NIFT Previous Year Question Paper​

An aspirant must have a strong grip over creative parts such as drawing, color theory, visualisation, observation skills, as well as on GAT topics. The NIFT previous year question paper​ is a reliable study material that can help you to have clarity on what type of questions are asked, difficulty levels, etc. 

This is what we do at Selfstudys, with a mission to help students become self-reliant, we provide high-quality free study material. Using the links available on this page, you can download NIFT PYQs in PDF.

Year-Wise NIFT PYQs

Access to NIFT previous year papers​ helps a lot in the preparation because the CAT questions are so unpredictable and broad in nature. However, a thorough review and practice of question papers can give some clues for effective preparation. The links will help you explore the NIFT CAT & GAT question papers for B.Des. Make sure you’re solving both the papers, marking your mistakes, learning from them, and making an improvement.

Sr No	Year-Wise NIFT PYQs
1	NIFT 2025 Question Papers
2	NIFT 2024 Question Papers
3	NIFT 2022 Question Papers
4	NIFT 2021 Question Papers
5	NIFT 2020 Question Papers
6	NIFT 2019 Question Papers
7	NIFT 2018 Question Papers
8	NIFT 2017 Question Papers
9	NIFT 2016 Question Papers

NIFT Previous Year Question Papers With Solutions PDF

Personally, I don’t find old question papers very helpful without detailed solutions. It is also because, when solving them, many challenging questions appear that ruin the motivation to solve more questions. However, when you get NIFT entrance exam previous year question papers​ with solutions, it doesn’t only help you solve more questions, but also saves you lots of time. Finding answers to each problem individually is a real challenge that many of you will relate to.

This is the reason our team gave their best to come up with the NIFT previous year question papers for UG PDF​ with detailed solutions. Referring to this study material, you can recall, revise, and self-assess at the same time.

Steps for NIFT Previous Year Question Papers With Solutions PDF Download

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4. Click on ‘UG’ and the menu will expand further, giving you many options to choose from.
5. Click on ‘NIFT Previous Year Papers’ to find the links for year-wise question papers.

 

6. You just need to explore and choose the NIFT previous year question papers with solutions PDF ​download for free.

 

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Let's Understand NIFT Question Paper Format

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) candidates spend most of the time on the CAT portion while preparing for the entrance exam. However, both CAT & GAT are equally important, and therefore, in this section we’re discussing the NIFT question paper format. This is important because it will help you do strategic preparation.

Okay, let's begin. The NIFT entrance exam is conducted in two stages: Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT) and there is a Situation Test/PI round too.

1. General Ability Test (GAT) for NIFT

This is an online computer-based test which is conducted in two languages: English and Hindi. For each correct answer (+1) mark will be given, but (-0.25) marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer. However, if you don't attempt a question because of not being 100% confident in the answer or whatever reason it may be, marks will not be deducted.

The NIFT GAT section is distributed in the following:

• Communication Ability & English Comprehension: This section aims to examine your language proficiency as well as grammar, vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases, sentence correction, and reading comprehension.

• Quantitative Ability: A strong grip on basic mathematical concepts and problem-solving is also crucial for design learners. Therefore, the Quantitative Ability section includes the following topics: Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work, Time, Speed & Distance, Mensuration, Number System, HCF/LCM, Averages, etc. About 20-30 questions are expected from this.

• Analytical & Logical Ability: Number Series, Alphabet Series, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Seating Arrangements, Puzzles, Syllogisms, Statements & Conclusions/Arguments. are part of the NIFT GAT Syllabus for Analytical & Logical Ability. Expect around 15-25 questions from this section.

• General Knowledge & Current Affairs: GK & Current Affairs have a huge spectrum of topics and about 15-25 questions are asked in this section. Here are the topics generally included in this section: Indian history, art, culture, geography, general science, sports, and, importantly, current events related to fashion, textiles, design, business, and global affairs.

