NIFT Question Papers 2025: Download Previous Years' Sample Paper PDF (2024 to 2018)

If you didn't know already, sample papers of NIFT are some of the best tools out there you can lay your hands on to prepare for the NIFT 2025 entrance exam.

Here we have listed some of the advantages of the exercise below.

1. Can be used for better understanding of the exam pattern and structure - Through vigorous solving of various types of sample questions, the student will be able to develop problem-solving skills and put their creativity to the test. Also, sample papers will help the candidate get an idea about the types of questions asked, the marking scheme, etc. Note that merely going through the NIFT 2025 exam pattern or syllabus is not enough to understand the dynamics of the exam.
2. Can help improve speed and accuracy - It is not enough to be able to solve a problem, but it is equally important to be able to do it in the given time duration and well. NIFT 2024 sample papers will help the candidate improve their ability to quickly find the correct solutions.
3. Suited for building confidence - If you practice enough sample papers, you are bound to get confident in your ability. This will help you keep a stable head on exam day and tackle each question to the best of your abilities. On the other hand, if you lack practice, you might panic at the slightest sign of trouble!
4. Will help you better understand underlying concepts - Theoretical knowledge has its limitations as sometimes reality can be a bit different from how it is explained in the books. But if concepts explained in the books are put into practice, you will be better able to connect the dots and understand how different concepts are interlinked.
5. Access your progress -  The sample papers will give you a fair idea as to where you stand in your preparation. For instance, if you are only able to solve only a few questions in the sample paper, it means you need some real improvement. 

To get the best out of NIFT sample and question papers, put a timer on. This way you will be able to track how much time you are taking to solve a problem. Also, sample papers should be made a part of the NIFT 2024 preparation package from the start. This way you will be able to test your learning and progress from very early on. 

Another thing is after you complete solving a sample paper, assess your performance. Like where you performed well, and where are you lacking. This analysis will help you plug holes and thus get better. 

Also Read:

• Timings for GAT & CAT
• General Knowledge (GK) Questions for NIFT Exam

The NIFT 2025 entrance exam is conducted in TWO stages.

The 1st stage includes the written exams - Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT).  The GAT is mandatory for all courses; however, only B.Des and M.Des candidates need to take the CAT paper.

Candidates seeking admission to the B.Des and M.Des courses may download the CAT paper below to prepare for the section.

Note that the CAT paper is conducted in an offline-based mode.

The General Ability Test (GAT) paper is common for all the courses - B.Des, B.F.Tech, M.Des, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M.

So, irrespective of the course you are applying for admission to, you have to take the GAT paper. The GAT test will be conducted in a computer-based mode and is a written exam.

Note that GAT and CAT constitute the written exams and 1st stage of the NIFT entrance exam.

As per the NIFT 2025 exam pattern, the GAT question paper for B.Des and M.Des will include the following sections - Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Analytical Ability, and GK and Current Affairs.

Note that the number of overall and section-wise questions may vary depending on the program opted by the candidate.

The candidate is urged to download the GAT question and sample papers given below for effective exam preparation.

Candidates seeking admission to the B.Des program need to appear in a Situation Test if they get shortlisted based on their written exam scores (GAT and CAT). 

The Situation Test is a hands-on test that will evaluate the material handling capabilities and innovativeness of the candidate. During the test, the candidate will be provided with a given set of materials with which they have to make a model and draft a write-up explaining the model.

Note that the candidate is not allowed to use any other material other than the ones provided inside the exam hall.

The candidate should download the NIFT question papers for the Situation Test not only to get an idea regarding the types of questions asked but to learn how to tackle them.

Many candidates have this question - "Where to download NIFT previous years question papers with solutions."  

The solutions to the questions asked in the NIFT exam will be given in the answer keys.

Note that the official keys or solutions will be released by the National Institute of Fashion Technology tentatively in the 2nd week of February 2025. Also, the answer keys will be released only for the GAT paper.

The candidate can download the NIFT 2025 answer key online at niftadmissions.in.

How to download the NIFT answer keys

1. Go to the NIFT admission portal
2. Click on the answer key link
3. In the log-in window that opens, enter your roll number, program of study, and date of birth.
4. On log-in, you can download the answer key.

Candidates seeking admission to the B.Des and M.Des courses at the NIFTs must appear in a Creative Ability Test (CAT). The Creative Ability Test will evaluate the creative and drawing skills of the candidate. Importantly, CAT carries a hefty 50% weightage for B.Des. So, here we bring you a list of questions asked in the NIFT CAT exam in the previous editions for practice and to provide key insights.

NIFT CAT 2019 Question Paper for BDes

Q1. Visualise and draw any one of the following, as they would be in the year 2050. Colour the product using dry colours.

(i) Umbrella

(ii) Door Lock

(iii) Lunch box

Q2. Using the following shapes, that is, Circle, rectangle, Hexagon, Tear drop & Triangle, compose any one of the following: (a) Personal Computer (b) Wind Chime (c) Letter Box”. Accompany it with a write up of 100 words.

Q3. Depict the process on any one of the following in four frames.

(i) Budding & blooming of the Rose flower

(ii) A Shirt on a clothing line from wet to dry       

(iii) A bird taking flight from ground to sky

NIFT CAT 2019 Question Paper for MDes

Q1. Write an essay on the process of writing with pen and paper as compared to typing on laptop in context of which one do you prefer.

Q2. Share your experience of being blind folded for a day and listing five difficulties you faced with greater details about the most uncomfortable difficulty.

Q3. Design spectacles for:

• Traffic police          
• School kids                 
• Sports person and
• Public transport passenger

NIFT CAT 2018 Question Paper for BDes

Q1. Show one of the following procedures in four steps:

(a) Placing a bulb on a holder.

