• The most common misconception among NID aspirants is that if you draw well, then you can crack NID, which is totally false. Though good sketching is essential, the questions are framed to judge a candidates creativity, imagination & visualization skills/ observation / general awareness etc. So, developing these skills are equally important.
• Be Creative – Creativity is a mysterious trait. Many people have tried to define creativity in their own ways but there is no single universally accepted definition. It is difficult to summarise in a few lines but we can say that creativity is the ability to come up with new, original ideas which are not conventional. It is the breaking away from the stereotype, routine, accepted set of thoughts and possessing a deeper insight to problem solving. In short, a creative person experiences rebirth everyday with his or her ideas.
• Understand that your drawing & creative skills are useless if you are not able to present your thoughts in the exam in the limited amount of time. You stand to lose marks for the questions you fail to answer or which are left incomplete, it doesn’t matter how good you are at your work. So speed is equally important.
• Go through all previous papers of NID. Solve at least 8- 10 past papers within the time limit. Find out a comfortable sequence of answering the paper.
• Don’t practice in A3 size sketch books. Work in A4 size as that is normally the standard size of answer sheets in the examinations.
• If you are faced with a mental block , breathe deeply, relax and then try to answer the question.
• Find your own deep and compelling reason to successfully clear NID. Motivate yourself. Work with enthusiasm & you will be amazed at your ideas & creations.
• In questions requiring drawing, always draw with a light hand first, doing mainly the outlining without the details. When you are satisfied with the proportions & the rough outline, you may finalize. You will save a lot of time that students normally waste in erasing & re-drawing.
• Practice more with dry mediums ( colours ), as they are convenient to use and take less time in exams.
• Plan your time for school/college study & you entrance preparation. Use your time effectively with a time table

• Practice is the key to success. Try to sketch almost anything and everything you come across.
• Browse through various newspapers, magazines and online sites.
• Take ideas from various advertisements, posters, banners etc., you come across.
• Keep your eraser away from you while practicing. It’ll help your lines become more bold and confident.
• Give importance to detailing where ever required, like the face of a human figure or the human’s outfits etc.
• Try to master the skills of human illustration. Concentrate more in proportions, form etc.
• Calligraphy skills come handy in posters, banner design, etc. Learn and practice different styles of lettering as they can come handy.
• Stick to the prescribed syllabus of the NIFT entrance exam.
• While sketching first make a light sketch and later darken the drawing once you are confident about it. This helps you save time erasing mistakes.

• All we know that CEED is all about designing and creativity, the exam will test a candidate’s aptitude for design, visual perception ability, drawing skills, logical reasoning, creativity and communication skills. So here are CEED exam preparation tips which may help you to get the desired score in the exam.
• Go through the previous year’s papers: See the previous years question paper it will help you to understand the types and level of questions that you have to face. If any known of yours is studying in the IISc’s or IIt’s then have the guidance from them about paper pattern.
• Practice sketching the objects around you: When you start for preparation just keep in mind that you need to practice more and more with new innovative and creative ideas to get better result in exam so to crack CEED practicing is only hammer.
• Sketch everyday objects: This should include representing objects as they are, with their material and texture. You need not be too great still life artist, but you should be able to convey through your sketches well.
• Try freehand sketching: Sometimes Sketching using instruments is not allowed in CEED. It will help you to learn basics of freehand sketching. The best way is to sit with pencil and paper and try to sketch.
• Select right equipments for practice: Fortunately for CEED exam preparation, all you need is pencil and brains. So what pencil do you use?
• Always try to use 2 grades of pencil: H-grade for rough work, light drawings, etc and B for rapid work and where shading is involved. A wooden pencil works best, but sometimes a 0.7 mm pencil is best kept in reserve. Also, pack a non-dust eraser. Knead able eraser is the best, but slightly expensive.
• Improve Imagination skills: What you see is what you draw. Sometimes, you have to “see” in your mind. This is visualization. So, first try to get best picture of what you want to sketch in your mind, then think about it and then put your pencil to the paper. Enhance Creativity: It might be helpful to think laterally. For example, list 10 uses of a coin other than currency. And do this within a minute. I hope you get the point.
• Watch cartoons or read daily comic strip: This might sound silly, but comic strips actually are an example of a storyboard. Sometimes questions are asked to represent a storyline, say, how will you make a cup of tea. This will need your sketching skills as well as story-telling ability. So don’t just laugh at jokes in comic strips but see how they have told it, and why they have draw things in the way they appear.
• These CEED exam preparation tips will help you enhance your skills and guide you on how crack CEED exam, but ultimately the skill lies within your practice and how well you practice.

IMPORTANT SCHOOLS OF ARCHITECTURE

CEPT University, JJ School of Architecture, School of Architecture & Planning - Chennai, SPA Delhi, Academy of Architecture, COA Chandigarh, RV College, Kamala Raheja, etc.,

TAMIL NADU

SAP Chennai, MIDAS, MEASI, CAAD, AJ Colllege, Crescent, Meenakshi, Hindustan College, Satyabama Univ, SRM Univ, Thiagaraja College, CARE Institute, NIT Trichy etc.,