Is CEED a computer-based 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.

If I fail to qualify Part A, will I be issued the CEED 2026 scorecard?

Score card of CEED 2026 will be issued to all candidates who will appear in CEED 2926 exam. So, even if you have failed to qualify Part A, you can download the scorecard. But note that in this case, scorecard will only include qualifying status and Part A marks. Part B marks, Total marks and merit ranks will only be issued to qualified candidates. Candidates who have been assigned a merit rank can participate in the counseling process conducted by participating institutes.

Can I depend only on CEED books to prepare for the exam?

Simply relying on textbooks for CEED exam preparation is not enough. It is because the CEED exam will evaluate the conceptual understanding of the candidate and also whether they are able to use those concepts to solve various types of problems. So, along with the textbooks, the candidate also need to solve sample papers. In fact, the candidate can start solving sample papers very early on in their preparation. Further, mock tests are another great tool to fine tune one’s preparation; mocks, however, unlike sample papers, are meant to be taken closer to the exam.

What are the salient features of best books for CEED?

Here are some of the important traits of CEED best books. These books will be written in layman terms and explain the concepts lucidly. Contain few to no errors. They will also be as per the latest and revised CEED syllabus. They will also have enough problem sets, typically at the end of each chapter, that the candidate can practice and thus hone their problem-solving skills and better understand the concepts. Are usually written by a well-known publisher or author.

What is the weightage of CEED Part A exam?

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.

How can I develop my drawing skills for CEED 2026?

You can develop drawing skills for CEED 2026 by sketching more and more. The sketching part of CEED will include stages like representation, in the form of geometric figures like lines, squares, and triangles, outline drawing, detailing, and shading. Practice more on outline drawing, representation, shape of the figure, proportion, line quality, etc.

How should I prepare for CEED?

Check out the tips below 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.

Is there negative marking in CEED 2026?

Yes, there is negative marking in CEED in Part A. Part A will include NAT, MSQ, and MCQ questions. There is -1 for each question if answered wrong in Part A under MSQ and - 0.5 for each wrong answer in MCQ. There is no negative marking for NAT. Meanwhile, Part B will be a subjective paper and will have no negative marking.

What are the important topics for CEED 2026 exam?

Check out the important topics for CEED 2026. Important Topics for CEED 2026 Creative Writing Skills Drawing Ability and Skills Communication Skills Design Concepts How to Develop Characters Logical Reasoning Light and Shadow Perspective Design Logo Design Problem Identification & Design Problem Solving Scale and Proportion Product Designing Basics of Drawing- Lines and Shapes Gradation Chart Colour Theory, Color Schemes and color Compositions Still Life Drawings, Eye Levels and Symmetrical Drawing Concepts, Object drawings from everyday life Perspective- Types and Usage Human Body Knowledge Anatomy, Proportions and Divisions Basic and advanced Human Drawings Hands and Feet Study Human Features Animal and Bird Study Colour Rendering and Design Inspirational Design Means of Advertisement-Visual Communication Grid Collages Metamorphosis Study of Objects and Lateral Thinking Compositions Story Illustrations Pictograms and Signage Geometrical and Design Exercise Compositional sense Placement of different figures proportionally Sense of proportion Basics of materials and manufacturing processes Interaction Design and Visual Communication Sketching Representation techniques Problem identification & solving Visual perception Interface design & Product Design Poster, Logo, Character designing Story telling Drawing of human figures of different postures, action, and age groups

How can I develop my drawing skills for CEED?

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.

Do candidates need to follow CEED 2026 exam pattern for exam preparation?

Yes, candidates must follow the exam pattern for CEED 2026. It is because the exam pattern will guide the candidate as to how to prepare for the exam. As per the CEED 2026 exam pattern, Part A will include NAT, MCQ, MSQ-type questions. These questions will require the candidate to select a correct answer option. So, instead of practicising how to write, long, elaborative answers, the candidate must build the skill to quickly solve the problem and find the solution. On the other hand, Part B will include subjective-type questions. In these types of questions, the examiner doesn’t simply want an answer, but also want to see how you arrived at the answer!

