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NATA 2026: Tentative Dates, Registration, Admit Card, Pattern, Syllabus, Results

• Updated on 23 Sept, 2025 by Amrita Das

NATA 2026 Exam will be conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA), and the registration process is expected to begin online at nata.in, starting February 2026, tentatively. Candidates will need to fill out and submit the NATA 2026 Application Form within the given deadline to be eligible for the exam. The official NATA 2026 notification will be released on the website, detailing all important dates, eligibility, and exam guidelines. The exam will likely be held on Fridays and Saturdays, and candidates will be able to download their NATA admit card around 2–3 days before their chosen exam slot. It will be mandatory to carry a printout of the admit card along with a valid photo ID proof on the exam day for verification.

 

The NATA exam pattern has undergone revisions, and the paper will now include two sections: a Drawing and Composition section, which will be conducted online, and an MCQ section, held offline. Candidates can appear for up to three sessions of NATA 2026, and the authorities will consider the best score out of the three for the final result. After the exam, candidates will be able to check their scores and ranks through the NATA 2026 result portal. Qualifying in NATA 2026 will be mandatory for admission into BArch courses offered by various architecture colleges across India. However, candidates should note that no centralised counselling will be held, and admissions will be managed individually by the respective institutions based on NATA scores. Read the article below to get complete information about the NATA 2026 exam. Latest Update:

  • Candidates who have qualified in the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) 2025 are also eligible to apply for AP BArch Admission 2025 from September 22 to September 29, 2025.

  • Certificate verification is scheduled from September 29 to October 1, 2025, followed by the State Architecture Ranks (SAR) announcement on October 3, 2025.

  • Web option entry will start on October 4, 2025, and the phase 1 allotment list will be published on October 5, 2025.

  • Classes are set to commence on October 8, 2025, after reporting between October 6 and 8, 2025.

 

Table of Contents

  1. NATA 2026 Exam Highlights
  2. NATA 2026 Exam Dates
  3. NATA 2026 Eligibility Criteria
  4. NATA 2026 Application Process
  5. NATA 2026 Exam Pattern
  6. NATA 2026 Syllabus
  7. NATA 2026 Admit Card
  8. NATA 2026 Results
  9. NATA 2026 Cutoff
  10. NATA 2026 Counselling
  11. NATA 2026 FAQs

 

NATA Exam 2026 Highlights

The Council of Architecture (CoA) conducts the NATA 2026 exam every year. It is a national-level exam. It assesses the candidates’ aptitude for architecture through various sections and question types like drawing, composition, visual reasoning, and more. NATA 2026 exam acts as the qualifier exam for the B.Arch at any recognised architectural institutions across India. The table below shows the NATA 2026 exam highlights:

Features

Details

Name

NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture)

Conducting Body

CoA (Council of Architecture)

Exam Level

National

Maximum Number of Attempts

3

Exam Mode

Offline and Computer-Based Test (CBT)

Duration

3 Hours

Exam Pattern

Part A (Drawing and Composition Test) and Part B (MCQ and NCQ)

Syllabus

Drawing and composition, General aptitude, Mathematics, and Reasoning

Language

English and Hindi

Course offered through the exam

B.Arch

Official Website

nata.in

 

NATA 2026 Exam Dates

NATA 2026 exam will start in March 2026 and continue till June 2026. Every weekend, the exam will have one Friday session in the afternoon and two Saturday sessions in the morning and afternoon. To get more detailed information on the exam dates, candidates should check the table below:

Event

Dates

NATA 2026 Application Start Date

February 2026

NATA 2026 Last Date of Application

June 2026

NATA 2026 Admit Card Release

Every Wednesday (For the Friday exam)

 

Every Thursday (For the Saturday exam)

NATA 2026 Exam Start Date

March 2026

NATA 2026 Exam Last Date

June 2026

NATA 2026 Result Date

Within 7 days of the exam

 

NATA Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates who are appearing for the exam can check the NATA Eligibility Criteria 2026 below:

  • Qualifications: Candidates who have passed or qualified for the 10+1 or 10+2 exam may apply. Those with a three-year diploma are also eligible to apply.
  • Subjects: Physics and Mathematics are compulsory, with additional subjects as Chemistry, Biology, Technical Vocational subjects, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics, or Business Studies.
  • Qualifying Marks: The qualifying exam will require at least 50% marks.

