NEELGYAN EXAM GUIDE
NATA Exam Guide
National Aptitude Test in Architecture
2026 examination cycle · Council of Architecture (CoA)
Written and source-checked by NeelGyan Team · Last verified 2 August 2026
Checked against the official sources linked below
Current cycle
2026
Current stage
Phase 2 examination
Next key date
7 August 2026
Conducting body
Council of Architecture
Duration
3 hours
Maximum marks
200
2026 cycle tracker
- Registration opened9 Mar
- Phase 1 tests4 Apr–13 Jun
- Phase 1 resultsWithin 7 days/test
- Phase 2 tests7–8 AugYou are here
- Vacant-seat admissionAuthority schedule
On This Page
Exam Resources
About NATA
What is NATA?
National Aptitude Test in Architecture, or NATA, is conducted by the Council of Architecture as an aptitude qualifier for first-year B.Arch admission under the current architecture-education regulations.
The 2026 Phase 1 tests ran from 4 April to 13 June. Phase 2 is scheduled for 7 and 8 August and is restricted to candidates who did not appear in Phase 1; its score is considered independently for vacant seats after the central admission process.
Qualifying NATA does not guarantee a B.Arch seat. Candidates must separately meet the academic eligibility and use the state, university or institution admission authority that controls the intended seat.
Latest NATA Updates
Verified updates, newest first
NATA Highlights
Key verified exam details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | National Aptitude Test in Architecture |
| Programme purpose | B.Arch aptitude qualification |
| Part A | Drawing and composition, 80 marks |
| Part B | Adaptive MCQ/NCQ, 120 marks |
| Phase 2 restriction | Only candidates who skipped Phase 1 |
| Current status | Phase 2 scheduled |
NATA 2026 Important Dates
Official notification and exam timeline
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Online form fill-up began | Completed | |
| Phase 1 began | Completed | |
| Phase 1 ended | Completed | |
| Phase 2 Friday examination | Upcoming | |
| Phase 2 Saturday examinations | Upcoming |
NATA Application Process and Fees
Official application route and fee details
Register only at the official NATA portal, complete personal and academic details, upload the photograph and signature in the required size, choose an eligible test appointment and pay through the official gateway.
The 2026 schedule applies a weekly closing rule: Monday night for an upcoming Friday test and Tuesday night for an upcoming Saturday test, with corresponding correction and admit-card days. Check the live portal because appointment availability can close earlier.
Phase 2 is only for candidates who did not appear in Phase 1. A Phase 1 candidate should not submit a second identity or altered application to bypass this rule.
| Category | Per test |
|---|---|
| General / OBC-NCL | ₹1,750 |
| SC / ST / EWS / PwD | ₹1,250 |
| Transgender | ₹1,000 |
| Outside India | ₹15,000 |
- The fee is per test and is non-refundable.
- B.Arch counselling, institution and tuition fees are separate.
NATA Eligibility Criteria
Qualification, age and other requirements
NATA appearance
Passed or appearing 10+2/10+3
- Candidates who passed or were appearing in 10+2 with the specified subjects could take the test.
- A 10+3 diploma route requires Mathematics as a subject.
B.Arch subject route
Physics and Mathematics compulsory
- The 10+2 route requires Physics and Mathematics plus one of the other subjects listed in the Council regulations.
- Examples include Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, IT, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics, Technical Vocational subject or Business Studies as permitted.
Admission aggregate
45%
- The B.Arch admission rule requires at least 45% aggregate in the qualifying 10+2 route.
- The 10+3 diploma with compulsory Mathematics also requires at least 45% aggregate.
Phase 2 eligibility
Must not have taken Phase 1
- A candidate who attempted Phase 1 cannot take the August Phase 2 examination.
- The Phase 2 score applies independently to vacant-seat admission after the central process.
NATA Admit Card
Verified current-cycle status
Current status: Phase 2 admit cards follow the weekly schedule for the 7 and 8 August appointments.
The schedule makes Friday-test admit cards available from Tuesday and Saturday-test admit cards from Wednesday for that week. Verify the session and centre in the portal.
