How to Prepare for NIFT 2025: Section-wise Preparation Tips, Toppers Strategy & Guide

National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam 2025 ( NIFT Entrance Exam )

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Registration: 22 Nov '24 - 6 Jan '25

This exam is conducted for courses given below:
Manashjyoti Hazarika

Manashjyoti HazarikaManager Content

Updated on Nov 28, 2024 14:52 IST

NIFT 2025 preparation - Candidates seeking admission to design courses at the NIFTs need to have a clear strategy as to how, what, and from where they are going to prepare for the NIFT 2025 exam.

Note that NIFT is one of the most competitive design entrance exams in the country. Some 50, 000 candidates appear in the entrance exam every year.

So, you can't afford to put a foot wrong.

Note that the NIFT entrance exam is a two-tiered process, wherein candidates first appear in a written test (CAT and GAT). Shortlisted candidates next have to appear in a Situation Test / Personal Interview.   

The preparation for NIFT 2025 will include many layers, like following the best books, solving sample papers, and taking mock tests. 

In the previous edition of the exam, the NIFT exam pattern was revised. So, you also need to take this into account when preparing for the exam.  

Go through the article and learn how to prepare for the various sections of the entrance test.

Latest Updates:

Q:   What are some quick tips to prepare for the NIFT 2025 exam?

A:

While there is no shortcut to success, it is always possible to achieve more by being smart and making judicious use of ones time. 

Here are some useful tips that will help you prepare for NIFT 2025 exam. 

  1. At the outset, quickly go through the NIFT 2025 exam pattern and syllabus. Make sure that you follow the official syllabus and pattern when preparing for the exam.
  2. You need to take note if there are any new topics that are being added. Also, check if any old topics are dropped.
  3. Ensure you follow only the updated syllabus.
  4. Next, get hold of best books that cover the entire syllabus.
  5. Make a time table taking into account the difficulty level of each topic and also weightage carried by them.
  6. Take notes during study; these notes will come in very handy closer to the exam when you need to do quick revisions.
  7. Solve sample papers and previous years question papers.
  8. Take mock tests.
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Q:   When will the NIFT 2025 entrance exam be conducted?

A:

The written tests for the NIFT 2025 exam will be held on February 9, 2025. The detailed schedule has also been released.

The written tests will comprise a General Ability Test (GAT) and a Creative Ability Test (CAT). GAT is mandatory for all candidates, but CAT is only required for B. Des and M. Des candidates. 

The GAT test will be considered in a computer-based mode, whereas the CAT will be offline based. Note that scores of the written exams will be used to shortlist candidates for a Situation Test/ Personal Interview.

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Q:   When do I need to start my preparation for NIFT 2025 exam?

A:

The NIFT exam is among the competitive and is also considered among the toughest. So, it is recommended that the candidate starts their exam preparation well in advance, say with around 1 years time in hand. Note that the NIFT exam has various components like written exam and Situation Test /Personal Interview. Candidates seeking admission to the B. Des and M.Des courses need to prepare for both the CAT and GAT. The CAT is a drawing-based exam, meaning the candidate will be evaluated on parameters like intuitive ability, power of observation in concept development, and design ability. Now unless the candidate is already well-versed, developing these skills will take time. So, it is prudent to start early. The same goes for the GAT.

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General tips to prepare for the NIFT exam

To crack the NIFT 2025 exam, follow the tips mentioned below::

  1. Get familiar with the NIFT 2025 syllabus and exam pattern - It is key to have a clear idea about the types of questions asked, weightage, test duration, and difficulty level. For example, the GAT test for the B.Des program carries only 30% weightage. You can easily prepare for the paper by following books like - NIFT preparation by Arihant. Some students in their over-enthusiasm go overboard and try reading up everything they find on the topic and end up buying one book after another. But this is unwarranted, as all this time can be used by the candidate to brush up their drawing skills. 
  2. Planning - Once you know what is in the syllabus or exam pattern, you can make your study plan. One reason why you should always make a study plan is it will keep you on your toes. For example, you will not want to idle away a day for you have assignments and topics lined up for that day; if you skip it, it will add up to your next day’s agenda!
  3. Take notes - At the beginning, your notes may not be up to the mark, like you won’t know what point to note down and what to ignore, but the good thing is it will come with practice. The notes you take will be a ready-reckoner that you can go for quick revision. This will come in handy, especially, in the last few weeks of the exam.
  4. Solve previous years’ question papers - This exercise is necessary to check one’s progress and develop problem-solving skills. Also, while the same question isn't usually repeated in the NIFT exam, some word meanings might get repeated. So, solving sample papers is important. 
  5. Take mock tests - In the last few days leading up to the NIFT 2024 exam, you must also take a few mock tests as well. These tests can be used to prepare oneself mentally for the tough day ahead. Mock tests typically have the same types of questions as the ones asked in the actual exam. By taking the mock test, you will also get the know the layout of the question paper, navigation process, etc.  
  6. Take sufficient rest - In all the hullabaloo about exam excitement, it is easy to ignore one’s health. For example, in some cases, students forgo sleep or don’t rest on time. This creates unwanted stress levels in the body, and the response time of the mind will also slow down. Too much stress and the candidate might even start hallucinating. 
  7. So, take proper rest in between your preparation; also, stay hydrated. 

