National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) 2026

The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is the premier national-level entrance examination conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA). It measures the aptitude of the applicant for specific fields of study, namely Architecture, through assessment of cognitive skills, visual perception, and aesthetic sensitivity tests, logical reasoning, and critical thinking abilities. Passing NATA is a mandatory prerequisite for admission to the first year of straight 5-year B.Arch degree courses at certified architectural institutions across India.

Aspirants looking for detailed NATA 2026 exam dates, the syllabus emphasizing drawing and aptitude, eligibility clauses for B.Arch, and active application portals can find all consolidated Sarkari Result tracking info below.

1. NATA 2026 Exam Overview

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) 2026
Conducting Authority	Council of Architecture (CoA)
Course Offered	5-Year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
Mode of Exam	Online (Computer Based) & Offline (Drawing Test)
Official Website	nata.in

2. Important Exam Dates 2026 (Confirmed Schedule)

NATA is unique as it is held over multiple weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) spanning several months, giving students flexibility.

• NATA 2026 Notification Release Date: March 8, 2026
• Online Registration Start Date: March 9, 2026
• Exam Phase 1 (Main Window): Every weekend from April 4, 2026, to June 13, 2026.
• Exam Phase 2 (Additional Window): August 7 and August 8, 2026.
• Result Declaration: Ongoing, generally released within a few days after each specific exam session concludes.

3. Comprehensive Eligibility Criteria

To pursue B.Arch and apply for NATA 2026, students must meet strict academic standards set by the CoA.

Academic Qualification

• Candidates must have successfully passed their 10+2 scheme of examination with at least 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) and also at least 50% marks in aggregate of the 10+2 level examination.
• Alternative: Candidates passing the 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as a compulsory subject with at least 50% marks in aggregate are also eligible.

Age Limit

• There is no fixed specified minimum or maximum age limit to appear for the NATA examination explicitly prescribed by CoA.

4. Exam Pattern and Syllabus Design

The NATA paper heavily diverges from standardized engineering exams as it strongly zeroes in on spatial and aesthetic intelligence.

Exam Mechanism

• Duration: 3 hours (180 Minutes).
• Total Marks: 200 Marks.
• Format: It comprises two major sections:
  1. Part A: Drawing and Visual Composition Test (Offline Mode on A4 paper).
  2. Part B: Multiple Choice Questions / Numerical Answer Type (Online Mode).

Sectional Breakdown

• Part A (Drawing Test - 80 Marks):
  • Tests basic proportion, visual geometry, shading, light shadows, perspective drawing, observation, and 3D composition.
• Part B (Computer Based Test - 120 Marks):
  • Aptitude: Architecture awareness, identifying building materials, visualizing 3D objects from 2D views, analytical reasoning.
  • Physics & Chemistry: Basic 12th standard principles.
  • Mathematics: Algebra, logarithms, matrices, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, 3D geometry, probability.

5. How to Apply for NATA 2026 Online

1. Directly access the official portal: nata.in.
2. Click cleanly on the "NATA 2026 Registration" button.
3. Fill accurately out the basic registration to generate application credentials.
4. Input detailed personal and academic background information.
5. Select three choices of examination cities strictly in order of preference.
6. Upload scanned images of your passport-sized photograph and signature.
7. Pay the mandatory examination fee (which varies depending on how many sessions the student intends to book in advance).
8. Print the generated confirmation receipt.