 

NATA Application Process 2026

To complete the NATA 2026 application form, candidates must read the instructions below:

  • The application will only be completed online.
  • The NATA 2026 registration has started from 3rd February and will continue till 26th June, 2026.
  • The application process has three main stages: filling in personal information, uploading documents, and paying the fee.
  • Candidates on the registration form must upload the most recent passport-size photo and signature.
  • A confirmation page will be produced after the charge is successfully paid.

 

How to Apply for NATA 2026 Online?

Follow the steps below to apply for the NATA 2026 exam online. The steps are as follows:

 

Step 1: Visit the official NATA website, nata.in.

 

Step 2: Click on NATA 2026 registration.

 

Step 3: Fill out the necessary information to finish the registration.

 

Step 4: Complete the personal, contact, and qualification fields.

 

Step 5: Upload the photo and the signed, scanned image.

 

Step 6: Pay the NATA application fee online.

 

Step 7: Take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.

 

NATA 2026 Application Fees

After filling out the application form, candidates will have to pay the NATA 2026 application fee. Candidates can refer to the table below to check the application fees:

Particulars

One Test Fee

Two Test Fees

Three Test Fees

Outside India

INR 10,000

INR 18,000

INR 25,000

General/OBC Male Candidates

INR 1,750

INR 3,250

INR 4,500

General/OBC Female Candidates

INR 1,250

INR 2,250

INR 3,000

SC/ST/EWS/PwD Male Candidates

INR 1,250

INR 2,250

INR 3,000

SC/ST/EWS/PwD Female Candidates

INR 1,000

INR 1,750

INR 2,500

Transgender Candidates

INR 1,000

INR 1,500

INR 2,000

 

NATA Exam Pattern 2026

NATA exam 2026 will be conducted in both modes: Offline and Computer-Based Test (CBT). Candidates will get an overall of 3 hours to complete the exam.Part A of the exam, which will be the Drawing and Composition Test, has a time limit of 90 minutes, and Part B, which includes MCQs and NCQs, will also have a time limit of 90 minutes. All the important details about NATA 2026 Exam Pattern have been described below:

Particulars

Details

Total Duration

3 Hours

Medium

English and Hindi

Section

Part A: Drawing and Composition Test Part B: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and No Choice Questions (NCQs)

Total Questions

53

Types of Questions

Part A- Sketching & Composition (Black and White) - 1 Question, Composition and Color - 1 Question, 3D Composition - 1 Question

 

Part B- Multiple Choice Question - 42 Questions and No Choice Questions - 8 Questions

Overall Marks

200

Marking Scheme

Part A - 80 MarksPart B - 120 Marks

 

NATA Syllabus 2026

The NATA 2026 syllabus is designed to evaluate the candidates’ aptitude for architecture, which includes various topics like drawing, sketching, visual reasoning, and general knowledge. NATA 2026 Syllabus is mainly divided into two parts: Part A, which is a drawing and composition test, and Part B, which consists of MCQs and NCQs. An overview of NATA 2026 syllabus is given below:

Section

Topics

Part A - Drawing and Composition Test

Composition and Colour, Sketching and Composition (Black and White), 3D Composition

Part B - MCQs and NCQs

General Knowledge, Architecture, and Design, Visual Reasoning, Logical Derivation, Numerical Ability, Language Interpretation, Design Thinking and Sensitivity

 

NATA Admit Card 2026

The admit cards of NATA 2026 will be released on the website nata.in by the Council of Architecture (CoA). The candidates who will appear in the NATA 2026 exam can download admit cards by using their application number and password. Once candidates fill out the application form before the deadline, they can download their admit card. The admit card of NATA 2026 exam will contain some important information like details of the candidate, exam date, venue of the exam, and exam day guidelines. Candidates are required to carry their NATA 2026 Admit Card to the exam centre. For any support, students can reach out to the authorities via email at stusupport@nata-app.online.

