UCEED Preparation 2026: Quick and Easy Tips to ace the design exam

Q: How can I prepare for UCEED Entrance Exam in 6 months?

If you have six months to prepare for UCEED and not an year, you need to be smart. Here are a few tips to prepare for the exam in six months: Make a study time table. Consult the exam pattern and get isights. Also, refer to the exam syllabus. Another point to note is the difficulty level of the exam. Start your preparation without any delay. Take notes during study. Solve sample papers and take mock tests.

Q: When should I start preparation for UCEED 2025?

Given that UCEED is one of the most important and the toughest design entrance exams in the country, one should not wait till the last moments to prepare for the exam. Ideally, the candidate should have at least an year to prepare for the exam. That being said, if the candidate has above average understand of the basics, he or she can easily prepare for the exam in six months. When preparing for the exam, it is important to have a target in mind. For example, the merit rank the candidate wants to achieve. Note that the cut-off rank varies from one institute to another.

Q: Can I solve previous year's papers considering UCEED syllabus is revised?

IIT Bombay revised the syllabus for the UCEED exam starting 2024. However, candidates can use the previous years papers to practice for the exam. The more sample papers you solve, the better you will get. In addition to the syllabus, IIT Bombay had also revised the UCEED exam pattern. Part A now have 57 questions (down from 68), while Part B will have two questions (instead of 1).

Q: Is it possible to prepare for UCEED 2025 in 3 months?

Three months is not a lot of time to prepare for an exam of the magnitude of UCEED. But the silver lining is it could be done, provided your fundamentals are strong. Here is how you prepare for UCEED 2025 in three months: Follow the official UCEED syllabus and exam pattern. Make a time table. To start with focus on the topics that are easy but carry decent weightage. Once you are done with the easy topics, move on to the moderately difficult and difficult topics. It is important for you to not get stuck with a difficult problem and burn up all your time. Instead move on to the next topic. Solve sample papers and take mock tests.

Q: What will be the structure of the UCEED 2026 question paper ?

The question paper for the UCEED 2026 exam will be 3 hours long and have two parts. Part A - It will be a computer-based section 2) Part B - It will be a sketching-based and aptitude-based test. The candidate needs to appear in both papers to be included in the merit list. Further, the candidate has to qualify Part A, or else his or else Part B paper answer booklets will only be evaluated. The qualifying marks for Part A will be released before the declaration of results. Part A will include the three types of questions - Numerical Answer Type NAT Multiple Select Question (MSQ), and Multiple Choice Question (MCQ).

Q: What is the last month exam preparation tips for UCEED 2025?

In the last few months leading up to the UCEED 2025 exam, the candidate needs to follow this routine: If you have maintained a note, ensure you regularly go through the important points. Do timely revision of all the topics, especially the sticky concepts. Solve as many sample papers you can. Also take mock tests to get into the exam mood. Mocks will help you get an exam like ambience and you can get an idea as to how the question paper would be look like, the sections you need to attempt first, etc. Pay close attention to your health - sleep the full quote of hours, stay hydrated, do light exercise, and stay happy. It is also a good idea to not start any new topic at this stage of exam preparation.

Q: What types of questions will be asked in Section 2 of UCEED 2026 question paper?

The UCEED 2026 question paper for Part A will include three sections. It will include 28 Multiple Select Questions (MSQs). Each MSQ may have one or more than one correct choice (s) out of the four given. The following marking scheme will be followed for MSQ-type questions: Full Marks: + 4 If only (all) the correct option (s) is (are) chosen and None of the incorrect options is chosen. Partial Marks: + 3 If all four options are correct but ONLY three options are chosen, and None of the incorrect options is chosen. Partial Marks: + 2 If three or more options are correct but ONLY two options are chosen, both of which are correct and None of the incorrect options is chosen. Partial Marks: + 1 If two or more options are correct but ONLY one option is chosen and it is a correct option and None of the incorrect options is chosen. Zero Marks: 0 If None of the options is chosen (i.e., the question is unanswered). Negative Marks: -1 In all other cases.

Q: What do I need to do in the last few week of UCEED 2025 exam preparation?

The last few days are very crucial in the context of UCEED 2025 exam preparation. It is because if you mess up these last few days, all your efforts in the last few months and years could go down the drain: Here are a few tips to follow in the last few weeks leading up to the UCEED exam: Focus these last few days on revision Solve sample papers. Try to solve at least one sample paper a day. Take mock tests. Do quick revision of important topics. After taking the mock or solving the sample papers, do a quick analysis and SEE if there are any quick remedies to costly errors. Don't start any new topic. It is because it will eat into crucial revision or practice time. Also, note that starting a new topic so late in the day can only add to the anxiety, something you need to avoid.

Q: What key points do candidates need to remember about UCEED 2026 Part B of question paper?

The candidate needs to remember the following points about the Part B question paper of UCEED 2026: Part B will include around TWO questions. The question for the section will be shown on the computer monitor. The candidate, after reading the question, has to write/ draw the answer option in the answer booklet provided by the invigilator. Part B test will evaluate the drawing ability and Design Aptitude of the candidate. Part B is mandatory and will only be evaluated if the candidate qualifies for Part A. The cut-off marks for Part A will be declared by IIT Bombay before the declaration of results.

Q: What are the important topics candidates need to prepare for Part B of UCEED 2025?

