The NATA 2026 examination, conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA), is currently underway. The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is the national-level Architecture entrance exam for admission to the 5-year B.Arch programme across recognised institutions in India. The CoA released the NATA 2026 application form on 9 March 2026 at nata.in. Phase 1 of NATA 2026 is being conducted from 4 April 2026 to 13 June 2026 on every Friday and Saturday, while Phase 2 is scheduled for 7 and 8 August 2026. Therefore candidates can attempt up to 3 sessions in the academic year, with the best score considered for admission. Find the complete details of NATA 2026 on this page including dates, application form, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, admit card, answer key, and result.
Latest: – NATA 2026 application form is open at nata.in. Phase 1 exam is being held every Friday and Saturday from 4 April to 13 June 2026; Phase 2 is on 7 and 8 August 2026.
NATA 2026
What is NATA 2026?
NATA stands for the National Aptitude Test in Architecture. Moreover it is the national-level architecture entrance exam organised by the Council of Architecture (CoA), the statutory body that regulates the architecture profession and education in India. NATA 2026 is the gateway to the 5-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) programme at architecture colleges across the country. Furthermore the test assesses cognitive skills, visual perception, aesthetic sensitivity, logical reasoning, critical thinking, and drawing aptitude through a combination of an offline drawing test and an online aptitude paper.
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NATA 2026 Important Dates
The Council of Architecture has published the complete NATA 2026 schedule at nata.in. Consequently candidates can plan their attempts across Phase 1 and Phase 2 sessions. The key dates of the NATA 2026 examination are as follows.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NATA 2026 official notification | 8 March 2026 |
| NATA 2026 application form starts | 9 March 2026 |
| NATA 2026 Phase 1 exam window | 4 April 2026 to 13 June 2026 (every Friday & Saturday) |
| NATA 2026 admit card / appointment card | 2 to 3 days before each session |
| NATA 2026 result (per session) | Within 7 days of each session |
| NATA 2026 Phase 2 exam dates | 7 & 8 August 2026 |
| NATA 2026 Phase 2 result | August 2026 (as per CoA) |
NATA 2026 Official Website – Visit nata.in for the latest notifications, application form, admit card, and result. The Council of Architecture website is at coa.gov.in.
NATA 2026 Application Form
The NATA 2026 application form is available online at nata.in. Candidates first register on the portal using a valid email ID and mobile number, then log in to fill personal details, academic details, exam city preferences, and upload a scanned passport-size photograph and signature as per the prescribed specifications. After that, candidates pay the application fee online and book a test slot. The Appointment Card generated post fee payment must be carried to the exam centre. Therefore candidates should keep all documents ready before starting the form.
NATA 2026 application fee per test/session:
- General / OBC: Rs. 1,750
- SC / ST / EWS / PwD: Rs. 1,250
- Transgender: Rs. 1,000
- Overseas candidates: Rs. 15,000
The fee is non-refundable in all cases. Furthermore candidates can initially opt for a single test and add additional sessions later, subject to a maximum of 3 attempts in the academic year. Payment is online only through debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI; cash and demand drafts are not accepted.
NATA 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The Council of Architecture has prescribed the following eligibility criteria for NATA 2026. Candidates must verify each condition before applying.
- Qualifying exam: Class 12 (10+2) passed or appearing in 2026 from a recognised board, OR 10+3 Diploma examination with Mathematics as a compulsory subject.
- Subjects in Class 12: Physics and Mathematics are compulsory, along with any one of Chemistry, Biology, Technical-Vocational subject, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics, or Business Studies.
- Minimum marks: At least 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and at least 50% in aggregate of the 10+2 level examination; 10+3 Diploma candidates must have at least 50% in aggregate with Mathematics. Reserved-category relaxations may apply as per the brochure.
- Age: No upper age limit.
- Provisional appearance: Candidates appearing in Class 12 / Diploma final exam in 2026 may apply provisionally, with final admission subject to producing the qualifying marksheet.
- Lateral admission: Not permitted at any other year or stage of the B.Arch course.
NATA 2026 Exam Pattern
NATA 2026 question paper has two parts and a total of 200 marks, with a duration of 3 hours. Additionally there is no negative marking; question types include MCQ, MSQ (Multiple Select), PCQ (Preferential Choice with weighted marks), and NAQ (Numerical Answer). The exam pattern is summarised below.
| Part | Section | Mode | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Drawing and Composition Test | Offline (A4 sheets) | 80 |
| Part B | Aptitude Test – MCQ / MSQ / PCQ / NAQ | Online (CBT) | 120 |
| Total | 200 | ||
NATA 2026 Syllabus
The Council of Architecture publishes the NATA 2026 syllabus in the official information brochure at nata.in. While the brochure outlines a skill framework rather than a rigid topic list, the broad assessment areas are as follows.
- Part A – Drawing & Composition: Perspective drawing (1-point and 2-point), light and shadow / shading, memory sketching of objects and urban scenes, scale and proportion, 2D and 3D composition, colour and texture.
- Part B – Mathematics (Class 11-12 NCERT): Algebra, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, calculus, statistics and probability, matrices and determinants, 3D geometry.
- Part B – General Aptitude: Visual reasoning, diagrammatic reasoning, logical reasoning, language interpretation, observation skills, sets and relations.
- Part B – Architecture & Design Awareness: Famous architects and iconic buildings, design concepts, current issues in the built environment.
The detailed syllabus and exam pattern is on the NATA syllabus page.
