How to Prepare for NIFT GAT B.Des Exam English, Syllabus, Books, Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension Skills
Published by Shikha Kumari on Jan 17, 2025
NIFT GAT is available in both English and Hindi mediums. However, candidates aiming to crack the exam should recognize the importance of English for the ‘Communication Ability and English Comprehension’ section of the paper. A strong grasp of grammatical rules, such as active and passive voice, along with a rich vocabulary including synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and homonyms, is essential. In this blog, we have included comprehensive resources, the English syllabus, grammar tips, comprehension skill questions, recommended books for NIFT GAT, and previous year question papers for your reference and preparation.
NIFT GAT BDes Exam English Syllabus
The NIFT syllabus includes two sections concerning English; Communication Ability and English Comprehension. For the GAT exam, both of these sections contain 25 questions each, with each question carrying one mark, making these sections collectively worth 50 marks. This highlights their significance in the exam by holding 50% weightage in exam.
| Sections | No. of Questions |
| Communication Ability | 25 |
| English Comprehension | 25 |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 |
| Analytical Ability | 15 |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 15 |
| Total | 100 |
These two sections, as per the NIFT syllabus, are based on grammar and vocabulary. They include basic English concepts such as synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and phrases. These sections assess the ability to understand commonly used expressions and judge the capability to distinguish between similar words.
| Concept | Examples | Learnings |
| Synonyms | Happy – Joyful, Beautiful – Attractive, Smart – Clever | Build understanding of word relations. |
| Antonyms | Happy – Sad, Beautiful – Ugly, Smart – Dull | Understand contrasting meanings. |
| One Word Substitutes | Bibliophile (Lover of books), Optimist (Positive thinker), Orator (Public speaker) | Improve vocabulary usage. |
| Idioms and Phrases | Spill the beans, Beat around the bush, Hit the sack | Learn commonly used expressions. |
| Correct Spellings | Accommodation, Receive, Embarrassment | Avoid spelling errors. |
| Singular & Plural | Goose – Geese, Child – Children, Cactus – Cacti | Master singular and plural forms. |
| Passage Comprehension | Identify themes, Find conclusions, Analyze opinions | Improve comprehension skills. |
You can download the comprehensive NIFT Entrance exam syllabus PDF in following table:
| English Syllabus GAT 2025 | Download PDF |
Grammar & Vocabulary
Even if a candidate’s English speaking skills are exceptional, grammar and vocabulary become essential parts of learning and understanding. This ensures that candidates can respond accurately, with a specific answer for each question. It is important to be familiar with vocabulary and to regularly read newspapers or editorials to stay updated with current events. This habit can also help in other sections, such as General Knowledge for GAT. Furthermore, it can be beneficial in both the CAT and GAT exams for NIFT. While you’re here, you can learn a few vocabulary words from right below.
| Concept | Examples |
| Synonyms | Angry – Enraged, Sad – Unhappy, Beautiful – PrettyBrave – Valiant, Honest – Truthful, Rich – Wealthy |
| Antonyms | Happy – Sad, Beautiful – Ugly, Smart – DullBrave – Coward, Honest – Dishonest, Fast – Slow |
| One Word Substitutes | Bibliophile – Lover of books, Optimist – Positive thinker, Orator – Public speakerPhilanthropist – Charitable person, Pessimist – Negative thinker |
| Idioms and Phrases | Spill the beans – Reveal a secret, Beat around the bush – Avoid the main topicHit the sack – Go to sleep, Barking up the wrong tree – Misleading someone |
| Singular & Plural | Goose – Geese, Child – Children, Cactus – CactiMan – Men, Tooth – Teeth, Mouse – Mice, Crisis – Crises |
Comprehension Skills
Comprehension involves understanding the passage and answering the questions based on it. Before jumping directly to the questions, one must thoroughly read and understand the passage to grasp its meaning and core. This approach will help you identify the keywords in specific questions, allowing you to answer them more efficiently and accurately.
Sample Questions
- Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word “EXEMPLARY”:
A. Outstanding B. Ordinary C. Harsh D. Incomplete - Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the word “HAPHAZARD”:
A. Systematic B. Disorderly C. Random D. Predictable
- A person who loves books is called a:
A. Bibliophile B. Philanthropist C. Antagonist D. Biologist
- The phrase “break the ice” means:
A. To make someone angry B. To start a conversation
C. To avoid a problem D. To cause trouble - Choose the correct spelling:
A. Receive B. Recieve C. Receeve D. Reccieve - What is the plural of “Phenomenon”?
A. Phenomenons B. Phenomenas C. Phenomena D. Phenomenas
- Complete the sentence: She was praised for her __________ efforts in solving the crisis.
A. Diligent B. Inattentive C. Insincere D. Negligent
Wondering if your guesses for these questions are correct? We have compiled these questions as NIFT GAT B Des Exam English PDF for free download. You can find correct answers by downloading the PDF.
| English GAT Example Questions | Download PDF |
Recommended Books for NIFT GAT
The right books for the right course can direct your efforts in the right direction. NIFT has been conducting its exam for years and has established its own pattern, which can be identified through multiple resources, including free online materials as well as books by reputed publishers. Resources like these have been said to help previous aspirants successfully secure admission to NIFT.
| Name of the Book | Author/Publisher | Why |
| From Plinth to Paramount | KD Publication, Neetu Singh | Focuses on grammar with clear explanations |
| English For General Competition | KD Publication, Neetu Singh | Good for beginners or those with weak English |
| A Mirror of Common Errors | Dr Ashok Kumar Singh | Higher-level questions with bilingual explanations |
| Word Power Made Easy | Goyal, Norman Lewis | Builds vocabulary with regular use of new words |
| SSC English | MB Publication, Ajay K Singh | Includes previous year questions for SSC exams |
| Objective General English | Arihant Publication, SP Bakshi | Good for practicing after mastering basics |
Previous Year Question Paper
To understand the paper design of NIFT, you can go through the previous year’s question papers. Some of the question papers are provided in the following table, which you can download.
| Sample NIFT GAT B Des Exam English Paper 2025 | Download PDF |
| Sample NIFT GAT B Des Exam English Paper 2024 | Download PDF |
| Sample NIFT GAT B Des Exam English Paper 2023 | Download PDF |
| Sample NIFT GAT B Des Exam English Paper 2022 | Download PDF |
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