Council of Architecture (CoA) has the right to prescribe or amend the NATA exam pattern. This year, the authority has made slight changes in the paper pattern. NATA 2020 Phase I exam will be held on August 29, 2020 in two shifts –
Shift 1 – 10:00 AM to 12 Noon
Shift 2 – 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
In each shift, candidates shall be allotted 45 minutes to solve Part B (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and General Aptitude) of NATA exam and after an intermission of 3 minutes, Part A (Drawing and Visual Composition) shall be conducted within a span of 72 minutes.
Important Changes – In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, CoA has made certain modifications in the conduct of the NATA 2020 exam. These changes are listed below:
- Both Part A and Part B of the NATA exam will be computer-based. Previously, Part A was conducted in the pen-and-paper mode.
- Part B (first shift) will be followed by Part A in second shift
- Council also facilitates candidates to appear for the NATA exam from their residence through a remote-proctored method. Examinees will also have the choice to take the test from NATA exam centre.
- Phase I(July Session) of NATA 2020 exam will take place on August 29, 2020
- CoA is yet to announce the schedule for NATA Phase II (December session)
Click here to check the revised NATA 2020 official brochure for more information.
Part A of the NATA exam assesses the cognitive skills of examinees through drawing and visual composition tests. On the other hand, Part B tests candidates’ knowledge about the core subjects and their aptitude level.
The Part A paper consists of Preferential Type Questions (PTQ) and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) in English language. In Part A, candidates can attempt a total of 10 questions and there is a sectional distribution of marks and time. On the other hand, Part B comprises 50 questions that have to be solved in 45 minutes. Skim through this page to get an elaborative view on the NATA 2020 exam pattern.
NATA Exam Pattern – Highlights
- NATA is conducted twice in a year (July & December)
- NATA exam is divided into two parts – Part A ((Drawing and Visual Composition) & Part B (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and General Aptitude)
- Part A contains 10 questions and Part B consists of 50 questions
- NATA shall be conducted in two shifts – Shift 1 (10 AM to 12 PM) and Shift 2 (12:30 PM to 2:30 PM)
- Candidates will be allotted the shifts on ‘first come, first serve’ basis
- No negative marking clause is applicable as per the NATA marking scheme
- CoA will provide examinees with online mock tests on the official website (nata.ac.in). Mock tests not only help in optimizing speed and accuracy, but also in giving an overview of the exam interface.
- Also, the council will send the mock test notification to the candidates via email
- No extra time is given to the test takers who enter the exam hall after test commencement
- There will be an intermission of three minutes after Part B, which is to be followed by Part A test
NATA Exam Timing
NATA exam is organized in two shifts on the same day. According to the revised schedule for NATA 2020, candidates can either choose to appear for the exam from their place of residence or they can opt for the test centre allotted by the council. Those who prefer to appear for the exam from the NATA test centre will be allotted the second shift only. Time slots for both the shifts of NATA exam are as under –
Time Slots for Shift I and Shift II
| Events | Session I | Session II |
| Exam timing | 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon | 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM |
| Report at the test centre | NA | 11:15 AM |
| Entry inside the exam hall | NA | 11:30 AM |
| Completion of registration | 9:45 AM | 12:15 PM |
| Commencement of exam | 10:00 AM | 12:30 PM |
| Last entry inside the exam hall | NA | 12:45 PM |
Important Note: All the candidates in Shift I will appear for the exam from their place of residence. Shift II candidates will not be allowed to enter the hall after 12:45 PM and no extra time shall be given to them.
Read More : NATA Admit Card – Dates, How to Download, Exam Centres, Guidelines
NATA Exam Pattern – Part A (Drawing & Visual Composition)
Part A of the test consists of 10 questions from Drawing Aptitude and Visual Composition. Candidates will get 72 minutes to complete the paper. This part of the exam assesses the cognitive skills of the candidates that include perception, memory, attention, recognition etc. The detailed exam pattern of Part A is as under –
- Sections – Drawing and Visual Composition
- Mode of Test – Online or Computer based
- Medium of Exam – English
- Type of Questions – Preferential Type Questions (PTQ) and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Number of Questions – 10
- Time Allotted – 72 minutes
- Negative Marking – No
Sectional Weightage of Questions in Part A
| Part A | Number of Questions | Marks | Test Duration (minutes) |
| Drawing and Visual Composition | 1 (Section 1) | 17 | 12 |
| 3 (Section 2) | 48 | 36 | |
| 6 (Section 3) | 60 | 24 | |
| Total | 10 | 125 | 72 |
NATA Exam Pattern – Part B (PCM & General Aptitude)
Part B of the NATA exam consists of a total of 50 questions that the test takers need to solve within 45 minutes. Each question contains four alternatives and the candidates will have to choose one correct answer (as per their knowledge). The details of NATA 2020 exam pattern of Part B are as under –
- Sections – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and General Aptitude & Logical Reasoning
- Mode of Test – Online or Computer based
- Medium of Exam – English
- Type of Questions – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Number of Questions – 50
- Time Allotted – 45 minutes
- Negative Marking – No
Weightage of Questions in Part B
| Part A | Number of Questions | Marks | Test Duration (minutes) |
| PCM | 15 | 22.5 (1.5 marks each) | – |
| General Aptitude & reasoning Aptitude | 35 | 52.5 (1.5 marks each) | – |
| Total | 50 | 75 | 45 |
Important Note – Part B will be held first followed by Part A and there will be a time halt of three minutes between both the papers.
