Every year, the NIFT entrance exam is conducted to enrol thousands of aspiring fashion students in the 16 campuses of National Institute of Fashion Technology. The NIFT entrance exam is conducted by the NIFT governing body for admissions in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Aspiring candidates may opt for any of the following courses – Bachelors in Fashion Design (B.Des), Bachelors in Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech), Masters in Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech), Masters in Fashion Design (M.Des), and Masters in Fashion Management (MFM).
If the aspiring candidates want to ensure admission in any of these courses, they must have in-depth knowledge of the entrance exam syllabus.
1. It is crucial to know for the aspirants that the NIFT entrance exam is conducted in three distinct phases –
a.) Written exam including GAT (General Ability Test) and CAT (Creative Ability Test),
b.) Situation Test,
c.) Group Discussion and Personal Interview.
2. However, only those candidates who have applied for admission in Bachelors of Fashion Design and Masters of Fashion Design have to appear for the second written test that is the CAT exam.
3. The candidates applying for Bachelors in Fashion Technology or Masters in Fashion Technology only have to pass the GAT written exam followed by the Situation Test/GD round.
This article would emphasize on the syllabus and other relevant information concerned with the NIFT entrance exam.
NIFT Exam Pattern – Tests and their Respective Weightage
| Course | Test & Weightage |
| Bachelor of Design | CAT – 50%
GAT – 30% Situation Test – 20% |
| Master of Design | CAT – 40%
GAT – 30% Group Discussion/ Personal Interview – 30% |
| Bachelor of Fashion Technology | GAT – 100% |
| Master of Fashion Technology | GAT – 70%
Group Discussion/ Personal Interview – 30% |
| Master of Fashion Management | GAT – 70%
Group Discussion/ Personal Interview – 30% |
NIFT Syllabus – GAT
The GAT entrance exam is the most vital component of the three stages of NIFT entrance schedule since it holds the highest weightage for most of the concerned courses. As mentioned in the table above, the GAT holds a 100% weightage for the candidates applying for the B.F.Tech course. This means that the B.F.Tech candidates will get admission in NIFT depending on their scores in the GAT test solely. The GAT written exam also holds a 70% weightage in the entrance exam for the M.F.Tech and MFM courses. Thus, it becomes essential for students to score good marks in this section of the NIFT entrance exam.
The GAT written exam basically involves questions from 5 major sections:
| Quantitative Ability – This section of the GAT entrance exam judges the proficiency of candidates in topics likes Mensuration, Arithmetic, Ratio and Proportion, Simple Interest, Percentage, Discounts, Simplification, Work and Wage problems and Time-Distance problems. This section of the exam is time consuming and candidates must practice quick paper solving techniques before the exam. |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs – This section emphasizes on the general awareness of the candidates. Candidates must be updated with in-depth knowledge of what’s happening around the world in fields like sports, culture, history, countries and global economic conditions. Aspirants must also sharpen their basic knowledge about the history and background of these subjects. . Knowledge of prizes, awards, organizations, languages and global statistics is another must-know for this section.. |
| Communication Ability and English Comprehension – This section of the GAT written exam will feature comprehension questions in form of unseen passages. Aspirants must precisely understand the meaning of the text and answer the questions appropriately. Candidates must know the basic elements of the English language such as Tenses, Articles, Idioms and Phrases, Synonyms and Antonyms. Aspirants must ensure that they have a firm hold on their communication and vocabulary, which is another crucial parameter for further rounds like Group discussions. Candidates must practice previous year papers and attempt on topics like sentence completion, error correction, one word substitution and the rearrangement of words. |
| Case Study – This test may include any situation-based query on industry environment and candidates will have to analyze to give appropriate solutions. This test judges the acumen of a candidate’s managerial skills. |
| Analytical and Logical Ability – This section of the GAT exam demands logical aptitude along with the ability to analyze information. The purpose is to check the candidate’s proficiency in dealing with difficult problems and finding appropriate solutions by implementing fine patterns and logics. Aspirants must be prepared in topics such as Complex Arrangements, Ordering and Sequencing, Coding and Decoding, Symmetry, Classification, Syllogism, Statements Arguments, Data Interpretation and Symbols & Notations. |
NIFT Syllabus – CAT
This section of the exam accesses the creative abilities of the candidates. This test is only mandatory for the candidates who want to pursue higher education in fashion design. This section includes miscellaneous problems which extracts the intuitive, illustrative and innovative abilities of the students. Appearing candidates must spontaneously use creative and exclusive techniques of fashion designing, which makes them stand apart from the competition. The CAT exam is a virtual gateway for the aspirants seeking a fashion design course in NIFT campuses. The candidates are judged on the following parameters:
- Design Ability
- Discernment Ability
- Creative and innovative skills
- Illustration skills
- Observation power
- Intuitive Ability
Candidates may emphasize on the topics mentioned below to prepare for the CAT section of the NIFT entrance exam:
- Design Theory
- Colour Terminology
- Visual Logic
- Theme Development
- Memory Drawing
- 3D Visualization
- Inspiration & Creativity
- Memory Drawing
- Natural & Geometrical Design
- Themes and Colour Associations
- Graphics and Pictograms
- Design Awareness
- Expressions and Emotion
- Picture Analysis
- Colour, Pattern and Texture
Candidates must especially know that a sheer blend of specializations like design theory, colour terminology and design development is the key to ace this section of the exam.