How many sections will the CEED 2026 question paper have?

CEED question paper will have two sections, Part A and Part B. Both sections are mandatory. Part A will have three sections, MCQ, MSQ and NAT. Part B will include only subjective type questions.

Can I get admission in M.Des programme if I do not meet Part A cut-off?

IIT Bombay will release the qualifying cut-off for Part A in the first week of February 2026. Cut-off is released in the form of mean and standard deviation. The mean and standard deviation for Part-A (CEED 2025) are 45.48 and 16.98, respectively and for Part A (CEED 2024) were 41.90 and 16.72, respectively. The qualifying cut-off is the minimum marks a candidate needs to score in the paper to get shortlisted. Part B answer booklets will only be evaluated if the candidate gets shortlisted. So, if you don’t meet Part A cut-off marks, you will not get shortlisted and you Part B answer booklets will not be evaluated. Also, note that only shortlisted candidates will be assigned a merit rank in CEED 2026.

What happens if I apply for CEED but do not meet the eligibility criteria?

Eligibility criteria for appearing in CEED 2026 exam are prescribed by IIT Bombay. Criteria are given in the information brochure. Candidate needs to carefully go through criteria and only apply for admission if they meet the requirements. If candidate fails to meet eligibility criteria, he or she could be disqualified at any stage of the admission process. Also, the participating colleges will have a document verification session, where all documents will be cross-checked.

Do I need a portfolio to apply to IIT Delhi through CEED 2026?

The design task/interview for admission to the M. Des. in Department of Design, IIT Delhi is being held. As part of the design task/interview, the candidate is required to upload their digital portfolio. The portfolio must include the candidate's five best projects (maximum size: 10 MB). The filename of the pdf must be your IIT Delhi application number. The candidate may carry their physical portfolio on the day of the interview as well, but it is not mandatory.

Will there be joint counselling for CEED 2026?

IIT Bombay will not conduct any Joint Counseling for CEED 2026. Instead, the participating colleges will conduct the counseling at an institute level. The candidate will have to go to the admission portal of the institute and fill in the counseling registration form. The counseling admission portal will have all the relevant details pertaining to the admission process, seat matrix, eligibility, etc.

How can I develop my drawing skills for CEED?

Sketching part of CEED will include representation in the form of geometric figures like lines, squares, and triangles, outline drawing, detailing, and shading. Practice outline drawing, representation, detailing and shading. Also work on shapes, proportion, line quality.

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

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.

What is the difference between the admission and qualifying cut-off of CEED?

The CEED exam has two parts - Part A and Part B. The Part B answer booklet will be evaluated only if the candidate qualifies Part A. The minimum marks needed to qualify Part A is the qualifying cut-off for CEED - Part A. On the other hand, the admission cut-off would be released by the CEED participating institutes. It is the minimum score one needs to score for admission to the M.Des programmein their chosen category.

Will the admission cut-off of CEED 2026 be released by IIT Bombay?

IIT Bombay will not release any admission cut-offs for CEED 2026. Note that unlike UCEED, IIT Bombay doesn't conduct any Joint Seat Allotment. In fact, IIT Bombay is only responsible for conduct of the CEED exam and declaration of results. Candidates will have to apply to the participating institute themselves based on their CEED 2026 scores. These participating institutes will then prepare admission cut-off based on parameters like number of applicants, seat intake, category under which admission is sought, etc.

What is the difference between CEED and UCEED exam?

Both CEED and UCEED exams are conducted by IIT Bombay. However, CEED scores are used to shortlist candidates for admission to the M.Des courses, whereas UCEED is an entrance exam for admission to the B. Des course. IIT Bombay also conducts a Joint Admission Process (or counseling) for UCEED qualified candidates. However, IIT Bombay doesn't conduct any joint counseling for CEED qualified candidates. Instead, candidates who have been assigned CEED merit ranks will have to apply directly to the participating college.

