The NIFT Entrance Exam 2025 will be conducted on February 9. But what happens if you qualify (or do not qualify) in the exam? Or, what's next? Check NIFT admission process for all courses including BDes, BFTech, MDes, MFM and MFTech here.
Having cleared the NIFT written entrance examination, the big question can be - What next? The shortlisting after the written tests is typically in the ratio of 1:4, that is, for each seat there will be around four candidates shortlisted who are then going to be appearing for stage two of the NIFT 2025 examination. The NTA is scheduled to conduct the design entrance exam on February 9, 2025. The results of the exam will be declared in March 2025. The scores of the written exam will be used to shortlist candidates for a Situation Test (B.Des course) and Personal Interview (PG courses). Here we explain the admission process in detail and what happens after the NIFT 2025 written exam is completed. Like, whether there will be an answer key, shortlisting for the next stage, etc.
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Release of NIFT 2025 Answer Keys
Q: Can I appear in NIFT Situation Test/ Interview if I don't qualify the written exams?
Candidates will be shortlisted for the NIFT 2025 Studio Test/ Interview based on their performance in the written tests.
Note that the NIFT 2025 written exams comprise the GAT and CAT exams.
If the candidate fails to be included in the shortlist, he or she is not eligible to appear in the Situation Test/ Interview.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology will conduct the Situation Test for the B.Des program sometime in April 2025. Meanwhile, the Personal Interview for the M.Des program will be held starting March 2025.
To be included in the final NIFT 2025 merit list, it is mandatory to appear in both the written exams and Situation Test/ Interview. The only exception is B.FTech applicants as the final merit list for these candidates is prepared based on GAT scores.
Q: Is Maths required for NIFT?
It is not compulsory to have studied Maths in Class 12 to appear for NIFT Entrance Exam. However, some questions from Mathematics are asked in the NIFT GAT section. Therefore, it is always beneficial to have some knowledge about the subject. The NIFT question paper for GAT will include questions from sections like logical and analytical reasoning, general awareness, verbal reasoning, and English . General knowledge questions may include topics like fashion industry, both local and global, and news of political and economic importance. The GAT paper will be conducted in a computer-based mode and will be for 120 minutes.
Q: Is there any age limit for appearing in NIFT 2025?
In case of the B. Des and B.FTech programmes, the candidates should be less than 24 years as on July 1 of the admission year. There is relaxation of 5 years for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories. However, there is no age limit for applying to the postgraduate programmes at NIFT. When applying for admission to design courses at the NIFTs, the candidate must also carefully go through the academic requirements. Note that even if a candidate qualifies the NIFT Entrance Exam but doesn't meet the prescribed eligibility criteria, he or she will not be considered for admission.
NTA will release the answer keys for NIFT 2025 within a few weeks of the exam. The answer keys will be released only for the GAT paper. No keys will be released for the Creative Ability Test (CAT). Using the answer key, the candidate will be able to calculate probable scores, and thus their chances of admission. Previous years NIFT cut-off can be used as reference material for checking admission probability.
Declaration of Written exam results
The results of the NIFT 2025 exam will be declared in March 2025. The results will be released online at the NTA portal. To check their results, the candidate will have to log in using their candidate credentials. The scores of the NIFT 2025 written exam will be used to shortlist candidates for the next round. B.Des candidates need to appear in a Situation Test. Meanwhile, M.Des applicants and other PG applicants have to appear in a Personal Interview round.
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NIFT Bachelors’ Entrance Exam Stage Two:
Design (BDes): The aspirants shall be shortlisted on the basis of the two papers CAT, having a weightage of 50% in the short list merit and GAT with a 30% weightage in the same. The shortlisted candidates will then be asked to appear, at the nearest NIFT centre, for the second stage known as the Situation Test. The situation test is a practical creative examination where the students shall be given certain craft material and asked to create a 3D model out of the same on the basis of a question given to them.
The objective of the test is to see if the students are practical enough while being creative and can they explore the possibilities of the materials at hand, can they identify the need of the question and their execution & finishing technique along with their presentation skills where they even need to describe their concept & approach. The situation test is accounted for in the final merit list with 20% weightage.
Technology (BFTech): There is no second stage for BFTech Entrance, the written merit is the final merit.
Q: Can I apply for NIFT 2025 with late fees?
Yes, the National Institute of Fashion Technology will allow candidates with late fees. The late fee application window will open once the deadline to fill out the NIFT 2025 application form with regular fee closes. The start and last date to fill out the NIFT 2025 application form with late fee will be notified by the institute before the regular application form closes or sometime thereabout. The late fee for NIFT 2025 will be INR 5,000. The late fee has to be paid in addition to the application fee, which is INR 3000 for open category candidates.
Q: Will my candidature for NIFT 2025 be cancelled if I select the wrong admission category?
The candidate has to select their admission category at the time of filling out the NIFT 2025 application form. The candidate must make sure that they have the requisite valid and verificable certificate supporting their category.
Note that the category selected by a candidate at the time of submitting the application form will be considered as final.
