All about NATA: The entrance exam for aspiring architects

Architecture is an emerging career option in India that is becoming increasingly popular among today’s youngsters. Students who wish to study architecture have wide range of job opportunities. They can become landscape architect, solutions architect, structural architect, database architect, naval architect, software architect, network architect or marine architect. In order to study architecture, they have to sit for an entrance exam named National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA) twice every year. Qualifying this exam make them eligible for 5-year B.Arch. (Bachelors in Architecture) degree courses in colleges all across the country. This year the exam happened in two parts, in April and June 2021 respectively. NATA score is valid for one year from the date of result declaration during which the candidates must secure admission in concerned colleges. Here’s everything one needs to know about it. 

Eligibility criteria 

• Candidates must be Indian nationals with valid identity proofs. 
• Candidates must successfully pass their 10+2 board exams with minimum 50% aggregate marks. 
• Candidates should have studied compulsory Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and should have secured 50 or above in each of these subjects in their class XII finals. 
• Candidates studying in class XII but who’re yet to appear for their final exams are also eligible for this test. However, if selected, he or she should be able to fulfil all the admission criteria.  
• There is no reservation of seats for NATA.  

Exam pattern  
NATA has a single paper with two parts, Part A and Part B. Part A has multiple choice questions (MCQs) on Mathematics (20 questions) and General Aptitude (40 questions) that assesses candidates’ sense of proportion and critical thinking abilities. Part B has 2 drawing questions and assesses candidates’ observational skills, creativity and aesthetic sensitivity. The syllabus of Part A corresponds with any 10+2 curriculum.  

Marking scheme  
In Part A, every correct answer is awarded with 2 positive marks. There is no negative marking for incorrect or unattempted answers. The total marks of Part A are 120 (40+80). In Part B, the 2 questions carry 40 marks each, which makes it a total of 80. The total marks of the entire paper are thus 200.  

Mode and duration  
Part A is conducted online through computer-based mode, while Part B is conducted offline, through pen and paper mode. The duration of Part A is 60 minutes, while the duration of Part B is 120 minutes, which makes it a total of 3 hours.