National Aptitude test in Architecture Syllabus 2026

NATA Syllabus 2024: Overview

The Council of Architecture (COA) has released the NATA 2024 syllabus at nata.in. The syllabus is based on the 10+2 curriculum and covers Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Drawing, and General Aptitude.

Part A (Drawing Test) and Part B (General Aptitude and PCM) will both be conducted in online mode. Candidates should review the full syllabus to create a precise preparation schedule.

NATA 2024 Exam Pattern

The NATA 2024 exam will be conducted for a duration of 180 minutes. A total of 125 questions will be asked in the question paper for a total mark of 200.

Candidates can download NATA previous year papers to understand the syllabus and expected questions.

Abilities Tested in NATA

The examination will test the following abilities of candidates:

• Diagrammatic Reasoning: Diagrams and scenarios will be used to test logical reasoning ability.
• Numerical Reasoning: Simple problems based on fundamental concepts will be asked to test mathematical ability.
• Verbal Reasoning: Verbal logic ability will be tested.
• Inductive Reasoning: Candidates will be required to see patterns and analyze the provided data.
• Situational Judgment: Problem-solving abilities of candidates will be tested.
• Logical Reasoning: Ability to recognize patterns, sequences, or relationships between shapes and imagery will be tested.
• Abstract Reasoning: General knowledge and ability to utilise knowledge in new situations will be tested.

Questions may also assess basic concepts of Physics, Mathematics, Geometry, Language and interpretation, and elements and principles of design.

NATA Syllabus 2024: Section Wise

Part A: Drawing Test

Part A is a drawing test of 2 hours 15 minutes. It will test the sketching and visualization ability of a candidate.

There is no well-defined syllabus for the drawing test. Candidates can practice using NATA practice papers to improve their skills.

Part B: General Aptitude and PCM Test

Part B of NATA is the General Aptitude and PCM Test. This section tests the candidate's aptitude and mental ability.

PCM section questions will be asked from Class 10 and Class 12. Candidates must brush up on all basic formulas and concepts of Mathematics.

NATA Drawing Syllabus

The drawing test assesses sketching and visualization skills. Candidates should practice regularly to perform well in this section.

NATA Syllabus Overview

The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) syllabus covers Drawing, General Aptitude, Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry. The drawing test checks a candidate's sketching ability, creativity, and innovation.

Candidates should practice questions based on the criteria listed below.

• Understanding visual principles in a composition (2D and 3D), such as rhythm, balance, directions, and hierarchy.
• Understanding geometry and the ability to visualize shapes and solve geometrical puzzles to test spatial intelligence.
• Understanding color theory and its terminologies to test color scheme awareness.
• Interpreting visual systems and perception to test graphical similarities and properties.
• Understanding spatial relationships between objects and visualizing images and scenarios.
• Testing cognitive abilities such as perception, attention, recognition, and memory.

NATA Preparation Books for Drawing

These are the recommended books for the NATA drawing section.

NATA General Aptitude Syllabus

The General Aptitude test measures perception, imagination, observation, creativity, and communication along with architectural awareness. Candidates are tested on the criteria given below.

The test covers objects and textures related to architecture and the built environment. It includes interpretation of pictorial compositions and visualizing three-dimensional objects from two-dimensional drawings.

Other topics include visualizing different sides of 3D objects, analytical reasoning, and mental ability in visual, numerical, and verbal forms. It also covers general awareness of national and international architects and famous architectural creations.

Mathematical Reasoning

This section covers statements and logical operations such as and, or, if and only if, implies, and implied by. It includes understanding of tautology, converse, contradiction, and contrapositive.

Sets and Relations

This section covers the idea of sets, subsets, power sets, complement, union, intersection, and difference of sets. It includes Venn diagrams, De Morgan's Laws, and relations with their properties.

Equivalence relations are also covered, including their definition and elementary examples.

NATA Preparation Books for General Aptitude

These are the recommended books for the General Aptitude section.

NATA Maths Syllabus

The Mathematics section tests a candidate's understanding of the subject. The detailed syllabus is given below.

Algebra

This section covers definitions of Arithmetic Progression (A.P.) and Geometric Progression (G.P.). It includes the general term and summation of the first n terms of series ∑n, ∑n², and ∑n³.

