NATA is India's gateway to 5-year B.Arch programmes at over 600 government and private architecture colleges. Unlike most design entrance exams, it runs twice every year: Phase 1 from April to June (multiple Fridays and Saturdays) and Phase 2 in August. Each student appears in one phase per year. Conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA), NATA is the largest design-adjacent entrance exam in India with over 90,000 students appearing annually.
NATA at a glance
Source: nata.in (Council of Architecture, T1 Official). Always verify before applying.
Eligibility criteria
The Council of Architecture sets uniform eligibility rules that apply to all colleges accepting NATA scores.
Academic qualification
Passed or appearing in 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as main subjects. Arts and Commerce students without PCM are not eligible.
Minimum marks
At least 50% aggregate in 10+2. SC/ST candidates: 45% as per most state norms. Verify with individual colleges.
Appearing candidates
Students appearing in Class 12 board exams in 2026 can apply provisionally. Marksheets must be submitted to colleges during counselling.
Age limit
No upper age limit set by CoA. Some individual states may have age policies. Check with your target college.
Attempts per year
One phase per year. Students who appear in Phase 1 are NOT eligible for Phase 2 in the same year. You can attempt again in subsequent years.
Exam pattern 2026
NATA is a 3-hour exam split into two parts. Part A tests drawing on paper at the exam centre. Part B is a computer-based test covering Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Aptitude.
Part A: Drawing
Pen and paper- Questions3
- Marks80
- Duration90 min
- Negative markingNone
Spatial ability, sketching, 2D and 3D visualisation, proportion, colour, texture.
Part B: PCM and Aptitude
Computer-based- TypeMCQ and NAT
- Marks120
- Duration90 min
- Negative markingYes (MCQ)
Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Logical Reasoning, General Aptitude, Aesthetic Sensitivity.
200
Total marks
3 hrs
Total duration
2
Sessions/year
NATA 2026 syllabus
Part A: Drawing topics
Sketching from imagination
Visualise and draw a given object, scene, or structure from memory. No reference material provided.
Geometrical drawing
Lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, and multi-view drawing (plan, elevation, section).
3D visualisation
Surface and volume, rotation of objects, shadow, reflections, and basic perspective drawing.
Colour and texture
Primary, secondary, and tertiary colours; textures of natural and man-made materials.
Architectural awareness
Basic knowledge of famous structures, styles, and architects. Context for design decisions in the built environment.
Part B: PCM and Aptitude subjects
| Subject | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Algebra, logarithms, matrices, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, 3D geometry, calculus, permutation and combination, statistics |
| Physics | Electrostatics, current electricity, optics, wave motion, mechanics, materials and structures (basics) |
| Chemistry | Atomic structure, chemical bonding, polymers, environmental chemistry |
| Logical Reasoning | Series, coding-decoding, direction sense, analogy, blood relations, odd-one-out |
| General Aptitude | Mathematical reasoning, sets and relations, number systems, architectural awareness |
| Aesthetic Sensitivity | Colour theory, elements and principles of design, visual perception, form and function |
Source: Council of Architecture. Verify the current syllabus at nata.in.
Looking for the full syllabus breakdown?
The dedicated syllabus page covers every Part A drawing topic and every Part B subject in detail, with section-wise weightage and a preparation guide.
View full NATA syllabus →Important dates 2026
2026 dates sourced from CoA official notifications. Confirm the latest schedule at nata.in before applying.
Phase 1 participants are not eligible for Phase 2.
SPA Delhi does not accept NATA
This is the most widespread misconception in B.Arch preparation. School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (SPA Delhi) uses JEE Main Paper 2 (B.Arch) scores, not NATA, for admissions. Confirmed at spa.ac.in.
If SPA Delhi is your target, you must appear for JEE Main Paper 2 in January/April. Your NATA score will not be considered at SPA Delhi under any circumstances.
SPA Vijayawada and SPA Bhopal have different admission processes. Verify their current requirements at their official websites. Many aggregator sites list SPA Delhi as a NATA college. ShapeVerse does not.
Previous year papers
CoA releases official NATA papers and answer keys after each session at nata.in. Part B answer keys are published online. Part A drawing papers are released as scanned PDFs. ShapeVerse indexes all available official releases with direct links to the CoA portal.
View NATA papers and resources →University Bronze Partner Slot - contact hello@shapeverse.in
B.Arch colleges accepting NATA
Over 600 CoA-approved colleges across India accept NATA scores. Confirm Council of Architecture recognition before applying to any institution.
CEPT University
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Deemed UniversitySir J.J. College of Architecture
Mumbai, Maharashtra
GovernmentChandigarh College of Architecture
Chandigarh
GovernmentSPA Vijayawada
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Govt. AutonomousSPA Bhopal
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Govt. AutonomousBMS College of Architecture
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Government AidedR.V. College of Architecture
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Private AidedManipal School of Architecture
Manipal, Karnataka
Private DeemedBIT Mesra Architecture
Ranchi, Jharkhand
Private DeemedJamia Millia Architecture
New Delhi
Central UniversityNavrachana University
Vadodara, Gujarat
Private UniversityComing soon
Practice for NATA
ShapeVerse mock tests for NATA are in development, covering Part B (PCM and Aptitude MCQs) with timed practice, detailed explanations, and score analysis. Free to use, no login required.
View all mock tests →