How to Prepare for Top Design Entrance Exams in India

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. In this blog, you’ll get to know how you can prepare for these top design entrance exam. 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.

How to prepare for NIFTEE

• 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.

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.).

How to prepare for NID DAT

• 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.

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.

How to prepare for UCEED

• 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).

Preparation for Aptitude Test

To crack the aptitude test you need a blend of analytical and logical thinking. You can refer to the following pointers for better understanding-

• Start preparing at least 12 months in advance for the aptitude test.
• Refer to previous years papers to understand the pattern.
• Go through the syllabus thoroughly so that you don’t miss on any topic.
• Practice questions daily alongside learning new topics.
• Devote some time daily to reading newspapers to enhance your General Knowledge.
• Create a study plan to manage various sections of the test.
• Experiment with different schedules to find which suits you the best.

Preparation for Drawing Test

To crack the drawing test, you must understand the exam specific requirement which is different for different exams. For example : NIFTEE focuses more on Fashion-oriented creativity whereas NID DAT focuses more on Multidisciplinary design. Here’s a set of advice you can follow:

• Work on your core sketching skills.
• Sketch for 1-2 hours daily to improve your sketching skills.
• Prioritize clarity and detail within 30 minutes.
• Solve 2–3 past paper questions weekly for each exam.
• Time yourself while you solve previous years questions.
• Learn more about the design principles like colour coding, contrast, etc.
• Solve full mock tests as if you are sitting in the exam hall.
• Experiment as much as you can.
• Start with a rough outline to avoid erasing final sketches.
• Finalize portfolio for interviews