NATA 2027
National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA)
NATA is the Council of Architecture's aptitude test for B.Arch admission. The 2026 test carried 200 marks: an 80-mark drawing paper and a 120-mark online adaptive test. This page also explains the JEE Main Paper 2A route to B.Arch.
- Conducted by
- Council of Architecture (CoA), New Delhi
- Mode
- Hybrid: Part A drawing test on paper at the centre, Part B computer-based adaptive test
- Frequency
- Once a year, with a main Phase 1 and a smaller Phase 2 for vacant seats
- Duration
- 3 hours (Part A 90 minutes, Part B 90 minutes)
NATA 2027 Exam Pattern
Updated on 18 October 2026 · Compiled from official Council of Architecture notices
The 2026 pattern is a 200-mark hybrid test with an offline drawing part and an online adaptive part.
Overall structure
| Part | Mode | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A: Drawing and Composition | Offline, on paper | 3 | 80 | 90 minutes |
| Part B: MCQ and NCQ | Online, adaptive | 50 (42 MCQ + 8 NCQ) | 120 | 90 minutes (108 seconds per question) |
| Total | Hybrid | 53 | 200 | 3 hours |
Source: NATA 2026 brochure. Language of the test is English and Hindi.
Part A breakdown
A1 asks you to create compositions for given situations and colour them well, or rearrange shapes in a pleasing way. A2 tests drawing and visualising buildings, people, environment or products with sense of scale, proportion, texture, shade and shadow. A3 asks for an interesting 3D composition from the kit given at the centre.
| Question | Topic | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Composition and colour | 25 |
| A2 | Sketching and composition (black and white) | 25 |
| A3 | 3D composition using the kit provided | 30 |
Part B breakdown and marking
Part B has 42 multiple choice questions (B1) and 8 questions with no choices offered, called NCQ (B2). It is a computer-based adaptive test.
The brochure does not mention negative marking. Check the instructions on the test day and in any CoA notice.
What to carry
- Downloaded appointment card and an original photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, voter ID or other valid photo ID).
- Pencils, erasers, dry colours and a scale of up to 15 cm.
- Mobile phones, calculators, Bluetooth devices and electronic watches are not allowed inside.