NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture)

NATA 2026 is conducted by the Council of Architecture (COA) for admission to 5-year B.Arch programmes at architecture schools across India. Two NATA tests are offered in 2026 — First Test (May/June) and Second Test (July/August). The best score across both tests is used for admission. NATA is the primary admission test for non-NIT architecture colleges; JEE Main Paper 2A is used separately for NIT architecture seats.

Architecture as a career in Northeast India has genuine scope: Guwahati's rapid urbanisation and smart city projects, Meghalaya and Sikkim's growing tourism infrastructure, Tripura and Assam's government-funded urban development, and the restoration of heritage structures across the region all create demand for trained architects. Top architecture colleges accepting NATA include SPA Delhi, CEPT Ahmedabad, JJ School of Architecture Mumbai, and state government architecture colleges in Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya.

• Passed Class 12 with Mathematics as a compulsory subject
• Minimum 50% aggregate in Class 12 (verify current COA circular as criteria may update)
• PCM is not mandatory — any stream with Mathematics qualifies
• No age limit (as per COA; individual college rules may vary)
• Candidates can appear in both NATA tests to improve score

Mode

• Hybrid test: Part A (online CBT at test centres) + Part B (drawing on paper at the same venue)
• Total duration: 3 hours | Total marks: 200

Part A — Online Cognitive Test (120 marks)

• Diagrammatic Reasoning: 20 questions (visual logic, pattern recognition)
• Numerical Reasoning: 20 questions (basic numerics, spatial quantification)
• Verbal Reasoning: 20 questions (language-based logic)
• Inductive/Deductive Reasoning: 20 questions (pattern completion, analogy)
• Duration: 135 minutes

Part B — Drawing Test (80 marks)

• 2 drawing questions — candidates draw on A4 paper at the centre
• Tests 2D and 3D visualisation, drawing from imagination, proportions, perspective, and design creativity
• Duration: 45 minutes

Marking

• Part A: 4 marks per correct, 0 for wrong (no negative marking)
• Part B: Evaluated by trained assessors — originality, expression, line quality, proportion

Admission

• Best score of the two 2026 NATA tests used for B.Arch centralised counselling (state-wise)