NATA
What is NATA, how is it marked, and what do I need in Class 12 for B.Arch admission?
NATA, the National Aptitude Test in Architecture, is the B.Arch entrance test run by the Council of Architecture (CoA), the statutory body for architectural education in India. The CoA's regulations say you need a pass in an architecture aptitude test, either NATA or the one in NTA's JEE Main, to be admitted to B.Arch. NATA has two parts: a 90-minute drawing test on paper and a 90-minute adaptive test on computer, 200 marks in all. NATA does not admit anyone itself. State admission authorities and institutions do that with your score. The details below are from the NATA 2026 Information Brochure.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 31 March 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Both 2026 phases are over and nata.in posted the results on 12 August 2026. On 5 October 2026 the site still showed only the 2026 brochure, so the 2027 pattern, dates and fee are not yet known.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- Council of Architecture (CoA), since 2006[1]
- Parts
- Part A drawing and composition on paper (90 min, 80 marks); Part B adaptive computer test (90 min, 120 marks)[1]
- Total marks
- 200[1]
- Medium
- English and Hindi[1]
- Attempts (2026)
- Up to two in Phase 1, or one in Phase 2; one phase only[1]
- Qualifying score
- No minimum raw score; a final score card with a non-zero percentile is a valid score[1]
- 2026 test dates
- Phase 1: 4 April to 13 June 2026 (Fridays and Saturdays); Phase 2: 7 and 8 August 2026[1]
How the 200 marks split
NATA 2026 test dates
| Part | Questions | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Composition and colour | 1 | Part A: 90 min in all | 25 |
| A2 Sketching and composition (black and white) | 1 | 25 | |
| A3 3D composition with the kit provided | 1 | 30 | |
| B1 Multiple-choice questions | 42 | Part B: 90 min in all (108 seconds a question) | 120 for Part B |
| B2 Numerical (no-choice) questions | 8 |
Part A is done on paper at the centre. Part B is an adaptive test on computer covering visual reasoning, logical derivation, general knowledge of architecture and design, language interpretation, design sensitivity and numerical ability. Part A and Part B together are out of 200.[1]
| What you did in NATA 2026 | Raw score used |
|---|---|
| Did not sit NATA 2026 | Your NATA 2025 score, if you were not admitted to B.Arch in 2025-26 |
| One attempt in Phase 1 | The better of your 2025 and 2026 scores |
| Two attempts in Phase 1 | The better of your two 2026 scores; the 2025 score lapses |
| One attempt in Phase 2 | Your 2026 score; the 2025 score lapses |
A 2025 score does not count for anyone already admitted to an architecture institution on it, and anyone who did not qualify in 2025 had to sit afresh.[1]
| Candidate | Fee per test |
|---|---|
| General, OBC (NCL) | ₹1,750 |
| SC, ST, EWS, PwD | ₹1,250 |
| Transgender | ₹1,000 |
| Test centre outside India | ₹15,000 |
The fee is per test and is not refunded. The table in the 2026 brochure (section 7.3) is headed 'NATA 2025', but it is the only fee table in that brochure. Check the fee on nata.in before you pay.[1]
You can sit NATA if you have passed or are appearing in Class 12 with the subjects named in the B.Arch rule below, or a three-year diploma (10+3) with Mathematics. Sitting the test does not make you eligible for admission. You still have to meet the CoA rule and the admitting authority's own conditions.[1]
Under Regulation 4(1) of the CoA's Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 2020, you need Class 12 or its equivalent with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, plus one of Chemistry, Biology, a technical vocational subject, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics or Business Studies, with at least 45% aggregate. A three-year diploma with Mathematics as a compulsory subject and 45% aggregate also qualifies.
Reservation in B.Arch admission follows the rules of each state or union territory. The admission or counselling authority handles it, not NATA.[1]
Phase 1 scores are for the centralised admission (CAP) counselling run by state and other admission authorities. After all Phase 1 sessions, the CoA works out a percentile from your best raw score. Authorities can draw up merit lists on the best raw score or on the percentile, under their own rules.
