NIFT entrance exam is the admission test that is organised for students who want to enrol themselves in the various fashion technology degree programmes. This particular entrance is conducted by the prestigious NIFT or National Institute of Fashion Technology. This institute is renowned for providing professional education in several areas of fashion designing. Those who are interested in making a career in the garment industry need to appear for the NIFT entrance exam. NIFT offers a number of diploma, bachelor`s and master`s degree programmes. NIFT entrance exam is basically held for getting admissions to bachelor degree programmes in Leather Design, Accessory Design, Knitwear Design, Communication Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Apparel Production as well as master degree programmes in Apparel Production, Design Space and Fashion Management.

National Institute of Fashion Technology was established in the year 1986 under the guidance of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. NIFT is considered to be the leading training Institute of India. This institute provides fashion business education at different levels through its professionally managed centres at Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai and Gandhinagar. It was established with the objective to train professionals in order to meet the requirements of Human Resource Development of the apparel industry. NIFT has collaboration with Indian Institute of Leather Products in Chennai, National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India in Mumbai, Jute Manufacturers Development Corporation in Kolkata, Central Leather Research Institute in Chennai, and Tirupur Exporters Association in Tirupur. NIFT entrance test is generally conducted in the months of either February or March.

Application Forms
The application form and the prospectus can be obtained from several selected branches of Axis Bank throughout the country. For obtaining the application form from the selected NIFT campuses the candidates need to pay the requisite amount either by cash or by making a Demand Draft drawn in favour of NIFT, payable at New Delhi. The candidates can also download the application form from the official website of NIFT. All the detailed information as well as the list of selected branches is provided in the institute`s official website. The candidates should send the completed application form before the last date of submission. The admit card of the entrance test is provided to the eligible candidates on the basis of the information given by the candidates. If a candidate does not receive the admit cards of the entrance test, he/she can download the admit card from the website of the institute. In that case the candidates are required to attach their photographs in the downloaded admit card (it should be similar to the one that was used in the application form).

Eligibility Criteria for NIFT Entrance Exam
The eligibility criteria for the NIFT entrance exam vary as per the requirements of different degree courses offered by National Institute of Fashion Technology. For getting admissions to the Bachelor of Fashion Design, Communication Design, Leather Design, Textile Design, Accessory Design and Knitwear Design, the aspirants need to pass the higher secondary examination (10+2 pattern) from any recognized Central or State Board of Secondary Examination with Chemistry, Physics and Math. Candidates with any diploma in Engineering can also apply. For getting admissions to the Master degree programmes in Design Space, a candidate should be a graduate from a recognized university in any discipline of design technology (Fashion/ Communication/Accessories/Graphics/ Textiles) or a bachelor`s degree in Fine Arts, B. Sc (Textiles & Clothing) or B. Tech in Textile or Design. The candidate`s bachelor`s degree should be affiliated from any recognized University. The final year students who are appearing for their qualifying examination are also to apply at the NIFT Entrance Examination.

Courses Offered
The courses at NIFT are offered on a full time basis
Bachelor Programs (B. F. Tech) Design
> Fashion Design
> Leather Design
> Accessory Design
> Textile Design
> Knitwear Design
> Communication Design
> Apparel Production

Master Programs in NIFT 2010
> M. Des (Design)
> M.F.M. (Fashion Management)
> M. F. Tech (Fashion Technology)

Pattern of Examination
The NIFT entrance test is specifically designed to measure the knowledge and aptitude skills of the candidates and whether they are eligible for the programme they have opted for. The test is basically objective type and it is not subjected to negative marking. This entrance test comprises General Ability Test (GAT), Creative Ability Test (CAT) and Managerial Ability Test (MAT). These sections have several categories that are mentioned below -

General Ability Test (GAT): This test will consists of several sub-tests such as -

Quantitative Ability -
> For Bachelor`s and Master`s degree programme in Design Management - It includes questions on Addition, Multiplication, Division, Work and Task, Ratio and Proportion, Fractions, Percentage, Rate of Interest, Distance, Algebra and Geometry, Profit & Loss, etc. (of matriculation level)
> For Bachelor`s degree programme in Technology - It includes questions on Differential Calculus, Differential Equations, Probability, Integral Calculus, Statistics and Fundamentals of Computer Applications.
> For Master`s degree programme in Technology - It includes questions on Differential Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Programming, Fundamentals of Computer Applications, Production Engineering, etc. (of the level of graduation)

Communication Ability -
This test measures the language ability of the candidates and their command over English language. It includes questions on synonyms, antonyms, singular, plural, one word substitutes, words with corresponding meanings, correct spellings, idioms and phrases, etc.

> English Comprehension
> Analytical Ability
> Business Domain Test (only for Bachelor`s degree programme in Design)
> General Knowledge and Current Affairs (for bachelors and masters degree programmes in management and technology)

Creative Ability Test (CAT) (for Bachelor`s degree programme in Design) - This test is specifically designed to judge the skill, observation power, innovation and design ability of the aspirants. It also tests the usage of colour and illustration skills of the candidates.

Managerial Ability Test (MAT) (for bachelors and masters degree programmes in management and technology) - This test judges the managerial effectiveness and interpersonal skills of the aspirants. This test includes several sub tests such as -

> Case Study
> Business Domain Test
> Logical Ability

Syllabus
There is no as such pre defined syllabus for this entrance test. The candidates need to prepare by following the test pattern and its various sections.

Selection Process
The candidates are short listed based on their performance in the written test of the NIFT entrance exam. The selected candidates are then called for a situation test followed by Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

NIFT entrance exam is the means through which the capabilities of the eligible candidates are judged for the highly professional fashion technology and design programmes offered by NIFT.