iDAT 2026 Exam: Exam Date, Notification, Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation

Indian Institute of Art and Design Entrance Exam (IDAT Exam): The IIAD 2026 entrance exam will be conducted for Phase 1 on December 13, 2025 and December 14, 2025. The application process is open, and students are required to complete the form submission within the deadline. 

Those seeking to apply for iDAT 2026 must have completed 10+2 or similar from any stream, such as Science, Commerce, Humanities/Arts, with an aggregate of at least 50%. Applicants appearing for Class 12 in the ongoing academic year or awaiting results can also send their applications. 

iDAT is organised in online and offline modes to grant admission to BDes and MDes programmes at the institute. The exam has 2 segments - a written test and a personal interaction or portfolio round. The test is designed to assess an individual’s creative and visual ability, logical thinking, and cultural awareness. The questions include visual tasks, writing tasks, 1-word answers, and MCQs.

You can access the direct link to the IIAD entrance exam 2026 application form here. Read through the page below to learn more about iDAT 2026.

Provided below are the highlights of the IIAD 2026 Entrance Exam. You can go through it to get the essence of the IIAD admissions 2026:

IIAD conducts its own entrance exam (iDAT) for admission to its UG/ PG programmes in Design, which is a national-level test. The institute has a validated curriculum in partnership with Kingston University, London, ensuring that students gain globally aligned design education and contemporary industry exposure.

The overall merit is decided on the performance in the written examination and the personal interview/ portfolio evaluation. Some of the UG and PG courses you can join after clearing iDAT include disciplines such as Communication Design, Animation Film Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, Communication Design, Interior Design and Styling, and more.

Check IDAT 2026 exam dates and schedule below.

The registration process is the first step to applying for the IIAD 2026 exam. Students have to register themselves on the official website of IIAD as a new applicant. Only after registration is completed can you move ahead with the application process.

The IIAD application form is released online throughout the year, depending on exam phases. Based on when you plan to apply, you have to fill out the form and submit it. Make sure to enter correct details, as any errors may lead to the cancellation of the iDAT form. 

How To Apply For IIAD Exam 2026?

The IIAD application form can be filled out in online mode. Refer to the steps below: 

• Step 1. Register yourself on the official website: Students are required to first go to the official website of the institute. There, you have to make a new applicant account by registering. 
• Step 2. Fill out the Application Form: After registering, you can start with the application process. You have to fill out all the information, including academic, personal and contact. 
• Step 3. Upload an SOP: You have to upload a well-written SOP with the application form. 
• Step 4. Pay the Application Fee: Applicants have to pay the application fee in online mode. It is the last step of completing the application process; only after paying fees, the form will be considered submitted. 
• Step 5. Submit & keep a Printout: It is suggested to get a printout of the application form after the final submission for future reference.

IIAD Offline Application Form 

Applicants can go for the offline mode of the application process. They can get the application forms at the following locations:

The Admissions Department,

Indian Institute of Art and Design,

B-26, Okhla, Phase 1,

New Delhi - 110 020.

The application fee has to be paid in either cash or by a demand draft in favour of Teamwork Education Foundation, payable at New Delhi.

IIAD 2026 Application Form Correction

IIAD 2026 application form corrections cannot be made once the form is submitted. There is no application correction window to edit or correct any filled-out details. So, we advise you to double-check all the details before submitting the form.

IIAD 2026 Exam Fee

The IIAD 2026 exam fee for all categories of students is INR 2,500 (roughly). You can pay this fee in online mode or by cash, or by demand draft, depending on your application form. Also, this application fee is non-refundable once it is paid.

The eligibility criteria for different programmes at IIAD vary from each other. So, students must go through the official eligibility criteria to be completely aware of the requirements. Refer below for separate programmes and their eligibility criteria:

IDAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for UG Courses

Below are the eligibility criteria for the UG design course:

• Exam takers must have passed the class 12th exam from any stream (Science, Commerce or Arts) with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks from a recognised board. 
• Also, those who are yet to obtain Class 12 results are eligible for this entrance. 