NATA Exam Pattern and Selection Process
Stages, papers and qualifying rules
- Aptitude testNATA Part A and Part B
- ScoreCouncil result/percentile route
- CounsellingSeparate competent authority
- AdmissionMerit, allotment and reporting
NATA Part A: Drawing and Composition
| Task | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Composition and Color | 1 | 25 |
| Sketching and Composition, black and white | 1 | 25 |
| 3D Composition | 1 | 30 |
| Part A total | 3 | 80 |
- The 3D composition uses the provided kit under the examination instructions.
NATA Part B: Adaptive Aptitude
| Type | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-choice questions | 42 | Part of 120 |
| No-choice questions | 8 | Part of 120 |
| Part B total | 50 | 120 |
- Part B is an online adaptive test with 108 seconds per question and is offered in English and Hindi.
- The total NATA paper carries 200 marks across three hours.
NATA Syllabus Overview
Subjects and stages in the official syllabus
- Part A measures composition, colour, sketching, proportion, visualisation and 3D composition.
- Part B covers visual reasoning, logical derivation, architecture and design awareness, language interpretation, design sensitivity and thinking, and numerical ability.
Drawing and composition
Colour composition, black-and-white sketching, scale, proportion, texture, shade and visual storytelling.
3D composition
Creating an interesting physical composition for the stated situation with the supplied kit.
Visual and design reasoning
2D/3D reconstruction, spatial relationships, observation, semantics and problem definition.
Awareness and numerical ability
Architecture/design awareness, language interpretation and basic mathematics connected to creative thinking.
NATA Answer Key
Verified current-cycle status
Current status: The official 2026 site does not identify a conventional public key for the adaptive Part B and evaluated drawing Part A.
Do not treat a coaching solution as an official Council answer key.
NATA Result
Verified current-cycle status
Current status: Phase 1 results followed each test; Phase 2 results will follow the August examination.
The schedule states results are declared within seven days of the relevant test. Phase 2 scores are independent and apply to vacant seats after the central admission process.
NATA Qualifying and Admission Cut-off
Verified current-cycle status
Current status: A NATA score does not create one universal B.Arch admission cut-off.
The competent admission authority combines the applicable NATA result and academic rules under its merit process. College closing marks vary by authority, category and round.
NATA Preparation Strategy
A syllabus-first preparation route
- Practise the three Part A tasks under a strict 90-minute combined limit.
- Build spatial and visual reasoning through diagram, rotation and composition exercises rather than rote facts alone.
- Use short 108-second Part B drills to adapt to the fixed per-question time.
- Check B.Arch academic eligibility and counselling routes before relying on the NATA score.
NATA Books and Official Material
- NATA 2026 official brochure and schedule
- Council-prescribed architecture awareness and school-level mathematics foundations
- A sketchbook, physical 3D-composition practice kit and timed aptitude sets
NATA Previous Question Papers
Official question-paper resources
NATA is an aptitude test with an adaptive component, so the current brochure and official schedule matter more than an assumed fixed recalled paper.
Use unofficial examples only for practice and never present them as a Council-released key.
NATA Frequently Asked Questions
When is NATA 2026 Phase 2?
The Council's schedule lists 7 and 8 August 2026.
Can a Phase 1 candidate take Phase 2?
No. The official schedule restricts Phase 2 to candidates who did not attempt Phase 1.
What is the NATA 2026 pattern?
Part A is an 80-mark offline drawing and composition test, and Part B is a 120-mark online adaptive aptitude test; each lasts 90 minutes.
What is the NATA fee?
Per test it is ₹1,750 for General/OBC-NCL, ₹1,250 for SC/ST/EWS/PwD, ₹1,000 for transgender candidates and ₹15,000 outside India.
Does qualifying NATA guarantee B.Arch admission?
No. Candidates must meet academic eligibility and participate in the competent authority's admission process.
How long is the NATA 2026 score valid?
The brochure states that the NATA 2026 score is valid for the 2026–27 academic session.
Official Information and Sources
Primary notice and authority links
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Verify Before You Apply
Eligibility, dates, fees, vacancies, pattern and status can change. Read the latest notice on the official authority’s website before applying. NeelGyan does not collect application fees or guarantee admission or selection.