NATA Exam - General Aptitude Free Study materials

1. Mathematics and Geometric Aptitude

The syllabus of NATA exam includes mathematics as well as Aptitude. Fortunately, you must note that mathematics syllabus is actually your school/college textbooks. So, I'm not including mathematics topics here while I covered the General Aptitude part at length. I will try to cover Part B (drawing part) in future posts. But if you couldn't find materials or textbooks for maths, let me know in the comment, I will search and add a textbook.

What to start, how to learn the basics of design aptitude? 

How to solve design aptitude, non-verbal, and Ability questions with examples

PART 16

Maths Basics for non-math background design aspirants

How to count no. of surfaces in given solids

Graphics - Front, top, side views, Isometric projections etc

A very quick and good intro to Engineering Drawing

Check till Page 28 - Engineering Graphics basics

For further exercise and Practice

Here is my latest post - Improve imagination, work with 3D solids and unfolding of solid shapes

Some very good video tutorials that helps you with Solid transformations

source : Maths Online

source : Godcast

Orthographic projection examples

Isometric view tutorial

Other downloadable materials

• Slide 1 - Orthographic drawing
• Projection of solids - Front, top and side view guide
• Briefly go through this slides
• Practice with some exercise questions
• Practice only from 14th page - Basic transformation of solids

Basic Geometry study (Just for reference) -

• Basic solid shapes - pdf file here
• More math shape basics - pdf file here
• Geometry - cross-sections
• Area and Perimeter of math shapes - pdf file here 
• Area, Perimeter and volume of standard shapes - pdf file here

More - Sectioning of solids from NPTEL

Exercise PDF 1

Leisure time study - for understanding

Another example

Observation and Visualization skills

Learn a way of Solving number of faces on complex objects >>

2. Nonverbal, Reasoning and Abstract Tests

Water Images online practice 1 

Water Images online practice 2 

Mirror imaging practice 1 

Image mirroring practice 1 

Analytical Reasoning online practice 

Reasoning Online practice 1 

Non verbal reasoning (Image sequence) online 

A sample PDF on non verbal reasoning


Solving Abstract tests will sharpen your observation skills as well as improve your analytical power. So give a try; at least one test (These tests were taken from pscychometric-success.com)

Test 1 - here
Test 2 - here
Test 3 - here
Test 4 - here

Odd man out series exercises

Online practice test - 1

Practice test - 2 Numerical (downloadable)

Online practice test - 3 (Word)

Find the odd picture - warmup worksheet

Some more  odd man out series exercises

Online practice test - 1

Prcatice test - 2 Numerical (downloadable)

Online practice test - 3 (Word)

Find the odd picture - warmup worksheet

3. Architectural related General Aptitude

Roofing, Flooring, Tiling, Building Materials

Floor tiles types PDF

Floor types and treatments - 

With pictures - types of flooring and their advantages

Types of flooring and material uses 

Flooring types used in India 

Flooring materials

Roofing types and materials

7 best roofing materials 

Wikipedia list of roofing material 

Building materials for different climate conditions - 

Properties of Building materials 

Types of construction bonds 

Online - Choosing different building materials for different climate 


Famous Buildings, Architectural styles, constructions etc.

PDF - NCERT collection of state wise architecture in India 

PDF - A detailed list of temples, architectural styles with images 

List of famous temples in India 

Wikipedia detailed list of Hindu temples (overview during free time) -

Era wise Indian architecture (briefly go)

PDF of 100 famous landmarks around the world with images 

Most iconic buildings around the world 

100 most famous landmarks around the world

Another list of famous buildiings

The seven wonders of ancient, medieval, contemporary and modern worlds 

Wonders of the world

Architectural styles timeline (PDF) 

Classical order in Architecture 

20 famous historical sites in India

Free time study 

History of Architecture

Glossery of Architectural terms

Go in free time - 100 famous works of creative sculpture and statues around the world - 

Cultural and complete Architectural collection of India  

Basic terms in design in architectural context 

Terms and Texture

Construction Materials - Quickly overview this book. Only study the part listed here - Timeline, Cultural and Material Context, Application, Grand Master

Texture in wikipedia 

Good guide on Texture in Architecture 

Slideshare presentation on Texture 

Color and pattern in Texture with basic terminology 

Important terms - Architecture Elements and Principles

Free time study and for future reference - Detailed Notes on Architecture

Additional GK general topics

10 Prehistoric cave paintings  

Rock Art in India 

Famous caves in India 

Famous Indian sculpture artists

25 most famous popular sculpture in the world - 

42 famous statues around world  

Free time study

For a list of Indian state paintings and painters  

List of world famous painters 

For a list of Famous Architects - check the end of this page to get the list

famous artists/painters with their pics 

Art history  

Top 10 famous images of indian art  

Indian cultural GA

Check more - 20 famous architectures of the world

Artistic tools, drawing terms and sculpture material

Rock cut Architecture in india

Complete Architecture (state-wise) in INDIA

General Topics

Learn about - Indian epigraphy history

Learn about - Famous inscription in India

Learn more about - Pica in wiki page

4. English and Verbal Reasoning

Sentetnce Correction and Completions

Sentence completion pdf exercises

Free time study on sentence correction prepared for GMAT

Exercise on correct statement selection 

Vocabulary Study Materials 

A good PDF on Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies, Reading comprehension, sentence completion, right word etc.) 

India GK online Practice

5. Sketching/Drawing

The following links might help you teach/learn on how to draw from memory/imagination

Here is a blog with few tips on how to draw from memory 

Another blog explains their own way of drawing 

Leisure time study

Superb book for learning sketching techniques and different facets of design (including perspective, shadowing, shading, texture, architectural facts etc) - Design drawing by Francis D.K.Ching

A (very famous) complete pdf book "Basic Rendering" from Robert W.Gill, which covers most of the rendering topics including perspective projections (For those wishing to learn sketching/rendering)

(More drawing related materials would be added soon)

Disclaimer: The materials shared here are a collection of PDFs and online resources collected from the internet to ease your study process. The topics chosen are purely based on the analysis of the sample previous papers and may not include 100% topics.