CEED 2026 Exam Analysis (OUT): Section-Wise Difficulty Level, Previous Years' Analysis and Student Reactions

Since CEED is a general aptitude test, you can benefit greatly by practicing previous year question papers. Also, after practicing the papers, it is highly important to analyse your strong and weak areas for the exam and then work on them accordingly. 

But that being said, you can’t prepare for the CEED only on the strength of solving the sample papers. You need to read the text books to learn the concepts, understand the various dynamic. Note that unless your theoretical knowledge is sound, you won’t be able to feel truly confident. 

The difficulty level of CEED exam is maintained by authorities over the years. However, most design aspirants share that if the difficulty level of all design entrance exams conducted for PG level courses is compared then CEED is slightly easier than the NID Entrance Exam. This is primarily because the drawing questions asked in NID DAT are considered to be tougher than those put forth in the CEED exam.

CEED 2026 will have two parts - Part A and Part B. Part A will be conducted as a computer-based test. Part B will be conducted offline. Candidate will be provided answer booklets by the invigilator, where they have enter their answers. 

After the exam, candidate has to return the answer booklets of Part B to the invigilator. Part B answer booklets will only be checked if the candidate qualfiies Part A.

Final score of CEED 2026 will be calculated by giving weightage to Part A and Part B.

The weightage of CEED Part A is 25%. Candidates have to attempt 44 questions in CEED Part A. It includes MSQs, MCQs, and NAT questions. Total marks for CEED Part A is 150.

The difficulty level of CEED exam has been maintained by authorities over the years. However, most design aspirants share that if difficulty level of all design entrance exams conducted for PG level courses is compared then CEED is slightly easier than NID Entrance Exam. This is primarily because the drawing questions asked in NID that are considered to be tougher than those put forth in CEED exam. Note that CEED exam is for admission to the M.Des courses offered by the eight participating colleges. Meanwhile, the NID that for the M.Des programme has three participating colleges.

Rohit Ravindra Waghmare topped the CEED topper list 2025 with 82.38 marks out of 100.

CEED 2023 exam was topped by Khyati Rathor, who secured the AIR 1. She secured 68.85 marks in the exam, out of 100 marks. Simon George Cherian got the second position and scored 66.63 marks.

Sketching part of CEED will include representation, in the form of geometric figures like lines, squares, and triangles, outline drawing, detailing, and shading. Try outline drawing, representation, focus on detailing and shading. Also try shape of the figure, proportion and line quality.

You can give a few attempts. But after that, move on to the next topic. Don’t spend too much time on one simple topic because you will run out of time and will not be able to complete the syllabus. Leave that topic and try to study at the end if you have ample time left.

The overall difficulty level for CEED 2023 was from moderate to difficult. There were questions from area, volume and clock. CEED exam has two parts - Part A and Part B. Part A of the exam was rated moderately difficult and Part B was rated easy to moderate. 

CEED 2026 was on January 18, 2026.

In an ideal situation, a candidate will need around 6 months to prepare CEED exam. It is because with enough time in hand, he will be able to go through each topic and also take time to understand the concepts.

But if there is less time, then one need to solve previous year questions paper, take mock test and study topics which are not very difficult. Candidates must go through the syllabus and pattern.

To start with, be judicious with your time and prepare meticulously.

CEED Part B is of 100 marks. They will have to attempt questions related to Drawing, Creativity, Communication, and Problem Solving. Part B carries 75% weightage.

Exam will check ability of candidate to draw products, people, scenes, etc., and also their capability to understand user and context.

Check out below the tips to prepare for CEED.

• Understand CEED exam pattern and syllabus.
• Make a  timetable for CEED preparation
• Practice as many CEED previous year question papers and sample papers as possible
• Take notes when you are studying.
• Find your weak areas for the exam and work to improve those areas/subjects
• Take mock tests.

It is possible to prepare for CEED without coaching. But before you start on exam preparation on your own, you need the conviction that you can do it. If you are not convinced yourself and only decide to forgo coaching on the advice of others, the journey may be difficult.

If you prepare for the exam on your own, you need to be serious and plan the preparation smartly. Go through the syllabus. You must be able to decide the difficulty level, the time it will take to cover the syllabus, and revise.