Design Entrance Exam Syllabus: What to Study and How to Plan

Published by Shikha Kumari on Sep 08, 2025

To get admission to design colleges, candidates must give national level entrance exams like NIFTEE, NID-DAT, UCEED/CEED, etc. This blog talks about the syllabus of these most popular entrance exams and how and what one should study for the same. Let’s look at each one of them in detail.

NIFTEE (National Institute of Fashion Designing Entrance Exam)

NIFTEE is an entrance exam considered by top institutes like NIFTs and many other government and private institutes for admission to design courses. It is conducted in three stages:

• General Ability Test (GAT) 
• Creative Ability Test (CAT) 
• Situation Test or Group Discussion/Personal Interview.

Syllabus

The NIFT syllabus is divided into components for the General Ability Test (GAT), Creative Ability Test (CAT), Situation Test (for B.Des.), and Personal Interview (PI)/Group Discussion (GD) (for management courses). 

• GAT assesses communication, quantitative, analytical, and English skills, along with general knowledge and current affairs. 
• CAT evaluates creativity, imagination, and design prowess. 
• The Situation Test assesses practical skills, while PI/GDs evaluate communication and personality traits.

What and How to Study

• For the CAT, focus on design principles, composition, color theory, and creative thinking, while the GAT requires preparation in Quantitative Ability, Communication & English Comprehension, Analytical & Logical Reasoning, and General Knowledge & Current Affairs. 
• The Situation Test evaluates your ability to create a model using provided materials, so you should practice with different materials, develop your spatial awareness, and refine your construction skills.

Tips

• Regularly practice sketching and model-making to build speed and precision.
• Create a portfolio showcasing your creative work for the interview stage.
• Solve previous years’ papers and take mock tests to simulate exam conditions.

NID DAT (National Institute of Design – Design Aptitude Test)

The NID DAT is the entrance exam for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate design programs at the National Institute of Design (NID) and other participating institutes. It is conducted in two stages:

• DAT Prelims: A written exam comprising objective and subjective questions to assess design aptitude, creativity, and general awareness.
• DAT Mains: Studio Test, followed by a Personal Interview (for B.Des.) or Group Discussion/Personal Interview (for M.Des.).

Syllabus

• Objective Section: Tests Quantitative Ability, Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, English Comprehension, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs.
• Subjective Section: Focuses on creativity, observation, visualization skills, sketching, design thinking, and problem-solving.
• Studio Test: Involves hands-on tasks like model-making, material manipulation, and sketching to evaluate practical design skills, creativity, and innovation.
• Personal Interview/Group Discussion: Assesses communication skills, personality, design perspective, and clarity of thought.

What and How to Study

• Quantitative Ability: Practice arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. 
• English Comprehension: Focus on vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and sentence correction. Read newspapers and editorials to improve.
• Analytical & Logical Reasoning: Practice puzzles, syllogisms, seating arrangements, and logical sequences.
• General Knowledge & Current Affairs: Stay updated with national and international events, design history, famous designers, and cultural trends. Follow newspapers, magazines (e.g., Frontline), and online portals.
• Creative Section: Enhance sketching skills, practice freehand drawing, and develop observation-based illustrations. Work on perspective, proportion, and composition. Study design principles, color theory, and visual storytelling. 
• Studio Test: Practice 3D model-making with materials like clay, paper, wire, and cardboard. Focus on spatial awareness, material handling, and time management. Experiment with creative problem-solving and prototype-building.
• Interview/Group Discussion: Prepare to articulate your design thought process, inspirations, and portfolio (if applicable). Practice discussing design-related topics and current trends. Work on confidence, clarity, and communication skills through mock interviews and group discussions.

Tips:

• Regularly practice sketching and model-making to build speed and precision.
• Create a portfolio showcasing your creative work for the interview stage.
• Solve previous years’ papers and take mock tests to simulate exam conditions.

UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design)

UCEED is conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to the Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) programs at IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad) and other participating institutes. The exam tests design aptitude, creativity, and analytical skills and consists of two parts:

• Part A: Computer-based test with objective questions (NAT, MSQ, MCQ).
• Part B: Pen-and-paper-based drawing test to assess sketching and visualization skills.

Syllabus

• Visualization and Spatial Ability: Pictorial and diagrammatic questions, 2D/3D transformations, and spatial reasoning.
• Observation and Design Sensitivity: Attention to detail, design aesthetics, and environmental factors.
• Environmental and Social Awareness: General knowledge, cultural contexts, and environmental issues.
• Analytical and Logical Reasoning: Data interpretation, logical sequences, and problem-solving.
• Language and Creativity: English comprehension, vocabulary, and creative thinking.
• Design Thinking and Problem Solving: Identifying and solving design-related problems.
• Drawing: Tests sketching skills, perspective, proportion, and ability to express ideas visually. Questions often involve narrative-based illustrations or product design sketches.

What and How to Study

• Visualization and Spatial Ability: Practice orthographic projections, 3D rotations, and pattern recognition. Use resources like “Design Drawing” by Francis D.K. Ching for perspective and spatial exercises.
• Observation and Design Sensitivity: Study everyday objects, their design, and functionality. Practice identifying flaws or improvements in product designs.
• Environmental and Social Awareness: Read about sustainability, social issues, and design trends. Follow resources like National Geographic or design blogs for inspiration.
• Analytical and Logical Reasoning: Solve puzzles, data interpretation, and logical reasoning questions from books like R.S. Aggarwal or online platforms.
• Language and Creativity: Improve vocabulary and comprehension through reading (e.g., The Hindu, novels). Practice brainstorming creative solutions to hypothetical scenarios.
• Design Thinking: Study design frameworks like user-centered design. Practice solving real-world problems (e.g., designing a sustainable product).
• Drawing: Practice freehand sketching daily, focusing on perspective, shading, human figures, and object rendering. Work on time-bound sketching to simulate exam conditions. Study proportion, composition, and storytelling through visuals.
• Portfolio Preparation: While not mandatory, some institutes may review portfolios during interviews. Create a portfolio showcasing diverse design work (sketches, prototypes, concepts).

Tips

• Solve past UCEED papers and sample tests to understand question patterns.
• Focus on time management, as Part A is time-intensive, and Part B requires quick yet precise sketching.
• Stay updated on design trends, materials, and sustainability to excel in design sensitivity questions.