NATA Exam

National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is a national level aptitude test for applicants who seek admission in undergraduate architecture courses. The NATA test is conducted by National Institute of Advanced Studies in Architecture (NIASA) to measure the aptitude of applicants in a specific field of study i.e. architecture, in areas such as sense of proportion, aesthetic sensitivity, drawing & observation skills and critical thinking ability, acquired over a period of time, in the field of architecture. NATA is the most important and mandatory exam for aspiring architecture students in India.

The National Aptitude Test in Architecture is conducted by the Council of Architecture (The final authority in India for setting standards or fixing norms for architectural institutions and having the necessary expertise to hold a Common Aptitude Test in Architecture. The CoA (Council of Architecture) provides a national level single window system for appearing in architecture aptitude test and to facilitate students, institutions and public at large for admission to 1st year B. Arch course, at all recognized architecture institutions in India. The NATA exam ensures the eligibility criteria for admission to five- year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree course, as prescribed by CoA and duly approved by the Central Government, are strictly adhered to and followed all over the country in Architectural Institutions.

Who should appear for NATA and why?

Students who are looking forward to take admission to 1st year of undergraduate course in Bachelor of Architecture in India should take up the NATA exam. NATA scores are taken into consideration for admissions into different Government, Government aided & unaided schools/colleges of Architecture in India. Architecture schools/colleges in India uses the NATA scores to measure and compare qualifications of students in addition to their academic performance in 12th standard or equivalent examination.

Eligibility

Any individual who has passed SSC (Std X) or equivalent examination or above can appear for the NATA exam. A person will be eligible for admission in B.Arch. course, if the candidate qualifies an aptitude test in architecture and secured a minimum of 50% in 10+2 or equivalent examination with Mathematics as one of the subjects. No direct lateral admission is allowed at any year/stage of B.Arch. course based on any qualification. A NATA candidate should be at least 17 years to be eligible to appear in the NATA exam. There is no upper age limit specified for NATA test yet. Students with 10+3 Diploma (in any stream) recognized by Central/ State Governments with 50% aggregate marks and International Baccalaureate Diploma, after 10 years of schooling, with not less than 50% marks in aggregate and with Mathematics as compulsory subject of examination, are also eligible for NATA exam.

The NATA score shall be valid for a period of two years from the year in which one appeared.

How to register for NATA exam?

– A candidate can register for NATA 2017 at http://www.nata.in by making a payment of Rs. 1,250.00 as fee via debit cards/credit cards/net banking or generating a challan for the fee amount by way of cash in any of the branches of ICICI Bank Ltd, across India. Please note processing charges are extra.

– Candidates can select a NATA Test Center at a location which is convenient for them from the website http://www.nata.in.

– Visit the selected Test Center with the printout of online form filled along with payment proof and required documents.

– Select a date for appearing the NATA exam.
– Request the Test Center to register your name for NATA exam on the selected date.
– Collect Receipt cum Appointment voucher from the Test Center.
– Appear for the exam on the registered date.

When and where to appear for NATA exam?

The exam is conducted on 16-04-2017  at designated Test Centers located at schools/colleges/centers of architecture in India. For updated list of Test centers visit http://www.nata.in.

How to appear for NATA 2017?

Report to your selected Test Center at least 1 hr in advance before the scheduled time of the exam with Receipt cum Appointment voucher, drawing material and valid photo ID, required for the test. In case you need any help, Test Center personnel will guide you regarding the further process.

SCORE CARD

NATA Scoring Process

Drawing Test:

Each question in the ‘drawing’ exam is examined by a panel of three examiners independently and the marks are averaged. It may be further subject to moderation.

How the Drawing section is scored?

In the drawing test, the primary emphasis in scoring is measured based on the examinee’s imagination, drawing, and observation skills. Also the examinee’s sense of proportion & perspective is evaluated together with sense for color and composition.

Aesthetic Sensitivity Test:

During the computer based test, with adaptive testing, a candidate is administered a set of questions with a difficulty level that is specifically designed to match the examinee’s ability level. The mathematical process for calculating a score in this situation incorporates the statistical properties of the questions, the examinee’s performance on the questions, and the number of questions that are answered.

How the Aesthetic Sensitivity section is scored?

NATA Aesthetic Sensitivity section is scored in the following ways:

• The candidate’s score will depend on his / her performance on the questions given and on the number of questions answered in the time allotted.
• This section is computer adaptive, meaning that the computer selects questions based on the candidate’s performance on preceding questions (When correct answer is given, next question will be of higher difficulty level whereas, if wrong answer is given next question is of lower difficulty level) and on the requirements of the test design. Test design factors that influence which questions are presented to the candidate include:

1. The statistical characteristics (including difficulty level) of the questions already answered.
2. The required variety of question types.
3. The appropriate coverage of content.
4. The final score depends on average difficulty level of all questions and of those questions answered correctly. E.g. person with correct answer for less number of questions of higher difficulty level may score higher marks than someone who answers more number of questions correctly but of lower difficulty level.
5. Time allotted to answer the question is between 60 and 90 seconds depending upon the question. The time remaining to answer the question is displayed on the screen. The ‘per second’ countdown begins 30 seconds before the allotted time for that question ends. In case no answer is offered till the time ends, the question is skipped and next question appears.
6. There is no NEGATIVE marking in this test.

N.B. REVALUATION IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR EITHER OF THE TESTS.

What is the passing score at NATA?

As per admission guidelines of the Council of Architecture, a candidate should secure at least 40% score in NATA (i.e. 80/200) to be considered eligible for applying to any school/college of architecture in India, for B.Arch. course.

NATA Results

The score cards will be available online at http://www.nata.in, on fourth working day after the test. A candidate can check for his NATA score directly at the website http://www.nata.in using his/her candidate ID. Please note, print out of score card will be considered only for information and reference. However, candidates may use print out of this score card while applying for the admission if the admission authority calls for the same. The admission authority will retrieve and verify original score card directly from NATA server. The score card available on NATA server is valid and no print/hard copy will be considered valid.

NATA score reporting is cumulative. The NATA score remains valid for a period of two years from the year in which the applicant appeared for the NATA exam.

N.B. The score card are normally available on the dates specified. Occasionally, delay in processing may occur. If a candidate’s score is not available even after 7 days, candidates need to follow the mentioned process given at the website www.nata.in.