Arithmetic and Geometric series, Arithmetic Mean (A.M.), Geometric Mean (G.M.), and their relation are covered. It also includes infinite G.P. series and its sum.

Logarithms

This section covers the definition of logarithms, general properties, and change of base.

Matrices

This section covers concepts of m x n (m ≤ 3, n ≤ 3) real matrices. It includes operations of addition, scalar multiplication, and multiplication of matrices.

Other topics include transpose of a matrix, determinant of a square matrix, and properties of determinants (statement only). It covers minor, cofactor, and adjoint of a matrix, nonsingular matrix, and inverse of a matrix.

Finding the area of a triangle and solutions of systems of linear equations (not more than 3 variables) are also included.

Trigonometry

This section covers trigonometric functions, addition and subtraction formulae, and formulae involving multiple and submultiple angles. It includes the general solution of trigonometric equations.

Properties of triangles and inverse trigonometric functions with their properties are also covered.

Coordinate Geometry

This section covers the distance formula, section formula, area of a triangle, and condition of collinearity of three points in a plane. It includes polar coordinates and transformation from Cartesian to polar coordinates and vice versa.

Other topics include parallel transformation of axes, concept of locus, and elementary locus problems. It covers the slope of a line, equations of lines in different forms, and the angle between two lines.

Conditions of perpendicularity and parallelism of two lines, distance of a point from a line, and distance between two parallel lines are also included.

NATA Mathematics Syllabus

The NATA Mathematics syllabus covers topics from Class 11 and Class 12. The subjects include algebra, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, calculus, and statistics.

Algebra

Algebra includes sets, operations on sets, and Venn diagrams. It also covers the fundamental laws of algebra.

• Real numbers and their properties
• Complex numbers and their properties
• Polynomials and rational expressions
• Exponents and radicals
• Logarithms and their properties
• Arithmetic, geometric, and harmonic progressions
• Quadratic equations and their roots
• Inequalities and linear programming
• Permutations and combinations
• Binomial theorem

Trigonometry

Trigonometry covers the measurement of angles and trigonometric functions. It includes identities, equations, and properties of triangles.

• Trigonometric ratios and identities
• Trigonometric equations
• Inverse trigonometric functions
• Heights and distances
• Properties of triangles

Coordinate Geometry

Coordinate geometry deals with points, lines, and circles on a plane. It also includes three-dimensional coordinate geometry.

2-Dimensional Coordinate Geometry

Topics include lines through the point of intersection of two lines. The equation of a circle with a given center and radius is covered.

• Condition that a general equation of second degree in x, y may represent a circle
• Equation of a circle in terms of endpoints of a diameter
• Equation of tangent, normal and chord
• Parametric equation of a circle
• Intersection of a line with a circle
• Equation of common chord of two intersecting circles

3-Dimensional Coordinate Geometry

This section covers direction cosines and direction ratios. It also includes the distance between two points and the section formula.

• Equation of a straight line
• Equation of a plane
• Distance of a point from a plane

Theory of Calculus

Calculus theory includes functions, limits, continuity, and derivatives. It also covers integration and differential equations.

• Functions, composition of two functions and inverse of a function
• Limit, continuity, derivative, chain rule
• Derivative of implicit functions and functions defined parametrically
• Integration as a reverse process of differentiation
• Indefinite integral of standard functions
• Integration by parts, substitution and partial fraction
• Definite integral as a limit of a sum with equal subdivisions
• Fundamental theorem of integral calculus and its applications
• Properties of definite integrals
• Formation of ordinary differential equations
• Solution of homogeneous differential equations
• Separation of variables method
• Linear first order differential equations

Application of Calculus

Applications include tangents, normals, and conditions of tangency. It also covers monotonicity, maxima, and minima.

• Differential coefficient as a measure of rate
• Motion in a straight line with constant acceleration
• Geometric interpretation of definite integral as area
• Calculation of area bounded by elementary curves and straight lines
• Area of the region included between two elementary curves

Permutation and Combination

This section covers permutations of n different things taken r at a time (r ≤ n). It also includes permutations of n things not all different.

