NATA 2027: Exam Dates, Eligibility, Pattern and Syllabus
NATA 2027 guide: expected dates, eligibility, fee, 200-mark exam pattern, syllabus, attempts, percentile scoring and a practical B.Arch preparation plan.
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The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is the entrance test that most Indian colleges use for admission to the five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) programme. It is conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA), the statutory body set up under the Architects Act, 1972. NATA 2027 is the next cycle, and students who will finish Class 12 in 2027 should start planning for it now.
Table of Contents
NATA does not test how much physics or chemistry you remember. It checks whether you can draw, visualise space, read a design problem and reason through it. This page covers everything you need for NATA 2027: dates, eligibility, the two-part exam pattern, the syllabus, how attempts and percentiles work, and a practical preparation plan. The details are based on the official NATA 2026 brochure, the latest one published, and are flagged wherever the 2027 notice may change them.
NATA 2027
Particular | Details |
|---|---|
Exam name | National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) |
Conducting body | Council of Architecture (CoA), New Delhi |
Course | B.Arch (five years) |
Exam level | National |
Phases | Phase 1 (for centralised counselling) and Phase 2 (for vacant seats) |
Attempts | Up to two in Phase 1, or one in Phase 2 (2026 rule) |
Mode | Part A drawing on paper; Part B computer-based adaptive test |
Duration and marks | 3 hours, 200 marks |
Medium | English and Hindi |
Score validity | One academic session |
Official website |
What Is NATA?
NATA is an aptitude test, not a subject test. The Council of Architecture designed it to check the abilities an architecture student needs from day one: observation, drawing, sense of proportion, colour, three-dimensional thinking and logical reasoning. A good NATA score tells a college that you can handle the studio work that fills most of a B.Arch timetable.
Architecture admissions in India run through two main tests. Knowing which one your target college accepts saves you from preparing for the wrong exam.
Point | NATA | JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch) |
|---|---|---|
Conducted by | Council of Architecture | National Testing Agency |
Used by | Most private and state colleges, and many state counselling processes | NITs, IIITs, SPAs and other centrally funded institutes through JoSAA |
Attempts per year | Up to two in Phase 1 | Two sessions |
Drawing section | Yes, 80 of 200 marks | Yes, a separate drawing test |
Mathematics questions | Not a separate section | Yes, a separate mathematics section |
Many students take both. If you are aiming for an NIT or a School of Planning and Architecture, read our JEE Main exam guide as well.
NATA 2027 Latest Updates
NATA 2026 is complete: Phase 1 ran on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 April to 13 June 2026, and Phase 2 was held on 7 and 8 August 2026.
NATA 2027 notification: The Council has not announced the 2027 schedule yet. Going by recent cycles, the brochure is expected in February or March 2027.
Pattern used in 2026: A 200-mark test with an 80-mark drawing section on paper and a 120-mark computer-based adaptive section. Expect the same structure unless the 2027 brochure says otherwise.
No minimum raw score: In 2026 the Council removed the fixed qualifying mark. Any valid, non-zero percentile counts as a qualifying score.
Older pages may still show three tests a year, a 25-mark drawing section, a 175-mark objective section or a qualifying mark of 70 out of 200. These rules belong to earlier cycles, so follow the latest official brochure.
NATA 2027 Important Dates
The table shows the NATA 2026 schedule for reference and the expected window for 2027.
Event | NATA 2026 (official) | NATA 2027 (expected) |
|---|---|---|
Brochure and registration opens | 9 March 2026 | February or March 2027 |
Phase 1 tests | 4 April to 13 June 2026 (Fridays and Saturdays) | April to June 2027 |
Weekly registration deadline | Before each test weekend | To be announced |
Phase 1 result | Declared on nata.in; percentile computed after all Phase 1 sessions | To be announced |
Phase 2 test | 7 and 8 August 2026 | August 2027 |
Tentative dates come from the previous schedule and can change. Track the notices on nata.in and your registered email once registration opens.
NATA 2027 Eligibility Criteria
NATA separates two questions that students often mix up: who can sit the test, and who can be admitted to B.Arch afterwards. You need to meet both.
Eligibility to Appear
Class 12 route: You have passed, or are appearing in, the 10+2 examination with the subjects required for B.Arch admission.
Diploma route: You have passed, or are appearing in, a 10+3 diploma examination with Mathematics as a subject.
Age: The 2026 brochure prescribes no age limit.
Eligibility for B.Arch Admission
Route | Subject requirement | Minimum marks |
|---|---|---|
10+2 or equivalent | Physics and Mathematics compulsory, plus one of Chemistry, Biology, a technical vocational subject, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics or Business Studies | 45% aggregate |
10+3 diploma | Mathematics compulsory | 45% aggregate |
State counselling bodies and individual colleges can add their own conditions, such as domicile rules or category-wise relaxation. Check the admission brochure of each state or college you apply to. Application Fee and How to Apply
NATA charges a fee for every test you register for. The 2026 fee is shown below; the 2027 fee will be confirmed in the new brochure.
Category | Fee per test (2026) |
|---|---|
General and OBC (non-creamy layer) | Rs. 1,750 |
SC, ST, EWS and PwD | Rs. 1,250 |
Transgender | Rs. 1,000 |
Test centres outside India | Rs. 15,000 |
A General candidate taking two Phase 1 attempts therefore pays Rs. 3,500. The fee is non-refundable.
Steps to Apply
Register on nata.in: Create an account with a working email address and mobile number.
Fill in the form: Enter personal, academic and category details exactly as they appear on your documents.
Upload documents: Add your photograph and signature in the required format.
Choose the test: Pick the test date, session and test city. Seats in each city are limited, so book early.
