NID DAT previous year question papers from 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2025 are free to download here: the original 2018 B.Des and M.Des Prelims booklets, memory-based B.Des Prelims papers for 2022 and 2023, and the 2025 B.Des and M.Des Prelims sample test papers. NID publishes no answer keys. Recent Prelims papers ran 3 hours for 100 marks, split between an objective part and a drawing and design part, so start with 2023 and 2022 before the DAT Prelims on 20 December 2026.
NID DAT Previous Year Question Papers
Pick a year to open its Prelims papers; 2018 and 2025 have both a B.Des and an M.Des paper, while 2022 and 2023 have the B.Des paper only.
Newest papersNID DAT 2025 Question Paper
View 2025 papers2 papers
NID DAT Question Papers by Year
| Year | Papers | Pattern that year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NID DAT 2025 | 2 papers | View papers | |
| NID DAT 2023 | 1 paper (memory-based) | B.Des · 100 marks · 3 h | View papers |
| NID DAT 2022 | 1 paper (memory-based) | View papers | |
| NID DAT 2018 | 2 papers | B.Des 67 Q · 100 marks · 3 h | View papers |
NID DAT Paper at a Glance
| Stages | DAT Prelims (shortlisting only) and DAT Mains (studio and in-person sensitivity tests; interview for M.Des) |
|---|---|
| Prelims format | Pen-and-paper, text and visual questions, English only |
| Marks and time | 100 marks in 3 hours in the 2018 and 2023 papers; the 2027 duration will be printed on the admit card |
| Paper parts | 2022 and 2023 B.Des: Part A 40 marks (aptitude), Part B 60 marks (4 drawing and design questions of 15 each) |
| Marking | No mark scheme published in advance; the 2018 booklets printed no negative marking |
| Papers on this page | 6 papers: 2018 B.Des and M.Des (original), 2022 and 2023 B.Des (memory based), 2025 B.Des and M.Des sample test papers; no answer keys |
| Next exam | NID DAT 2027: 20 December 2026. Application open, 10 September to 30 November 2026 |
How the NID DAT Prelims Paper Changed (2018–2027)
- 2018: Part I had multiple-choice questions on an OMR sheet worth 70 marks (64 in B.Des, 59 in M.Des) and Part II had 3 subjective questions worth 30 marks. The Prelims also counted toward the B.Des final result.
- 2022 and 2023: the B.Des paper moved to Part A for 40 marks (GK, reasoning, arithmetic, English) and Part B for 60 marks, with four drawing and design questions of 15 marks each.
- 2027 admissions: the Prelims only shortlists candidates for the Mains, and the final merit list uses DAT Mains marks alone.
How to Use NID DAT Previous Year Papers?
- Give drawing the most time. In the 2022 and 2023 papers the four drawing and design questions carried 60 of the 100 marks. In a 3-hour sitting, finish Part A in about an hour and keep the rest for Part B.
- Practise the drawing prompts as real tasks. The 2022 paper asked for a room seen from a friend’s viewpoint, a tap redesigned for specific users, a bicycle drawn from its parts and a storyboard. Redraw each prompt with a timer and compare your sheets over a few weeks.
- Solve 2023 and 2022 first, because their 40 + 60 split is the closest to recent Prelims. Use the 2018 booklets for extra objective questions, since their part-wise marks are different.
- Check answers yourself. NID releases no answer key. Work out the GK, reasoning and arithmetic answers from your books and ask a teacher or senior to look at your drawings.
- Plan for 20 December 2026. About seven weeks remain. One full paper a week, plus daily sketching, covers every paper here before the Prelims.
NID DAT Previous Year Question Papers FAQs
Does NID release DAT question papers or answer keys?
No. NID does not publish its Prelims booklets or answer keys. The 2018 papers here are scans of the original printed booklets, and the 2022 and 2023 papers were recreated from candidates’ memory.
What is the NID DAT Prelims paper pattern?
Recent B.Des papers had Part A for 40 marks (GK, reasoning, arithmetic and English) and Part B for 60 marks with four drawing and design questions. The 2023 paper ran 3 hours for 100 marks.
Is there negative marking in NID DAT?
NID does not publish a mark scheme in advance. The 2018 booklets printed no negative marking.
Is the NID DAT Prelims score counted in the final merit?
No. For 2027-28 the Prelims only shortlists candidates for the Mains, and the final merit list uses DAT Mains marks only.
Are there M.Des papers on this page?
Yes. The 2018 page has the original M.Des Prelims booklet (code 30) and the 2025 page has the M.Des Prelims sample test paper (CDAT 2025). M.Des has one common Prelims paper for all disciplines.
Is the NID DAT paper in Hindi?
No. The Prelims is set in English only.
When is NID DAT 2027 Prelims?
NID DAT 2027: 20 December 2026. Application open, 10 September to 30 November 2026. See the NID DAT 2027 page for every date.