NATA Syllabus – Topics in Part A & B, Revised Exam Pattern

Council of Architecture has revised the NATA syllabus due to a shift in the mode of exam from offline to online. Usually, the National Aptitude Test in Architecture comprises an offline drawing test. However, due to the COVID-19 disruption this year, COA will replace it with a cognitive skills test in online mode to assess the drawing and visual composition skills of the test-takers. 

Candidates preparing for NATA must study in sync with the NATA syllabus to secure admission to the B.Arch programme in a desired institute. The question paper is designed as per the syllabus of NATA (released along with the information brochure). NATA 2020 shall consist of two parts, namely – 

1. Part A – Cognitive Skill Test based on Drawing & Visual Composition Skills
2. Part B – PCM along with General Aptitude and Logical Reasoning

The question paper of NATA 2020 (to be conducted on August 29) will include 60 questions that have to be answered within two hours. CoA has also introduced a sectional time limit of 45 minutes for Part B and 72 minutes for Part A. There will be an intermission of 3 minutes in between Part A and B. Read further to gain knowledge on NATA syllabus and exam pattern along with some preparation tips.

NATA Syllabus – Key Highlights

1. Council of Architecture (COA) holds the rights to stipulate/alter the syllabus for NATA 2020
2. There is no offline drawing test in NATA 2020. Instead, candidates need to appear for the “Cognitive Skill Test” in online mode
3. As per the revised NATA exam pattern, Part A will carry preferential type multiple choice questions
4. COA shall conduct NATA as a remotely proctored test which the candidates can take either from their home or a test centre
5. As per the new NATA syllabus and exam pattern, there shall be a sectional time limit of 72 minutes for Part A and 45 minutes for Part B
6. Part B exam shall be followed by Part A after an intermission of 3 minutes 

NATA Syllabus for Part A – Cognitive Skill Test

Instead of an offline drawing test, Part A of NATA 2020 will be a test based on remote-proctored AI technology to evaluate the cognitive skills of the candidates. Check out the NATA syllabus for Cognitive Skill Test (Part A) below:

1. Understanding visual principles in a composition (2D OR 3D) such as balance, symmetry, rhythm, direction, hierarchy, and more.
2. Understanding geometry and ability to visualize, shape and solve geometrical puzzles to test the spatial intelligence.
3. Understanding colour theory and the various terminologies to test colour scheme awareness and knowledge of the same.
4. Interpretation and perception of the visual system to test graphical similarities and other properties.
5. Ability to understand the spatial relationship between objects, and to visualize images and scenarios
6. Tests for cognitive ability: perception, attention, recognition, memory, etc.

NATA Syllabus – Part B Physics

The syllabus for Physics section of Part B includes topics that were taught in class 11th and 12th curriculum. NATA syllabus for Physics includes the following topics:

Syllabus for NATA Part B (Physics)

Electric charges and Fields	Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance	Current Electricity	Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
Moving Charges and magnetism	Magnetism and Matter	Electromagnetic Induction	Alternating Current
Dual nature of radiation and Matter	Nuclei	Ray optics and optical instruments	Wave Optics
Nuclei	Semiconductor Electronics	Materials	Devices and Simple circuits

NATA Syllabus – Part B Chemistry

The syllabus for Chemistry section of Part B includes some basic concepts of the subject, which were taught in 10+2 level. Topics as per NATA syllabus for Chemistry are as follows:

Syllabus for NATA Part B (Chemistry)

Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry	Structure of Atom	Environmental Chemistry	Hydrocarbons
Redox Reactions	Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties	Chemical Bonding and Molecular	States of matter – Gases
Hydrogen	Equilibrium	Equilibrium	States of matter – Liquids
s – Block Elements	p – Block Elements	Some basic Principles and Techniques of organic chemistry	–

NATA Syllabus – Part B Mathematics

Unlike Physics and Chemistry, the syllabus for the Mathematics section is vast. Candidates can check the topics and subtopics below to start preparing for Mathematics as per NATA syllabus:

Syllabus for NATA Part B (Mathematics)

