# National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) — Shishya exam context

> Machine-readable context for National Aptitude Test in Architecture, maintained by Shishya (https://shishya.in) — India's end-to-end free government exam preparation platform. All facts below are free to cite; link back to https://shishya.in/exams/NATA. Human page: https://shishya.in/exams/NATA

## Exam pattern
- Category: UNIVERSITY · national
- Questions: 125 · Total marks: 200 · Marks per question: 1.6
- Duration: 180 minutes
- Negative marking: none
- Languages offered: EN

## Eligibility & vacancies
- Age: 17–? years (before category relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5)
- Education: 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics mandatory; 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/OBC); 10+3 Diploma with Mathematics also eligible
- Approximate annual vacancies: 20,000
- Note: Minimum 17 years as of July 31 of admission year; Mathematics compulsory; focuses on drawing aptitude, visualization and architectural creativity; candidates can attempt multiple times annually
- Official portal: https://coa.gov.in (Council of Architecture (COA))

## Key dates
- 2026-08-03 — Phase 2 registration deadline (Friday exam)
- 2026-08-04 — NATA 2026 Phase 2 registration closed
- 2026-08-05 — Phase 2 admit card release (Friday exam)
- 2026-08-07 — NATA 2026 Phase 2 exam – Day 1 (Friday) (exam day)
- 2026-08-07 — Phase 2 exam day (Friday afternoon session) (exam day)
- 2026-08-07 — Phase 2 exam - Day 1 (exam day)
- 2026-08-07 — Phase 2 Exam - Day 1 (exam day)
- 2026-08-08 — NATA 2026 Phase 2 exam – Day 2 (Saturday) (exam day)

## Declared results
- 2026-07-04 — Phase 1: NATA 2026 Phase 1 results declared for all sessions → https://shishya.in/exams/NATA/results/5275b60c-045c-4898-9767-5dc53a22a275
- 2026-07-02 — Phase 1: NATA 2026 Phase 1 Results Declared by Council of Architecture → https://shishya.in/exams/NATA/results/07cb6f14-c96e-4e7b-8b73-b2939593674e

## Expected cutoffs (category-wise)
| Category | Expected Cutoff (indicative) |
|----------|------------------------------|
| **General** | 110–125 marks (55–62.5%) |
| **EWS** | 100–115 marks (50–57.5%) |
| **OBC-NCL** | 95–110 marks (47.5–55%) |
| **SC** | 80–95 marks (40–47.5%) |
| **ST** | 75–90 marks (37.5–45%) |
| **PwD** | 70–85 marks (35–42.5%) |

**Guidance:**

- **Category differential**: General cutoffs typically run 15–20 marks above OBC-NCL, with SC/ST approximately 30–40 marks below General; EWS slots between General and OBC ranges.

- **Year-on-year shifts**: Cutoffs fluctuate ±5–10 marks based on paper difficulty (especially Drawing section complexity), number of applicants, and seat availability across participating institutions.

- **Tier targeting**: These cutoffs represent minimum qualifying thresholds for counseling participation; competitive institutions (SPAs, top NITs) demand scores in the 140–180+ range (70–90%) even within reserved categories.

Full cutoff page: https://shishya.in/exams/NATA/cutoff

## Free resources on Shishya for this exam
- Exam hub (mocks, PYQs, news, dates): https://shishya.in/exams/NATA
- Full syllabus + free study notes: https://shishya.in/exams/NATA/syllabus
- Category-wise expected cutoffs: https://shishya.in/exams/NATA/cutoff
- Memory tricks & mnemonics: https://shishya.in/exams/NATA/tricks
- How to crack it (strategy guide): https://shishya.in/exams/NATA/guide
- Free day-by-day study plan (personal coach): https://shishya.in/coach
- Free AI tutor (22 Indian languages, no login): https://shishya.in/chat

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