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NATA Part A Syllabus

National Aptitude Test in Architecture

7
Topics
116
Sub-topics
25
Questions

Part A is one of 5 sections in the NATA syllabus. It has 7 topics and 116 sub-topics, tested in Part A — Design & Visual, with about 25 questions (25 marks). Design Thinking, Visual & Spatial Reasoning, Creativity.

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NATA Part A: topic-wise syllabus

  1. 1

    Visualization & Spatial Ability

    ~5 marks

    Mental Rotation, Mental Folding, 2D/3D Rotation, Mirror Images, Water Images, Pattern Recognition, Tessellation, Symmetry, Visual Completion, Embedded Figures, Counting, Object Relationships, Assembly, Dis-assembly, 3D Thinking, Volumetric Forms, Mechanisms, Recent Topics

    • Visualization & Spatial Ability — Mental Rotation
    • Mental Folding
    • 2D/3D Rotation
    • Mirror Images
    • Water Images
    • Pattern Recognition
    • Tessellation
    • Symmetry
    • Visual Completion
    • Embedded Figures
    • Counting
    • Object Relationships
    • Assembly
    • Dis-assembly
    • 3D Thinking
    • Volumetric Forms
    • Mechanisms
    • Recent Topics
  2. 2

    Perspective Drawing

    ~4 marks

    One-Point, Two-Point, Three-Point, Vanishing Points, Cast Shadows, Foreshortening, Isometric, Orthographic, Plan, Elevation, Section, Working Drawings, Conventions, Symbols, Scale, Lettering, Layout, Composition, Recent Topics

    • Perspective Drawing — One-Point
    • Two-Point
    • Three-Point
    • Vanishing Points
    • Cast Shadows
    • Foreshortening
    • Isometric
    • Orthographic
    • Plan
    • Elevation
    • Section
    • Working Drawings
    • Conventions
    • Symbols
    • Scale
    • Lettering
    • Layout
    • Composition
    • Recent Topics
  3. 3

    Color Theory

    ~3 marks

    Color Wheel, Primary/Secondary/Tertiary, Schemes (Monochromatic, Analogous, Complementary, Triadic, Tetradic, Split-Complementary), Harmony, Temperature, Psychology, Cultural Connotations, Light, Pigment, Beer's Law, Additive/Subtractive, Recent Topics, Recent Trends

    • Color Theory — Color Wheel
    • Primary/Secondary/Tertiary
    • Schemes (Monochromatic, Analogous, Complementary, Triadic, Tetradic, Split-Complementary)
    • Harmony
    • Temperature
    • Psychology
    • Cultural Connotations
    • Light
    • Pigment
    • Beer's Law
    • Additive/Subtractive
    • Recent Topics
    • Recent Trends
  4. 4

    Principles of Design

    ~3 marks

    Balance (Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Radial), Contrast, Emphasis, Movement, Pattern, Rhythm, Unity, Variety, Proportion, Scale, Hierarchy, Negative Space, Focal Point, Recent Topics, Recent Trends

    • Principles of Design — Balance (Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Radial)
    • Contrast
    • Emphasis
    • Movement
    • Pattern
    • Rhythm
    • Unity
    • Variety
    • Proportion
    • Scale
    • Hierarchy
    • Negative Space
    • Focal Point
    • Recent Topics
    • Recent Trends
  5. 5

    Elements of Design

    ~2 marks

    Line, Shape, Form, Space, Texture, Value, Color, Recent Topics, Recent Trends

    • Elements of Design — Line
    • Shape
    • Form
    • Space
    • Texture
    • Value
    • Color
    • Recent Topics
    • Recent Trends
  6. 6

    Creative Thinking, Lateral Thinking, Brain Teasers, Open-ended Problems, Out-of-the-box Solutions, Ideation Techniques (Brainstorming, SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, Synectics, Random Stimuli), User-centric Design, Empathy, Personas, Problem Framing, Reframing, Constraints, Sustainability, Scenario Thinking, Speculative Design, Recent Topics

    ~4 marks
    • Creative Thinking
    • Lateral Thinking
    • Brain Teasers
    • Open-ended Problems
    • Out-of-the-box Solutions
    • Ideation Techniques (Brainstorming, SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, Synectics, Random Stimuli)
    • User-centric Design
    • Empathy
    • Personas
    • Problem Framing
    • Reframing
    • Constraints
    • Sustainability
    • Scenario Thinking
    • Speculative Design
    • Recent Topics
  7. 7

    Drawing & Sketching

    ~4 marks

    Freehand, Sketching, Composition, 2D/3D, Perspective, Isometric, Orthographic, Section, Plan, Elevation, Three-Dimensional Drawing, Geometric Shapes, Scale, Proportion, Pattern, Texture, Foreshortening, Cast Shadows, Light & Shade, Rendering Techniques (Pencil, Pen & Ink, Markers, Watercolour, Mixed Media), Architectural Drawing Conventions, Symbols, Scale, Lettering, Layout, Recent Topics

    • Drawing & Sketching — Freehand
    • Sketching
    • Composition
    • 2D/3D
    • Perspective
    • Isometric
    • Orthographic
    • Section
    • Plan
    • Elevation
    • Three-Dimensional Drawing
    • Geometric Shapes
    • Scale
    • Proportion
    • Pattern
    • Texture
    • Foreshortening
    • Cast Shadows
    • Light & Shade
    • Rendering Techniques (Pencil, Pen & Ink, Markers, Watercolour, Mixed Media)
    • Architectural Drawing Conventions
    • Symbols
    • Scale
    • Lettering
    • Layout
    • Recent Topics

Frequently asked questions

What topics are in the NATA Part A syllabus?

Part A for NATA has 7 topics: Visualization & Spatial Ability, Perspective Drawing, Color Theory, Principles of Design, Elements of Design, Creative Thinking, Lateral Thinking, Brain Teasers, Open-ended Problems, Out-of-the-box Solutions, Ideation Techniques (Brainstorming, SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, Synectics, Random Stimuli), User-centric Design, Empathy, Personas, Problem Framing, Reframing, Constraints, Sustainability, Scenario Thinking, Speculative Design, Recent Topics and Drawing & Sketching, with 116 sub-topics in all.

How many questions come from Part A in NATA?

About 25 questions (25 marks) in Part A — Design & Visual. Always check the latest notification, as numbers can change.

Which Part A topics matter most for NATA?

By weightage in the syllabus data: Visualization & Spatial Ability (~5 marks), Perspective Drawing (~4 marks), Creative Thinking, Lateral Thinking, Brain Teasers, Open-ended Problems, Out-of-the-box Solutions, Ideation Techniques (Brainstorming, SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, Synectics, Random Stimuli), User-centric Design, Empathy, Personas, Problem Framing, Reframing, Constraints, Sustainability, Scenario Thinking, Speculative Design, Recent Topics (~4 marks).

How do I practise NATA Part A on Topicly?

Pick a topic above and study it your way — step-by-step chat, a quiz, a formula sheet or a voice call with Sia. Topicly tracks each sub-topic so you know what's left. It's free to start.

Compiled from official notifications for study purposes. Always confirm with the conducting body's latest notification.