Candidates must belong to any of the following boards:

• Indian State Boards
• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
• Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Apart from these, any Indian or International approved higher secondary board

IIAD DAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for PG Courses

Students applying for PG design courses must check the eligibility criteria mentioned below:

• You must have qualified for the UG level exam or equivalent in any discipline from a recognised board or university are eligible to apply. 
• Those who are appearing for the UG exam can also fill out the application form and seek admission at IIAD.

IIAD Lateral Entry Admissions

IIAD lateral entry admission will be granted to aspirants who have completed their first year of a design degree or diploma programme from a recognised national or international design institute. The direct admission at IIAD will be based on the performance in portfolio presentations and personal interview rounds.

You are advised to follow the IIAD 2026 exam pattern to be on track with preparation, as it includes information on exam mode, question types, duration of the exam and the marking scheme details. So, keep an eye on both these factors and align their preparation accordingly. You will have to attempt visual tasks, writing tasks, short answers, and MCQs.

• The total mark is 200, and the marks for each correct answer differ for each question. 
• The written exam has 2 subjects, and each section has a different number of questions.
• This exam doesn’t have a negative marking scheme.
• The total exam duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes. 

After working through the first part, you have to appear for the Portfolio Evaluation/ Personal Interview round (Studio Simulation).

IIAD Syllabus and exam pattern both are important aspects of the exam. The question paper will follow the topics and sections from the official syllabus. It will also consist of weightage and subject-wise topics. The syllabus of this entrance is based on the class 10 and 12 syllabus. Check out the syllabus below:

Logical Reasoning - Numerical Series based on the Different Patterns & Logic designs & Shapes Geometrical, Identification of similarities and identical ones, Logical Decisions, Logical Sequence, Blood Relations, Decoding Statement, Analogy Series Coding, Assumptions Statement and Arguments Statement and more. 

Creative Thinking & Visual Aptitude - Picture Construction Task, Shapes Creative Design, Circles and Squares Task, Incomplete Figures Task, Imaginative Stories Creation Generation and various other topics.

Applicants must be aware of the admission process before filling out the application form for the IIAD exam 2026. Check out the steps here:

#Step 1 Complete the application form: The first step is to register and then continue with other parts of the form, and lastly pay the application fee. 

#Step 2. Download and save the admit card: The admit card can be downloaded by the examinees who have completed the registration process. It will be released on the official website. 

#Step 3. Sit for IIAD 2026 exam: Appear for IDAT as per the phase timeline.

#Step 4. Appear for studio test or personal interview round: After the written test, the studio test or personal interview round follows. 

#Step 5: Check out the result: After evaluating both rounds, namely the written test and studio test/ personal interview, the results will be released on the official website. 

IDAT sample papers will help aspirants upgrade their preparation level. After successful registration, the IIAD model papers can be accessed by users from the login portal. Solving them will help to enhance problem-solving and time-management skills.

Here are some useful IDAT preparation tips.

• Be aware of the official syllabus and exam pattern.
• Frame a reliable and relevant study routine to be consistent with your preparation. 
• Get the best books for each subject, and don’t forget to look for the relevance of the syllabus. 
• Solve questions from sample papers and previous year's question papers after covering one topic to understand the topics more effectively. 
• Appear for the mock tests to have a closer understanding of the final exam. 
• Be consistent with revision. It is also advised to jot down the important points for easy revision.

Students must check out the publishing year, syllabus coverage, and easy language usage before finalising a book. Check out the table below for best books for IDAT exam: 

The IIAD admit card is released on the portal a few days before the test date. It can be downloaded only by those applicants who complete the application form submission and cover details such as roll number, exam centre, address of the exam centre, date & time of the exam. 

How to download the IIAD 2026 Admit Card?

Here is how to download the IIAD entrance exam hall ticket.

