NATA Syllabus

Conducted by the Council of Architecture (COA), the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is a national-level entrance examination taken by those wanting to get admission to the 5-year Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) program. The NATA scores form a crucial part of the eligibility criteria for the undergraduate courses offered by the best architecture colleges in India. The exam aims to assess the knowledge of varied theoretical and practical concepts of the academic discipline of Architecture along with analyzing the candidate’s drawing and observation skills, aesthetic sensitivity, analytical thinking and sense of proportion. If you are planning to appear for this exam and don’t know where to begin, here is a comprehensive blog that will walk you through the different aspects of the NATA syllabus as well as the concepts you need to study.

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NATA 2023 Exam Pattern

Candidates will be able to check the details regarding the NATA 2023 exam pattern from the table given below:

Particulars	Details
Mode	Computer-Based Test (Online)
Duration	3 hours
Medium	English
Sections	Aptitude
Number of Questions	125
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)Preferential Answer Type Questions (PAQ)Numerical Answer Type Questions (NAQ)

Must Read: NATA Exam Pattern

Subject Wise Marks Distribution

Subject	Number of questions	Marks allotted	Examination mode
Mathematics	20	40	MCQ (Online)
General Aptitude	40	80	MCQ (Online)
Drawing test	02	80	Paper and Pencil

Marking Scheme

• 75 Questions – 1 mark will be given for every correct answer
• 25 Questions – 2 marks will be given for every correct answer
• 25 Questions – 3 marks will be given for every correct answer

Check Parameters for NATA 2023

Applicants taking the NATA must be familiar with the exam syllabus in order to prepare well. The most recent syllabus details are listed below.

Aptitude Test Parameters	Testing Ability
Diagrammatic Reasoning	Uses diagrams and scenarios to assess the candidate’s logical reasoning abilities.
Logical Reasoning	The ability of the candidate to recognise patterns, sequences, or correlations between shapes and visuals is tested.
Verbal Reasoning	Examines the candidate’s ability to evaluate verbal logic.
Situational Judgment	Examines the candidate’s problem-solving abilities.
Inductive Reasoning	This exam assesses the candidate’s ability to recognise patterns and analyse presented data.
Numerical Reasoning	Simple problems are used to assess the candidate’s arithmetic competence.
Abstract Reasoning	This test evaluates a candidate’s general knowledge and ability to apply knowledge in new contexts.

Must Read: Types of Reasoning Questions in Competitive Exams

Other Topics for NATA 2023

The authorities also propose several more areas for measuring candidates’ comprehension of fundamental concepts:

• Mathematics
• Physics and Geometry
• Language and interpretation
• Elements and Principles of Design
• Aesthetic sensitivity
• Colour theory
• Lateral thinking and logical reasoning
• Visual Perception and cognition
• Graphics and imagery
• Building Anatomy and architectural vocabulary
• Basic techniques of building construction and knowledge of material
• General knowledge and current affairs

Eligibility Criteria for NATA Exam

• Qualification: The applicant should pass an examination scheme of 10+2.
• Necessary Percentage: Applicants must have at least 50% aggregate marks in physics, chemistry, and mathematics and also, in the aggregate, at least 50% marks of 10 + 2 or 10 + 3 diploma of Mathematics as a compulsory subject, with an aggregate score of at least 50 per cent.
• Appearing Applicants: Applicants presenting for the 10 + 2 exam in the current year may also be provisionally identified in the examination.

NATA Syllabus

Before elaborating on the NATA syllabus, it is important to understand the structure of this exam. Organised twice a year, this test aims to evaluate candidates on a variety of parameters, i.e. Mathematics, General Aptitude and Drawing. The NATA exam pattern is bifurcated into 2 parts i.e Part A and Part B. Part A includes a written test evaluating candidates on the two sections of Mathematics and General Aptitude whereas Part B tests the drawing skills. 

