How to start and what to practice for NID-DAT exam

You can keep this PDF - A PDF with a complete list of SYL links to the NID exam

DAT Prelims covers the following (syllabus and pattern/markings listed in the official website is the same for both BDes and MDes)

• Knowledge
• Analysis
• Visualization
• Comprehension
• Creativity

Part A - MCQ for 70 points

Part B - Subjective for 30 points

Though Part A accounts to 70% of total marks compared to part B, the later (part B) needs ample amount of time for preparation. Because, as you know, sketching/drawing cannot be learned in a night. You cannot schedule it on the last week or on the last day unless you're skilled enough (above average or an artist by nature - with full confidence of making sketches in the stipulated time during the exam. In fact, this is not just about sketching, this is also about design/creative ideas. Your creative thoughts need to be refined by the time you reach the exam date. For that, you better practice on more design questions. So, assuming that you have a sufficient amount of time for preparation, start with sketching and practice on creative questions.

 
NID MDes CDAT new pattern - what is it and how to deal with it?

If your exam is around two months, then start your GK practice. GK here also includes general design aptitude like idea about famous designers, personalities, products etc. (You can check the suggested list of syllabus here) 

Imagination/creativity plays a major role in your performance, esp. for NID. So, you better prioritize it. Below, I'm giving a few points as strategizes.

Strategies

1. 

Start with basic sketches and then move on to making sketches minding details like texture, shadows, and, by giving importance to the shape of the object/human, size/proportion, view etc. In parallel, you can choose to study 'English' or 'comprehension'' part of Part A. 

2. 

Observe through existing sketches/drawings and understand 

• Details (shading, shadows, proportion of objects/human)
• Perspective and view
• Picturization
• Imagination of the artist - what is he trying to portray or communicate?
• Simplicity etc.

3. 

Set a weekly timetable - Based on your time and availability, plan for the preparation. You can choose to do weekly, bi-weekly or even every day. Spare some time for your preparation. If you've time and have good memory power too, dedicate some time for GK study too. Latest GK topics would be helpful to you apart from general knowledge questions including those studied during school days. 

Here's my strategy - as part of weekly timetable for NID preparation

4. 

If you are a beginner or average at sketching, then you need to do more work. Start by simply copy-sketching and after you improve on copy sketching, move to the next level of drawing those sketches in some other view/direction. This calls for your imagination skills. Once you do sufficient amount of practice on this, move on to the next level of creating your own sketches out of your imagination. You can consider some real-life examples or if you are out of questions, you can refer to this page on subjective questions for practice. 

5. 

Practice first on object sketching (drawing objects, humans/animals in a particular situation or in a particular instant - like an infant playing with a toy etc.) Practice lesser on scenarios or keep it as secondary practice giving priority to object sketching.

Subjective practice questions for BDes

Subjective practice questions for MDes

6. 

As you approach near to the exam (say only a few weeks are left for the exam), alter the preparation schedule. Give more time for general studies and comparatively less time for sketching. By then you should be able to do perform well on subjective questions. Regardless, keep working on your creative ideas because the more you think of creative solutions for problems, the more you will be benefited - both for the exam and for your career as well. You don't need to draw/sketch every time you think of some idea. Just that draw mentally in your mind and imagine how your IMAGINED idea would look like or make a rough sketch. This exercise would be fun btw.

Other than the above, you can have variations in your study pattern. No timetable can suit everyone. So, have your own. But, I would recommend you to go through a weekly timetable that I prepared keeping in mind everyone (student, working profession etc.) You can have a look at it and either follow it as it is (if you find it workable to you) or alter to as per your timing. 

Last but not least - it's your confidence that takes you to greater heights. All the best :) 

Additional video help for non-verbal and aptitude development

What to start? 

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

How to count no. of surfaces in given solids

Maths Basics for non-math background design aspirants

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

Is coaching required for NID preparation ?

Let me brief here

Should you join? The answer depends on your current level and your pickup. As you must be aware; NID has both objective and subjective part, while objective might not be a big issue (assuming that you are able to self-prepare), but subjective is where one needs to be more concern. So, let’s discuss that before coming to objective preparation.

1. If your sketching level is below average and you have no sketching hobby as such, has not tried your hands on design drawing and/or you are slow at learning and need some one’s assistance for quick learning, then that is when you must be looking for a coaching. Note that you might just be needing an art teacher or a full-fledged NID coacher depending on your status. The thing is materials for NID objective part is already available online/offline esp. in blogs (you can even gather that online) and so you can go for self-prep with a proper plan. If you see yourself good at picking up and solving previous papers or sample tests, then you may not be needing a coaching.
2. If you have been relying on someone for education until now (teachers/guides/brothers etc.) and have never tried self-study, then maybe you need a full-fledged coaching regardless of your sketching level.
3. On the other side, if you’re good at sketching (at least above average in object sketching minding size, shape, proportion, texture, details etc.) and if you can figure out the objective part too by yourself, then you may not be needing any coaching at all. All you need to do is strategize your time cleverly and prepare by yourself.

Note that self-preparation is what is expected for exams like design coz we can derive the pattern of ques paper and if not know, when will we learn to self-develop? Just a thought.

Given that fact that the coaching centers are charging people quite a huge sum (I’ve to say some are looting without giving proper coaching while some centers are good), even for solutions to previous papers, you should give a think whether it’s really worth spending on coaching center’s unless you find an awesome coaching center in your locality.

Anyway, below is one assessment method that I often suggest students try (spend one/two weeks before you actually decide to join):

1. First, understand the level and syllabus of NID, especially the GA (general awareness) and the subjective (sketching).
2. Now, since you had seen the type of subjective ques being asked, start taking some exercises by on your own and work on it. I mean do sketching for similar sample question, take your time and don’t worry if that consumes more time initially. Before even you attempt, take time - give some thinking no matter how much time it will take, because creativity is what is needed for design exams. Think a minimal, of 2/3 options and choose the best that struck ur head. Implement (draw) that. Planning for only one idea might not be the best option. I advice to have alternative ideas. You will see for urself how wonderfully it will work.
3. In parallel, start learning the tips and tricks of sketching (MINDING size, shape, proportion, texture, details etc.) Remember, these factors are very very imp for NID unlike CEED which might not be needing these to some extent.
4. Do this for 1 or 1.5 week, In the rest of the second week, take some similar sample ques and see to what extent you have improved. Do self accessing regarding ur improvement level. Check yourself whether you are able to pickup or not. If your learning level is healthy, then hola, prepare urself with a proper strategy, else check if ur locality has a really good institute (sketching or for NID) and you may consider joining if you find one.

In the fourth step, the ques that you should ask - 

Am I able to answer the ques ? 

Am I able to pickup the factors mentioned? and 

Am I confident enough to get some creative thoughts? 

What is my level compared to my previous attempts?

Answer this urself and you will realize whether u need coaching or not!

Video: If coaching needed - what questions to ask to decide whether a coaching institute is good or not

I had given a detailed review on whether to take a coaching or not for CEED (applicable for NID too) with some self assessment methods. You may want to give a quick look into this - Is coaching required for CEED exam? 

Here is a free PDF with complete links to a blog that would help you with free online materials - NID-DAT Complete resources links in Stuff You Look blog