For NIFT UG 2026, knowing the exam weightage for B.Des and BFTech is super important. You will understand the sectional marks, exam pattern, and how you should divide your study time to score maximum marks. In the NIFT UG exam, the mark distribution and exam pattern differ for
BDes (Bachelor of Design)
and
BFTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology)
courses. Therefore, you need to understand the question paper format for your desired degree in order to formulate an ideal preparation plan. In this article, we have provided the NIFT UG 2026 exam weightage for BDes and BFTech for you to customise your
NIFT preparation
accordingly.
Also Read:
3 Month Study Plan for NIFT Entrance Exam 2026
Understanding NIFT UG 2026
The National Institute of Fashion Technology conducts the NIFT Entrance Exam every year to shortlist students for admission to its undergraduate and postgraduate design courses. At the UG level, the two popular courses offered are:
- BDes (Bachelor of Design): This course focuses on creativity, design thinking, and innovation.
- BFTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology): The primary focus of this degree is on technology, engineering, and management aspects of fashion.
Overview of NIFT UG 2026 Exam Pattern
Here is an overview of the NIFT 2026 exam pattern for both BDes and BFTech courses.
Course | Test Name | Mode of Exam | Type of Questions | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BDes | CAT (Creative Ability Test) | Pen and paper-based | Descriptive (drawing, design) | Tests creativity and imagination |
BDes | GAT (General Ability Test) | Computer-based | Objective (MCQs) | Tests reasoning, GK, and communication |
BFTech | GAT only | Computer-based | Objective (MCQs) | Tests aptitude, reasoning, and technical knowledge |
Also Read: What is a Good Score in NIFT 2026?
NIFT UG 2026 Exam Weightage for BDes
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To get admission into BDes through NIFT UG 2026, you will have to appear for CAT, GAT, and later a Situation Test. Each stage has a specific weightage that contributes to your final merit score.
Test Component | Weightage (%) |
|---|---|
Creative Ability Test (CAT) | 50% |
General Ability Test (GAT) | 30% |
Situation Test | 20% |
Total | 100% |
1. Creative Ability Test (CAT)
You will get 3 hours to complete the NIFT CAT exam, which will be designed to assess your creative skills.Section | Focus Area | Description |
|---|---|---|
Drawing & Design | Creativity, originality | You will be asked to create designs or sketches based on imagination and given themes. |
Conceptual Thinking | Visualisation | Tests how you interpret ideas and express them visually. |
Color & Composition | Aesthetic sense | Checks your understanding of colour balance and layout design. |
2. General Ability Test (GAT)
The GAT for BDes focuses on general knowledge, reasoning, and communication ability. For B.Des aspirants, the total time allotted for GAT is 2 hours.
Section | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
Quantitative Ability | 20 |
Communication Ability | 20 |
English Comprehension | 20 |
Analytical Ability | 15 |
General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 25 |
3. Situation Test
2 hours are assigned for completing the Situation Test for B.Des admission through NIFT UG.Component | Evaluation Criteria |
|---|---|
Model Making | Innovation & originality |
Material Handling | Neatness & technique |
Concept Explanation | Clarity of thought |
Time Management | Completing within limits |
Also Read: GK Questions for NIFT Exam
NIFT UG 2026 Exam Weightage for BFTech
The BFTech exam focuses on the technical and analytical aspects of fashion. You will only have to appear for the General Ability Test (GAT) for BFTech admission.
Test Component | Weightage (%) |
|---|---|
General Ability Test (GAT) Section A | 30% |
General Ability Test (GAT) Section B | 70% |
Total | 100% |
GAT Paper Structure for BFTech
The GAT exam duration for BFTech is 3 hours. Check out the major highlights of this test in the table below:Section | No. of Questions (Approx.) | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
Quantitative Ability | 30 | Tests numerical skills and mathematical reasoning |
Communication Ability & English Comprehension | 45 | Checks language understanding and vocabulary |
Analytical & Logical Ability | 25 | Measures problem-solving and reasoning |
General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 25 | Tests awareness of global and fashion-related events |
Case Study | 25 | Tests managerial and business decision-making skills |
Also Read: NIFT Entrance Exam Marks VS Rank: Previous Year Cutoffs, CMRs
Importance of NIFT UG 2026 Exam Weightage during Preparation
Knowing the pattern and exam weightage of NIFT UG 2026 will aid you in preparing better by focusing more on the important areas. Some other benefits include:Identify Strong Areas | See which section you are best at and use it to your advantage. |
|---|---|
Allocate Time Accordingly | Spend more time on CAT if you are a BDes aspirant, and on GAT if you are a BFTech aspirant. |
Focus on High-Weightage Parts | For BDes, creativity matters most. For BFTech, aptitude and reasoning are key. |
Take Mock Tests | Helps you manage time and understand question patterns. |
Stay Updated | Read about current fashion trends and industry news. |
Also Read:
How to Prepare for NIFT Situation Test
For NIFT UG 2026, understanding the exam weightage for BDes and BFTech can completely change how you prepare. Focus on the sections that carry the most marks, but don’t ignore your weak areas either.
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FAQs
No, your Class 12 marks will not be considered in NIFT 2026 B.Des. final merit. The final merit list will solely depend on the weighted scores of CAT (50%), GAT (30%), and Situation Test (20%). Passing Class 12 with minimum 50% aggregate for general category and 45% for reserved categories is mandatory to become eligible for appearing in NIFT exams, but it is not a factor in ranking or selection and has no weightage in the final score.
A weighted combination of scaled scores from CAT, GAT, and the Situation Test will be taken into consideration while calculating the final merit for NIFT B.Des. CAT score constitutes 50% of the final merit, GAT score constitutes 30% of the final merit, and Situation Test score constitutes 20% of the final merit. Each scaled component has to be multiplied by its respective weight in the following manner:
- CAT scaled score × 0.50
- GAT scaled score × 0.30
- Situation Test scaled score × 0.20
A summation of these weighted values is done to obtain the candidate’s overall NIFT BDes score. It is then used to allot ranks to candidates and prepare the final merit list
For NIFT 2026 BDes, the Creative Ability Test will have around 3–5 descriptive/drawing questions that must be completed in 3 hours. The General Ability Test will have 100 MCQs in total from English/Communication Ability, Quantitative Ability, Analytical & Logical Ability, GK & Current Affairs to be answered in 2 hours. On the other hand, BFTech will only have the General Ability Test where 150 MCQs will be asked from Communication Ability & English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Analytical & Logical Ability, GK & Current Affairs, and Case Study. The duration of the exam will be 3 hours.
In NIFT UG 2026, Communication Ability & English Comprehension carries the highest weightage at around 45 questions (30% of Section A), followed closely by Quantitative Ability with approximately 30 questions for BFTech. 25 questions will be asked from Analytical & Logical Ability and General Knowledge & Current Affairs each. Section A carries 30% merit weightage, and for Section B, it is 70%.
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