Pay the fee: Pay online and save the confirmation page.
Document | Dimensions | File size |
|---|---|---|
Photograph (colour, front view, both ears visible, JPG or JPEG) | 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm | 4 KB to 100 KB |
Signature (JPG or JPEG) | 1.5 cm x 3.5 cm | 1 KB to 30 KB |
Common reasons for trouble include a blurred photo, a name that does not match your Class 12 records, and a wrong category that later fails verification at counselling.
NATA 2027 Exam Pattern
NATA is a 3-hour, 200-mark test split into two parts. Part A is drawn on paper, and Part B is taken on a computer.
Part A: Drawing and Composition
Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
A1: Composition and Colour | 1 | 25 | 90 minutes for Part A |
A2: Sketching and Composition (black and white) | 1 | 25 | |
A3: 3D Composition | 1 | 30 | |
Total | 3 | 80 | 90 minutes |
Part B: MCQ and NCQ
Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
B1: Multiple choice questions | 42 | 120 | 90 minutes, about 108 seconds a question |
B2: Numerical answer questions | 8 | ||
Total | 50 | 120 | 90 minutes |
Part B is a computer-based adaptive test, which means the questions you get can depend on how you answer earlier ones. The brochure gives the total for Part B but does not publish a fixed mark for each question.
What This Means for You
Drawing carries 40% of the marks: Three questions decide 80 marks, so weak drawing cannot be covered by a good MCQ score alone.
A3 is worth the most: The 3D composition question carries 30 marks. Practise it more than students usually do.
Speed matters in Part B: With under two minutes a question, you need to read diagrams and passages quickly and move on.
For marks, timing and the drawing materials you can carry, see the full NATA exam pattern page.
NATA 2027 Syllabus Overview
The Council of Architecture describes what NATA assesses but does not publish a chapter-wise syllabus. The table below maps the official assessment areas to the topics students should practise.
Area | Part | Topics to practise |
|---|---|---|
Composition and colour | A1 | 2D composition, colour theory, harmony and contrast, theme-based design |
Sketching | A2 | Perspective, proportion, light and shade, buildings and everyday scenes from memory |
3D composition | A3 | Forms and volumes, balance, stability, models from given elements |
Visual reasoning | B | Rotation, folding, hidden figures, views and sections |
Logical derivation | B | Patterns, sequences, coding, deductions |
GK, architecture and design | B | Famous buildings and architects, materials, art and design history |
Language interpretation | B | Reading comprehension, vocabulary, meaning in context |
Design sensitivity and thinking | B | Observation, aesthetics, user needs, everyday design problems |
Numerical ability | B | Basic geometry, mensuration, ratio, arithmetic |
Many websites still list Class 11 and 12 physics, chemistry and mathematics chapters as the NATA syllabus. That list belongs to the 2022 cycle.
Attempts, Score Calculation and Result
Attempts: In 2026 a candidate could take up to two tests in Phase 1 for centralised counselling, or one test in Phase 2 for vacant seats.
Best score counts: If you take two Phase 1 tests, your best raw score is used.
Percentile: The percentile is calculated after all Phase 1 sessions are over. Phase 2 results carry a raw score only.
Qualifying score: No minimum raw score was prescribed for 2026. The final scorecard with your best raw score and a non-zero percentile is your valid NATA score.
Validity: The score is valid only for admission in that academic session.
NATA has no official cut-off. Each college or counselling body sets its own merit list, often combining your NATA score with Class 12 marks. Closing scores change every year with seats and applicants, so treat any past figure as a benchmark only. Our NATA cut-off page tracks these trends.
Admit Card and Exam Day Rules
After registration, you download an appointment card from nata.in and carry a printed copy to the test centre with one original photo ID, such as an Aadhaar card, voter card, PAN card, driving licence or passport.
Session | Reporting time | Gate closes | Exam time |
|---|---|---|---|
Morning (Saturdays) | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
Afternoon (Fridays and Saturdays) | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM | 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM |
Carry: Pencils, erasers, dry colours and a scale of up to 15 cm. Rough paper is provided.
Do not carry: Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, calculators, log tables or calculator watches.
Late entry: Not allowed after 10:15 AM in the morning session or 1:45 PM in the afternoon session.
Admission After NATA
NATA only gives you a score. Admission happens separately through state counselling, institute-level processes or centralised counselling, depending on where you apply. Phase 1 scores are used for the main counselling rounds, and Phase 2 scores are used to fill seats that remain vacant.
Before you apply, confirm that the college is approved by the Council of Architecture. After B.Arch, you must register with the Council to practise and use the title "architect" in India. Graduates can also move into urban planning, interior design, landscape architecture, construction management or higher studies.
How to Prepare for NATA 2027
Start eight to ten months before your first test. A steady plan beats last-minute cramming because drawing skill improves only with daily practice.
Months 1 to 3, build the base: Sketch for 45 to 60 minutes every day. Learn one-point and two-point perspective, proportion and shading. Start a sketchbook of buildings and objects around you.
Months 2 to 4, add aptitude: Spend 30 to 40 minutes a day on visual reasoning, logical puzzles and reading comprehension. Keep notes on famous buildings, architects and materials.
Months 4 to 6, practise test formats: Attempt timed A1, A2 and A3 questions. Take sectional tests for Part B and track accuracy by area.
Final two months, full mocks: Take full 3-hour mocks every week, review your drawings against the time used, and revise from your error log.
Use your first Phase 1 attempt early in the window. It shows you the real test and leaves time to improve before the second attempt.
NATA 2027 rewards students who prepare early and practise regularly. Check the official brochure once it is out, register for an early test date, and build your drawing and reasoning skills side by side.