• Permutation with repetitions (circular permutation excluded)
• Combinations of n different things taken r at a time (r ≤ n)
• Combination of n things not all different
• Basic properties
• Problems involving both permutations and combinations

Statistics and Probability

Statistics covers measures of dispersion, mean, variance, and standard deviation. It also includes frequency distribution.

• Addition and multiplication rules of probability
• Conditional probability and Bayes’ Theorem
• Independence of events
• Repeated independent trails and Binomial distribution

NATA Preparation Books for Mathematics

The following books are recommended for NATA Mathematics preparation.

NATA Physics Syllabus

The NATA Physics syllabus includes questions from electrostatics. It covers electric charges, fields, and electrostatic potential.

• Current electricity, magnetic effects of current and magnetism
• Moving charges and magnetism, magnetism and matter
• Electromagnetic induction and alternating currents
• Optics, ray optics and optical instruments and wave optics
• Dual nature of radiation and matter
• Atoms and nuclei
• Electronic devices - semiconductor electronics, materials, devices and simple circuits

NATA Syllabus 2024 for Chemistry

Questions are mostly asked from basic concepts of Chemistry. The syllabus includes structure of atoms and classification of elements.

Other topics include periodicity in properties and chemical bonding. States of matter, gases and liquids are also covered.

• Chemical thermodynamics, equilibrium, redox reaction
• Hydrogen, s-block elements, p block elements
• Organic chemistry - basic principles and techniques
• Hydrocarbons and environmental chemistry

NATA Exam Pattern 2024

The NATA 2024 exam pattern includes details like mode of exam, duration, and marking scheme. Candidates should check the exam pattern along with the syllabus.

• NATA 2024 comprises two papers - Paper 1 and Paper 2
• Paper 1 has questions from General Aptitude, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
• Paper 2 includes questions from drawing only
• 1.5 marks are allotted for each correct answer
• No negative marking for unattempted or incorrect answers
• Total duration is 3 hours 15 minutes

NATA 2024 Schedule of Examination

The schedule of the NATA 2024 examination is provided by the conducting body. Candidates must refer to the official notification for exact dates.

NATA Exam Pattern 2024

The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is held in two parts on the same day. The total exam duration is 180 minutes, including a break.

The exam is conducted online. Part A is the Drawing Test, and Part B covers Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (PCM) and General Aptitude.

NATA Preparation Tips 2024

Preparation should focus on understanding the exam pattern and practising regularly. Candidates should read all instructions carefully before starting the exam.

• Read the instructions given carefully. There might be some changes in the pattern.
• Never stick on one question. It may lessen your time for the next question. Jump quickly to next questions.
• Attempt the questions which you find easy to crack initially.
• Answer all the questions because there is no negative marking.
• Understand the NATA Exam pattern properly. It saves you from panic when you see your question paper.
• Do take mock tests twice in a week to check how much have you improved.
• Know your strengths and weaknesses.
• After going through your syllabus once, increase the number of mock tests you take.
• Also, nowadays there are test series available online too. Join and strengthen your NATA preparation to crack the exam.

NATA Syllabus 2024 FAQs

Is there any fixed syllabus for NATA 2024?

No, there is no official syllabus released by CoA. However, candidates are advised to take help of previous year question paper to get an idea about the type of questions asked in the entrance exam.

Can you suggest me some reference books for preparation of NATA 2024 exam?

In order to prepare for NATA, Candidates can refer to the following books given below:

• NATA & B.Arch Complete Self Study Material: Entrance Examination by Ar. Shadan Usmani
• A complete Self Study for B.Arch Entrance Examination 2017 by PK Mishra.
• A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by S.Chand
• NATA (B.Arch) Guide Bachelor of Architecture Ent. Exams by GKP

What is the marking scheme of NATA 2024?

The question paper consists of 200 marks against 53 questions. Candidates will be awarded 1.5 marks for each correct answer in PCM and General Aptitude test.

The drawing paper will be rectified by the panel of more than one examiners independently and an average of marks is taken. 2 drawing questions carries 35 marks and 1 drawing question carries 55 marks. There is No negative marking for incorrect answer. However, incase of tie-breaking, wrong answer will be penalized.

Is NATA necessary for Architecture?

NATA is a compulsory exam for the candidates seeking admission into any Architecture college in India (except NITs and IITs).