NATA 2026 Admit Card
The CoA releases the NATA 2026 admit card, also called the Appointment Card, on nata.in approximately 2 to 3 days before each scheduled session. For Friday-session candidates the admit card is available from Tuesday or Wednesday, while Saturday-session candidates can download it from Wednesday or Thursday. Login requires the application number and password. Subsequently candidates must carry a printed copy of the Appointment Card along with one government photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / Voter ID / Driving Licence / Passport) to the exam centre. Further details are on the NATA admit card page.
NATA 2026 Answer Key
The CoA does not always publicly release a formal NATA answer key, but candidates may view their recorded responses through their candidate login on nata.in after each session. Moreover coaching institutes typically release unofficial answer keys for the Part B aptitude section shortly after each exam day. Therefore candidates can estimate their score before the official result. For complete information, visit the NATA answer key page.
NATA 2026 Result
The CoA declares the NATA 2026 result for each session within approximately 7 days of the exam. Candidates log in to nata.in with their email ID and password to view and download the scorecard, which displays sectional marks (Part A and Part B), total score, percentile (Phase 1) or raw score (Phase 2), and qualifying status. Across multiple attempts, the best score is considered for admission. The NATA 2026 score is valid for one academic year only (2026-27). Visit the NATA result page for live updates.
NATA 2026 Qualifying Marks & Cutoff
Based on the 2025 reference cycle, the NATA qualifying criteria are sectional minimum of 20 marks in each of Part A and Part B plus an overall minimum of 60 marks out of 200. The exact 2026 qualifying marks are confirmed in the official notification. Subsequently the individual architecture colleges set their own cutoffs based on the NATA score combined with Class 12 marks for admission.
NATA 2026 Counselling and Admission
The Council of Architecture does not conduct centralised counselling for NATA 2026. Instead, individual architecture colleges and universities accepting NATA scores run their own admission processes. Candidates must therefore apply separately to each institute of interest with their valid NATA 2026 scorecard. Several state-level counselling authorities (such as DTE Maharashtra for state colleges) also use NATA scores as part of their B.Arch counselling.
NATA 2026 – An Overview
The key details about NATA 2026 are summarised in the table below.
| Exam Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name of Exam | NATA 2026 |
| Full Form | National Aptitude Test in Architecture |
| Conducting Body | Council of Architecture (CoA) |
| Level of Exam | National Level |
| Frequency | Multiple sessions; up to 3 attempts per year |
| Mode | Hybrid – Part A offline drawing + Part B online CBT |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Total Marks | 200 (80 + 120) |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Phase 1 Exam Window | 4 April 2026 to 13 June 2026 (every Friday & Saturday) |
| Phase 2 Exam Dates | 7 & 8 August 2026 |
| Application Fee (General) | Rs. 1,750 per test |
| Eligibility | Class 12 with PCM (Physics & Maths compulsory) or 10+3 Diploma with Maths; 50% aggregate |
| Course Admission | 5-year B.Arch |
| Counselling | Institute-wise; no centralised counselling |
| Official Website | nata.in |
| Type Of Exam | Architecture Entrance Exams |
NATA 2026 FAQs
NATA 2026 is conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA), the statutory body that regulates architecture education in India. The official website for application, admit card, and result is nata.in, and the Council of Architecture website is coa.gov.in.
NATA 2026 is conducted in two phases. Phase 1 runs from 4 April 2026 to 13 June 2026 on every Friday and Saturday. Phase 2 is scheduled on 7 and 8 August 2026, primarily for candidates who did not appear in Phase 1. Candidates can attempt up to 3 sessions in the academic year, with the best score considered for admission.
The NATA 2026 application fee per test/session is Rs. 1,750 for General and OBC candidates, Rs. 1,250 for SC / ST / EWS / PwD candidates, Rs. 1,000 for transgender candidates, and Rs. 15,000 for overseas candidates. The fee is non-refundable. Candidates can pay online via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
Candidates must have passed Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, plus any one of Chemistry, Biology, Technical-Vocational, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics, or Business Studies. Alternatively, a 10+3 Diploma with Mathematics as a compulsory subject is acceptable. A minimum of 50% aggregate in PCM and 50% overall is required. There is no upper age limit. Candidates appearing in 2026 may apply provisionally.
NATA 2026 has two parts and a total of 200 marks, with a duration of 3 hours. Part A is an offline Drawing and Composition test of 80 marks held on A4 sheets. Part B is an online aptitude test of 120 marks with MCQ, MSQ, PCQ (preferential choice), and NAQ (numerical answer) questions. Questions carry 1, 2, or 3 marks based on type, and there is no negative marking. The medium is English (with Hindi for select sections).
The CoA declares the NATA 2026 result within approximately 7 days of each session. Candidates log in to nata.in with their email ID and password to view and download the scorecard. The scorecard shows sectional marks (Part A and Part B), total marks, percentile (Phase 1) or raw score (Phase 2), and qualifying status. The best score across multiple attempts is considered for admission, and the NATA 2026 score is valid for the 2026-27 academic year.
No. The Council of Architecture does not conduct centralised counselling for NATA 2026. Each architecture college or university accepting NATA scores runs its own admission process. Candidates must apply individually to each institute of interest with their valid NATA 2026 scorecard. Several state-level counselling authorities also use NATA scores as part of their B.Arch admission process.
If you have any questions about NATA 2026, please ask in the comments below. And if you found this page useful, please share!
Which exam shouild I give if I am the citizrn of Nepal? NATA or SAT2 or both or anything else?
DASA SAT-II
Hello sir I have just completed my SSC examination and am looking forward to opt architecture as my profession. But i am well aware that for doing so i will have to clear the entrance exams. So which exam shoukd i go for JEE mains paper 2 or NATA. and what kind of preparation should i start with i want to stqrt the preparations right now. Please help me out.
Hi
We will suggest go for both.