NATA Exam Pattern 2026, Marking Scheme, Assessment Factors

NATA Exam Pattern 2026 will be available on the official website at nata.in after the NATA exam 2026 notification is released. The NATA exam 2026 official notification is expected to be out in February 2026. NATA exam 2026 will be held in multiple sessions, starting from March to June 2026. The exam will be held in a computer-based format consisting of 125 questions for a total of 200 marks. Candidates will be able to download the NATA exam pattern 2026 PDF from the official website once it is released.

NATA stands for National Aptitude Test in Architecture. NATA exam 2026 is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Council of Architecture for admission to BArch courses across different architecture institutes in the country. Aspirants can take the NATA exam 2026 a maximum of three times. The best score among these three attempts will be considered for final admission.

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NATA Exam Pattern 2026 Overview

NATA exam pattern 2026 is defined by the Council of Architecture (CoA). The NATA exam pattern 2026 PDF will be available at nata.in for downloading. The test will have a mix of question types, including multiple-choice, multiple select, preferential choice, and numerical answer questions. NATA exam 2026 is designed to assess aptitude in areas like general knowledge, mathematics, drawing, and logical reasoning. Get an overview of the NATA exam pattern 2026 in the following table. 

NATA Exam Pattern 2026 Marking Scheme

The marking scheme, as given in the NATA exam pattern 2026, varies across different patterns of questions question patterns. Drawing-based tasks and objective questions carry varying weightages depending on the section. There will be no negative marking, allowing candidates to attempt all questions without any fear. The marking scheme is discussed below. 

1. Part A - Drawing and Composition Test

• A1 - 1 Question - Composition and Colour - 25 marks
• A2 - 1 Question - Sketching and Composition (Black and White) - 25 marks
• A3 - 1 Question - 3D Composition - 30 marks

2. Part B - MCQs 

• B1 - 30 Questions x 2 marks - 60 marks
• B2 - 15 Questions x 4 marks - 60 marks

NATA Exam Pattern 2026 Assessment Factors

NATA exam pattern 2026 for architecture programs has certain parameters on which the assessment will be done. The authorities will construct questions based on the following assessment factors. 

• Inductive Reasoning: Candidates will be evaluated on their skill in examining ability to examine information and identify patterns.
• Diagrammatic Reasoning: Candidates will be assessed on their skills in interpreting drawings and applying logical reasoning.
• Numerical Reasoning: Candidates will be evaluated on how well they can tackle basic numerical questions.
• Verbal Reasoning: Evaluation will be done on the candidate’s verbal logic. 
• Situation Judgement: Assessment will be based on aspirants’ problem-solving abilities. 
• Abstract Reasoning: Candidates will be assessed on their overall general knowledge and how effectively they can use it in different scenarios.
• Logical Reasoning: Candidates will be evaluated on how well they can identify patterns, relationships, sequences, and related concepts.

NATA Exam Pattern 2026: Preparation Tips

The following are some NATA preparation tips that might come in handy while preparing. 

• Start your preparation by getting familiar with the latest NATA exam pattern 2026. Understand the types of questions (MCQ, MSQ, PCQ, NAQ), marking scheme, duration, and the division between drawing/composition and aptitude sections. 
• Practice different types of drawing, including composition and color, sketching situations with correct proportions.
• Work on diagrammatic, numerical, verbal, logical, and abstract reasoning by solving sample questions and past papers to improve speed and accuracy.
• Stay updated on basic architectural concepts, famous buildings, design innovations, and current affairs relevant to architecture.
• Take full-length mock tests regularly to simulate the actual exam, identify weak areas, and develop effective time-management strategies. 

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