NATA to be conducted twice every year from 2019; know 4 crucial changes proposed

Proposed Changes

Reason Cited

Number of Attempts

The entrance exam will now be held twice a year.

• First Attempt - Mid-April

• Second Attempt - First week of July

Candidates will have the option to appear in any one, or both the attempts

Which score will be accepted if candidate appears in both attempts

In such a case, the better of the two scores will be considered.

When the exam was conducted once a year, there were complaints from various stakeholders that it clashed with board exams.

Also, some boards approached COA to postpone the exam or conduct two exams.

With NATA to be held twice a year now onward, candidates will have the option to appear in the attempt that doesn’t clash with their board exam.

Exam Pattern

Earlier both Aptitude test and Drawing test were of 90 minutes each. But now the duration for:

• Aptitude test has been reduced to 60 minutes, while

• Drawing test is increased to 120 from

Officials are of the view that the high failure rate of Drawing test could be improved if candidates have more time in their hands.

As for reducing the time of Aptitude test, it is not known though how it will play out.

National-level Centralized Counselling

In current system, candidates need to apply separately to colleges, which may be located all across the country, meaning it was very taxing. With a centralized process, the candidate don't have to hop around.

Another reason is many seats go unoccupied in decentralized counselling, which can easily be filled through the centralized process.

• In such cases if seats in a college remain vacant even after accommodating all local candidates, such seats will be offered to candidates from other states.

Eligibility Criteria for Qualifying Exam (10+2)

Candidates now need to score minimum 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Previously, the candidate needed to only study Mathematics as one of the compulsory subjects in 10+2

Garg opined that there more technology-oriented construction is happening today, which warrants that architecture aspirants are conversant with Physics and Chemistry, in addition to Mathematics.

Special note for Students from Humanities

They can also pursue B.Arch course, provided they take additional exams conducted for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics by CBSE.