Exam Pattern

KSDAT Exam Pattern

Kerala State Design Aptitude Test 2026

Design Awareness is the largest section and the one nothing else prepares you for. It takes 30 of the 100 questions, ahead of General Knowledge, English Language, and Numerical Ability and Analytical Aptitude at 20 each, with Social and Basic Sciences at 10. Seventy questions are general aptitude that transfers from any other entrance; the remaining 30 transfer from nowhere. One hundred questions in 100 minutes is a clean minute each. The source checked for this pattern does not state a deduction for a wrong answer, so the negative-marking row says nothing rather than assuming none.

KSDAT 2026 B.Des Entrance

Official 2026 pattern
Questions100
Total marks100
Duration100 minutes
Negative markingNot stated in the source we checked
SectionsSocial & Basic Sciences, General Knowledge, English Language, Numerical Ability & Analytical Aptitude, Design Awareness
TestQsMarks
Social & Basic Sciences1010
General Knowledge2020
English Language2020
Numerical Ability & Analytical Aptitude2020
Design Awareness3030
Official source · checked 2 September 2026

The KSDAT 2026 B.Des Entrance exam pattern is 100 questions carrying 100 marks, to be answered in 100 minutes. That works out to about 60 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 5 sections are Social & Basic Sciences, General Knowledge, English Language, Numerical Ability & Analytical Aptitude and Design Awareness. Design Awareness carries the most, 30 marks of the 100 or about 30%, against 10 marks for Social & Basic Sciences. All sections share one composite timer, so you are free to move between them and spend your time where it earns most.

KSDAT 2026 B.Des Entrance marking scheme

  • Each correct answer is worth 1 mark.
  • Worked example: attempt 80 of the 100 questions and get 60 right and 20 wrong, and you score 60 out of 100.

Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 60 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free KSDAT mock test to see where your time actually goes.

KSDAT exam pattern: frequently asked questions

How many questions are there in KSDAT?

KSDAT has 100 questions. That leaves about 60 seconds per question in KSDAT.

What are the total marks in KSDAT?

KSDAT is out of 100 marks, which works out at 1 mark a question.

How long is the KSDAT exam?

KSDAT runs for 100 minutes.

Does KSDAT have a sectional time limit?

No. KSDAT runs every section on one composite timer of 100 minutes, so you can move between sections freely and give the slower ones more of your time.