COIMBATORE: The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA), conducted by the Council of Architecture would be held twice annually from the coming academic year (2019-2020), president of the council Vijay Garg said on Monday. 

Garg was speaking to reporters here. He said the council has also proposed to have a national-level counselling for admissions into B Arch courses. 

While earlier, the exam, mandatory to enter the bachelor of architecture (B.Arch) courses, was being conducted once a year in April, there were concerns from stakeholders that the date clashed with board exams, said Garg. “Some states asked us to postpone the exam or to have two exams. So we have decided to have two exams, one mid-Aril and another in the first week of July,” he said. 

Students could write either one or both the exams and the best score among the two would be considered, said Garg. 

The pattern of the exam has also been tweaked. While earlier both aptitude and drawing papers were given an equal 90 minutes each, from the coming academic year, aptitude paper would be given 60 minutes and drawing paper would be given 120 minutes, said Garg. 

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Commenting on the decision of the council to make 50% marks in physics, chemistry and mathematics mandatory for B Arch admissions, Garg said as more technology-oriented construction was happening today, architects needed to know physics and chemistry to understand sensitive construction materials. 

“Students from humanities also can get admitted into B Arch after taking additional exams in physics, chemistry and mathematics conducted by the CBSE,” he said.