Important Topics for CEED 2026: Part A & B Topics & Preparation Tips

Candidates preparing for the exam must know the important topics to study CEED 2026 exam. IIT Bombay will conduct the exam on January 18, 2026. The question paper will have two parts - Part A and Part B. Here we bring you important topics for Part A and Part B that candidates must prepare for the exam.

If you are appearing in the CEED 2026 exam, it is important that you know what the important topics are for the exam. It is because if you know the CEED 2026 important topics, you will be in a better position to devise an effective exam preparation strategy. The other thing is that the important topics will include questions that are more likely to be asked in the exam, so if you practice them, you can assure yourself of some easy and quick marks. The important topics for CEED 2026 are given below, subject-wise, so it will enable the candidate to incorporate them in their exam plan.

Latest Updates:

• CEED 2026 syllabus released; With no change IIT Bombay emphasises analytical, creative skills
• IIT Bombay Announces CEED 2026 Reservation Policy

IIT Bombay has released the exam pattern for CEED 2026. Common Entrance Exam for Design (CEED) is a three-hour exam that has two parts, A and B.

• Part A contains objective-type questions (multiple-choice questions, multiple select questions, and numerical answer questions), which is a computer-based test for 1 hour
• Part B is a paper-based test for 2 hours, which could include drawing, creative thinking, design problem solving, communication skills, etc

As part of the CEED syllabus, Part A of the exam covers the following topics:

Also, candidates are informed that Part B of CEED covers the following topics:

Important Topics for CEED Part A Exam 2026

Given below is a list of important topics that aspirants should study to prepare for CEED Part A:

1. Famous designers and iconic products, design terminologies
2. General knowledge and current affairs
3. Art history and movements (including literature and sculpture)
4. Architectural awareness - history, monuments, elements, terminology
5. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
6. English vocabulary and comprehension skills
7. Logical reasoning
8. Colour theory
9. Typography
10. Popular logos - automobiles, companies, or organisations
11. Animation terms like Walk cycles & comic structures and terms
12. Photography terms and techniques
13. Mirroring, tessellations, sciography, lights, and shadows
14. Materials and manufacturing processes
15. Tech terms in the field of user interface (UI), user experience (UX), virtual reality augmented reality
16. Basic science fundamentals, mechanisms like gears and pulleys
17. Biomechanics
18. Application-oriented mathematics like surface area & volume, permutations and combinations, directions, time and distance, 2D and 3D geometry etc.
19. Globally recognised Indians in the corporate or technology sector, sports, performing and fine arts and also any famous international personalities

Important Topics for CEED Part B Exam 2026

Given below is a list of important topics that aspirants should study to prepare for CEED Part B:

1. Perspective drawings of objects, interiors, and exteriors
2. Human and animal figures
3. Still life drawings
4. Character study, comic strips, etc.
5. Product and automobile sketches
6. 2D graphic - abstract, posters, logos, signage, etc.
7. Storyboards and the character design
8. User interfaces of apps, websites, and gadgets
9. Creative writing like stories, one-liners, etc.
10. Design problem solving

However, keep in mind, CEED is an open-ended exam, therefore topics mentioned in part A and B need not be limited to the above. 

CEED Admission Process

Please note that getting admission into an MDes programme at IISc or the IITs is a two-step process:

Step 1: You must answer the CEED exam.

Step 2: You must answer the individual entrance exams held by IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIITDM Jabalpur, and IIT Kanpur, and to PhD programmes in Design at IISc Bangalore.

Syllabus of the second round of tests held by IISc and IITs can consist of (but may not be limited to)

• Drawing
• Creative thinking
• Aptitude
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Material handling skills
• Interviews
• Portfolios

Important Note: 

• IISc and each of the IITs will have their own entrance exams for admissions into their respective MDes programmes. Each of these colleges has its own application forms, deadlines, and exam dates. It is important that you are aware of these application deadlines, which may close even before the CEED results are out. This has happened in the past with one of the colleges.  
• You need to qualify for CEED in order to appear for the secondary round of the entrance exam conducted by IISc and IITs.
• Applying for CEED does not, by default, mean you have applied for the secondary round of tests by these individual colleges.

Read More:

 About the Author:

Shaun D’Sa has a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from IIT Delhi. He is Director at Design Quotient Labs (DQ Labs), a coaching platform for Architecture and Design entrance exams.

He began his career with General Motors Advanced Design Center at Bangalore, where he had the opportunity to work with design teams for car brands like Hummer, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Holden, Buick to name a few. Shaun has also been a part of many teams of International and Indian designers for design-centric ethnographic studies across India and abroad. Due to his passion for Design and Architecture, he has travelled extensively abroad and has been a part of many design workshops in many countries across Europe.