to get into the field of architecture, should know, there are two kinds of examinations, whose scores are considered along with the 12th grade percentile to get admissions in reputed architecture colleges. Some Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIS), as well as various states and universities, conduct their own entrance exams. Examples include MAH-CET for Maharashtra(B.Plan), UPSEE for Uttar Pradesh (B.Plan), WBJEE for West Bengal, and AMUEEE for Aligarh Muslim University, among others.
Aspirants are encouraged to conduct thorough research based on the colleges they wish to join, along with developing a backup plan that can facilitate their enrollment in available colleges according to their ranks in the entrance exams and 12th percentile.
Entrance exam criteria for Indian architecture colleges. We advise you to research and verify all details with official sources to stay updated.
What is the NATA Entrance Exam?
National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) has been conducted by COA since 2006, as a qualifying exam for admission to Bachelor of Architecture programs in India. Established under the Architects Act of 1972, COA ensures that architectural education and practice in the country maintain a high standard.
Aspiring architects in India generally have two main paths: NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) or JEE Main Paper 2. NATA is the more common and accessible route for architecture admissions in India, particularly for private and state-level colleges. It evaluates a candidate's aptitude through assessments of cognitive skills, visual perception, aesthetic sensitivity, logical reasoning, and critical thinking abilities.
When is the NATA exam 2025, and how many times is the NATA exam held in a year?
The NATA exam dates are as follows:
The NATA 2025 Examination will be held on every Friday & Saturday from 07th March, 2025 to 28th June 2025 (except on public holidays). The candidates can give a maximum of three attempts for NATA 2025 in this academic year.
As stated in the brochure on NATA’s official website, those candidates who have already appeared for NATA 2024 and availed of one, two, or three attempts and obtained a valid NATA 2024 score may also apply for NATA 2025, but their NATA 2024 score shall be frozen if they avail three attempts in NATA 2025. Their NATA 2025 score shall be calculated/determined as under, depending upon the number of attempts:
For more information, check out the official NATA website and brochures. Note: rely on the official NATA website in case of any updated information.
The best score out of all the attempts will be considered for the declaration of results. NATA test scores will be valid for two academic years.
This is the schedule of the NATA exam 2025:
Kaarwan Advices students to checkin with NATA official website or COA official website for any revisions in dates or other information.
How is the NATA exam 2025 different from previous years?
In the NATA exam syllabus, for Part B, instead of B1 comprising 30 questions of 2 marks each and B2 comprising 15 questions of 4 marks each (as per the 2024 syllabus), in 2025, Part B will consist of B1 with 42 MCQS and B2 with 8 NCQS. (Referring to NATA 2025 brochure).
Eligibility Criteria
Taking NATA-2025
Candidates fulfilling the criteria below can appear for NATA 2025:
- Passed or appearing in 10+1 Examination with subjects specified under 5.2 as per brochure NATA 2025 or note 1.0 below.
- Passed or appearing in 10+2 Examination with subjects specified under 5.2 as per brochure NATA 2025 or note 1.0 below.
- Passed or appeared in the 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as a subject
Admission to the First year of B.Arch. Program
Note 1.0 (Referenced from NATA 2025 Brochure on nata.in)
No candidate shall be admitted to Architecture course unless she/he has passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with either Chemistry or Biology or Technical Vocational subject or Computer Science or Information Technology or Informatics Practices or Engineering Graphics or Business Studies with at least 45% marks in aggregate or passed 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as compulsory subject with at least 45% marks in aggregate.
You can keep a lookout for any notifications here and here.
Registration: NATA 2025 exam application procedure
The application form is broadly categorised into three steps: filling of Personal details, Document uploading and Fee payment. Below is the detailed procedure in chronological order.
Step-by-step guide to NATA 2025 registration. You will be guided by the official NATA website during the process. Please refer to it for the latest instructions.
Important Things to Remember for NATA 2025 Registration Process:
- You can register for one, two, or all three attempts of NATA 2025.
- You will need to generate a new Appointment Card for each attempt.
- Keep your NATA Unique ID and login credentials safe for future use.
- Use a valid email ID and mobile number. All communications happen through them.
- Double-check your photo and signature quality before uploading.
- Select exam centres early to get your preferred location.
- Keep a digital and printed copy of your confirmation page and appointment card safely.
How is the NATA exam conducted?
NATA is a combination of an offline test and a computer-based test. It will be conducted in various test centres across India.
NATA 2025 exam pattern
NATA is divided into two parts. Part A is an offline drawing test, and Part B is a computer-based MCQ exam. The Aptitude test will be in English and Hindi. The exam pattern is as follows:
NATA 2025 exam pattern. Please refer to NATA official website for the latest instructions.
NATA 2025 Exam Syllabus
The syllabus for the exam will be as follows:
NATA 2025 curriculam. Please refer to NATA official website for the latest instructions.
Qualifying Marks for NATA 2025
To attain qualifying marks in NATA 2025, one needs to get:
- Minimum 20 marks in PART A
- Minimum 20 marks in PART B
- Overall qualifying marks for NATA 2025 are 60 out of 200 as an aggregate of Part A and Part B.
One will not qualify for NATA-2025 unless all three conditions mentioned above are met.
Make sure to read the NATA 2025 brochure for detailed information on the exam. Also, remember to glance through the appendix part of the brochure to get valuable information regarding the dos and don’ts of the exam, guidelines for filling up online forms, exam centres and important dates.
Application fees for NATA 2025
Application fees for the NATA exam 2025 will be as follows:
Application fee structure for NATA 2025. Please refer to NATA official website for the latest instructions.
How to prepare for NATA 2025
A good way to gauge the types of questions asked in NATA is to review previous years' question papers. Find the previous year's question papers for the NATA examination here. By examining question difficulty, spotting exam trends, and analysing topic weightage, you can gain an advantage in your preparation. You can further prepare for NATA 2025 by:
- Creating your own study plan
- Make sure you practice adequately for both Part A and Part B of the exam.
- Sketch and draw regularly.
- Focus on improving creativity, shading, and detailing in your sketches.
- Regularly revise key concepts and formulas. Keep a formula sheet or flashcards handy for quick reference.
- Stay informed about any updates or changes in the NATA exam pattern or syllabus. Follow official announcements and notifications.
- Try to seek advice from tutors or mentors who can provide valuable insights.
This blog is designed to give students a quick and straightforward understanding of the NATA exam and the architecture career path. However, Kaarwan strongly recommends that you stay updated with any changes by referring to the official guidelines issued by the Council of Architecture (COA) and the official NATA website for the most accurate and current information.
You may also want to check out Everything you need to know before appearing for NATA 2025 for more helpful tips.
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