Who topped the CEED 2025 exam?

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.

How do I take admission to Ph.D through CEED?

To take admission to the PhD through CEED, candidate needs to first qualify in the CEED 2026 entrance exam. Then he needs to apply directly to the participating college. The participating college may conduct further admission rounds, including interviews. The institute's admission portal will have the detailed admission process and requirements.

Can I prepare for CEED without coaching?

It is very much possible to prepare for CEED without coaching. If you prepare for the exam on your own, you need to be serious and plan the preparation smartly. After going through the syllabus, you must be able to decide the difficulty level, the time it will take to cover the syllabus, and revise. Remember, there are many instances of toppers who managed to ace the CEED exam without the aid of any coaching. Further, the outcome may not depend on whether you do coaching or not, but on the quality of your preparation.

Which are the best books for CEED 2027 preparation?

The best books for CEED 2027 preparation are: Cracking CEED & UCEED 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 CEED ENTRANCE by Academy of Fashion & Art Ceed & Nid (M.Des) Entrance Books And Test Series by TRENDZ ACADEMY

How many seats are there in CEED?

Seats available for CEED admission vary from one institute to the other (that accept the exam scores for admission). For e. g, IIT Hyderabad has 30 seats, while IISc Bangalore has 18 seats. Candidates are informed that CEED is just a qualifying exam. Thus, any aspirant who clears CEED exam may have to appear in further admission rounds that may be conducted by the participating college. The application process at the participating colleges typically open once the CEED entrance exam results are announced.

Can I use previous years' CEED score for admission purpose?

The CEED score is valid for a period of one year from the date of declaration of the result. This means you can use CEED scores for admission in the current academic session only. You can't use for admission in the next year. Likewise, you can't use CEED 2026 scores for admission in the upcoming session.

What is the procedure for preparing the CEED 2026 result?

Result of CEED 2026 is prepared by giving weightage to CEED Part A and Part B. Part A will carry 25% marks. Part B will carry 75% marks. Final score is calculated using a formula. CEED Final Score = 0.25 x Marks obtained in Part A + 0.75 x Marks obtained in Part B.

When should I start my preparation for CEED 2026?

Check out the steps to prepare for CEED Exam. Go through CEED syllabus 2026 completely. Understand CEED exam pattern and marking scheme and prepare accordingly. Get all study material for CEED, such as prep books and previous year's question papers. Create a monthly plan on how much syllabus to cover daily. Solve question papers, sample papers and mock tests.

How many sample papers do I need to solve to prepare for CEED 2026?

Candidates should solve around 30-40 sample papers and question papers before the CEED Exam. Try to solve one sample paper or question paper daily in the last month of preparation.

What is the right time to solve sample papers for CEED?

You can start solving sample papers for CEED very early on in your exam preparation. For instance, you can do the exercise after completing a chapter. All you have to do is find the relevant questions in the sample papers and start solving. As you move on in your CEED 2026 exam preparation, you the sample papers will be more useful. In fact, as you complete the syllabus, you can attempt the complete sample paper. By solving the sample papers you can improve your problem-solving and time-management skills. Also, you can solve sample papers right up to the exam-day.

Can I also download the solutions of CEED question papers?

Yes, you can download the answers for CEED question paper. IIT Bombay releases the answer keys of the CEED exam along with the question paper. The answer keys contain the answers to the questions asked in the entrance exam.

CEED 2026: Counselling and Score Card (OUT)

CEED Scorecard 2026

10 Mar '26 - 31 Jul '26

Updated on Jul 7, 2026 10:49 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

CEED Counselling is underway by individual institutes. IIT Bombay will not conduct any joint seat counselling for CEED Exam. Candidates need to fill the admission form of the colleges in which they are interested.

