Table of Contents:
–About NIT DAT Exam
–NID DAT Exam Highlights
–Eligibility Criteria for 2023
–NID Entrance Exam Pattern
- B.Des Exam Pattern
- M.Des Exam Pattern
–NID DAT Syllabus
- B.Des Prelims Syllabus
- B.Des Mains Syllabus
- M.Des Prelims Syllabus
- M.Des Mains Syllabus
–NID DAT Reservation
About NIT DAT Exam
NID Design Aptitude Test is a National Institute of Design; national-level entrance exam conducted to provide candidates for the Bachelor of Design and Master of Design courses. The DAT (Design Aptitude Test) comprises two steps:
- DAT Prelims – The individual first appears in prelim exams
- DAT Mains – The DAT Prelims score is used to shortlist candidates for DAT Mains.
In order to get admission to the B.Des or M.Des, it is compulsory to appear in both DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. Candidates are required to qualify for both Prelims and Mains in order to gain admission into NIDs.
NID DAT Exam Highlights
| Features | Details |
| Exam name | National Institute of Design – Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) |
| Conducting body | NID |
| Exam frequency | Once a year |
| Exam purpose | NIDs and some private colleges offer admission to design programmes. |
| Courses offered | BDes, MDes |
| Eligibility | BDes – Class 12 MDes – Graduation |
| Exam fee | Rs 3,000 (General category) Rs 1,500 (Reserved categories) |
| Exam mode | Offline |
| Exam duration | BDes: 180 minutes MDes: 150 minutes |
| NID DAT pattern | BDes & MDes Prelims – Subjective & Objective questions of 100 marks Mains – Drawing/model-making questions of 100 marks |
| Helpdesk email ID | admissions@nid.edu, nid@applyadmission.ne |
| Official website | https://admissions.nid.edu |
Eligibility Criteria for 2023
The National Institute of Design will release the eligibility requirements for the B.Des and M.Des programs. Check out the program-wise NID-DAT eligibility requirement.
| Parameters | B.Des | M.Des |
| Age Limit | The applicant needs to be 20 years of age as of 30th June, 2023 Relaxation in upper age limit: OBC-NCL, SC, and ST – 3 years PwD – 5 years | The applicant must be born on or after 1st July, 1993 Relaxation in age limit: OBC-NCL, SC, and ST – 3 years PwD – 5 years |
| Educational Qualification | Candidates who have passed 10+2 in any discipline (Science, Commerce, Arts, etc) from any recognised board. | Bachelor’s degree of at least four years duration. |
NID Entrance Exam Pattern
- A) B.Des Exam Pattern
- Prelims Exam Pattern:
| Test Duration | 180 minutes |
| Exam mode | Offline |
| Total number of questions | 26 |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Number of sections | 2 |
| Number of questions per section | Section A: 22 Section B: 04 |
| Types of questions | Section A: Objective type questions Section B: Subjective type questions |
| Section A Marking Scheme | Question 1 to 14: 1 mark Question 15 to 22: 2 marks |
| Section B Marking Scheme | Q.23: 15 marks Q.24: 20 marks Q.25: 15 marks Q.26: 20 marks |
1. Mains Exam Pattern:
Candidates shortlisted for NID DAT Mains have to upload a Theme Poster, size not excluding 10 MB.
The poster can be done in any media and should be photographed/ scanned/ digitally created on an A3 size sheet.
Additionally, candidates must upload their design portfolio merged in a single PDF file, size not excluding 10 MB.
Candidates will get a mail with the Theme Poster topics, and they will be given a period of one week; they have to submit their work within that week.
- B) M.Des Exam Pattern
- Prelim Exam Pattern
| Test Duration | 150 minutes |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Total Number of Questions | Multiple |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Number of Sections | 2 |
| Types of Questions | Section A: Objective type questions (30 marks) Section B: Subjective type questions (70 marks) |
2. Mains Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of exam | Offline (Generally) Online ( NID admission 2021) HYBRID Mode (NID admission 2022-23) HYBRID Mode (Expected) |
| Duration of exam | 3 hours (Not specified in 2021, 2022, and 2023) |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Language of question paper | English |
| Type of questions | Studio test SoP and portfolio submission Personal Interview |
Candidates must submit the Statement of Purpose; the word count should not exceed 300. They have to mail the SoP after Prelims. The SoP should be submitted and typed as a PDF file, size not exceeding 2 MB.
NID DAT Syllabus
B.Des Prelims Syllabus
| Innovation in design | Theme development | Exercises on imagination | Graphics & pictograms |
| Principles of composition | Design Theory | Optical illusion | Form & function |
| Inspiration & design development | Natural & geometrical form | Colour, pattern & texture | Drawing fundamentals |
| Lateral thinking | Design Awareness | Creative thinking & writing | Ornaments & motifs |
| Imagination & doodling | Understanding light & shade | Elements & principles of design | Colour psychology & optical illusions |
| 3D visualisation | Lettering | Developing observation | Good design vs. bad design |
| Optical illusion | Outline for beginners | Memory drawing | Innovation & Creation |
| Mood, theme & colour inter-relationship | Visual logic | Colour terminology | Presentation techniques |
| Picture analysis | Story pictures | Usage of colour in compositions | Natural & geometrical form |
| Use of measurements, scale & proportions | Story pictures | Developing themes & colour associations | Foreshortening & perspective |
| Inspiration & Creativity |
B.Des Mains Syllabus
| Model making | Questions generally asked in an interview | Material manipulation | Mock interview |
| Audio-visual exercises | Evolving ideas | Importance of body language | Doodling |
| Past studio test & interview questions | Interview tips | Creative thinking | Guidance on portfolio making |
M.Des Prelims Syllabus
| Design Outline for Beginners | Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
| Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship | Design Theory | Elements & Principles Of Design |
| Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
| Lettering | Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
| Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Form & Function | Colour, Pattern & Texture |
| Theme Development | Creative Thinking & Writing | Picture Analysis |
| Visual Logic | Good Design vs Bad Design | Drawing Fundamentals |
| Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions | Optical Illusion | Foreshortening & Perspective |
| Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & Motifs |
| Memory Drawing | Usage of Colour in Compositions | Expression & Emotion |
| Exercises on Imagination | Lateral Thinking | Story Pictures |
| Presentation Techniques | Imagination & Doodling | 3D Visualisation |
| Graphics & Pictograms | Innovation & Creation | Design Awareness |
| Developing Observation |
M.Des Mains Syllabus
| Model Making | Doodling | How to evolve ideas |
| Audio – Visual Exercises | Material Manipulation | Creative Thinking |
NID DAT Reservation
The National Institute of Design follows the reservation rules for all design courses offered by them. The category-wise reservation of seats for all the courses as per NID Reservation policy is as mentioned below:
| Category | Reservation (in %) |
| Economically Weaker Section | 10 |
| Other Backward Class | 27 |
| SC | 15 |
| ST | 7.5 |
Candidates with a disability will be provided with a 5% horizontal reservation of seats from the main category in each program across all creamy and non-creamy categories.
This blog is a guide map for all students willing to make a career in the design field. We hope this blog has provided you with detailed information about the NID DAT competitive exam.