NID DAT 2025 Exam Pattern - Check Marking Scheme, Total Marks, Chapter Wise Weightage, Duration

Updated By Aarushi Jain on 05 Sep, 2024 14:50

The two segments of the NID DAT 2025 Preliminary exam pattern are the Creative Ability Test- CAT and the General Aptitude Test- GAT. This stage is conducted in a pen-and-paper format. For the NID DAT 2025 Mains exam, the candidate needs to attend a Studio test along with a personal interview.

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NID DAT Exam Pattern 2025

The National Institute of Design (NID) always announce the updated NID DAT 2025 exam pattern on its official website at admissions.nid.edu. Admission handbooks have been provided for B.Des and M.Des courses, which detail information about the examination. However, the notice has just provided an overview. It said that NID DAT 2025 Prelims for B.Des will be a paper-and-pencil-based examination where the questions can be presented in both text and visual formats. Although the interesting thing is, it does not mention the details regarding the test duration and the sections involved, with the number of questions to be attempted in each section. The duration will be mentioned in the NID DAT 2025 admit card.

Last year, B.Des Prelims had a duration of 3 hours, whereas the M.Des Prelims was conducted for 2 hours and 30 minutes. NID DAT Prelims 2025 will be held on January 5, 2025. Aspirants qualifying in Prelims shall move to the NID DAT 2025 Mains exam. For complete information about the NID DAT 2025 exam pattern of Prelims and Mains exam, aspirants can see the rest of the exam page.

Also Read:

Upcoming Design Exams :

  • UCEED

    Exam date: 19 Jan, 2025

Highlights of NID DAT 2025 Exam Pattern

The NID DAT 2025 exam pattern comprises both DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. DAT Prelims assess candidates' knowledge, skills, and behavioural abilities. Meanwhile, NID DAT Mains include a Studio Test, and only those who perform well in this test proceed to a personal interview. However, getting shortlisted for NID DAT Mains is determined by one's performance in DAT Prelims. The exam pattern, as outlined in the NID DAT BDes prelims official sample paper, is as follows:

Stages

Brief Description

Prelims (The First Stage)

  • In this stage, there's typically a written test to gauge a candidate's skills in design aptitude, creativity, visual observation, and analytical ability. 
  • This test can feature a combination of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), subjective questions, and sketching.

Mains (The Second Stage)

  • Candidates who make it through the Prelims move on to the Mains stage, which consists of studio tests and personal interviews. 
  • The studio tests aim to evaluate hands-on skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity. 
  • Simultaneously, the personal interview assesses the candidate's viewpoint on design, motivation, and communication skills.

NID DAT Prelims Exam Pattern 2025 for B.Des

NID DAT 2025 Prelims marks the initial phase of the two-step NID admission process. The National Institute of Design has outlined the general structure of the NID DAT 2025 Prelims question paper in the admission handbook. Here is the general overview of the NID DAT Prelims exam pattern 2025 for the B.Des program.

  • Duration: The NID DAT Prelims paper for the B.Des program will last THREE hours, conducted from 10 am to 1 pm.
  • Sections: The DAT Prelims question paper comprises two sections - Part I and Part II.
  • Mode: The exam will be conducted in a paper-and-pencil/pen format.
  • Question Types: Expect a mix of textual and visual questions in the question paper.
  • Language: The paper will be in English only.
  • Negative Marking: Good news, there will be no negative marking.

The possible structure of the NID DAT Prelims question paper for the B.Des program is outlined below:

Exam Part

Type of Questions

No. of Questions

Part I

Objective type questions

22

Part II

Subjective type questions

4

Total No. of Questions

26

The anticipated marking scheme for the NID DAT 2025 Prelims exam is provided in the table below:

Type of Question

No. of Questions

Marks for Each Question

Objective type questions

Questions 1 to 14

1 mark

Questions 15 to 22

2 marks

Subjective type questions

Question No. 23

15 marks

Question No. 24

20 marks

Question No. 25

15 marks

Question No. 26

20 marks

Total Marks

100 marks

NID DAT Prelims Exam Pattern 2025 for M.Des

Here are the main details related to the NID DAT 2025 Prelims exam pattern for the M.Des program:

  • Sections: The exam consists of two sections:
    • Common Design Aptitude Test
    • Discipline-Specific Test
  • These sections assess the candidate's design aptitude collectively.
  • Total Questions: 100 questions in total.
  • Question Format: A combination of objective and subjective types of questions.
  • Language: The paper is conducted in English.
  • Number of Disciplines: Candidates can opt for up to two disciplines.

