NATA
National Aptitude Test in Architecture
NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) is the Council of Architecture's aptitude test for admission to the five-year B.Arch. degree in India, held since 2006. CoA regulations require B.Arch. applicants to qualify an aptitude test in architecture — NATA or the NTA's JEE — and the admissions themselves are made by state, UT and institutional admission authorities. NATA 2026 had two parts: Part A, an offline drawing and composition test (three questions, 80 marks), and Part B, a computer-based adaptive test (42 multiple-choice and 8 no-choice questions, 120 marks) covering visual reasoning, logical derivation, general knowledge of architecture and design, language interpretation, design sensitivity and numerical ability. The test is set in English and Hindi, and a NATA 2026 score is valid for the 2026–27 academic session.
Frequency
NATA 2026 — Phase 1: Fridays and Saturdays from 4 April to 13 June 2026 (up to two attempts, for centralised admission counselling); Phase 2: 7–8 August 2026 (one attempt, for seats left vacant after counselling). A candidate may sit only one phase.
Duration
3 hours: Part A (drawing and composition, offline) 90 minutes + Part B (computer-based adaptive test) 90 minutes — NATA 2026
Format
Computer or paper
Score range
200: Part A 80 + Part B 120 (NATA 2026). Phase 1 scorecards show the best raw score and a percentile score; Phase 2 shows a raw score only. No minimum raw score is prescribed for qualifying.
Eligibility
To sit NATA 2026: passed or appearing in Class 10+2 with the subjects the Council prescribes, or in a 10+3 Diploma with Mathematics. For B.Arch. admission (CoA Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 2020): 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects plus one of Chemistry, Biology, a technical vocational subject, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics or Business Studies, with at least 45% aggregate — or a 10+3 Diploma with Mathematics as a compulsory subject and at least 45% aggregate.
Conducting body
Council of Architecture (CoA)
Registration fee
₹1,750 per test for General and OBC (NCL) candidates; ₹1,250 for SC, ST, EWS and PwD; ₹1,000 for transgender candidates; ₹15,000 for a test outside India (NATA 2026, non-refundable)
Source: Council of Architecture (CoA). Details here are for guidance only — fees, dates and eligibility change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
Verified against: Council of Architecture — NATA official site; NATA 2026 Information Brochure, Version 2.0 (10 April 2026); NATA 2026 — fee structure; NATA 2026 — schedule of dates.
Last verified: 30 September 2026.
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