• Step 1: You have to visit the official website of IIAD. 
• Step 2: Then, they have to search for the ‘admit card link’. 
• Step 3: After tapping on the link, you have to log in using their login details and then hit the submit button. 
• Step 4: The admit card will then appear on the screen. 
• Step 5: You are advised to save, download and take a printout of the admit card for future purposes.

IIAD entrance exam centres are for candidates who have applied for any mode of test, including online or offline. The exam centre has to be selected while filling up the application form itself. As the exam centre preference cannot be changed after selecting it, candidates are advised to choose it wisely, considering all factors. However, in case of any administrative reasons, only the exam authority can add, change or cancel the exam centre. Check out the main cities:

• Bengaluru
• New Delhi
• Mumbai

Here are a few things required at the IDAT exam centre:

• IIAD admit card - You should keep at least 2 print-out copies of the admit card to avoid a last-minute rush. No matter admit card must be kept for appearing at the entrance. 
• Original ID Proof - Carrying a valid ID proof is very important, as without it exam takers will not be allowed to enter the exam centre.

IDAT result is typically released within a few days after the exam. To check your scorecard, you have to sign in to the official portal. The result comprises the applicant's rank, sectional and overall marks on the exam. This merit rank will determine the allocation during the selection process. Those who have secured a higher merit rank will be given priority in this seat allotment round. 

How to check the IIAD Result 2026?

IIAD results can be checked by visiting the official website. Refer to the steps mentioned below:

• Step 1: Land on the official website of the institute. 
• Step 2: Click on the ‘IIAD Result link 2026’ on the homepage. 
• Step 3: Then, you have to log in to your "candidate account" using valid login details. 
• Step 4: After entering the details, hit the submit button. 
• Step 5: Once submitted, you can see their results on the screen.
• Step 6: It is advisable to keep a printout and download results for future reference.

As per the official website, IIAD doesn’t release any IIAD cutoff score. The conducting body releases only results, including the overall, section-wise marks. It also releases a merit list listing the shortlisted candidate names. As mentioned above, the admission will be based on the written exam, personal interview, and studio simulation rounds.

Students who fulfil all the eligibility requirements will be eligible for admission to the IIAD. The IIAD selection process is completed via 2 rounds. The institute will consider marks scored in the IIAD Design Aptitude Test (iDAT) and how you fared in the Personal Interview/ Portfolio round/ Studio Simulation round. The final merit list is issued based on both the factors mentioned earlier.

IIAD also takes lateral entries; however, there are some criteria to be followed for this type of admission. Aspirants willing to apply for lateral admission must check out the details below:

• IIAD exam 2026 lateral entry admission grants admission directly in the second year of the design course offered at the institution.
• Those who have completed their first year of a diploma or degree in a design programme from a nationally or internationally recognised design college can apply for this entry.
• Moreover, admission will be granted based on the performance in personal interviews and portfolio presentation rounds.

Find the list of courses offered through the IDAT 2026 entrance exam:

Students must note that IDAT scores are only accepted by IIAD. Other than IIAD, no other colleges in India accept the scores of its institute-level exam. The scores of this exam will help them gain admission to their preferred design course.

Only aspirants who qualify for the written entrance exam and other rounds, such as studio simulation or personal interview, will be able to participate in the IIAD entrance exam counselling. It starts after the results are declared by the exam officials. 

Documents Required For IIAD Exam 2026 Counselling 

They are also required to carry multiple documents for the counselling round, such as:

• 12th class/ Graduation Mark sheet and Certificate
• IIAD exam 2026 result 
• Birth Certificate 
• Category Certificate (if any)
• Provisional Certificate 
• Passport-size photograph 
• Admit Card of IIAD 2026

Here are some key exam day guidelines for IDAT 2026:

• As the IIAD exam will be held in both online and offline modes, examinees must be ready for their preferred mode. 
• They must download their admit card and keep their valid identity proof ready before the final exam day. 
• Students applying for the offline mode of the exam must reach the exam centre according to their reporting time.
• No electronic gadgets or sheets are allowed at the exam centre.