NIFT 2026 Answer Key and Response Sheet Updates Expected Post-Exam

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the NIFT 2026 provisional answer key and candidate response sheets by the second week of February. Following the entrance exam held on February 8, 2026, aspirants can soon verify their General Ability Test (GAT) responses. The official portal will open a 2-3 day challenge window for candidates to contest discrepancies before the final results are processed. Ensure you download your recorded responses from the official NIFTEE website to estimate your scores for the 2026-27 design admissions.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is preparing to release the provisional answer key and recorded response sheets for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFTEE) entrance examination 2026. Following the successful conduct of the written entrance test on February 8, 2026, across 100 cities, the focus has now shifted to the transparency phase of the evaluation process. As of 11 February 2026, medical and design aspirants who appeared for the General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT) are closely monitoring the official portals for the first glimpse of their performance metrics. The release of these documents is a standard procedure to ensure that the scoring mechanism remains meritocratic and open to candidate scrutiny.

Accessing the GAT Answer Key and Response Window

The National Testing Agency typically activates the download link for the NIFT answer key within a week of the examination date. This year, the timeline suggests that the link will go live between February 14 and February 18. Once the link is active, aspirants can log in to the official NIFTEE portal using their application number and date of birth. The primary purpose of this window is to allow candidates to compare their recorded responses with the NTA’s master key, particularly for the GAT section, which consists of objective-type questions.

• Sectional Verification: The answer key will be released specifically for the GAT, as the CAT (Creative Ability Test) is a subjective, paper-based evaluation.
• Objection Filing: A dedicated challenge window will be open for approximately 48 to 72 hours, where students can contest any answer by paying a non-refundable fee of ₹200 per question.
• Score Calculation: By utilizing the official NIFT website, candidates can apply the marking scheme (+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect) to estimate their raw scores.
• Document Retention: Candidates are urged to download and save their response sheets, as these will not be available after the results are declared in April 2026.

Understanding the Evaluation and Merit List Processing

The current transparency initiative by the NTA ensures that the transition to the next stage of the admission cycle is well-documented. For Bachelor of Design (B.Des) candidates, the written test scores represent a significant portion of the weightage, but the final merit list will only be prepared after the Situation Test and Personal Interviews. According to the NIFT Admissions guidelines, the weightage for GAT and CAT varies by program, making the accuracy of the initial answer key critical for high-ranking aspirants.

Export to Sheets

• Final Key Publication: After the scrutiny of all challenges, the NTA will release a final answer key, which serves as the ultimate authority for result calculation.
• Stage 1 Results: The cumulative scores from the GAT and CAT are expected to be announced in the third week of April 2026.
• Situation Test Prep: Shortlisted B.Des candidates should use the current timeline to begin practicing material handling and 3D modeling for the upcoming June tests.

Conclusion

As the 11 February update indicates, the NIFT admission cycle is moving precisely according to the scheduled timeline. The upcoming release of the answer key and response sheet is a vital step for aspirants to validate their efforts and plan their next move. Whether it is preparing for the Situation Test or readying documents for the postgraduate interviews, the clarity provided by this transparency phase is invaluable. The National Institute of Fashion Technology continues to uphold its reputation for rigorous selection, and this document upload window is the first official bridge between the examination hall and the fashion studio. Candidates must remain vigilant and check the NTA portal daily to ensure they do not miss the narrow window for filing objections, as no requests will be entertained after the portal closes.

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