Important Topics for CEED 2027: Part A & B Topics & Preparation Tips

Common Entrance Examination for Design 2027 ( CEED )

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CEED 2027 exam date

17 Jan '27

Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Sep 7, 2026 12:26 IST
List of topics aspirants to score well in Part A and Part B of CEED 2026. IIT Bombay will conduct the CEED 2027 exam on January 17. The exam will include two parts: 1) Computer-based Part A, and 2) offline-based Part B. Part B will be evaluated only if the candidate qualifies Part A. Read more to learn about the important topics.

Candidates preparing for the exam must know the important topics to study CEED 2027 exam.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.

Important topics to study for CEED

If you are appearing in the CEED 2027 exam, it is important that you know what the important topics are for the exam. This is because if you know the important topics for the CEED 2027 exam, you will be in a better position to devise an effective exam preparation strategy. Another 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 ensure yourself of some easy and quick marks. The important topics for CEED 2027 are given below, subject-wise, so it will enable the candidate to incorporate them into their exam plan.

IIT Bombay has released the exam pattern for CEED 2027. 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:

CEED Part-A Syllabus

Visualization and spatial ability

Environmental and social awareness

Analytical and logical reasoning

Language and creativity

Design thinking and problem solving

Observation and design sensitivity

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

CEED Part-B Syllabus

Drawing

Creativity

Communication skills (explain your ideas through text and visuals)

Analytical problem-solving skills (Design problems, solutions, knowledge of materials and processes, character development, plots and stories)

Table of contents
  • Important Topics for CEED Part A Exam 2027
  • Important Topics for CEED Part B Exam 2027
  • CEED Pattern 2027: Part A
  • CEED Exam Pattern 2027 - Part B
  • Books for CEED Entrance Test
  • CEED Admission Process

Important Topics for CEED Part A Exam 2027

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, and 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
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can a CEED 2026 exam city be dropped from the final list?
A: 

IIT Bombay will release the exam cities for CEED 2026. The list can be found in the CEED 2026 Information Brochure. In the previous edition, the design entrance exam was held in 27 cities.

Note that exam officials have the authority to drop a city in some cases.

Check out this information given in the CEED information brochure:

“If a sufficient number of candidates are unavailable in a city, that city may be dropped from the final list, and candidates will be allotted to a city of their second or third choice.”

Q:   Can I change the CEED 2026 exam centre allocated to me?
A: 

Note that once an exam centre has been allocated, there is no scope to change it. In fact, CEED officials will not entertain any requests for a change in the exam centre. 

The details of the exam centre allocated to the candidate will be mentioned in the CEED 2026 admit card. The allotment of CEED 2026 exam centre will done on the basis of the exam city seelcted by the candidate. Exam officials will also consider other factors like the address of the candidate and seat intake available in various exam centres in that particular city.

Q:   What are the acceptable identity proofs for CEED exam?
A: 

On the day of the CEED exam, the candidate must bring with them the admit card and a valid photo ID proof. Without admit card, canddiates will not be allowed to sit in the exam.

The following documents will be considered as a valid ID.

  • College issued identity card

  • Passport

  • Driving license

  • PAN card, Voter ID

  • Aadhar card or printed e-Aadhar card

Q:   What kind of stationery items I should carry to CEED 2027 exam centre?
A: 

The candidate will not be provided with any stationery at the exam venue. So, it is upon the candidates to bring these essential stationery items with them. Here are the basic minimum stationery items needed to take the CEED exam.

  • Pens

  • Pencils

  • Sketch pens 

  • Colours for the examination

However, note that sheets are not allowed inside the exam hall. 

Important Topics for CEED Part B Exam 2027

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 graphics - abstract, posters, logos, signage, etc.
  7. Storyboards and 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 that CEED is an open-ended exam; therefore, topics mentioned in Part A and B need not be limited to the above. 

CEED Exam Pattern CEED Preparation CEED Question Papers
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CEED Pattern 2027: Part A

CEED Part A will be of total marks: 150 and the maximum time will be 1 hour. This part will be conducted through a computer-based test and will consist of three sections.

The following table shows the CEED Exam Pattern 2027:

CEED Part-A Sections

No. of Questions 

Question Number

Total Marks

Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions 1 - 8 32
Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) 10 9 - 18 40
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) 26 19 - 44 78
Total No. of Questions 44   150
 
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Am I allowed to carry electronic gadgets inside the CEED 2026 exam hall?
A: 

No, candidates cannot take any electronic gadgets inside the CEED exam hall. Here is a list of items that the candidate must not bring to the exam hall.

  • Mobile phones

  • Calculators

  • Smart or digital watches, etc.

Any candidate found in possession of these items will be disqualified. 

Q:   In how many cities will the CEED 2027 exam be conducted?
A: 

IIT Bombay will conduct the CEED 2027 exam in 27 cities. Candidates should choose three cities in order of preference at the time of filling the registration.

