National Aptitude Test in Architecture, abbreviated as NATA, is a national level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate courses in architecture (Bachler of Architecture; B Arch) in India. This exam is being conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA) every year since 2006. This test measures the aptitude of applicants for a specific field of study in areas like drawing and observation skills, sense of proportion, aesthetic sensitivity and critical thinking, qualities that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are related to architecture. In terms of CoA itself “NATA is an Aptitude test that assesses a candidate’s innate ability through a variety of testing formats and cannot be taught, learnt or induced”.
NATA was conducted twice a year as a one-day exam but from 2022 it is conducted thrice a year. Candidates are allowed to appear for up to 3 NATA tests. It is not mandatory to appear in the second or third test and it is completely at the discretion of the applicants.
In this article, we are going to discuss the eligibility criteria, exam scheme, application and admission process for the NATA exam.
Eligibility Criteria
A. Qualifying Examination
Candidates who have completed their 10 + 2 examinations with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics or 10+ 3 Diploma with Mathematics. Candidates appearing for the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as subjects of study or the 10+3 Diploma with Mathematics in the current year may also provisionally appear for NATA.
B. Qualifying Marks
Aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and also at least 50 per cent marks in aggregate of the 10+2 level examination or passed 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as compulsory subject with at least 50 per cent marks in aggregate
C. Reservations under different categories
Reservation as well as relaxation in qualifying marks for the reserved category for the purpose of admission is a prerogative of the Admission/ Counselling Authority and does not fall under the purview of this examination.
Exam Pattern
The aptitude test of NATA may comprise questions of
(i) Multiple-Choice type (MCQ),
(ii) Multiple Select type (MSQ),
(iii) Preferential Choice type (PCQ) and
(iv) Numerical Answer type (NAQ) and
(v) Match the following type (MFQ)
The questions will carry 1 mark, 2 marks or 3 marks and 125 questions have to be answered in 180 minutes.
The medium of the Aptitude Test will be essentially the English language. (Some questions may be in regional languages also)
The aptitude of the candidate will be assessed using some or all of the following techniques:
• Diagrammatic Reasoning – Tests the ability of logical reasoning, using diagrams and scenarios • Numerical Reasoning – Tests mathematical ability through simple problems
• Verbal Reasoning – Assesses the ability to assess verbal logic.
• Inductive Reasoning – Tests the ability to see patterns and analyse given data
• Situational Judgment – Tests problem-solving ability.
• Logical Reasoning – Tests ability to recognise patterns, sequences or relationships between shapes and imagery.
• Abstract Reasoning – Will assess general knowledge, and ability to utilise knowledge in new situations.
Questions could be asked on various topics that assess candidates on basic concepts in mathematics, physics and geometry, language and interpretation, elements and principles of design, aesthetic sensitivity, colour theory, lateral thinking and logical reasoning, visual perception and cognition, graphics and imagery, building anatomy and architectural vocabulary, basic techniques of building construction and knowledge of the material, general knowledge and current affairs, etc. and are may not be limited to those outlined.
The details of the NATA exam can be concluded as:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Language of Question Paper | English |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours (180 minutes) |
| Total Number of Questions | 125 |
| Total Number of Marks | 200 |
Application Procedure
The application can be submitted in online mode only. Candidates can fill up the application form by going to the official website of the NATA Exam website. The whole application process of NATA can be followed as given below::
(A) Registration: Candidates need to visit the NATA portal, and generate a username and password by entering basic details and then CLICK the requisite link ONLINE APPLICATION NATA. Thereafter, a candidate will be directed to the actual application form. The form is interactive in nature and the fields required to be filled up are categorized in different sub-sections. The fields super-scribed with * MUST be filled up as they are MANDATORY, otherwise, the application will NOT get submitted.
The application form is broadly categorized into three steps: filling out PERSONAL DETAILS; IMAGES UPLOADING & FEE PAYMENT
(i) Application form filling: During filling out the application form a candidate has to submit his/her personal and educational qualification details.
(ii) Image Uploading: After submitting the personal and educational qualification details, a candidate has to upload his/her recent passport size coloured photograph and own signature with black/blue ink in jpg /jpeg format. The criteria for image uploading are given below.
| Document | Storage size | | Image dimension | |
|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Height | Width |
| Photograph | 4 KB | 100 KB | 4.5 cm | 3.5 cm |
| Signature | 1 KB | 30 KB | 1.5 cm | 3.5 cm |
(iii) Application Fee payment: After uploading images a candidate has to pay the application fee as mentioned in the notification.
Application fee
| In India | | | | | Outside India |
|---|
| General/OBC (NCL) | | SC/ST/PwD | | Transgender | All |
| Male | Female | Male | Female | | |
| Fee for any Individual Test | 2000 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 10000 |
| Fee for any Two Tests | 4000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 20000 |
| Combined Fee of Test 1, 2 and 3 | 5400 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 27000 |
(B) Confirmation Page Generation: The confirmation page is generated upon successful payment of application fee that condos that the candidate had been successfully registered for NATA. The candidate may take a printout and preserve the confirmation page for future reference.
© Discrepancy and Correction: Candidates will be provided only one opportunity to correct their personal details if they found that.
Issuance of Admit Card
For each Applicant, an Admit Card will be generated according to the schedule notified indicating the allotted Examination Centre for the NATA exam and a downloadable version of the admit card will be published on the respective webpage of the candidate concerned. An Examination Roll Number will also be generated for each candidate.
Candidate is required to download the soft copy of the Admit Card from the website and must appear in the examination with a printed hard copy at the concerned Examination Centre indicated in the downloaded Admit Card along with one original photo identity card- Voter Card/ Pan Card/ Aadhar Card/ Driving Licence.
All Candidates are advised to retain their admit cards carefully in undamaged condition in all respects as stated above till the completion of the admission procedure.
Appearing in the NATA Exam
The allocation of the test centre shall be done on the basis of preferences opted by the Candidate.
A candidate will have to appear for the examination on the date given in the respective Hall Ticket at his/her own risk and expense.
Result declaration and admission process
A. Scrutiny/ Review of Answer Paper
After the successful completion of the examination, the Answer Key to questions of the NATA test paper would be available to the public domain.
The Answer Key and the marks allotted for each question as fixed by the Council shall be treated as final.
B. Score Card
Results will be available on the NATA website.
The scorecard will display the following:
1. Marks obtained in the exam out of 200
(a) In case the candidate appears for more than one test all scores received in the attempts will be displayed.
(b) In case a candidate appears for 2 Tests, the best of the 2 scores shall be taken as the valid score and in the case of 3 attempts, the valid score shall be taken as the average of the 2 best scores.
2. Qualified/ Not Qualified Qualifying marks for NATA- 2022 are 70 marks out of 200 marks.
C. Validity of NATA score