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NATA Syllabus: Sections Explained

In both parts A and B, a total of three sections are covered. To help you understand the concepts they cover, the following paragraphs elucidate these sections of the NATA syllabus in further detail:

1. Mathematics

The section of mathematics holds a vast range of concepts and topics amongst others. the maximum topics of the NATA syllabus. Below we have listed the varied components covered under this section:

• Logarithms: General Properties; Change of Base; Definitions
• Trigonometry: Addition and Subtraction Formulae, Functions of Trigonometry, Solutions of Trigonometric Equations, Properties of Triangles, Formulae involving Multiple and Submultiple Angles
• Algebra: General Terms; Definitions of A.P. and G.P.; Geometric/Arithmetic Series; A.M, G.M and their Relations; Summation of first n terms of series Σn, Σn^2, Σn^3;  Infinite G.P. series and its Sum
• Matrices: Operations of Additions; Scalar Multiplication; Concepts of m x n (m≤3, n≤3); Real Matrices; Determinants of Square Matrices; Transport of Matrix; Inverse of Matrix; Non-singular Matrix; Area of a Triangle; Properties of Determinants (statement only); Minor Cofactor and Adjoint of a Matrix; Solution of System of Linear Equations (not more than 3 variables)
• Coordinate Geometry: Section Formula; Condition of Collinearity of Three Points in a Plane; Area of Triangle; Distance Formula; Polar Coordinates; Parallel Transformation of Axis; Transformation from Cartesian to Polar Coordinates; Concept of Locus; Elementary Locus Problems; Equations of Lines in Different Forms; Angle Between Two Parallel Lines; Distance Between two Parallel Lines; Equation of a Circle with a Given Radius and Centre; Lines through the Point of Intersection of Two Lines; Equation of a Circle in Terms of Endpoints of a Diameter. 
• Application of Calculus: Conditions of Tangency; Tangents and Normals; Determinants of Monotonicity; Differential Coefficient as a Measure of Rate; Maxima and Minima; Motion in a Straight Line with Constant Acceleration; Calculation of Area Bounded by Elementary Curves and Straight Lines; Geometric Interpretation of Definite Integral as Area.
• 3-Dimensional Coordinate Geometry: Distance between two points and Section Formula; Equation of Straight Line; Direction Cosines and Direction Ratios; Distance from a Point and Plane; Equation of Plane
• Theory of Calculus: Composition of Two Functions and Inverse of a Function; Continuity; Limit; Functions; Chain Rule; Integration as a Reverse Process of Differentiation; Definite Integral as a Limit of a Sum with Equal Subdivisions; Integration by Parts; Derivatives of Implicit Functions and Functions Defined Parametrically; Properties of Definite Integrals; Solution of Homogeneous Differential Equations; Linear First-Order Differential Equations.
• Permutation and Combination: Permutation of ‘n’ things which are not different; Permutation with repetition (circular Permutation excluded); Permutation of ‘n’ different things taken ‘r’ at a time (r ≤ n), problems involving both Permutation and combinations.
• Statistics and Probability: Measure of dispersion, variance, mean and standard deviation, frequency distribution, conditional probability and Baye’s theorem, Measure of dispersions, addition and multiplication rules of probability

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2. General Aptitude

This section of the NATA syllabus covers the textures, and objects related to architecture and built environment, interpretation of the pictorial composition, visualizing different sides of 3-D objects as well as from the perspective of two-dimensional drawing, general awareness of national/ international architects, mental ability (numerical, visual and verbal), analytical reasoning, amongst others. Further, it contains two sub-sections:

1. Sets and Relations: Intersection and Difference of Sets; Idea of Sets; Complement and Union of Sets, Subset, Power of Sets, De Morgan’s Law, Relation and its Properties, Venn Diagram, Equivalence Relation.
2. Mathematical Reasoning: Logical operations like ‘or’, and, ‘if and only if’, ‘implied by’, ‘implies’, ‘statements’, ‘understanding of tautology’, ‘converse, contradiction and contrapositive’.
3. General: Items and textures from architecture and the built world. Pictorial composition interpretation, Creating three-dimensional images from two-dimensional drawings. Visualizing various aspects of 3D objects. Reasoning analytically and mental ability (visual, numerical and verbal), Basic knowledge of national/international architects and notable architectural works

