NIFT Exam Pattern 2027: GAT, CAT and Situation Test

The NIFT exam pattern 2027 has up to three stages, depending on the programme you choose: the General Ability Test (GAT), the Creative Ability Test (CAT) and a Situation Test or interview. The pattern decides how you split your time between speed-based questions and design work.

The figures below come from reports of the 2027 cycle and from the format used in recent years. They are indicative until you check the National Testing Agency (NTA) information bulletin, which is the final word. Where reports disagree, this page says so instead of guessing.

Table of Contents

• NIFT exam pattern

• GAT pattern

• CAT pattern

• Situation Test and interview

• Marking scheme

• What the pattern means for you

• How the final rank is built

• Time management

NIFT exam pattern at a glance

Reports differ on whether M.Des has a Situation Test or an interview, so confirm this for your programme in the bulletin.

GAT pattern

The GAT is a computer-based test. For B.Des, the reported pattern is below.

Postgraduate GAT papers are longer, run for up to 180 minutes in earlier cycles and include a case study section. The B.F.Tech GAT format is also reported differently by different pages, so read the section for your programme in the bulletin.

CAT pattern

The CAT is a pen and paper test taken by design candidates. It checks observation, imagination and your ability to turn an idea into a visual. Reports give a duration of about 3 hours and a total of 100 marks, but this figure is not consistent across pages and is indicative only. Expect tasks on design theory, colour, memory drawing, visual logic and design development. Carry the stationery allowed in the bulletin, and check what is provided at the centre.

Situation Test and interview

Shortlisted B.Des candidates take the Situation Test. It is a hands-on test where you create a model from given materials around a theme. Postgraduate candidates in M.F.M and M.F.Tech face a personal interview. The NIFT admissions portal publishes the shortlisting rules each cycle, so check them there.

Marking scheme

• Correct answer: reported as 1 mark in the GAT.

• Wrong answer: reported as a deduction of 0.25 mark in the GAT.

• Unanswered questions: no deduction is reported.

• CAT: evaluated on the quality of your work, with no negative marking reported.

Older pages may still show a different scheme, so follow the NTA bulletin for the 2027 cycle.

What the pattern means for you

• English carries the most marks: 40 of 100 GAT marks sit in English, so daily reading is not optional.

• A wrong guess has a cost: with a 0.25 deduction, guess only when you can remove at least one option.

• The CAT is a separate skill: a strong GAT score does not make up for a weak CAT, because the CAT carries heavier weightage for B.Des.

• Time is tight: 100 questions in 120 minutes leaves about a minute per question, with extra time for reading passages.

How the final rank is built

NIFT does not rank you on raw marks. It gives a Common Merit Rank (CMR) from a weighted score. For B.Des, secondary coverage reports a weightage of 50 percent for the CAT, 30 percent for the GAT and 20 percent for the Situation Test, but this is indicative and has not been confirmed for 2027. Check the weightage for your programme in the bulletin before you plan your preparation around it.

Time management

1. First 5 minutes: skim the paper and mark the sections you are strongest in.

2. Start with English: it is the biggest section and the most scoring.

3. Keep reasoning for the middle: skip any puzzle that takes more than two minutes.

4. Last 10 minutes: revisit flagged questions and avoid blind guesses.