NID DAT Mains 2025 Syllabus and Exam Papers

NID is regarded as one of the most prestigious institutes for design, making it a top priority for many aspiring students. The first phase of the NID B.Des 2025 entrance exam, known as DAT Prelims, was conducted on January 5, 2025. With the Prelims now completed, the focus shifts to the DAT Mains, a crucial stage for candidates striving to secure admission. Students who will be qualified in the first phase will go straight to the second and final round of the NID .

NID is known for maintaining its rigorous selection process, ensuring that only the most Students with creative and problem solving aptitude make it through. In this discussion, we will explore the key aspects of the NID B.Des DAT Mains.

The final selection for the NID B.Des program is based on a composite score, with the DAT Prelims accounting for 40% and the DAT Mains carrying a higher weightage of 60%.

NID B.Des 2025 Handbook

Components of DAT Mains

The NID B,Des DAT Mains exam is a three-hour offline test conducted at five designated NID campuses—Ahmedabad, Kurukshetra, Vijayawada, Bhopal, and Jorhat. Candidates are required to complete four to five tasks that assess their creativity, observation skills, visualization, material handling, and design thinking. The exam aims to evaluate a candidate’s creative proficiency beyond theoretical knowledge.

The tasks in NID DAT Mains will fall under the following broad categories:
🔹 Audio-Visual Interpretation
🔹 Observation & Analytical Skills
🔹 Sketching & Illustration
🔹 Material Exploration & Model Making

This structure ensures a well-rounded assessment of a candidate’s design aptitude and problem-solving abilities.

The Audio-Visual Round requires students to understand and interpret video or audio clips, derive meaningful insights from the given content. Students must be prepared to showcase their observation skills, which will be assessed through various tasks over the three-hour exam. Through sketching or doodling, they will be required to present innovative design solutions to the given challenges. Therefore, students must be well-versed in creative concepts and design principles.

Lastly, in studio test/material exploration  round candidates are required to work with given set of materials such as paper, wires, clay, pins, toothpicks, rubber bands, fabric etc This round assesses a student’s ability to skillfully manipulate materials and createwell-structured, functional models that demonstrate both creativity and practicality.

Key Considerations for 3D Model Making:

✅ Practical & Relevant Solutions – Ensure the model effectively addresses the given problem statement.
✅ Material Understanding – Use the materials wisely, considering their properties and limitations.

✅ Structural Soundness & Balanced Design – The model should be well-built, secure, and evenly designed, ensuring it holds its shape and functions as intended. A well-constructed model reflects a strong grasp of design principles and usability.

✅ Clear Concept Communication – The model should communicate its purpose effortlessly, making it easy for viewers to understand its function without additional explanation. A well-crafted design should visually convey its intended concept at a glance.

✅ Creativity & Uniqueness – Introduce elements that make your design stand out and differentiate it from others.

 

 

NID DAT Mains Question Paper:

Question 1: Audio and visual exercise
(audio, video and images Will be played for you, and the questions would be asked on the basis of it.

video link :

 

Peck pocketed (QUESTIONS)

1.What was written on the hoarding?
2.What thing that pick told from the lady? Write it in sequence.
3. How many diamonds were there in the ladies spectacles?
4. How many things did she put into the purse?

AUDIO

listen to the Sound and answer the questions. Identify and list down list out the different sounds write it in the same sequence.
visualisation pattern sequence, observe the pattern shown, draw the exact in the same sequence with same texture and pattern

 

Audio link:

 

Question 2: constructor balance structure without using any glue.

Material Handling:

Material List:
Mount board, scissor, cutter, ruler

 

Question 3: Clay modelling
terracotta clay, sponge, a water container, a hacksaw blade is provided design a model or a mascot. “Stop smoking.”

 

Question 4: Draw five abstract shape, convert them into animals.

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