The NIFT 2025 entrance exam will be conducted by the National Testing Agency. The detailed syllabus is released through the information brochure. The entrance exam will be in two stages. 1st stage will include the written exams - CAT and GAT. Shortlisted candidates have to NEXT appear in a Situation Test / Personal Interview.
The GAT paper will be proctored online, while the CAT paper will be an offline-based exam.
Note that GAT is mandatory for all courses, but only B.Des and M.Des candidates need to take the CAT.
B.Des applicants, if shortlisted, will be required to appear for the Situation Test, which is a practical, hands-on assessment. This test evaluates candidates' ability to handle materials and their innovative thinking when working with a given set of materials to solve a design problem.
For PG applicants, they will undergo a Case Study-based Group Discussion (GD) followed by a Personal Interview (PI). The total duration for the GD and PI will be between 15-20 minutes.
Check
- Format of NIFT 2025 Exam
- NIFT Syllabus 2024: GAT for B.Des and M.Des
- NIFT Syllabus 2024: GAT for MFM, B.F Tech and M.F Tech
- NIFT 2025 Syllabus for CAT
4.1 Topics Included in the NIFT CAT Syllabus 2025
- NIFT 2025 Syllabus for Situation Test
- NIFT 2025 Syllabus for Personal Interview (PI)
- Test Weightage
7.1 Test Weightage for UG Courses
7.2 Test Weightage for PG Courses
Format of NIFT 2025 Exam
The NIFT entrance exam consists of TWO parts:
- Written Exams
- Situation Test/Personal Interview
Written Exams
The written exams include:
| Test | Description | Mandatory for |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Ability Test (CAT) | This test assesses candidates' creativity and innovation skills through design exercises. | B.Des and M.Des candidates |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | This test evaluates candidates on general knowledge, quantitative ability, communication skills, and analytical ability. | Mandatory for all courses |
Shortlisting Process for Situation Test/Personal Interview
| Course | Shortlisting Method |
|---|---|
| B.Des | Shortlisted based on the written exams (CAT and GAT) for the Situation Test |
| M.Des | Shortlisted based on the written exams (CAT and GAT) for the Personal Interview |
| B.FTech | Shortlisted based only on the GAT paper |
Final Result Preparation
The final scores will be prepared by considering:
| Exam Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Written Exams (CAT & GAT) | Weightage as per the exam guidelines |
| Situation Test/Personal Interview | Weightage as per the exam guidelines |
Exception:
- For the B.F.Tech program, only the GAT paper is required. The GAT score alone will be used to prepare the merit list.
NIFT Syllabus 2024: GAT for B.Des and M.Des
The General Ability Test or GAT for B. Des. and M. Des. consists of the following sections:
- Quantitative Ability
- Communication Ability
- English Comprehension
- Analytical Ability
- General Knowledge and Current Affairs
NIFT 2024 exam syllabus for GAT is described below:
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | The major areas of testing in this section are Addition, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Percentage, Rate of Interest, Work and Task, Ratio and Proportion and Distance. |
| Communicative Ability | The candidate is tested on their language skills and their use in day-to-day communication in English. This sub-section includes questions from Synonyms, Antonyms, Words with corresponding meanings, Singular, Plural, One-word Substitutes, Idioms and Phrases, Spelling correction |
| English Comprehension | the candidate is tested on their reading abilities and comprehension abilities of a given situation in the given unseen passage. This section tests basic English language skills through questions based on the passage |
| Analytical Ability | sub-section is designed to test the candidate’s capacity for the ability of inference and logic from the given information. This section picks up questions from the areas of logical reasoning where candidates are supposed to draw logical conclusions from the analytical reasoning questions |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | This sub-section, as per the NIFT 2024 syllabus is designed to test the candidate’s general awareness and current affairs. The questions in this section are taken up from the current affairs sections and general knowledge |
| Case Study | This case study depends on the industrial environmental situation. It test is for the managerial evaluation ability of the candidate. |
NIFT Syllabus 2024: GAT for MFM, B.F Tech and M.F Tech
The GAT for B. F. Tech. MFM, and M. F. Tech. has majorly the same sub-sections as the GAT for B. Des. and M. Des., however, there is a slight change. The various sections of this GAT are:
- Quantitative Ability
- Communication Ability and English Comprehension
- Analytical and Logical Ability
- General Knowledge and Current Affairs
- Case Study
The common sub-sections have a similar syllabus as per the NIFT Syllabus 2024 discussed above, while the Case Study sub-section is a new addition to this GAT. The Case Study is a test which is based on a situation of an industry environment in which the candidate has to analyze and provide solutions to the questions. This test is designed especially to test the managerial skills of the candidate.
In addition to the generic questions from the various sub-sections, GAT syllabus for M. F. Tech. has some questions from the Engineering field also.
Also See: NIFT exam Selection Process
NIFT 2025 Syllabus for CAT
The Creative Ability Test (CAT) is a crucial component of the NIFT entrance exam, and candidates applying for B.Des or M.Des must take this exam.
Here are some key aspects of the CAT exam:
- The CAT is designed to assess the candidate's intuitive ability, power of observation, concept development, and design ability.
