NATA is an acronym for the National Aptitude Test in Architecture. It is a national level entrance examination conducted by the
Council of Architecture (CoA) for admission to first year of 5 years B.Arch degree course at all recognized institutions in India.
The NATA exam is an entrance examination for architecture courses offered by various
colleges in India. It is conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA). The exam tests a candidate's drawing and observation skills, sense of proportion, aesthetic sensitivity and critical thinking ability.
The NATA exam is open to candidates who have completed 10+2 or its equivalent with Mathematics as one of the subjects. Candidates who are appearing for 10+2 or its equivalent examinations can also appear for the NATA exam.
Eligibility: Candidates must have passed Class 12th/HSC or equivalent examination with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as subjects from a recognized board with minimum 50% marks in aggregate. Candidates who are appearing for their qualifying examination can also apply. There is no age limit to appear for the exam.
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Pattern: The question paper will be divided into two sections – Part A and Part B. Part A will consist of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) pertaining to drawing and observation, perception, imagination, aesthetics, creativity and architectural awareness. Part B will be subjective type questions testing visual expression, critical thinking ability, communication skills, logical reasoning, mental ability etc.
Duration: The duration of the test will be 3 hours 30 minutes.
Marking Scheme: There will be no negative marking for wrong answers in Part A but 1/3rd mark will be deducted for each wrong answer in Part B
NATA Exam Key Facts
- NATA Exam is a National level test.
- Every year around 3.56 lakh applicants will give this NATA Exam.
- NATA Exam held once in a year.
- The score of NATA Exam will be valid for 2 years.
- No. of seats available for the candidates who appear in NATA Exam is 9000.
- The Mode of a test is online.
- No age limit to appear for NATA Exam.
NATA 2023 Exam Dates
| Exam Events |
Dates (Tentative) |
| Online registration will start from |
February 2023 |
| Last date for registration |
March 2023 |
| Last date for payment of application fee |
March 2023 |
| Admit card releasing date |
April 2023 |
| Date of Exam |
April 2023 |
| Result announcement |
June 2023 |
Eligibility Criteria
CoA will issue
NATA 2023 Eligibility Criteria and the official
NATA 2023 Brochure. It will include all the requirements that students must complete before applying for the exam. Before applying for the test, students must ensure that their qualifications, age limits, and minimum marks fall under the
NATA eligibility requirements.
To be qualified for NATA, a student must meet a series of qualifying requirements. The preset requirements established by COA are here.:
- There are no age limits for applying for the exam.
- Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are all required courses in Class 12.
- Students must have completed the 12th class.
- Students must receive at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Maths. Students from the SC, ST, OBC-NCL, or PwD have a 5% mark concession.
- Students in class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Maths are eligible to take NATA.
- We cannot round the marks off. Thus, if a student receives 49.9% in their qualifying test, the marks will be considered as 49.9% alone.
- The minor age limit for taking part in NATA has been removed. However, the student must adhere to any age restrictions imposed by the Counselling/Admission Authority.
- Scores are valid for 12 months, or one year, from when a student takes the NATA exam.
NATA Exam Pattern 2023
The authorities will release the exam pattern of NATA 2023 on the official website. Knowledge of NATA exam pattern will help the candidates to know details like the number of sections, type of questions, number of questions, marking scheme of the exam.
| Particulars |
Details |
| Mode of Examination |
Online |
| Medium of Examination |
English |
| Duration of the Exam |
3 hours |
| Number of Sections |
The exam will have only one part- Aptitude Test |
| Number of Questions |
125 Questions |
| Type of questions |
Multiple-Choice type (MCQ), Multiple Select type (MSQ), Preferential Choice type (PCQ) and Numerical Answer type (NAQ) |
| Total Marks |
200 Marks |
| Marking Scheme |
The questions will carry either 1 mark, 2 marks, or 3 marks. |
Important Points
- NATA 2023 will be conducted as an online exam of 3 hours.
- The online Aptitude exam will have Multiple-Choice type (MCQ), Multiple Select type (MSQ), Preferential Choice type (PCQ) and Numerical Answer type (NAQ) questions.
- The questions will be of 1 mark, 2 marks or 3 marks and total marks of NATA 2023 will be 200 marks.
How to Prepare for NATA 2023 Exam?
NATA aspirants must have a strong visual memory and observation skills as the exam tests your perception and imagination. To enhance your observation skills, start by observing things around you more carefully. Try to remember as many details as possible about an object or a scene and then recreate it from memory. This will help train your brain to notice even the smallest of details. Apart from that, also make it a point to regularly read books, newspapers, and magazines to improve your comprehension and communication skills, both of which are important for the exam.
When it comes to preparing for the drawing section of NATA, practice is key. Make sure to draw regularly, whether it is sketches from life or still objects. Pay attention to perspective, proportions, light and shadow effects, etc. In addition, don’t forget to work on your hand-eye coordination as well, since this will come in handy when you have to convert 2D drawings into 3D images.
As for the mathematics section, brush up on all the topics that will be covered in the exam – algebra, trigonometry, geometry, Mensuration etc. Understand the concepts well and try to solve as many problems as possible so that you can get a hang of solving questions under time pressure. It is also important to be aware of the latest developments in architecture so that you can answer the general awareness questions confidently. Keep yourself updated by reading newspapers and architecture magazines on a regular basis.
Coaching
While self-study is important, coaching can give you an edge over other NATA aspirants by providing guidance from experts who have been through the exam themselves. Coaching institutes usually follow a structured approach and cover all topics in detail with mock tests thrown in periodically to help students get used to sitting for long periods of time and solving difficult problems accurately under pressure. In addition, most coaching institutes also provide study material which includes reference books and previous years’ question papers so that students can prepare thoroughly for their exams. The Classroom Coaching for NATA provided by ADA Classes follows a comprehensive and interactive way of learning. We all know that NATA is a national level exams, hence is very competitive in nature. At ADA Classes, we take into consideration all the key aspects that are required for learning:
- Favorable Learning Environment and Latest Infrastructure
- Experienced and professional faculty members
- Comprehensive Study Material
- Location of the Centers
NATA Preparation Books
There are several books available specifically for NATA preparation that cover all topics in detail along with solved examples and practice exercises yet these might not be enough to help you carck NATA exam. You must go for NATA study material and books prepared by years of research and hard by ADA expert team. The correspondence course that ADA offers provides comprehensive study material prepared by the alumni of DCA and Architecture colleges and is self explanatory. The course material covers all areas tested in NATA / JEE exam.
NATA Mock Tests
Taking mock tests is one of the best ways to prepare for NATA as it allows you to get an idea of what the actual exam would be like in terms of format, difficulty level of questions asked, time limit etc. It also helps you track your progress and identify areas where you need improvement so that you can focus your efforts accordingly. There are several websites that offer free online mock tests for NATA aspirants. Alternatively, you could also buy mock test papers from any good coaching institute or bookstore. The Test Series that ADA offers provides comprehensive Tests prepared by the alumni of DCA and Architecture colleges and is self explanatory. The Test Series covers all areas tested in NATA / JEE exam.
To Sum Up - NATA is a very important exam for students who want to pursue a career in architecture in India. The exam is conducted by the Council of Architecture and it tests a student's drawing and observation skills, sense of proportion, aesthetic sensitivity and critical thinking ability. NATA is not an easy exam to crack and it requires a lot of hard work and dedication to prepare for it. There are various ways to prepare for NATA, such as self-study, coaching, books and mock tests. All these methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the student to decide which method of preparation suits him/her the best. No matter which method you choose, remember that only hard work and dedication can help you crack NATA.