Topics	Sub-topics
Algebra	Definitions of A.P. and G.P. General Term Summation of n-terms of a series Arithmetic/Geometric series A.M., G.M. and their relation Infinite G.P. series and its sum
Logarithms	Definition General properties Change of base
Matrices	Concepts of m x n (m ≤ 3, n ≤ 3) real matrices operations of addition scalar multiplication and multiplication of matrices Transpose of a matrix Determinant of a square matrix Properties of determinants (statement only) Minor, cofactor and adjoint of a matrix Nonsingular matrix Inverse of a matrix Finding the area of a triangle Solutions of systems of linear equations (Not more than 3 variables)
Trigonometry	Trigonometric functions addition and subtraction formulae formulae involving multiple and submultiple angles General solution of trigonometric equations Properties of triangles inverse trigonometric functions and their properties
Coordinate Geometry	Distance formula Section formula Area of a triangle Condition of collinearity of three points in a plane Polar coordinates Transformation from Cartesian to polar coordinates and vice versa Parallel transformation of axes Concept of locus Elementary locus problems Slope of a line Equation of lines in different forms Angle between two lines Condition of perpendicularity and parallelism of two lines Distance of a point from a line Distance between two parallel lines Lines through the point of intersection of two lines Equation of a circle with a given centre and radius Condition that a general equation of second degree in x, y may represent a circle Equation of a circle in terms of endpoints of a diameter Equation of tangent, normal and chord Parametric equation of a circle Intersection of a line with a circle Equation of common chord of two intersecting circles
3-Dimensional Coordinate geometry	Direction cosines and direction ratios distance between two points and section formula equation of a straight line Equation of a plane Distance of a point from a plane
Theory of Calculus	Functions Composition of two functions and inverse of a function  Limit continuity Derivative chain rule Derivative of implicit functions and functions defined parametrically Integration as a reverse process of differentiation Indefinite integral of standard functions Integration by parts Integration by substitution and partial fraction Definite integral as a limit of a sum with equal subdivisions.  The fundamental theorem of integral calculus and its applications Properties of definite integrals Formation of ordinary differential equations Solution of homogeneous differential equations separation of variables method Linear first-order differential equations
Application of Calculus	Tangents and normals conditions of tangency Determination of monotonicity, maxima and minima Differential coefficient as a measure of the rate Motion in a straight line with constant acceleration Geometric interpretation of definite integral as area calculation of area bounded by elementary curves and Straight lines Area of the region included between two elementary curves
Permutation and combination	Permutation of n different things taken r at a time (r ≤ n) Permutation of n things not all different Permutation with repetitions (circular permutation excluded) Combinations of n different things taken r at a time (r ≤ n) Combination of n things not all different Basic properties Problems involving both permutations and combinations
Statistics And Probability	Measure of dispersion Mean Variance  Standard deviation Frequency distribution Addition and multiplication rules of probability Conditional probability and Bayes’ Theorem Independence of events Repeated independent trials and Binomial distribution

NATA Syllabus – Part B General Aptitude

This section mainly includes Mathematics reasoning, seats and relations, etc. Candidates must study the following topics to qualify the section:

Syllabus for NATA Part B (General Aptitude)

Objects	texture related to architecture and built environment	Interpretation of pictorial compositions	Visualizing three-dimensional objects from a 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
Mathematical Reasoning
Statements	logical operations like and, or, if and only if	Understanding of tautology	contradiction and contrapositive
Converse	–	–	–
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	Shaktiman definition and elementary examples	–

NATA Exam Pattern 

Apart from the NATA syllabus, candidates must have good knowledge of the exam pattern to create a practical  preparation plan. The revised exam pattern for NATA 2020 is as follows.

1. Mode of Examination – Online
2. Medium of Examination – English
3. Sections – NATA 2020 consist of two parts:
   1. Part A – Cognitive Skill Test
   2. Part B – PCM and General Aptitude & Logical Reasoning
4. Duration of the Exam – 2 Hours divided as:
   1. Part B – First 45 minutes
   2. Intermission period – 3 minutes
   3. Part A – Last 72 minutes
5. Type of Questions – 
   1. Part A –  Preferential Type Questions and Multiple Choice Questions
   2. Part B – Multiple Choice Questions
6. Number of Questions – A total of 60 questions divided into:
   1. Part A – 10 questions
   2. Part B – 50 questions
7. Total Marks – 200 marks

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

Sectional 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

NATA Preparation Tips

Just knowing the exam pattern and syllabus will not make your preparation any better until you execute a study plan perfectly. Here are some tips that will enhance the preparation tips for NATA 2020.

1. Get acquainted with NATA syllabus and exam pattern 
2. Check the calendar and allot topics to each day left for the exam
3. Practice mock tests to get aware of the online exam pattern and the newly integrated Preferential Type Questions (PTQ) 
4. Practice previous years’ question papers to get an in-depth knowledge of the syllabus and exam pattern of NATA 2020.
5. Focus on completing questions in a certain time frame. As per the amended exam pattern, there will be a sectional time limit for each of the two parts in the National Aptitude Test in Architecture

NATA Syllabus – FAQs

✔️ What are the sections in NATA 2020?

As per the NATA syllabus, candidates have to take the test in two parts. Part A will be the ‘Cognitive Skill Test’ whereas Part B will have questions from four different sections – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and General Aptitude and Logical Reasoning.

✔️ What is the examination mode for NATA 2020?

Council of Architecture is conducting Part A as well as Part B of NATA 2020 in an online mode. Candidates will have an option to either take the remotely proctored test either at their place of residence/stay or at their choice of test centre allotted by COA

✔️ Will there be a deduction of marks for incorrectly marked answers in NATA 2020?

No. There will be no negative marking in both parts of the test. Hence, it is advisable to attempt all the questions even when the candidate is not sure about the answers for a few.

✔️ How many questions shall be there in NATA 2020?

Candidates need to answer as many as 60 questions out of which 10 questions are from Part A of the exam, whereas Part B accounts for 50 questions in total.

✔️ Which part of NATA 2020 has the maximum weightage of marks?

Although Part A of NATA has 10 questions, the marks weightage for Part A is 125. On the other hand, 50 questions from Part B of NATA account for a total of 75 marks (1.5 for each correct response). There shall be no negative marking applicable in both the parts.

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