- A significant focus of the test is on the creative and innovative use of color and illustration skills.
- During the exam, candidates are not allowed to reveal their identity on the answer sheet. Any attempt to do so will result in disqualification.
Topics Included in the NIFT CAT Syllabus 2025
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Creative Ability | Tests the candidate’s creative thinking and originality in design. |
| Power of Observation | Assesses the ability to observe and analyze things from a design perspective. |
| Intuitive Abilities | Measures the candidate's ability to think quickly and intuitively in a given design context. |
| Concept Development Ability | Evaluates how well candidates can conceptualize a design idea from scratch. |
| Design Prowess | Tests the overall design skills and understanding of design principles. |
| Ability to Use Colors | Assesses the innovative and effective use of colors in design. |
| Illustration Skills | Tests the ability to illustrate ideas clearly and effectively. |
NIFT 2025 Syllabus for Situation Test
Candidates applying for B.Des programs and shortlisted through the CAT and GAT written tests will be required to appear for the Situation Test. Below are the key details and evaluation parameters for the Situation Test:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Nature of Test | Hands-on test to evaluate material handling skills and innovative ability. |
| Task | Candidates must create a model/design using the provided materials. |
| Material Usage Restrictions | Using materials other than those provided at the venue is prohibited. |
| Evaluation Parameters | The model will be assessed based on the following: |
| Space Visualization | Creativity in utilizing and visualizing the given space. |
| Innovative Use of Materials | Originality in handling the provided materials. |
| Composition of Elements | Arrangement and structure of the design elements. |
| Color Scheme | Use of colors for aesthetic and effective communication. |
| Construction Skill | Ability to construct and assemble the design. |
| Finesse | Overall finishing and presentation quality. |
| Write-Up | The concept behind the model must be explained in a write-up in English. |
| Identity Disclosure | Disclosing identity in any form will result in disqualification. |
| Preservation of Models | Models will not be preserved after evaluation. |
| Spot Evaluation | Models will be evaluated on the spot. |
Note: NIFT reserves the right to modify the exam scheme, including skipping any stage, due to unforeseen circumstances.
NIFT 2025 Syllabus for Personal Interview (PI)
Candidates shortlisted for Master's programs based on the written tests will undergo a Case Study-based Group Discussion (GD) and a Personal Interview (PI). Below are the details for each stage:
NIFT 2025 GD Syllabus
The Group Discussion (GD) will last approximately 15-20 minutes and involve a case study discussion. Candidates will be evaluated by a panel of experts on the following parameters:
| Evaluation Parameters for GD | Description |
|---|---|
| Conceptual Clarity | Depth of understanding and clarity of ideas on the assigned case study. |
| Knowledge of the Topic | Demonstration of knowledge and relevance to the discussion topic. |
| Contribution to the Topic | Value added to the discussion through meaningful contributions. |
| Interpersonal Skills | Ability to work collaboratively and interact effectively with peers. |
| New Ideas | Innovation and ability to think beyond conventional solutions. |
| Problem-Solving Approach | Analytical and solution-oriented mindset. |
| Leadership Qualities | Ability to lead, manage, and coordinate group activities effectively. |
| Effective Communication | Clear, concise, and impactful communication skills. |
NIFT 2025 PI Syllabus
The Personal Interview (PI) will evaluate the candidate's suitability for the program based on the following criteria:
| Evaluation Parameters for PI | Description |
|---|---|
| Career Orientation | Understanding of career goals and alignment with the chosen course. |
| Aptness for the Course | Interest and aptitude for the course, including its future prospects. |
| Academic and Co-Curricular Achievements | Performance in academics, extracurricular activities, and overall accomplishments. |
| Communication Skills | Ability to articulate ideas effectively and confidently. |
| General Awareness | Awareness of current events and relevant industry trends. |
| Creative and Lateral Thinking | Ability to think outside the box and approach challenges creatively. |
Test Weightage
The weightage assigned to each test in the final merit list of the entrance examination will be as follows:
Test Weightage for UG Courses
| B.Des | B.F.Tech | B. F.Tech candidates opting for B.Des | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | Weightage | Exam | Weightage | Exam | Weightage |
| GAT | 30% | GAT (Sec –A) | 30% | GAT (Sec –A) | 30% |
| CAT | 50 % | GAT (Sec –B) | 70% | GAT (Sec –B) | 50 % |
| Situational Test | 20% | – | – | Situation Test | 20% |
| Total | 100% | Total | 100% | Total | 100% |
Note: B.F.Tech Candidates - Section 'A' + Section 'B' B.Des Candidates - Section 'A' + CAT + Situation Test
Test Weightage for PG Courses
| M.Des | MF.Tech | M. F.Tech candidates opting for M.Des | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | Weightage | Exam | Weightage | Exam | Weightage |
| GAT | 30% | GAT (Sec –A) | 30% | GAT (Sec –A) | 30% |
| CAT | 50 % | Personal Interview | 70% | Personal Interview | 50 % |
| Personal Interview | 20% | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 100% | Total | 100% | Total | 100% |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.





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