NID-DAT syllabus - List of topics to be covered

Last year (2015), we deduced syllabus for DAT exam based on the three headings, as given in NID official brochure: 

1. Knowledge based question test
2. Comprehension based test and
3. Analytical and Reasoning based questions

Based on the above three topic headings, I had shared materials (resources) on the page - NID-DAT topics and resources. While the brochure hadn't elaborated on the type of questions to be covered or any sample test, we came up with the above collections for self-preparation. Now that they have updated a sample test paper in their (NID) official webpage for this year (2016), it's more convenient for us to figure out the kind of questions asked and the pattern that they follow. Let me update you with the topics or areas that you need to focus for objective part. I suppose subjective part is easily identifiable every year. I, therefore, focus on objective part in this post.

Note: 

• Unlike CEED/UCEED DAT exams, NID DAT seems to cover more on GK (I mean GK, and not GA on design). 
• Also, only basic math questions are likely to be asked rather than aptitude level questions as asked in other DAT exams like UCEED. So, no need to dig deeply (study intensively) into math aptitude part. Basic knowledge is however recommended. 
• Below lists are based on my observation of sample test paper and have been shared just for your benefit. Some of these topics might or might not directly impact your preparation but most probably they will help you to face any design exams. And most importantly below list is not exhaustive (complete). Still, more topics have to be added that I will try to update whenever something strikes my mind.

Downloadable PDF - A complete list of SYL links for NID-DAT exam (sitemap) 

Topics list

General topics

• Color schemes
• Mirroring
• Background on civilization, revolutions, archeology 
• Knowledge about various measurement 'Index' in Indian context (index for measurements like GDP, inflation etc)
• Doodles - concept behind designer related doodles
• Knowledge on print/packaging standard, logos/symbols representations like 'disposable', 'recyclable', R -registered, trademarks, copyrights etc
• Basic idea about materials used for daily products, process of manufacturing products
• Pug marks, patterns on animal skins, footprints etc, Biology symmetry
• Geographical knowledge about countries, places etc
• Logos of Indian brands and government department, institutes etc 
• Odd man out series
• Paper cuts, pattern fitting, image manipulations
• Pictorial Mensuration
• Properties of materials like iron, solids, plastic, wood, rubber etc
• Inertia concepts, how solid and hollow objects behave. 
• Mechanical ability
• Reasoning
• Inference from pictures. correct word representing the meaning from the given image.
• conclusion drawing from paragraphs, images etc
• Basic solid Shapes (as in mathematics), and their properties (number of surfaces/faces, edges, corners etc)
• Basic mathematical aptitude (simple formulae and mensuration concepts)
  Image patterns, observation - finding patterns/match from similar/different small shapes. 
• Shadows
• Probability
• Aesthetics
• Riddles/puzzles
• Paper cutting, folding etc

Design topics:

Terms and techniques related to 

• weaving/stitching
• construction
• pottery
• Building 
• Architecture
• Principals and Fundamentals of Prototyping (modeling), related terms, techniques, media and tools used, basic knowledge on materials for prototype making, steps followed, 
• basic knowledge on molding and crafting. Crafting media, tools, related terms etc, theory on black box 
• Terms, techniques, methods, movies (famous as well as related) in Animation related movies
• step-by-step animation process 

General GK and GA

• GK on generally (day-to-day) used products/objects/things, gadgets, appliances, vegetables
• Knowledge about books, authors, great personalities including sports, politicians, designers, revolution activist etc
• Epics and Renaissance
• Form of products, regularly used things like vegetables etc
• GK on environment and pollution - terms, categories, methods, ideas, 
• GA about paintings/art - statewise as well as glimpse on international art
• Terms and techniques related to sculpturing, webpage design,
• GK fact on sciene, earth, findings,  
• Full forms of famous abbreviations (like UNESCO etc)
• GK on natural disasters ioccured in history, including recent one's especially in India
• Roots/source of famous writings, books (like 'Amar charithra', panchatantra, Jataka tales, tinkle etc)
• Symmetry in biology
• GK on books published through designers/design teaching professors basein IIT's/NID 
• GA on Art/Media, Font, linguistic, 

English

• English Comprehension, completing sentences, 
• deducing meaningful statements from paragraphs

Since most of you can have access to aptitude and reasoning books, cost of which is comparatively less than any NID/UCEED/CEED books, I, therefore, list out the topics from those books.  I will list out the topics with their ranking in brackets. A very high rank (high being 5) means you are advised to prepare to the full for that topics, and a very low rating (low being 1), means you are advised not to spend much time on that and any rating in between means you are advised to give importance accordingly (time).

Verbal Reasoning

• Syllogism (5)
• Logical Sequence of Words (1)
• Blood Relation Test (2)
• Series Completion (2)
• Cause and Effect (3)
• Dice, Venn Diagrams (1)
• Cube and Cuboid (3)
• Analogy (2)
• Seating Arrangement (3)
• Character Puzzles (4)
• Direction Sense Test (5) 
• Arithmetic Reasoning (2)
• calendar (2)

Non Verbal Reasoning

• Series (4)
• Analogy (4)
• Classification (5)
• Analytical Reasoning (5)
• Mirror Images & Water Images (4)
• Embedded Images (2)
• Pattern Completion  (5)
• Figure Matrix (3)
• Paper Folding (5)
• Paper Cutting (5)
• Rule Detection (4)
• Grouping of Images (3)
• Shape Construction (2)
• Image Analysis (4)
• Cubes and Dice (4)

Aptitude topics  - Average, Area, menstruations, odd man out series, height and distance, speed, trains, 

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Overall, apart from memory related questions like GK, GA etc, most questions are every day appearing common sense based and hence it calls for lot of observation from your end, apart from searching for some materials offline or online. So, start observing your surrounding things/products, and try to answer some of your own questions. I will try to gather relevant materials in my next post, covering some/most of the above topics.

Like I mentioned in the beginning, above list is purely base don my analysis of the sample test paper and hopefully, all the topics are been of concern for NID DAT exam. And this list is still not complete and needs to be added with more topics. If you find something missing, you can always leave comment below for others benefit.

Good luck :)

Also see

NID-DAT 2016 official sample test paper asnwer key