2. Creative Ability Test (CAT)

NIFT CAT is a Pen and Paper-Based Test (PBT), conducted offline at the exam center. The duration is roughly 3 hours. There is no negative marking in this section, because the questions are subjective and involve drawing or design. The marks are given on this section based on creativity, observation, design ability, colour sense, innovation, and conceptualisation.

Here are the question types you need to cover for NIFT CAT:

• Drawing & Illustration: You have to sketch from observation, memory drawing, imaginative compositions, figure drawing, product drawing.

• Design Problems: In the design problems, you will have to create designs for specific products, logos, posters, or themes.

• Colour Application: Understanding of colour theory, harmony, and impact is a must. You have to show this in the paper.

• Creative Writing or Concept Note: In this, you will be asked to do a design task, explain the idea, inspiration, and material usage. Hence, a good creative writing or concept note is also required.

• 3D Visualisation: This is an important section of CAT, because you will be asked to depict the objects from different perspectives such as bird's eye view, ant's view, mirror view, etc.

3. Situation Test/PI

Since this isn’t part of the NIFT previous year papers​, we’ve avoided discussing this in detail. However, on a surface level, the idea of this round is to examine a candidate’s conceptualization, creative use of materials, construction skills, space visualization, composition, colour scheme, finesse of the model, and overall presentation.

Year-wise Analysis of NIFT Papers

Referring to the NIFT PYQs, our experts analysed them and found some valuable trends.

• Difficulty Level: The overall structure of NIFT question papers remains the same, but the difficulty level of each section may vary. For instance, you might see that some years the GAT quantitative section is a bit tougher, while another year more complex questions can appear from analytical puzzles. It’s unpredictable; however, you should be prepared for all types of difficulty levels.

• Shift in Focus: In the NIFT CAT sections, you also find that some years the conducting body has given more importance to narrative illustrations, while other years they focus more on product design. The only way to get a proper understanding of this emphasis shift is by solving the NIFT entrance exam previous year question papers​. Also, referring to the latest papers will also offer very detailed insights.

• GK & Current Affairs Focus: It has no fixed topic to cover. The NIFT previous year question papers for UG PDF​ often include recent major national/international events, fashion industry news, recent innovations, or awards. A strong command on 12 months of GK and current affairs will be beneficial. Also, gather knowledge about old or popular ads as it is helpful.

• Rare, but Concepts Repeat: The analysis of the NIFT previous year question papers with solutions PDF​ indicated that direct repetition of questions is rare. However, the concepts and types of questions are consistently present. Here are some of them: questions on profit and loss, synonyms, perspective drawing.

Preparation Tips Based on Paper Analysis

Here are three quick NIFT preparation tips based on NIFT previous year question papers with solutions PDF ​download analysis:

• Get the real-exam feel for the format, question types, and approximate difficulty by solving one or two recent NIFT previous year question paper​ without time pressure. It will give you an opportunity to find your initial strengths and weaknesses for GAT and CAT.

• Practice is crucial for improving speed and accuracy, so, ensure you are taking full-length NIFT mock tests. Note that, the actual exam duration for CAT is 3 hours, GAT for 2 hours, and the situation test duration is 2 hours.

• Work on creative skills (the more you practise, the easier it gets.) Do daily sketching practice from observation (people, objects, nature) and memory. Let your creative juices flow by working on creative prompts, such as designing a creature that lives in a desert. Do regular craft work such as practice constructing simple models. Do colour practice by working on color harmonies, contrasts, and understanding how colors convey emotions or messages.

Apart from the preparation tips we’ve shared above; you can also use NIFT PYQs to learn about them by yourself.

Conclusion 

The purpose of solving the NIFT entrance exam previous year question papers​ PDF is not to learn about the exact questions that will be asked in the upcoming exam. But solving them gives you invaluable insights into the exam's requirements. When you solve 5 to 10 years of past papers, it boosts your confidence, helps you learn about your mistakes, and sharpens your skills. Combining all of these increases your chances of cracking the NIFT exam with ease.