Scorecard for CEED is available till July 31, 2026. It will be valid for one year. A hard copy of the CEED Score Card will not be sent to any candidate.

Latest updates:

IIT Bombay released the dates for CEED 2027 entrance exam for MDes.
UCEED exam will be held on January 17, 2027.
More details will be shared on October 01, 2026.

List of CEED 2026 Colleges

Download list of participating colleges and result sharing institutes for M.Des programmes.

📃 Download PDF

Table of contents

What is CEED Exam 2026?
CEED 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
CEED Counselling 2026
CEED Result 2026
CEED Cutoff 2026
CEED Question Paper 2026
CEED Answer Key 2026
CEED 2026 Analysis
CEED Admit card 2026
CEED Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation
CEED Eligibility Eligibility & Application Form
CEED 2026 Entrance Exam - FAQs

What is CEED Exam 2026?

CEED stands for Common Entrance Exam for Design . It is a national-level exam conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to the M.Des programme. The exam is conducted once every academic year. Candidates who are allocated a merit rank in CEED will have to apply directly to the participating institute based on their scores. The CEED participating institutes will shortlist candidates based on their merit rank and may conduct further admission rounds before preparing the merit list for CEED 2026 admission .

CEED 2026 Admission is to be offered in CEED participating institutes and CEED result-sharing institutes. IIT Bombay (IITB), IIT Delhi (IITD), IIT Guwahati (IITG), IIT Hyderabad (IITH), IIT Indore (IITI), IIT Roorkee (IITR), and IIITDM Jabalpur (IIITDMJ), etc., are participating institutes.

CEED Exam Overview

The Highlights of the CEED 2026 Entrance Exam are as follows:

Particulars	Description
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Exam Mode	Entrance exam has two mandatory parts. Part A - offline Part B - offline Both parts are mandatory and will be conducted on the same day. Part B will be evaluated only if you qualify for Part A.
No. of test takers	5000+ (CEED 2026)
Language	English

Also Read:

CEED 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of CEED 2026 exam

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
10 Mar ' 26 - 31 Jul ' 26	CEED Scorecard 2026 ONGOING
17 Jan ' 27	CEED 2027 exam date

Dates	Past Exam Dates
04 Mar ' 26	CEED 2026 Result DATE
28 Jan ' 26	CEED 2026 Release of FINAL Answer Key
19 Jan ' 26	CEED 2026 Release of DRAFT Answer Key
View More Past Events (4)

CEED Counselling 2026

CEED counselling registration form opened from March 14, 2026. IIT Bombay will not conduct any Joint Seat Allotment for CEED 2026 qualified candidates. Instead, the participating institutes of CEED 2026 will conduct counselling at an institute level. Candidates who are assigned a merit rank in CEED 2026 will have to apply directly to the relevant institute through their admission portal.

To apply for admission, the candidate has to go to the admission portal of the CEED 2026 participating institute and fill in the counselling registration form and upload their CEED 2026 scorecards and any relevant documents.
The participating institutes will shortlist candidates based on their CEED 2026 merit ranks and may conduct further admission rounds, including personal interviews. The seat allotment will be based on the final merit rank prepared by the institute.

How to get admission to IITs after CEED Result are announced?

Candidates who have qualified CEED 2026 Exam should submit an Application form in the participating college.
Candidates will be shortlisted for the next round by the institute. The next round will be an online interview.
Submit the portfolio and appear for the online interview.
Result will be declared for the selected students who have cleared the interview, and they will be asked to submit the fee and complete the formalities

Read More:

CEED Toppers 2025: All India Rank, Marks, Previous Year Toppers

CEED Result 2026

DeskCalendar Result: 10 Mar ' 26 - 31 Jul ' 26

The results of CEED 2026 were declared on March 04, 2026. The result included the Part A marks for all candidates. However, the Part B marks and CEED 2026 merit ranks will only be released for shortlisted candidates.