(b) A paper folding into a boat.

Q2. Design and illustrate in colour with details, a bag for yourself for any one of the given topics:

(a) Wedding             

(b) Picnic    

(c) Shopping

Q3. Depict your personality through a geometric shape, in colour.

NIFT CAT 2018 Question Paper for MDes

Q1. Write in 10 steps (any one):          

(a) Preparation of tea                   

(b) Playing in rain

Q2. Design a chair reflecting their personality, supporting it with a write up of 250 words explaining their concept.

Q3. Draw a scene of any one:

(a) A teal stall          

(b) The Chef at work            

(c) The gardener at work

NIFT CAT 2017 Question Paper

Q1. Draw any one of the following scenes:

• The view of the traffic signal from inside the car.
• A street play being organised
• A community festival celebration

Q2. Illustrate in colour a print on a T-shirt based on any one of the following themes:

• Music is the soul of life
• Save future wild life
• Dignity to aged

Q3. Express the contrast between the given pair of words through two separate visuals in given boxes. Out of the given three, one was to be attempted:

• Balanced/ Unbalanced
• Crispy/ Soggy
• Cluttered/ Uncluttered

NIFT CAT 2016 Question Paper

Q1. Show progression from one to another only through colours which are to be filled in a series of 10 blocks. Attempt any two.

(a) Cocoon to butterfly  

(b) Dawn to Night           

(c) Spring to Autumn

(d) Shiny metallic to Rust

Q2. Express the below mentioned emotions through colours:

(a) Sorrow

(b) Happiness

(c) Rebellious

(d) Astonishment

Q3. Design the below mentioned products:

(a) A textile print

(b) A footwear product

(c) A table utility product

(d) A clothing utility product

NIFT CAT 2015 Question Paper

Q1. Draw a poster on any one:

• Where there is a will there is a way
• Better late than never
• On every cloud there is a silver lining

Q2.  Draw a mascot in a poster on any one topic:

• Swach Bharat Abhiyaan
• Make in India
• Food Security

Q3. Draw a Hindi/English alphabet and then add or delete some lines to make a product or a picture in four steps.

NIFT CAT 2014 Question Paper

Q1. Illustrate the dress of a tourist guide of the state you belong to. Label the accessories and fabric details.

Q2. Illustrate an expedition/trip in four steps from start to end, depicting feelings and emotions.

Q3. Draw a poster for voting/creating awareness about voting. Briefly explain your concepts in a few lines.

NIFT CAT 2013 Question Paper

Q1. If you are a lizard on a wall. With your reference, draw the whole room in which you are.

Q2. Illustrate and explain briefly the given words:

• Tsunami
• Summer
• Speed
• Love
• Tornado

Q3. Draw a pattern in the given grid using any 3 of the following motifs, and also explain the concept.

NIFT CAT 2012 Question Paper

Q1. Design a mascot for any one of the following topics:

• Keep city clean
• Pulse polio
• India against Corruption

Q2. Attempt any one of the options:

a) Within the frames show “Landing of an aircraft”

Or

b) Draw landscape of Spring, summer, autumn and winter. Colour suitably.

Q3. Design a creative poster on any one and write a suitable tagline

• Bookshop
• Cyber shop
• Fruit shop

NIFT CAT 2011 Question Paper

Q1. Depict the following words into the grid

• Trust
• Joy
• Fear

Q2. Draw the following scene, use only 3 colours

• Railway station
• Temple festival
• Republic day parade

Q3. Using a lead pencil, draw any one of the following scenes:

• Educating voters
• Corruption
• Right to education

NIFT CAT 2010 Question Paper

Q1. A grid of 10 by 10 inches is provided. Depict any one word in the grid.

• Enthusiasm
• Harmony
• Shock

Fill one colour in one box. You can even leave a few boxes vacant.

Q2. Design postal stamp for any one:

• Mother’s Day
• Commonwealth Games 2010
• Earth Hour
• World Health Day

Q3. Draw any one topic from the options given below (use only lead pencil)

• Magic show
• Obey traffic rules
• Go green

The candidate has the option to prepare for the NIFT 2025 exam at home or they may decide to take up coaching.

While the second option may look tempting, one can easily get a good score and ranking by preparing for the NIFT 2025 exam at home.

If you are preparing for the exam at home, or in other words, on your own, focus on these few things:

• Carefully go through the exam syllabus and pattern
• Make a study timetable and stick to it no matter what
• Solve sample papers and previous year's question papers
• Try to complete the entire syllabus, but don't waste prodigious time if you are unable to solve a problem. Either take help or move on to the next topic. If you have time, come back and tackle the problem later
• Work on your drawing and observation skills.
• Be judicious with your time. 

Here are some useful preparation tips shared by Sirigowri Kambalimath, the All India Rank 2 in NIFT 2018.

1. Get creative inspiration from platforms like Pinterest.
2. Practice at home using available materials and try to make something interesting and creative.
3. Get familiar with different types of materials, and learn how to use them.
4. Do a quick read-up on paper folding and origami.
5. Practice as much as you can.
6. Every day, take a common object and list its various uses. 
7. Improve your imagination and observation.

NIFT 2023 Answer Keys

The National Institute of Fashion Technology has released the answer keys and solutions for all the questions asked in the NIFT entrance exam. The keys are released subject-wise and can be used by the candidate in conjunction with the sample papers. 

Note that the NIFT question paper comes in series, e.g. Booklet Series F, Booklet Series L, and Booklet Series A. The candidate must refer to the corresponding answer booklet series to get the correct answer. 

Read More:

• NIFT Situation Test: Past 10 Years Questions
  
• How to Prepare For NIFT Situation Test?

The candidate can go through the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on NIFT 2025 sample papers below: