Important Topics for CEED 2025: Part A & B Topics & Preparation Tips

Common Entrance Examination for Design 2026 ( CEED )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 1 Oct '25 - 31 Oct '25

Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Jun 2, 2025 11:59 IST

Candidates preparing for the exam must know the important topics to study CEED 2025 exam. IIT Bombay will conduct the exam on January 19. 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 2025 exam, it is important that you know what the the important topics for the exam. It is because if you know the CEED 2025 important topics, you will be in a better position to devise an effective exam preparation strategy. The other thing is the important topics will include questions that are more probably going 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 2025 are given below subject-wise, so it will enable the candidate to incorporate them in their exam plan.

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IIT Bombay has released the exam pattern for CEED 2025. 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:

Q:   When should I start my preparation for CEED 2026?
Q:   When will the CEED 2025 website be launched?
Q:   When will the CEED 2025 exam be conducted?

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 content
  • Important Topics for CEED Part A Exam 2025
  • Important Topics for CEED Part B Exam 2025
  • CEED Admission Process

Important Topics for CEED Part A Exam 2025

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 2025

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, signages, 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 Exam Pattern CEED Preparation CEED Question Papers

CEED Admission Process

Please note 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.

Q:   When will the CEED 2025 exam be conducted?
Q:   What is the validity of the CEED 2025 scorecard?
Q:   Can I download the CEED 2025 scorecard after one year?

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 their 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 these secondary round of 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:

How to prepare for CEED Part A Exam

Prep Tips for CEED Part B Exam

CEED Mock Test/Sample Questions with answers

CEED Mock Test/Sample Questions-Part B

 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 is an editorial professional with over 5 years of experience in content creation, editing and proofreading. She holds a master's degree in commerce, which has helped her develop a strong attention to detail a Read Full Bio
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Answered 2 months ago

IIT Bombay will release the admission notification for CEED 2026 exam by October 1, 2025. The admission portal for CEED 2026 will be launched soon- ceed.iitb.ac.in. 

The portal contain the updates about the CEED exam. It also contain useful recourses like previous years' question papers, answer keys

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The best books for CEED 2026 preparation are:

  • Cracking CEED & UCEED (2022 Edition) by Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal
  • CEED+NID (M.DES) [Paperback] Academy of Fashion & Art Preparation Kit
  • CEED Common Entrance Exam for Design Pattern & Scheme Preparation Book 2022 [Paperback] Examinspect
  • CEED ENTRANCE by Acad

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, candidates from engineering, architecture, arts, science, or commerce backgrounds can apply. Candidates must have completed a graduate degree/diploma/postgraduate degree program of a minimum of THREE years (after 10+2 level).

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

CEED 2026 application is expected to start in the first week of October 2025. The official notification will be out by October 1, 2025. 

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

CEED Entrance Examination 2026 will be conduced on January 18, 2026. The exam timing will be 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. 

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10