NATA Exam Pattern – Distribution of Marks
Candidates can refer to the below given table containing question-wise and total marks in Part A and Part B of NATA exam –
Distribution of Marks
| Sections | Question wise marks | Type of Questions | Total marks |
|
Part A (Drawing and Visual Composition) |
|||
| 1 X 17 | PTQ | 17 | |
| 3 X 16 | PTQ | 48 | |
| 6 X 10 | MCQ | 60 | |
| Part B (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematic) | 15 X 1.5 | MCQ | 22.5 |
| Part B (General Aptitude & logical Reasoning) | 35 X 1.5 | MCQ | 52.5 |
| Total | 200 |
NATA Syllabus 2020
The knowledge of NATA 2020 exam pattern and syllabus is significant for the candidates for exam preparation. An overview of syllabus of Part A and Part B is as under –
NATA Syllabus for Part A (Drawing and Visual Composition)
| Scale and Proportions of Objects | Geometric Composition | Shape |
| Building Forms and Elements | Aesthetics | Colour Harmony |
| Pattern Drawing | 3D and 2D Transformation | Creating Shapes and Forms |
| Surfaces and Volumes | Generating Plan | Perspective Drawing |
| Urban Landscape | Day to Day Object Drawing | Conceptualization and Visualisation |
NATA Syllabus for Part B (PCM and General Aptitude & Logical Reasoning)
NATA Part B – Physics Syllabus
| S.No | Topics |
| 1 | Electrostatics- Electric charges and Fields; Electrostatic Potential and Clearance |
| 2 | Current Electricity; Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism; Moving Charges and magnetism; Magnetism and Matter |
| 3 | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating currents- Electromagnetic Induction; Alternating Current |
| 4 | Optics- Ray optics and optical instruments, Wave Optics |
NATA Part B – Mathematics Syllabus
| S.No | Topics |
| 1 | Algebra |
| 2 | Logarithms |
| 3 | Matrices |
| 4 | Trigonometry |
| 5 | Coordinate geometry |
| 6 | 3-Dimensional Coordinate Geometry |
| 7 | Theory of Calculus |
| 8 | Application of Calculus |
| 9 | Permutation and combination |
| 10 | Statistics and Probability |
NATA Part B – Chemistry Syllabus
| S.No | Topics |
| 1 | Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry; Structure of Atom; Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties |
| 2 | Chemical Bonding and Molecular; States of Matter: Gases and Liquids |
| 3 | Chemical Thermodynamics; Equilibrium; Redox Reactions; Hydrogen; s- Block Elements p -Block Elements |
| 4 | Organic Chemistry: Some basic Principles and Techniques; Hydrocarbons; Environmental Chemistry |
NATA Part B – General Aptitude Syllabus
| S.No | Topics |
| 1 | Sets and Relations – Idea of sets, subsets, power set, complement, union, intersection and difference of sets, Venn diagram, De Morgan’s Laws, Relation and its properties. Equivalence relation — definition and elementary examples. |
| 2 | Mathematical Reasoning – Statements, logical operations like and, or, if and only if, implies, implied by. Understanding of tautology, converse, contradiction, and contrapositive |
| 3 | Objects – Texture related to architecture and built environment. Interpretation of pictorial compositions, Visualizing three-dimensional objects from two-dimensional drawing. Visualizing different sides of 3D objects. Analytical reasoning, mental ability (visual, numerical and verbal), General awareness of national/ international architects and famous architectural creations. |
NATA Exam Pattern – Guidelines
Some important instructions related to NATA 2020 exam are as follows –
- Candidates must report at the exam centre (if applicable) 30 minutes prior to the exam timing
- The council assigns a proctor for those students who are appearing from their place of residence. These students are also provided access to a software that captures a 360 degree view of the room
- It is compulsory for the candidates to carry their NATA 2020 admit cards along with two passport size photographs and one valid photo identity proof to the exam centre
- No test takers can open or browse any website or application in the system while appearing for the exam through remote-proctored method
- The proctor can disqualify the candidates in case of any negligence from the prescribed guidelines
- Candidates appearing at the test centre will have to go through biometric verification
- Any disturbance, unfair activity or misdemeanour inside the test centre may lead to the candidates’ disqualification
- The test takers cannot exit the test centre before the completion of the exam
- No electronic or stationary items like cell phones, calculator, log table, study notes, paper etc are allowed inside the exam hall
NATA Exam Pattern – FAQs
✔️ What is the mode and medium of NATA 2020 exam?
NATA 2020 exam will be a computer-based exam and the medium of the test would be English. Candidates must possess basic computer operation skills to appear for the exam.
✔️ What are the revised additions in the NATA 2020 exam?
The Council has made certain changes in the NATA exam this year, in the view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Part A and Part B of NATA exam shall be computer-based and Part B will be followed by Part A. Moreover, CoA has allowed the test takers to make their own decision about appearing for the exam either from their place of stay or from the allotted NATA test centre.
✔️ How many sections are there in Part A and Part B as per NATA exam pattern?
NATA 2020 exam is segregated into two parts - Part A and Part B. Drawing and Visual Composition are the major sections included in Part A while Part B consists of questions from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and General Aptitude.
✔️ What is the marking scheme of Part A and Part B of NATA exam?
In Part A of NATA exam, the first question carries a weightage of 17 marks, next 3 questions will be of 16 marks each and last 6 questions hold the weightage of 10 marks each. In Part B, all the 50 questions will be of 1.5 mark each. No negative marking clause is applicable in both the parts.