Also Read:

Special Tips to prepare for NIFT (CAT) Creative Ability Test 2025

A paper-pencil-based test, NIFT CAT is of three hours duration. In NIFT CAT, aspirants are given three to four subjective questions wherein they need to draw/ make sketches and answer the questions put forth to them.

The CAT test for the B.Des program carries 50% weightage and is the most important component of the entrance test. 

Step-wise preparation tips for NIFT (CAT)  

  • Inspiration and creativity - The candidate must develop the skill of minutely observing things, and situations, and must take a mental image of it. This kind of exercise will help in memory drawings. Keen observation will also help the candidate to understand the dynamics of various elements in a setting and the interplay between them. This in turn will not only inspire the candidate but also open the floodgates of creativity!
  • Geometrical Shapes - The world we live in is filled with items of various geometrical shapes. Learn to draw various geometrical shapes one at a time, till you master all of them.
  • Concept Development - Before starting to craft a drawing, the conceptualization process must be dealt with first. Identify what you are going to draw, what components and elements you are doing to use, and why. The candidate is urged to work on their observation and visualization skills. Visualization skill in the sense that you must be able to foretell how the drawing would look like, the story it is going to tell, etc.
  • Principles of Composition - In this type of drawing, the student can practice combining or arranging different elements and create different compositions. Note that the NIFT exam may ask the candidate to draw a particular sequence, and practice of composition drawing will come in handy in such cases.
  • Product Drawing - Product drawing is basically the 2D representation of 3-dimensional objects. Products can be anything, be it your tiffin box, shocks, spectacles, t-shirt, or washing machine. Draw sketches of as many products can, as it will help you tackle any product-drawing-related question asked in the exam.
  • Poster Drawing - Make a list of all the trending topics and make poster drawings for each one of these topics. 
  • Shading - Learn the various elements of shading including - reflected light, full light, case shadow, halftone, and shadow edge. If you master the art of shading, you can add the illusion of form, shape, and light to your drawings.
  • Coloring - Once the student has learned the A, B, and C of coloring, he or she can start playing around with different colors. 
  • Human figures - The subject of your human figures could be a relative, a friend, a rickshaw puller, an ice cream seller, a school security person, an old and wrinkly-looking old woman, etc.

NIFT Written Exam 2025 - Weightage

The program-wise exam components and weightage are shown in the table below. The candidate needs to refer to this table to have a clear idea as to how they need to prepare for the NIFT entrance exam.

NIFT Entrance Exam Pattern & Weightage

Program

Test

Weightage

Bachelor of Design (BDes)

CAT

50%

GAT

30%

Situation Test

20%

Master of Design (MDes)

CAT

40%

GAT

30%

GD/PI

30%

Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFtech)

GAT

100%

Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech)

GAT

70%

GD/PI

30%

Master of Fashion Management (MFM)

GAT

70%

GD/PI

30%

Also Read:

NIFT 2025 - Programs, Test Duration, Number of Questions

Candidates need to appear for NIFT GAT for admission in all courses – BDes, MDes, BFTech, MFTech and MFM. NIFT GAT exam pattern is as mentioned in the table below:

Course

No of Questions

Duration

BDes

100

2 hours

MDes

120

2 hours

BFTech

150

3 hours

MFTech

150

3 hours

MFM

150

3 hours

Last-minute tips to prepare for the exam

In the last few days leading up to the NIFT 2025 written exam, you need to keep the following things in mind.

  1. Focus on revision
  2. Don't start any new topic at this stage, as the exercise will be mostly futile and you will lose out on valuable time.
  3. Solve sample papers and take mocks
  4. Do an analysis of your mistakes, and see if you can find a quick remedy.
  5. Focus on the important topics, and see if you can 
  6. Instead of going through large blogs of texts in the textbooks, use your notes for quick revision.
  7. Stay positive and healthy.
  8. On exam day, ensure that you reach the NIFT exam center on time and are not late. Carry all essential items like documents, stationery items, etc.

Read More:

NIFT Entrance Exam Preparation 2025 - FAQs

Mentioned below are some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to NIFT 2025 exam preparation:

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