NATA Sample Paper PDF: Direct Link, Solutions, and Its Importance

A NATA Sample Paper is a practice paper built on the real NATA exam pattern, with a hand-drawing section and an aptitude section. Solving them shows you the kinds of questions asked, the marks each part carries and how to manage your time across the two parts. Collegedunia provides free subject-wise NATA sample papers with detailed solutions.

• Each NATA paper carries 200 marks, 80 marks for the Drawing and Composition Test and 120 marks for the aptitude questions, so you practise both parts in one go.
• There is no negative marking, so every question is worth attempting within the 3 hours, and Part B mixes multiple-choice questions with numerical-answer questions.
• In Phase 1 you can sit the test up to two times and the Council of Architecture keeps your better score, so early practice helps before your first attempt.

NATA Sample Paper: Download PDF

Download the subject-wise NATA Sample Paper PDF below and practise each part of the test on its own before you sit a full paper.

How to Solve NATA Sample Papers

NATA asks you to draw by hand and to answer aptitude questions on screen in the same sitting, so your NATA Sample Paper practice should get you used to moving between the two.

• Set real exam conditions: Sit for the full 3 hours, keep a 15 cm scale, pencils and dry colours ready, and solve the maths by hand on rough sheets.
• Split your time: The Drawing and Composition Test carries 80 marks and the aptitude questions carry 120 marks, so give the drawing enough time while still finishing every question.
• Read once and pick the easy ones: Go through the aptitude questions once and answer the visual reasoning, 3D figure and architecture questions you find quick, before the longer maths questions.
• Practise both question types: Part B has multiple-choice questions and numerical-answer questions, so get used to typing in a numerical answer as well as picking an option.
• Attempt everything: Wrong answers cost nothing, so answer every question even when you are short on time near the end.
• Check the paper afterwards:
  • See which aptitude topics took you the most time.
  • Compare your drawings with the solution sheets for proportion and shading.
  • Note the maths and architecture questions you missed so you can revise them.

NATA Sample Paper: Why Solving Them Matters

You cannot revise the drawing part of NATA the night before, so the only way to get faster at composition and 3D form is steady practice on full papers.

• You learn to handle 80 marks of drawing and 120 marks of aptitude in one sitting.
• Practice shows you how the aptitude part mixes maths, general aptitude, reasoning and architecture awareness.
• You get used to the image-based architecture questions, where a famous building or monument is shown and you have to name its details.
• You get quicker at the 3D and 2D figure questions, which is where many students lose time.
• You find the Class 11 and Class 12 maths chapters that come up most, so your revision stays on track.
• Since there is no negative marking, practice helps you decide how to use the last few minutes on questions worth a try.

Why Choose Collegedunia's NATA Sample Papers

Collegedunia makes each NATA Sample Paper PDF to match the current test, so your practice stays close to the real thing.

• Latest and Accurate: Papers follow the current 200-mark NATA test, with the Drawing and Composition Test and the aptitude questions.
• Detailed Solutions: Every aptitude answer comes with full working, and the drawing sheets show sample drawings to compare with.
• User-Friendly: Each NATA Sample Paper PDF downloads in one click and prints clearly for drawing practice.
• Regular Updates: Papers are updated whenever the Council of Architecture changes the pattern or syllabus.
• Free to Download: All NATA sample papers with solutions are free, with no sign-up.
• Quality Questions: The maths, reasoning and architecture questions match the level of the real exam.

NATA 2026: Exam Pattern at a Glance

NATA 2026 has two parts in one 3-hour test, one for drawing and one for aptitude. If you take both Phase 1 attempts, your better score is the one used for admission.

Part B has 50 questions worth 120 marks in total, mixing multiple-choice and numerical-answer questions, and the Council of Architecture does not publish a fixed mark for each question. The drawing questions are judged on how neat and clear your work is, and there is no negative marking anywhere in the paper.

Duration: 180 minutes | Mode: Drawing on paper, Aptitude online (CBT) | Language: English

A common mistake is spending so long on the drawing sheet that you have to rush the aptitude questions, so keep an eye on the clock as you move between the two parts.

Useful Resources for NATA 2026

Use these Collegedunia pages along with your NATA sample paper practice for syllabus checks, the marking scheme and past papers.

Mistakes to Avoid While Solving NATA Sample Papers

Most students practise drawing and aptitude separately and never practise moving from one to the other, which is what the real paper makes you do.

• Leaving the drawing questions for last and then running out of time to colour or finish the 3D composition.
• Skipping the rough work for maths and then making errors when time runs short.
• Ignoring the visual reasoning and architecture image questions, which give steady marks and are quicker than long maths sums.
• Treating your first Phase 1 attempt casually instead of using it as a proper practice test before the second one.
• Practising only old question papers and missing the newer kinds of questions like numerical answer and match the following.
• Not checking your solved papers, so the same drawing or maths mistakes happen again on the real day.