NATA Exam Guide: Pattern, Drawing Test Tips and Preparation for B.Arch

NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) is conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA) and is required for admission to B.Arch at most architecture colleges in India. If you love buildings, cities and spaces — and you enjoy both drawing and maths — architecture could be your path.

NATA's format changes from year to year. Always check the latest brochure at nata.in before you plan.

NATA exam structure (recent pattern)

In recent years, NATA has been a 200-mark, 3-hour exam split into two parts:

Part	What it tests	Marks
Part A – Drawing and composition	Sketching, composition, colour and 3D composition	80
Part B – Aptitude	Reasoning, visual and spatial ability, maths and general awareness	120

NATA is usually offered in more than one attempt window during the year, and your best score is typically considered.

Part A: the drawing test

This is where you can really stand out. Expect tasks like:

• Composition and colour — creating a balanced composition from given elements
• Sketching — scenes, objects or buildings with correct perspective and proportion
• 3D composition — building a model or composition from a kit of materials

How to prepare for Part A

1. Master one-point and two-point perspective. Practise drawing streets, rooms and buildings.
2. Draw from real life. Sketch your street, your school building, a temple or a market.
3. Learn light and shadow. Shading makes your drawings look three-dimensional.
4. Practise composition. Use the rule of thirds, balance and focal points.
5. Use colour with intent. Learn harmonies and mood — see our colour theory guide.
6. Build simple 3D models with card and paper to practise the 3D task.

Part B: aptitude

Part B covers:

• Mathematics — Class 11–12 level basics, especially geometry and mensuration
• Visual and spatial reasoning — 3D views, mental rotation, patterns
• Logical reasoning
• General awareness — famous buildings and architects, materials, sustainability

Tip: Learn about Indian architects (like B.V. Doshi and Charles Correa) and landmark buildings — these come up often.

Do you need JEE Paper 2 too?

Some institutes (including NITs and SPA) admit B.Arch students through JEE Main Paper 2A instead of NATA. If you're aiming for those, prepare for both — the drawing skills overlap.

Architecture vs design: which one is for you?

Architecture is a 5-year professional degree focused on buildings and spaces, with strong technical and regulatory parts. Design (B.Des) is 4 years and covers products, communication, fashion, interaction and more. Read B.Des vs B.Arch for a detailed comparison.

A simple 3-month plan

• Month 1: Perspective basics, daily 1-hour sketching, maths revision
• Month 2: Composition and colour practice, reasoning questions, general awareness notes
• Month 3: Full mock tests weekly, 3D composition practice, revise weak areas

Practise with NATA mock tests

Our NATA mock tests follow the latest pattern: 90 minutes of drawing and 3D composition reviewed by mentors, then 90 minutes of aptitude questions with instant scores. Mock 1 is free.

Coaching for NATA

The Design Habitat offers NATA preparation in Pune and Nashik, with drawing classes, mock tests and personal feedback. Book a free counselling call to find the right batch.