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What Is NATA and Why Does It Matter in 2026?
The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is a test that students hoping to pursue a five-year Bachelor of Architecture course in India after 12th standard must take. NATA is organised by the Council of Architecture (CoA), under the Architects Act, 1972. NATA is not a rote memory exam. It aims to assess the student's ability to think spatially, draw, reason, and perceive the surrounding man-made environment with moral awareness.
This year, the Council of Architecture officially published the NATA 2026 (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) notification on March 8, 2026, and opened the entry portal on nata. On March 9, 2026. It will be accepted for Architecture Colleges B.Arch courses in consideration of admission for approximately 365 architecture colleges across India. NATA is different from other competitive exams because students can take it up to 3 times and choose the best score, and for admission purposes, that score will be accepted. For students who are passionate about design, proportion, sketching, and creative problem-solving, NATA is the best way to enter an architecture course.
NATA 2026 Exam Schedule
The 2026 NATA exam occurs in two phases, which is quite different from previous cycles. Phase 1 runs from 04 April to 13 June 2026. This phase will have exams on all Fridays and Saturdays. Friday exams will have one session, while Saturday exams will have two. For Phase 1, candidates can take two attempts, and the usual practice is to consider the better of the two attempts for the final score.
Phase 2 is for those who did not attempt Phase 1. This phase will have only one exam window on 07 and 08 August 2026 to fill the leftover seats in the supplementary admission window. It is important to note that candidates who attempted Phase 1 cannot attempt Phase 2. Results will be available within 7-14 days of each exam attempt. NATA admits that admit cards are made available to candidates on their accounts on the website nata. In a few days before the exam. To take the exam, candidates must have their admit cards and a government ID that includes a photograph.
What are the Criteria for NATA 2026?
The first criterion is to determine whether the applicants can appear for the NATA test, and the second is to understand the formal admission procedure for the Bachelor of Architecture degree. Just qualifying for NATA does not mean a candidate will secure a seat in college.
To register for NATA 2026, the candidate must have cleared or be appearing for the 10+2 level final exams. The candidate must have Physics and Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: (i) Chemistry, (ii) Biology, (iii) Vocational Technical subject, (iv) Computer Science, (v) Information Technology, (vi) Engineering Graphics. Students who have completed or are doing the 10+3 Diploma, in which Mathematics is included, are also eligible.
Candidates in Class 11 can no longer sit for NATA. The provision for Class 11 students to attempt NATA has also been removed for 2026. The candidate must be 17 years old as of July 31, 2026. There is no upper age limit. To be eligible for a B.Arch degree, students must secure at least 45% in the qualifying examination.
Structure of the Exam, Syllabus, and Scoring
Formulated for the year 2026, NATA lasts 3 hours, has a total possible score of 200 marks, and is divided into two halves. The first half, Part A, lasts 90 minutes and is a paper-based drawing and composition, worth 80 marks. There are three questions for the test, with candidates required to draw a building and its environment, including details of scale, proportion, texture, and shading. This section also tests the candidates' understanding of the use of colour in a composition and the 3D forms.
The second half of the test, Part B, is a computer-based section, worth 120 marks, containing 45 questions divided into four types. The four types are Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Select Questions, Preferential Choice Questions, and Numerical Answer Type. This section contains a test of visual reasoning, logical derivation, awareness of architecture and its related numerics, and a general sense of the subject. There is no negative marking for either of the sections of the test.
To be considered qualified, candidates must score a minimum of 20 out of 80 for Part A, 30 out of 120 for Part B, and a total of 70 out of 200 for the overall test. The total score is not considered for candidates who do not meet all of these three criteria.
Application Process, Fee and College Admissions
All applications for NATA 2026 will be filled online via nata.in. Students will create a login, complete their personal and educational details as found in their Class 10 records, upload a photo and a signature, select their preferred exam cities, and complete the payment process online. Payment must be made via debit or credit card or net banking, as no offline payment will be accepted.
The NATA exam will remain valid for 2 years. After the results are declared, the Council of Architecture (CoA) holds no Central Counselling. Students will be required to apply to the colleges of their choice and fulfil the additional requirements of each institution.
There are 365 institutions across India that accept the NATA testing scores. Students will be required to apply early in Phase 1, as testing slots in popular cities will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
FAQ Portion
Q1. What does NATA 2026 mean?
NATA 2026 means National Aptitude Test in Architecture, which is organised by the Council of Architecture (CoA). It is a compulsory entrance examination organised for students aspiring to be admitted to a recognised college for a five-year Bachelor of Architecture program in India.
Q2. When is NATA 2026 happening?
Phase 1 will take place every Friday and Saturday between April 4, 2026, and June 13, 2026. Phase 2 will take place on August 7 and 8 in the same year for candidates who will not appear in Phase 1.
Q3. Who is eligible for NATA 2026?
Students who have appeared in or are currently pursuing Class 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects, or students with a 10+3 Diploma with Mathematics, are eligible. The minimum age requirement is 17 years as of July 31, 2026. Students in Class 11 are not allowed to appear this year.
Q4. What are the qualifying marks in NATA 2026?
Candidates are required to obtain at least 20 marks in Part A out of 80 marks, 30 marks in Part B out of 120 marks, and a total of 70 marks out of 200 marks.
Q5. Number of attempts in NATA 2026?
A maximum of three attempts is allowed — two for Phase 1 and one for Phase 2. However, an applicant who appeared in Phase 1 is not allowed to appear for Phase 2.
Q6. Is there negative marking in NATA 2026?
There is no negative marking in NATA 2026 for both the drawing section and the computer-based section.
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