NATA 2026

National Aptitude Test in Architecture

NATA is the primary national-level entrance exam for admission to the 5-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree program in India. Unlike JEE Paper 2, which is for IITs/NITs, NATA scores are used by almost all other government and private architecture colleges.

📅 NATA 2026 Important Timeline

NATA is unique because it is conducted in a rolling window rather than on a single day.

  • Registration Starts: Expected by March 12–15, 2026

  • Main Phase Exam Dates: April 4 to June 13, 2026 (Tests held every Friday and Saturday)

  • Registration Deadline: Typically closes on the Monday/Tuesday preceding your selected test date.

  • Additional Attempt: August 7 & 8, 2026 (Exclusively for those who missed or did not qualify in the earlier phase).

  • Result Declaration: Usually within 7–10 days after each attempt.

📝 2026 Exam Pattern (Hybrid Mode)

The exam is a 3-hour test totaling 200 marks, split into two distinct parts:

Part A: Drawing & Composition (Offline/Manual)

  • Marks: 80

  • Tasks: 3 Questions (Composition & Color, Sketching, and 3D Composition).

  • Skills: Evaluates your sense of perspective, scale, and creative visualization.

Part B: MCQ & Aptitude (Online/CBT)

  • Marks: 120

  • Questions: 45 Questions (MCQs, MSQs, and Numerical Answer types).

  • Skills: Covers Logical Reasoning, Architectural Awareness, and basic Mathematics/Physics.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

  • Academic: Passed or appearing in 10+2 or a 10+3 Diploma.

  • Compulsory Subjects: Physics and Mathematics are mandatory, along with one of Chemistry/Biology/Technical Vocational subjects.

  • Minimum Marks: At least 45% aggregate in both the qualifying exam and the mandatory subjects.

  • Attempts: You can attempt the exam up to 3 times in 2026. Your best score among all attempts will be considered for admission.

💰 Application Fee

The fee is paid per attempt during registration:

  • General / OBC: ₹1,750

  • SC / ST / EWS / PwD: ₹1,250

  • Transgender: ₹1,000

🏛️ Qualifying Rules

To be considered "NATA Qualified" for B.Arch admissions, you must satisfy three separate conditions:

  1. Score at least 20/80 in Part A (Drawing).

  2. Score at least 30/120 in Part B (Aptitude).

  3. Achieve an overall aggregate of at least 70/200.

🔗 Official Links

Pro-Tip for 2026: NATA is an aptitude test, not a memory test. While JEE Main Paper 2 focuses heavily on Mathematics and structured drawing, NATA rewards out-of-the-box thinking and observation skills. For example, you might be asked to sketch the view from the perspective of an ant on a dining table.