Phase 2 is only for those who did not sit Phase 1 and gives a raw score only, with no percentile. It is for B.Arch seats left vacant after CAP counselling, and those seats can go on a raw score from either phase.
The brochure says a NATA 2026 score is valid for the 2026-27 session. Each attempt also gives you a statement of marks with your raw score.[1]
Candidates with a certified specific learning disability get 30 extra minutes for the drawing test. Part B has no extra time, but a scribe can be allowed. You must declare the need and upload the medical certificate when you apply.
- Your downloaded appointment card (admit card) and an original photo ID
- Pencils, erasers, dry colours and a scale of up to 15 cm
- No mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, calculators, slide rules, log tables or calculator watches
Source[1]
Tips and tricks
- Check your Class 12 subjects against the CoA rule: Physics and Mathematics compulsory, plus one of the listed subjects, with at least 45% aggregate.[1]
- Pack pencils, erasers, dry colours and a scale no longer than 15 cm. Calculators and calculator watches aren't allowed.[1]
- Pick Phase 1 if you want a percentile. Phase 2 gives a raw score only.[1]
- With a certified specific learning disability, declare it and upload the certificate when you apply. That's how you get the 30 extra minutes for the drawing test.[1]
- Sitting NATA doesn't make you eligible for admission. Check the admitting authority's own conditions too.[1]
Questions people ask
Can I do B.Arch without Chemistry?
Yes, if Physics and Mathematics were compulsory and you also had one of Biology, a technical vocational subject, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics or Business Studies, with 45% aggregate. That is the CoA's 2020 rule quoted in the brochure.[1]
Is there a pass mark in NATA?
No minimum raw score is set. The final score card with your best raw score and a non-zero percentile counts as a valid NATA score.[1]
How many times can I take NATA in a year?
In 2026 you could take up to two tests in Phase 1, or a single test in Phase 2, but not both phases. A second Phase 1 test was optional.[1]
Can I use JEE Main instead of NATA?
For the aptitude test requirement, yes. The CoA regulations accept a pass in either NATA or NTA's JEE Main architecture paper. Each admitting authority decides which scores it uses for its merit list.[1]
Is NATA held on paper or on computer?
Both. Part A, the drawing test, is on paper at the centre. Part B is an adaptive test on computer.[1]
What is the NATA exam pattern?
Two parts, 200 marks in all: Part A, drawing and composition on paper (90 minutes, 80 marks), and Part B, an adaptive computer test (90 minutes, 120 marks).[1]
Connected pages
- Part of pathway · PathwayAfter Class 12 Science (PCM)What Physics, Chemistry and Maths in Class 12 open up: B.Tech, B.Arch and B.Planning through JEE Main, B.Sc through CUET (UG), and the rules for each.
- Admits to · DegreeB.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture)B.Arch in India: the Council of Architecture's 45% rule, NATA or JEE Main Paper 2A, the 5-year course with practical training, and registration.
- Related · ExamJEE MainJEE Main paper pattern, marking scheme, age and year-of-passing rules and NIT admission criteria, taken from NTA's official Information Bulletin.
- Related · ExamJEE AdvancedWho can sit JEE Advanced, the age and attempt limits, how the two papers are ranked, the Class 12 rule for IIT seats and the 2026 fee, from the brochure.
- Related · ExamNIFT Entrance Exam 2027 (NIFTEE)NIFTEE 2027 on 10 January: which papers B.Des. and B.F.Tech. candidates sit, how GAT, CAT and the Situation Test are weighed, and the under-24 age rule.
Official and partner links
- Official bodyNATA official website (Council of Architecture)
- RelatedCouncil of Architecture
Sources
- NATA 2026 Information Brochure (version 2.0), Council of Architecture. Sections 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.1-5.3, 7.3, 10.1-10.2, 13.0, Appendix I. Accessed 5 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 16 October 2026.