To become a fashion expert, earning a degree from a reputed institution can be a significant step. However, this path is not easy. National Institute of Fashion Technology, one of the premier institutes of fashion in India, does not allow everyone to join as a student. The primary process of entering NIFT involves cracking the CAT and GAT exams. Although it is the initial step, it has proven to be a challenging bridge to cross, with many students failing at this stage.In this blog, we will explore the pattern of the NIFT exam
1. Exam Patterns of NIFT
NIFT entrance examination consists two main exam
- CAT (Creative Ability Test)
- GAT (General Ability Test)
Creative Ability Test (CAT)
In this exam, your design ability, creativity, and visualization skills are evaluated. This part of the exam consists of questions related to the following areas
Design Sensitivity
In this test, a candidate’s design skills are evaluated, including their deep understanding of how to bring different elements together to create something impactful. This test requires the candidate’s ability to think outside the box, apply design principles, and effectively visualize innovative concepts
Drawing and Sketching
The drawing and sketching section is designed to evaluate the following skills:
- Creativity
- Technical drawing skills
- Ability to visualize concepts
The objective of this test is to evaluate the visualization and creative skills of a candidate. In this section, the candidate will be asked to create sketches based on given themes and real-life objects. Furthermore, tasks may also include shading, coloring, or using different media to enhance the depth and expression of their creativity. Examiners primarily seek a fresh and innovative approach from candidates.
Color Theory
In this section, the candidate’s grasp of colors and their application in design is evaluated. It primarily focuses on the following skills:
- Creativity
- Aesthetic sense
- The ability to use colors effectively to convey emotions, concepts, and themes
The color theory test in NIFT requires candidates to be skilled in the fundamentals of color theory, including understanding how colors interact, evoke emotions, and enhance compositions.
The structure of CAT Examination
Mode: Pen-and-Paper (offline), not computer-based
Format: You will be provided with drawing sheets and sketching materials to work with
Duration: Three hours
Total Marks: The CAT exam is typically evaluated out of 100 marks.
No Negative Marking: There is no negative marking in the CAT.
The exam is designed to test your creativity, sketching ability, and how you conceptualize design ideas.
GAT (General Ability Test)
This part of the test evaluates the following skills, which are considered crucial in the field of fashion:
- Quantitative Ability
- Communication Ability and English Comprehension
- General Knowledge and Current Affairs
- Creative and Analytical Skills
- Reasoning Ability
- Basic General Awareness
1.Quantitative Ability
Skills Evaluated: Basic arithmetic, mathematical reasoning, and number-based problem-solving.
What It Includes: Questions related to numbers, percentages, ratios, and basic geometry. Candidates are tested on their ability to apply logical reasoning to solve simple mathematical problems.
Examples: Percentage problems, profit/loss calculations, time and distance, area and volume problems.
2. Communication Ability & English Comprehension:
Skills Evaluated: English language proficiency, grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
What It Includes: Understanding of sentence structure, correct usage of words, ability to comprehend and analyze short passages, and questions related to grammar and vocabulary.
Examples: Fill-in-the-blanks, reading comprehension, synonyms/antonyms, sentence correction.
3. Creative and Analytical Ability:
Skills Evaluated: Creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to analyze situations logically.
What It Includes: Analytical questions that test how well a candidate can approach problems and think creatively. These could include pattern recognition, logical sequences, and visual reasoning.
Examples: Logical puzzles, identifying patterns, or finding out what comes next in a series.
4. General Knowledge & Current Affairs:
Skills Evaluated: Awareness of current events, general knowledge about the world, and an understanding of societal and cultural contexts.
What It Includes: Questions on current affairs, fashion trends, historical events, geography, sports, politics, and economics.
Examples: Recent fashion trends, major world events, awards, famous personalities, environmental issues.
5. Basic General Awareness:
Skills Evaluated: Basic understanding of day-to-day issues, general facts, and important events.
What It Includes: Questions that assess your general knowledge and understanding of the world around you, including common facts and figures, environmental issues, and human behavior.
Examples: Important dates in history, famous landmarks, and basic knowledge of the fashion industry.
6. Reasoning Ability:
Skills Evaluated: Logical thinking, deduction, and problem-solving.
What It Includes: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions that test your ability to think logically and analytically.
Examples: Series completion, analogies, coding-decoding, and puzzles that require you to find relationships between various elements.
Structure of GAT Examination
Mode: The exam is conducted in a computer-based format (online).
Duration: The GAT typically lasts around 2 hours.
Number of Questions: Around 150 questions covering the sections mentioned above.
Marking Scheme: Typically, each correct answer awards 1 mark, and incorrect answers may result in negative marking (usually -0.25 marks for wrong answers).
Total Marks: The test is usually scored out of 150 marks.