NIFT Syllabus – Situation Test
This test specifically accesses the material handling and innovative ability of a candidate. Candidates must spontaneously prepare a creative model out of the available resources. This test judges the creative aspects of the candidates and their sheer knowledge of the fashion domain. Candidates must also prepare a rundown which will describe the structure of their assignment.
You will be judged on the following parameters:
- Skill Construction
- Space Visualization
- Innovative use of material
- Impeccable quality of the model
- Composition
- Best possible use of the given materials
- Aesthetics of the model
- Working Methodology
NIFT Syllabus – Group Discussion and Personal Interview
- Eligible candidates after clearing the GAT, CAT and Situation test may appear for the Group Discussion round.
- The Jury will judge the candidates based on their in-depth knowledge of fashion and design.
- The clarity of concepts, leadership qualities and top-notch communication abilities are the pivotal parameters which may pave the way for a successful passing of the test.
- Candidate’s improvisation techniques and ability to generate creative new ideas are also appreciated by the jury.
- In the Personal Interview, candidates are judged on the basis of their aptness in the field of fashion. Aspirants will have to explain the orientation of their career and what do they aspire to achieve in the field of fashion.
- You may also be asked about your personal achievements and hobbies. The sole purpose of the interview is to judge the communication and confidence of the candidates.
NIFT Syllabus – Popular Study Material
| Study Material | Author’s Name |
| NIFT, NID and IIFT Entrance Exam Guide | D. Mittal |
| NIFT, NID and IIFT Entrance Examination Guide | Surendra |
| Guide to NIFT/NID | R.P Datson |
| NIFT Entrance Exam | Verma |
| NIFT, NID, IIFT Admission Test | Surendra Kavimandan |
| NIFT Entrance Examination (preparation course) | Prashant Kumar |
NIFT Syllabus- FAQ’s
Q. What is the syllabus for the GAT section of the NIFT entrance exam?
Following are the topics which are included in the syllabus for the GAT section of NIFT entrance exam:
Quantitative Ability
General Knowledge and Current Affairs
Communication Ability and English Comprehension
Case-Study
Analytical and Logical ability
Q. What is the difficulty level of the NIFT entrance exam?
The difficulty level of the NIFT entrance exam is rated as moderate. The appearing candidate must be proficient in comprehension, aptitude, basic knowledge of fashion and should constantly solve practice papers to have a decent chance of qualifying.
Q. Which parameters are judged in the Situation Test of NIFT ?
Candidates are judged mainly on the basis of the following qualities:
Skill Construction
Space Visualization
Innovative use of material
Impeccable quality of the model
Composition
Best possible use of the given materials
Aesthetics of the model
Working Methodology
Q. Is NIFT’s CAT exam mandatory for all the courses ?
Talking about the NIFT Entrance Test’s written exams, both the CAT as well as the GAT exam is mandatory for the candidates seeking admission in design courses such as B.Des and M.Des. For the candidates who are seeking admission in other NIFT courses such as Bachelors/Masters of Fashion Technology and MFM, only the GAT written exam is compulsory.