The list of exam cities for CEED 2027 is given below.

S.No

City

S.No

City

1

Ahmedabad

15

Nagpur

2

Bhubaneswar

16

Pune

3

Dehradun

17

Trissur

4

Guwahati

18

Ernakulam

5

Kolkata

19

Bhopal

6

Mumbai

20

Chennai

7

Patna

21

Ernakulam

8

Thiruvananthapuram

22

Jaipur

9

Coimbatore

23

Lucknow

10

Bengaluru

24

Panaji

11

Chandigarh

25

Raipur

12

Delhi

26

Visakhapatnam

13

Hyderabad

27

Mysuru

14

Kozhikode

  
Q:   When will the CEED 2027 exam be conducted?
A: 

IIT Bombay will conduct the CEED 2027 exam on January 17, 2027 from 9 AM to 12 PM. 

Q:   How can I check the list of selected candidates for M.Des in IIT Delhi (CEED 2026)?
A: 

IIT Delhi will release the list of provisionally selected candidates on its admission portal. The list will include the names and application reference numbers of candidates selected for admission. Shortlisted candidates will have to complete the remaining formalities to confirm their admission. 

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CEED Exam Pattern 2027 - Part B    

The following table shows the Exam Pattern of CEED 2027:

Sections No. of Questions Question Number Total Marks
Sketching 1 1 20
Creativity  1 2 20
Form Sensitivity 1 3 20
Visual Sensitivity 1 4 20
Problem Identification 1 5 20
Total 5 1-5 100

Books for CEED Entrance Test

Check out the books for CEED preparation.

Section Recommended Books
Visualization & Spatial Ability A Complete Manual for CEED & UCEED - Pratibha Singh; Visual Reasoning Tests - Peter Hurley/Cygnus; Spatial reasoning practice workbooks (3D rotation, paper folding)
Analytical & Logical Reasoning A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning - R.S. Aggarwal; Analytical Reasoning - M.K. Pandey; Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation - Nishit Sinha
Language & Creativity Word Power Made Easy - Norman Lewis; High School English Grammar and Composition - Wren & Martin; Newspaper editorials (The Hindu, Indian Express)
Design Sensitivity & Aesthetic Perception The Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman; Universal Principles of Design - Lidwell, Holden, Butler; Basic Design textbooks (NID/CEPT foundation courses)
Environmental & Social Awareness / GK Lucent's General Knowledge; Pratiyogita Darpan / Competition Success Review; Current affairs on sustainability & urban design
Design Aptitude (Part B - Studio Test) CEED & UCEED Design Aptitude - Pratibha Singh; How to Draw - Scott Robertson; Sketching: The Basics - Eissen & Steur
Dedicated CEED Prep CEED & UCEED: A Complete Self Study Guide - Pratibha Singh & Prasenjeet Chaudhary; Official past-year CEED papers (free on CEED website)
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the validity of the CEED scorecard?
A: 

The validity of the CEED scorecard is one year from the date of its issue. 

Q:   What are the important topics for CEED exam?
A: 

Check out the important topics for CEED.

Important Topics for CEED 
Creative Writing SkillsDrawing Ability and SkillsCommunication Skills
Design ConceptsHow to Develop CharactersLogical Reasoning
Light and ShadowPerspective DesignLogo Design
Problem Identification & Design Problem SolvingScale and ProportionProduct Designing
Basics of Drawing- Lines and ShapesGradation ChartColour Theory, Color Schemes and color Compositions
Still Life Drawings, Eye Levels and Symmetrical Drawing Concepts, Object drawings from everyday lifePerspective- Types and UsageHuman Body Knowledge
Anatomy, Proportions and DivisionsBasic and advanced Human DrawingsHands and Feet Study
Human FeaturesAnimal and Bird StudyColour Rendering and Design
Inspirational DesignMeans of Advertisement-Visual CommunicationGrid Collages
MetamorphosisStudy of Objects and Lateral ThinkingCompositions
Story IllustrationsPictograms and SignageGeometrical and Design Exercise
Q:   Has IIT Bombay released the list of exam centres for CEED 2026?
A: 

The list of CEED 2026 exam cities has been released by IIT Bombay. The list is given in the CEED information brochure. The candidate can download the brochure at ceed.iitb.ac.in.

Q:   Will IIT Bombay send hard copies of CEED scorecard?
A: 

No, IIT Bombay will not send the hard copies of CEED Scorecard. The scorecard of CEED will be issued only in online mode. The candidate has to download it from the CEED admission portal - ceed.iitb.ac.in. To download the scorecard, log in by entering your email id and password. 

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.

 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.

 

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Sayeba Naushad
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Sayeba Naushad is a commerce postgraduate from Banaras Hindu University. She has over five years of experience in content writing and editing. She has a nose for current events in design field. At Shiksha.com, she s

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