Additional Note:

  • If you are applying for one discipline, you will need to take the NID DAT Prelims for that specific discipline only.
  • If you are applying for two disciplines, you will take two test papers, one for each discipline.
  • Duration: The test will last for 2 hours and 30 minutes.
  • Negative Marking: No negative marking applies.

NID DAT Mains Exam Pattern 2025 for B.Des

To advance to the second stage of the NID DAT selection process 2025, candidates must successfully clear the NID DAT Mains exam 2025. This exam is typically conducted offline at NID campuses across India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. The NID DAT exam pattern for the NID Mains exam 2025 consists of a studio test followed by a personal interview. Both components will be conducted at the allotted NID campus based on the candidate's performance in the studio test.

  • NID Studio Test: The NID studio test for B.Des admissions serves as a platform to showcase your creative talents, problem-solving skills, and hands-on abilities. Engage in a range of activities, including drawing, sketching, hands-on model making, group discussions, and presentations, to demonstrate your design potential. 

Also Read: How to Prepare for NID Studio Test?

The NID DAT 2025 exam pattern for Mains is given in the table below. 

NID DAT 2025 Mains Exam Pattern Highlights

Mode of exam

Offline 

Duration of exam

3 hours

Total marks

100

Language of question paper

English

Type of questions

Multiple formats (Drawing/ Sketching/ Model Making)

NID DAT Mains Exam Pattern 2025 for M.Des

As part of NID DAT Mains, candidates must take a studio test and attend a personal interview:

  • Studio Test for MDes Admissions: This test is specific to each specialization and includes various sections with different formats, such as hands-on drawing, sketching, model making, and group discussions. The test lasts for three hours.
  • Personal Interview for MDes Admissions: Following the studio test, candidates will face a personal interview immediately after its completion.

NID DAT Exam Pattern 2025: Weightage for Prelims and Mains

The final NID DAT 2025 results will be determined by assigning weightage to both NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains:

NID DAT Final Results Weightage for B.Des 

Exam Component

DAT Prelims

DAT Mains

Weightage

40%

60%

NID DAT Final Results Weightage for M.Des 

Exam Component

DAT Prelims

DAT Mains: Studio Test

DAT Mains: Personal Interview

Weightage

30%

40%

30%

NID DAT Prelims: OMR Sheets Guidelines

Candidates are advised to complete the OMR sheets with the utmost care, as they will undergo digital evaluation. The following instructions outline the proper method for filling out the OMR sheet:

  • Careful Marking: Accurately fill out the OMR sheets as they will be evaluated electronically.
  • Single Correct Answer: For each multiple-choice question, select the correct option and shade the corresponding oval on the OMR sheet using only a blue or black ballpoint pen.
  • Mark One Oval Only: Darken only one oval for each question. Marking more than one oval per question will be considered an incorrect answer.
  • Proper Oval Darkening: Refer to the first page of the OMR answer sheet for the correct method of darkening the oval. Follow the specified procedure while filling the oval.
  • Maintain OMR Integrity: Avoid tearing, mutilating, or bending the OMR answer sheet. Handle it with care to ensure proper evaluation.

Want to know more about NID DAT

FAQs about NID DAT Exam Pattern

What is the basic NID DAT exam pattern for prelims?

NID DAT exam pattern for prelims consists of aspects such as maximum mark, marking scheme, exam duration, exam mode (online or offline), and so on. There will be a maximum of 26 questions for a total of 100 marks and the test will be conducted in English. A candidate who qualifies in DAT Prelims must then sit for DAT Mains.

What is the NID DAT exam pattern for MDes Mains?