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3. Drawing Test

This section of the NATA syllabus is organised as a pen-and-paper test which evaluates the creative and aesthetic skills of the candidates. It aims to assess the aspirants on varied parameters such as understanding of geometric compositions, shape, building forms, objects, aesthetics, colour, textures, contrast, building forms and elements, form transformation in 2D and 3D like union, drawing of patterns-both geometrical and abstract, creating a 2D and 3D composition using given shape and forms, conceptualization and visualization through structuring objects in memory. This section of the NATA syllabus is organised as a pen-and-paper test which evaluates the creative and aesthetic skills of the candidates. 

• It aims to assess the aspirants on varied parameters such as understanding of geometric compositions, shape, building forms, objects, aesthetics, colour, textures, contrast, building forms and elements, form transformation in 2D and 3D like union, drawing of patterns-both geometrical and abstract, creating a 2D and 3D composition using given shape and forms, conceptualization and visualization through structuring objects in memory. 
• Spatial intelligence-Geometry and visualise the shape as well as geometrical puzzles
• Colour scheme awareness and knowledge
• Cognitive ability

Also Read: Masters in Architecture in Canada 

Tips to Crack NATA Exam

1. Read the bulletin carefully and understand the instructions given in it. This will be very helpful in saving time and effort.
2. Practice drawing human figures. Besides, Drawing skills are an important part of most of the prospect questions.
3. Develop the skill in order to solve the question.
4. Understand the problem: Some questions can be solved just by reading them; others may need you to understand them fully before you can sketch anything related to it. Therefore, read the problem statement carefully and try to visualize it clearly in your mind before you start sketching anything related to it.
5. Material rendering: It is important to learn how materials reflect and absorb light, especially from natural sources such as sun or moonlight, or artificial sources such as a lamp or lightning; so that you can create shadows accordingly.
6. Shadow, shade way: Besides, Various online sources are there for the same. However, as far as the Nata exam is concerned, we prefer practising drawing figures only with no shadows at all! If you have time left over after practising figure drawings with shadows, then practice drawing figures without them! This will be very helpful in saving time.

Reference Books for NATA 2023

Given below are some of the best books that can be considered to get a great score in the Nata exam 2023:

Books	Links
1NATA Entrance Exam Guide	Click Here to Buy!
Study Guide for B.Arch 2022	Click Here to Buy!
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning	Click Here to Buy!
Quantitative Aptitude	Click Here to Buy!
Higher Algebra	Click Here to Buy!

NATA 2023 Exam Schedule

Exam Timing	Exam Duration	Section/Part	Number of Questions & Marks	Total
10 am to 12:15 pm	135 Minutes	Part A (Online) Drawing Test	3 Questions of 35 marks, 35 marks and 55 marks	125 Marks
Intermission Period of 15 Minutes (12:15 pm to 12:30 pm)
12:30 pm to 1:15 pm	45 Minutes	Part B (Online): PCM	15 Questions x 1.5 marks
		Part B: General Aptitude-Logical Reasoning	35 Questions x 1.5 marks	75 marks

Conclusion

Finally, NATA syllabus preparation necessitates hard work and attention. It is critical to understand the syllabus, its components, and the major themes and chapters. Establishing a timeline and assigning sufficient time to each topic are also essential. It is also critical to practise as much as possible and to use the appropriate materials. The NATA exam can be easily aced with adequate preparation and devotion.

FAQs

Hence, we hope that this blog has helped you comprehend the NATA syllabus. If you are aspiring to pursue a degree in architecture and don’t where to begin, take the help of Leverage Edu’s AI tool to browse through an array of courses and universities in this field and find an ideal combination that suits your interests and aspirations. Further, sign up for a 30-minute free career counselling with our experts and we’ll guide you throughout the application process of your chosen program to ensure that you get successfully selected and take the right step towards your dream career in architecture.