 

NATA Results 2026

NATA 2026 results will be declared online by the Council of Architecture (CoA) on the official website, nata.in. in May 2026. However, within seven days of the exam, the NATA 2026 Results will be released. The results of each phase of the exam will be released separately. The scorecard of NATA 2026 will contain the details like marks obtained and the result status, i.e., qualified or not qualified. Candidates can download their NATA 2026 results using their login credentials. Students can check the steps below to download their NATA 2026 results online:

 

How to Download NATA 2026 Results?

Candidates can follow these instructions step-by-step to download their NATA 2026 results online:

 

Step 1: Visit the official website, nata. in.

 

Step 2: Click on the NATA 2026 result link. After this, a new login page will appear.

 

Step 3: Enter the credentials and click on the “Submit” button.

 

Step 4: After successfully logging in, the NATA 2026 scorecard will appear on the screen. Candidates can download their scorecard.

 

NATA 2026 Cutoff

NATA 2026 Cut-off is the minimum score that candidates need to obtain to qualify for the exam. The candidates' best scores will be considered if they participate in numerous sessions. The following is a list of the qualifying requirements:

  • Part A requires a minimum of 20 marks.
  • In Part B, a minimum of 30 marks is required.
  • Overall qualifying marks will be 70 out of 200.

 

NATA 2026 Counselling

There is no specialised or centralised counselling available for NATA 2026. The counselling sessions will be held separately by the respective colleges for getting admissions into B.Arch programs. After the results of the NATA 2026 exams were released, the authorities started the counselling process. Candidates will be required to meet the eligibility criteria for the NATA 2026 exam to apply for counselling. The candidates have to check the counselling dates on the official website of their desired colleges. The seat allotment will be based on the NATA scores and the choices made by the candidates during the counselling process.

 

NATA 2026 FAQs

What will be the last date to apply for the NATA 2026 exam?

The last date to apply for the NATA 2026 exam is likely to be in the last week of June 2026. The registration for the NATA 2026 exam is expected to start in February 2026.

How many times will NATA 2026 be conducted?

The NATA 2026 exam will be conducted three times a year. The best of the 3 attempts will be considered for evaluation.

Is there a drawing section in the NATA 2026 exam?

Yes, the NATA 2026 will include a section on drawing and composition. This section includes questions on composition and colour, sketching, and 3D composition.

When will the NATA 2026 admit card be released?

NATA 2026 admit cards have been released on the official website, nata.in. Candidates can download their NATA 2026 admit card using their application number and password.

What are the subjects included in the NATA 2026 exam?

The NATA 2026 exam includes Mathematics, Physics, and Geometry, as well as areas related to design, visual perception, and general knowledge.

How can I check the NATA 2026 results online?

Candidates can check the NATA 2026 results online by visiting the official website. Next, the candidates have to log in with their application number and password. The scorecard will appear on the screen, and candidates can download and print it out for future use.

What is the duration of NATA 2026 exams?

The duration of the NATA 2026 exam is 3 hours. The exam is divided into two parts: Part A (Drawing and Composition) and Part B (MCQ and NCQ), each with a 90-minute duration.

Does IIT accept NATA 2026 scores?

No, IIT does not accept NATA scores because NATA is an architectural exam that offers admission to students in Architectural Colleges in India.

What are the NATA 2026 cutoff marks?

The qualifying cutoff for NATA 2026 is 70 marks out of a total of 200. Candidates must also secure a minimum of 20 marks in Part A and 30 marks in Part B, and achieve an overall qualifying score of 70 to be eligible for B.Arch admission.