Preparation Tips for CAT Exam
1. Practice Drawing & Sketching
- Sketch daily to improve your basic drawing skills. Focus on accuracy, proportion, and creativity in your sketches.
- Practice different types of sketching, such as perspective drawing, shading, and line drawing to enhance your versatility.
2. Develop Creative Problem-Solving Skills
- NIFT CAT tests your ability to think creatively and find innovative solutions. Brainstorm new design ideas for everyday objects or abstract concepts.
- Work on creative challenges, such as designing a new product or solving design problems with limited resources.
3. Work on Visualization Skills
- Visualize objects from multiple angles and perspectives. Practice drawing an object or concept in different viewpoints (front, side, top view).
- Draw from imagination, creating designs or concepts that don’t already exist.
4. Enhance Design Thinking
- Focus on improving your ability to conceptualize and visualize ideas clearly. Understand how design elements like color, form, and function work together.
- Practice designing innovative solutions for hypothetical design problems, keeping in mind both aesthetics and functionality.
5. Practice with Time Constraints
- The CAT exam is time-bound, so practice completing tasks within the allotted time to improve your speed and efficiency.
- Simulate exam-like conditions by solving design challenges within a set time limit.
6. Work on Layout & Composition
- Practice working on the composition of your sketches and designs. Understand how to use balance, symmetry, and negative space effectively in your drawings.
7. Experiment with Different Materials and Media
- Try out various drawing tools (e.g., pencil, charcoal, markers) and materials to find what works best for you and to add variety to your work.
- Experiment with digital tools (if applicable) to expand your design skills.
8. Study Design Fundamentals
- Focus on understanding the principles of design, including balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis, and unity.
- Keep learning about color theory and how colors interact in design.
9. Refer to Previous CAT Papers
- Solve previous year’s CAT papers to understand the kinds of design problems you’ll encounter and to get a sense of the level of creativity required.
- Try solving problems in various ways to improve flexibility and creativity.
Preparation Tips for GAT Exam
1. Focus on General Knowledge & Current Affairs
- Read newspapers and magazines regularly to stay updated on national and international news, especially in areas related to fashion, design, and business.
- Follow websites, apps, or social media pages that keep you updated on the latest fashion trends, technology, and design innovations.
- Pay attention to topics like history of fashion, global designers, textile industry trends, and popular brands.
2. Brush Up on Basic Math & Quantitative Aptitude
- Review basic arithmetic concepts such as percentages, averages, ratios, and profit/loss calculations.
- Focus on algebra, geometry, time and distance, and mensuration problems, as they are common in the exam.
- Practice simple equations, number series, and word problems to build confidence.
3. Improve Logical & Analytical Reasoning
- Practice solving logical reasoning puzzles, such as seating arrangements, blood relations, coding-decoding, syllogism, and directions.
- Work on problems related to analogies, classification, and odd one out to strengthen your reasoning abilities.
- Take online quizzes or practice books that provide a variety of reasoning problems.
4. Expand Your Vocabulary & English Language Skills
- Enhance your vocabulary by learning new words, their meanings, and usage. Use apps or flashcards to practice.
- Focus on improving your grammar and sentence structure. Practice identifying errors in sentences related to tense, articles, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement.
- Read books or online articles to improve your comprehension skills, which will be tested in the GAT.
5. Work on Mental Ability & Analytical Ability
- Practice pattern recognition and data interpretation to improve your mental and analytical skills.
- Solve bar graphs, pie charts, tables, and data puzzles to get comfortable with the types of questions that may appear in the exam.
- Work on increasing your mental calculation speed to solve quantitative questions faster.
6. Practice Previous Years’ GAT Papers
- Solve previous years’ GAT papers to familiarize yourself with the question format and understand the types of questions asked.
- Time yourself while solving past papers to improve your speed and accuracy under exam conditions.
- Analyze your performance in previous papers and focus on areas where you’re weak.
7. Time Management Practice
- The GAT exam has a time limit, so practicing time management is crucial. Work on solving questions within a time frame to improve efficiency.
- Try mock tests and timed practice sessions to get used to the exam pressure and reduce stress on the exam day.
8. Study Basic Fashion Knowledge
- While the GAT focuses on general knowledge, some fashion-related knowledge may be included. Learn about key fashion designers, fashion history, and iconic fashion moments.
- Familiarize yourself with the names of famous brands and international fashion events (e.g., Fashion Weeks).
9. Use Online Resources & Study Material
- Utilize online study platforms, mobile apps, or YouTube channels dedicated to GAT preparation to practice reasoning, English, and quantitative problems.
- Get your hands on NIFT GAT preparation books and work through the practice questions and mock tests provided.
If you are preparing for the NIFT exam, the first thing to keep in mind is that preparation requires a lot of patience and consistency. Stay calm, stay motivated, and keep practicing. Make sure to stay updated with the NIFT syllabus and review previous question papers. G sky Academy wishes you all the best for your preparation