If a candidate selects a reserved category i.e. SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/EWS/PWD but fails to submitted a valid Category Certificate, he or she will be considered for open category seats provided any benefit of relaxed age or income or cut offs has not been availed by the candidate at any stage of the Admission Process. If any benefit has been availed, the candidate’s application will be rejected.
Also, if a reserve category candidate is considered for open category, then he/she will have to pay the difference in amount of application fee as applicable for open category.
Q: Can I withdraw the NIFT seat allotted to me?
Q: What is the eligibility criteria for NIFT 2025?
The eligibility criteria may differ depending on the course opted by the candidate. For instance, candidates seeking admission to the B. Des course needs to have passed 10+2 exam from a recognised institute and should be less than 24 years as of August 1, 2025. Relaxation of 5 years in the upper age limit applies for candidates belonging to SC, ST and PwD candidates.
Q: Can I appear in Situation Test/PI if I don't qualify the NIFT written exams?
The Situation Test/ Personal Interview (PI) are the 2nd stage of the NIFT 2025 entrance exam. Candidates were shortlisted for the Situation Test/ PI based on the NIFT 2025 written exam scores.
Note that if the candidate fails to qualify for the 2nd stage, he or she is not considered for admission to various design courses offered by the NIFTs.
The only expection is B.F.Tech program, where the merit list for admission will be prepared solely on the basis of GAT scores.
In the case of other courses, the merit list will be prepared by giving weightage to the written exams and Situation Test/ PI.
NIFT Masters’ Entrances Stage Two:
Design (MDes): The two papers of GAT & CAT have 30% and 40% ratio in the first short listing merit. The stage two for the master’s in design is GD/PI i.e. Group Discussion and Personal Interview, where one’s portfolio is very important for the latter. The portfolio can be presented in a hard copy and soft copy as well. These two stages have 15% weightage for each, in the final merit.
Technology (MFTech): The written examination has 70% weightage while the second stage of GDPI (Group Discussion & personal Interview) has 30% weightage (15% for each).
Management (MFM): The process is same as that of Master’s in Technology as mentioned above with the same percentage weightages for the merit ranks.
The stage two is extremely crucial as this is a stage when every shortlisted candidate prepares really hard, even if they hadn’t taken the written examination as seriously. This is the time when the class XII board examinations are also approaching and students are too torn between competitions, pre-boards and upcoming board or other qualifying examinations. Even the competition boils down among the best and only first among equals or shall we say the best of the best will finally have the pride of calling themselves – NIFTians!!!
Also, it is strongly suggested not to put all your eggs in a single basket, hence you are advised to fill in other forms for some more prestigious colleges like FDDI, Pearl Academy, NIIFT, IICD, MITID, SID, JD Institute & SOFT. The forms for the same are usually released online on their respective official websites and all their examinations follow the same pattern as that of NIFT & NID Entrance Exam i.e. CAT & GAT at written stage followed by situation/ studio test and personal interview. You can always take your call on choice of college once you have the luxury to choose after having made it through as many as you can.
Wishing luck for the results of the NIFT written examinations!!
About the Author:
Shipra Anand is the Founder Director of Academy for Fashion Careers in Lucknow and has 18 years of experience in the field of fashion and design. She offers career counselling and also trains students for NID, NIFT, Pearl, FDDI, CEED, NATA and other design, art and architecture entrance examinations. A post graduate from NIFT, New Delhi, Anand has industry experience with names like Lacoste and Wild Orchids.
Read More:
- How to prepare for NIFT situation test?
- NIFT situation test: Past 10 years questions
- Colleges accepting NIFT entrance exam scores for admissions and seats available
- List of NIFTs in India: Rankings, Admissions, Courses and Fees
- Fee Structure for UG and PG Design Courses in NIFTs
- Why join NIFT – How is National Institute of Fashion Technology different from other design colleges
Creating student-centric content for the higher education sector is my forte. Be it news, well-researched articles, or simple write-ups that update you on an exam date or help you fill out a form, I serve it in the ... Read Full Bio
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 6 days ago
the national entrance exam for the NIFT Institute this year, can keep on reading to find the latest syllabus that is prepared to test their creative and analytical ability.
It comprises the following sections: General Ability Test (GAT), Creative Ability Test (CAT), and Situation Test for the design
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Hello greetings!
NIFT Exam Pattern 2025 B.It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions based on Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Analytical Ability, and General Knowledge and Current Affairs. The exam is conducted offline.
Exam Details
GAT: 2 hours for B.Desand M.Des,
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 months ago
To do well in an entrance exam like NIFT, the candidate is expected to have good drawing skills. Note that the NIFT paper will have two sub-exams - CAT and GAT.
The CAT or the Creative Ability Test will evauate the drawing skills of the candidate.
So, unless you have above average drawing skills, you
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The role of the NTA is confined to registration of candidates and conduct of the NIFT 2025 exam. The finalization of NIFT 2025 answer keys after inviting challenges, processing and declaration of results and preparation of the list of qualified candidates will be done by NTA in collaboration with th
M
Contributor-Level 10
I want to know about the latest syllabus for NIFT Entrance Exam?