How to download CEED Result 2026?

The result of the CEED entrance exam was released on website of CEED for all the candidates who appeared for the CEED Entrance Test.
1. Click on the result link.
2. You will be redirected to a log-in window
3. Enter your registered email ID and password
4. On successful login, CEED 2026 results will be displayed on the screen.
5. Download and take a printout of the result.

CEED Cutoff 2026

IIT Bombay released CEED 2026 cutoff for Part A on February 05, 2026. It was released on the website of CEED in the form of Mean and Standard Deviation. These cutoff marks are used to calculate the marks for Part A. The mean and standard deviation for Part-A (CEED 2026) are 39.35 and 16.89.

CEED 2026 cutoff marks will be used to shortlist candidates for admission process.
Category-specific cutoff marks are calculated using a formula.
Part B answer booklet is evaluated for shortlisted candidates. The candidate must meet the cutoff released by IIT Bombay.

Cut-off marks for Part A - CEED 2026

The cutoff for CEED Part A is given below.

Type of Deviation for Part A	Deviations
Mean Deviation	39.35
Standard Deviation	16.89

The admission cutoff for CEED 2026 will be released during seat allotment. The admission cutoff is the minimum rank one needs for admission. The cutoff (admission) would be determined based on factors like seat intake, total applications received for admission, the category of the candidate, etc.

CEED Question Paper 2026

Candidates can download the latest official CEED question paper PDF by IIT Bombay below:

CEED Question Paper	PDF
CEED Question Paper and Answer Key 2026	Download Here
CEED Question Paper and Answer Key 2025	Download Here
CEED Question Paper and Answer Key 2024	Download Here
CEED Question Paper and Answer Key 2023	Download Here
CEED Question Paper and Answer Key 2022	Download Here

CEED Answer Key 2026

The final answer key of CEED 2026 for Part A was released on January 28, 2026. CEED answer key contains the answers to the questions asked in the exam. The candidate can download the answer key from the portal and calculate their probable scores. CEED draft key 2026 was released on January 19, 2026.

The answer key and question papers are released on the official website.
Candidates can report discrepancies, if any, against the draft key.
Comments or objections against the draft key had to be filed by going to the admission portal. Submit comments by the deadline.
To make an objection (or complaint), use the question paper uploaded on the official website.
The response of candidates for Part A is available for download as the results of the CEED 2026 exam are declared.

The final answer key is released after considering the comments/ feedback of candidates.

CEED 2026 Analysis

Go through the exam analysis of CEED 2026

CEED Part	Analysis
Part A	Easy to moderate
Part B	Easy to moderate

CEED Section-Wise Exam Analysis 2025

Go through the exam analysis of CEED

CEED Level	Analysis
Difficulty Level	Difficulty level was moderate

Also Read:

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

CEED Admit card 2026

Admit cards for CEED 2026 were out on January 02, 2026, at 01:00 pm. It was issued to all candidates who have duly completed the application process.

CEED admit card contains details like the date and time of the CEED Entrance Exam, the name and address of CEED exam center, exam timings, including reporting time, and exam-day guidelines. On the day of the exam, candidates had to bring with them a valid photo ID proof along with the admit card. Candidates will be allowed to take the exam without the admit card.

How to download the CEED Admit Card 2026?

Go to the CEED 2026 candidate portal.
Click on the CEED 2026 admit card download link.
A login window will OPEN.
Enter your email ID and password.
On login, the admit card will be displayed in downloadable PDF format.
Download and take a printout of the admit card.

In case of any discrepancy in the CEED admit card, contact the exam officials and get it rectified without any delay. The deadline to fix discrepancies was announced on the admission portal.

CEED Syllabus

Check CEED Chapters and topics by IIT Bombay.

Download Syllabus

CEED Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation

The CEED question paper has two parts: Part A and Part B. Both parts were mandatory.