The NID DAT exam pattern for MDes Mains consists of an interview based on the Statement of Purpose (SoP) and a studio test. The MDes Prelims DAT exam pattern is comparable to that of the BDes Prelims DAT exam, with the exception that the questions concentrate more on the discipline that is being selected.

What is the B.Des section-wise marks distribution for NID DAT prelims?

For the B.Des course, the first part has 70 marks in NID DAT Prelims while the second part carries 30 marks. Part I consists of Multiple Choice Objective type questions, while part II has subjective-type questions, making the total weightage of this exam 100 marks.

How many sections or parts are there in the NID DAT prelims exam?

In the NID DAT Prelims, there are two parts of the question paper. The first one is the objective part where an OMR sheet will be provided to the applicants while the second one is a subjective part.

What is the basic exam pattern for the NID DAT?

The basic exam pattern for the NID DAT consists of two types of questions — subjective and objective (MCQ). Marks allocated for this section are 70 and 30 respectively, with no negative marking scheme incorporated.

Does the NID DAT exam pattern follow a negative marking scheme for incorrect attempts?

No, the NID DAT exam pattern does not follow a negative marking scheme for incorrect attempts. If a student does not know the answer to any question, they can opt for the close ones without losing a mark even if it is not correct.

Is the NID DAT exam pattern 2025 the same for Prelims and Mains?

No, the NID DAT exam pattern 2025 is not the same for Prelims and Mains. The NID DAT exam pattern 2025 for a B.Des focuses on candidates' abilities to observe, create, design, and communicate. Furthermore, an aptitude test and a discipline-specific test comprise the MDes exam pattern for NID DAT Prelims.

What is the format for questions incorporated in the NID DAT exam pattern?

The format for questions incorporated in the NID DAT exam pattern consists of objective as well as subjective types. A total of 100 marks will be awarded of which 70 marks are for subjective questions and 30 marks are for objective questions.

Do I need to qualify for both NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains to get admission to the National Institute of Design (NID)?

Yes, students need to qualify for both NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains to get admission to the National Institute of Design (NID). As per the conducting body, only after qualifying for the NID DAT Prelims can an individual move on to the NID DAT Mains.

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Related Questions

I have completed graduation in B.com. Can I apply for M.Des Product Designing at NID Ahmedabad?

-krishna patelUpdated on April 12, 2021 02:18 PM
  • 1 Answer
Samiksha Rautela, Content Team

Dear Student,

Students who have completed a Bachelor's degree of at least 4 years are eligible to sit for the NID DAT exam that offers admission to the NID Ahmedabad. Check the detailed M.Des eligibility criteria of NID DAT here. To explore more options, you can also check out the List of Top 10 Design Colleges in India and Private Colleges in India Offering Scholarship for Design Admission.

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I am in class 12th and I want to do product designing. Can I apply in NID Ahmedabad?

-shravani shendeUpdated on March 30, 2021 01:19 AM
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Parin Badiani, Student / Alumni

Dear Shravani, The application form for NID Ahmedabad for the academic year 2021 has been closed. If you are strong willed to hold on to Product Design as a career, I would highly recommend checking out the B.Des course offered by Riidl Academy at Somaiya Vidyavihar University: https://riidl.org/riidlacademy/. The Early Admission Round has begun from 1st March – 15th April, 2021. https://riidl.org/riidlacademy/admission/index.html Riidl Academy includes: • Evolving curriculum based on Design, Technology, Business and Humanities • Unique model of education – Block Plan • Diverse Faculty from across the globe • World class Laboratories • Strategic Partnerships, Field visits, Live …

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What kind of questions should one prepare for subjective part of NID DAT M.Des Interaction Design?

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Samiksha Rautela, Content Team

Dear Student,

Here a few sample papers and questions of NID DAT M.Des exams that you can solve are provided below:

NID DAT M.Des Sample Paper 1

NID DAT M.Des Sample Paper 2

NID DAT M.Des Sample Paper 3

NID DAT M.Des Sample Paper 4

 To ace the subjective section you can also go through the Best Books for NID DAT 2021 Preparation and How to Score Well in NID DAT 2021. This section judges the innovative abilities of an individual so one needs to be creative while solving the questions.

Besides NID, there are plenty of other design …

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