The section-wise exam pattern for CEED is given in the table below.

Particulars	Part A	Part B
Exam mode	Computer-based	Offline-based part. Answers have to be entered in the answer booklet provided by the invigilator. However, candidates will still need to tick the appropriate box on the computer screen to indicate that they have answered the question.
Type of questions	Objective-type questions of the following three types: Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Multiple Select Question (MSQ)	Subjective-type questions.
Number of questions	44	5
Duration	1 hour	2 hours
Total marks	150	100

CEED Syllabus 2026

The following table shows the topics for Part A and Part B:

	Topics for Part A	Topics for Part B
Topics	Visualization and spatial reasoning Practical and Scientific Knowledge Observation and Design Sensitivity Environment and Society Analytical and logical reasoning Language Creativity Art and Design Knowledge Design methods and practices	Drawing Creativity Communication Problem identification

Design Awareness Topics

Get the exact topic-wise breakdown for DAT.

Download Design Awareness Topics

CEED 2026 Preparation

Prepare a Daily Study Schedule: Take out at least 4-5 hours from your day to prepare for CEED 2026 examination. Make it a daily habit so that there is no burden at the last moment.
Understand the CEED 2026 Exam Pattern: To make a proper study strategy for CEED 2026, one must be aware of CEED exam topics, its pattern, and the marking criteria. Shiksha makes it easy to get it all in one place.
Visit CEED Official Site regularly: Stay updated about the CEED dates, the latest changes in exam patterns, or other important factors by visiting the official site.
Join Online CEED Crash Courses: Various design institutes are offering online CEED courses and live 3-month CEED classes under a pocket-friendly budget. One may join these to pump up the CEED 2026 preparations.

Also Read:

CEED Eligibility Eligibility & Application Form

Eligibility criteria that candidates need to meet to appear in CEED 2026 exam have been explained in table below.

Parameter	Eligibility Criteria
Qualifying exam	The candidate must have completed a degree, diploma, or postgraduate program of a minimum of three years (after 10+2), or Appearing for the final exam of such a program by July 2026, or Must have passed the GD Arts diploma program (10+5) level by July 2026.
Age limit	There is no age limit (upper limit)
Number of Attempts	CEED exam can be attempted any number of times.

Note: Eligibility criteria for admission to a participating institute can be different from the eligibility criteria for appearing in CEED exam. So, candidates are requested to check admission criteria for the respective institutes before appearing in CEED 2026 entrance exam.

CEED Application 2026

The application form for CEED 2026 is closed. The candidate had to fill out the application form online. CEED 2026 admit cards were issued to candidates only if they had successfully filled out the application form. CEED application could be filled out with both regular and late fees. The late fee was INR 500.

How to fill out the CEED application form?

Online registration - The candidate has to get registered through the official portal by entering their email ID, name, date of birth, etc. On successful registration, an applicant account will be created.
Check Eligibility - The candidate has to undergo an eligibility check process, wherein he/she has to enter their qualifying exam, passing year, and mobile number.
Fill in the form - Next, fill in personal, academic, and contact details. The candidate also has to select three exam centers in order of priority.
Upload documents – The candidate has to upload a photo, signature, and qualifying exam certificates in the prescribed format.
Payment of the exam fee: After confirming that the application form is complete in all respects, pay the exam fee online using net banking or credit, or debit cards.

Also Read:

Design Courses Offered by IITs: Course List, Eligibility Criteria and Fee

CEED 2026 Entrance Exam - FAQs

Check the important FAQs related to the CEED 2026 exam.

Q: When will CEED Examination 2027 be held?

CEED Entrance Examination 2027 will be conducted on January 17, 2027. The exam timing will be 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Q: Do mock tests and CEED sample papers have the sample role?

No, mock tests are not the same as CEED question or sample papers.

It is because the main purpose of the mock tests is to help the candidate get acquainted with the exam pattern and system, especially if the exam is conducted in an online mode. The mocks will allow the candidate get accustomed with the exam mode, navigation, scoring, and answering patterns. To some extent it also may help the candidate improve problem-solving and time-managment skills, which are typically the exclusive domain of CEED sample papers.

Additionally, mock tests are meant to be taken in the last few days of the exam. On the other hand, sample papers are typically solved even in the early stages of exam preparation.

Q: Is CEED a national-level exam?

Yes, CEED is a national-level exam for admission to M.Des and PhD courses offered by participating colleges. The exam is conducted by IIT Bombay.

In addition to the participating colleges, a number of other institutes, known as result-sharing institutes, will also use CEED scores for admission purposes. The CEED 2026 exam will be conducted on Janaury 18, 2026. The application form the exam is currently open.

Q: Does IIT Bombay recommend any books for CEED exam preparation?

IIT Bombay is exam conducting body for CEED 2026. The institute, however, doesn’t prescribed any study material for the exam.

So, in a bid to help the candidate, we bring you a list of recommended books for CEED 2026 after consulting previous years’ CEED question papers. The names suggested by toppers and experts have also been taken into account when compiling this list.

CEED ENTRANCE by Academy of Fashion & Art	Academy of Fashion & Art
CEED Common Entrance Exam for Design Pattern & Scheme Preparation Book 2022	Examinspect
CEED & NID M.Des Entrance Books and Test Series	Ashish Popli, Pradosh Swain, Rishabh Rhode
Question Bank for NID, NIFT, CEED & UCEED (Revised 2024 edition)	Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal
Introduction to Design UCEED \| CEED \| NID \| NIFT	Sanjay Reddy, Mukti Masih, et al.

Q: How can I improve my English language abilities for CEED Entrance Exam?

English can be improved for CEED Entrance Exam in the following ways.

Reading English newspapers daily
Learning 20 new words daily
Solving comprehension passage
Reading synonyms, antonyms, idioms, etc.
Watching animated movies or English movies with subtitles.

Q: Where can I download previous years CEED question papers?

The candidate can download previous years’ question papers for the CEED exam from CEED 2026 - IIT Bombay admission portal - ceed.iitb.ac.in. Alternatively, the candidate can also download the question papers from this page.

Candidate can download question papers along with the answer keys. Question paper and answer keys for the current academic session (or CEED 2026) will only be available after the exam has been conducted.

Previous years’ question papers can be used by the candidate to improve their problem-solving ability and improve conceptual understanding.

Q: Is the CEED exam tough?

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.

Q: Can I apply for CEED if I am from a non-design background?

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).

Q: Does IIT Roorkee offer PhD in Design course through CEED?

IIT Roorkee doesn't offer PhD in Design course through CEED. It only offers a MDes in Industrial Design. Admission to the M.Des program will be based on CEED 2026 merit rank. The candidate will have to apply directly to the participating college once results are declared.

Q: Are CEED 2026 eligibility criteria the same as those required by the participating colleges?

The candidate must note that IIT Bombay is only responsible for conducting the CEED Entrance exam. Unlike UCEED, it will not conduct any Joint Seat Allotment.

This means the eligibility criteria prescribed by IIT Bombay is limited to appearing in the CEED 2026 exam. Further, the participating institutes of CEED 2026 will individually determine the eligibility criteria for the M.Des courses. The eligibility criteria will be uploaded on the admission portals of these institutes.

Q: How many students appear for CEED exam?

In CEED 2026 is 6000+ students appeared for the entrance exam.

Year	Exam	No. of Applications	Seats
2024	CEED	4910	300
2025	CEED	6037	300
2026	CEED	6000+	300 (Approx.)

Q: When will the CEED 2027 application start?

CEED 2027 application will start on October 01, 2026. The official notification will be out on October 1, 2026. The last date to fill the application form will be on November 05, 2026.