Note that IIT Bombay revised the syllabus for the UCEED exam starting 2024. As per the revised syllabus, Part B will now have two sections: 1) Drawing and 2) Design Aptitude. Note that in the previous editions of the exam, the Part A included only a sketching-based section. The important topics for UCEED 2024 Part B are given below: Drawing: Ability to draw products, people or scenes in proportion with good line quality, composition, proportion, perspective and shading. Design Aptitude Capability to practically and appropriately respond to problems/situations with ingenuity and empathy.

638 Students Q&A

Registration - 1 Oct '25 - 31 Oct '25

Updated on Sep 13, 2025 14:39 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

UCEED Preparation 2026 - IIT Bombay has announced dates for its B.Des Admission through UCEED Entrance Examination. The exam will be conducted on January 18, 2026. Candidates who wish to appear and get a seat at IITs must start their preparation.

Given the difficulty level and competitiveness of the UCEED exam, you must make an all-out effort to ace the exam.

The UCEED 2026 question paper is expected to include two sections or parts:

Part A will be objective-type and include 57 questions
Part B will include 2 questions - one sketching-based question and one aptitude-based question.

Latest Update:

UCEED 2026: Entrance Test for B.Des Admissions Announced; Check Details Here

Candidates can crack the UCEED 2026 exam if they are well-acquainted with different design elements and also have adequate knowledge of current affairs and General Knowledge. In this article, we discuss the step-wise process the candidate needs to follow to prepare for the exam, study material, frequency, and the right time to solve sample papers and mock tests.

Go through the below-mentioned UCEED 2026 preparation tips to score well in the design exam.

Q: How can I prepare for UCEED Entrance Exam in 6 months?

Q: When should I start preparation for UCEED 2025?

Q: Can I solve previous year's papers considering UCEED syllabus is revised?

Table of content

Step-wise UCEED 2026 Preparation Plan
How to Prepare for UCEED 2026
UCEED 2026 - Preparation Tips by Toppers
Best Books for UCEED Preparation 2026
UCEED Sample Papers 2026
UCEED Mock Test 2026
UCEED Preparation 2026 - FAQs

Step-wise UCEED 2026 Preparation Plan

Step 1: Possess in-depth knowledge of the UCEED 2026 syllabus.

Step 2: Understand the exam pattern and marking scheme.

Step 3: Prepare a timetable (monthly, weekly, and daily).

Step 4: Solve past years’ question papers, sample papers, and mock tests.

Step 5: Make an effort to complete the syllabus on time. That way, you will be able to solve sample papers, take mock tests, and do many other exercises.

UCEED College Predictor prepared by Shiksha.com helps students to predict the college in which they can get admission based on their expected exam score.

UCEED Exam College Predictor

Also Read:

UCEED 2026 Sketching Sample Questions & Preparation Tips

Commonly asked questions

Q: What skills do I need to have for UCEED 2025?

Q: Is there any changes to the UCEED 2025 exam pattern?

How to Prepare for UCEED 2026

Candidates need to keep the following pointers in mind when formulating a UCEED 2026 preparation plan.

Follow the UCEED Exam Pattern

The following table shows the exam pattern of UCEED:

UCEED Exam	Section	No of Questions
Part A	NAT	14
	MSQ	15
	MCQ	28
Part B	Drawing Question	1
	Design Aptitude	1

Knowledge of the UCEED Marking Scheme

Candidates can go through the new marking scheme for UCEED 2025 in the table below:

Section	Marks Added for Every Correct Answer
NAT	+4 marks for a correct answer; no negative marking
MSQ	Partial marking +4, +3, +2, +1, 0, or -1 depending on the correctness of the answer
MCQ	+3 for a correct answer; -0.71 marks for an incorrect answer
Drawing Question	60 marks
Total Marks	300

Know the UCEED Syllabus

Candidates need to be acquainted with the topics to study for the different sections of UCEED 2026. Aspirants can go through the detailed UCEED syllabus to crack this design entrance exam. IIT Bombay can revise the syllabus for the UCEED 2026 exam.

Part B of the exam will now have two questions from two sections - Drawing and Design Aptitude. Previously, only a drawing-based question was asked. Also, Part B will now be of 60 minutes (instead of 30 minutes).

Go through the previous years’ UCEED question papers

Like any entrance exam, while preparing for the exam, aspirants are advised to go through past years’ UCEED question papers for it. Apart from this, candidates should also go through sample papers and mock tests for UCEED 2026 preparation. This would prove beneficial in helping students understand the type of questions asked in the UCEED exam as well as provide them with an insight into how to formulate their time management strategy.

Aspirants can go through UCEED preparation articles as well as sample questions by clicking the links mentioned in the table below:

10 Do’s and Don’ts for UCEED Prep	10 Tips to Crack UCEED
UCEED Sample Questions	4 Time Management Tips for UCEED
Expected Questions in UCEED Drawing Section	UCEED Practice Test
UCEED 2019 Topper Interview: AIR 1, Vishwaprasanna Hariharan is already pursuing BDes from IIT Guwahati

What can you do after class 12th for a career in Design, Mass Comm & Architecture

Commonly asked questions

Q: What are the important topics candidates need to prepare for Part B of UCEED 2025?

Q: What is one year study plan for UCEED entrance exam?

UCEED 2026 - Preparation Tips by Toppers

Here are a few exam preparation tips (or experiences) shared by UCEED toppers.

"Till mid-September, I was pretty chilled and doing regular studies, sketching, and practicing questions. But from October to December, I started giving more time specifically for UCEED preparations. I was in SILICA and used to solve previous year's exam papers, UCEED mock tests, and design sample papers. But I never forgot to take mandatory breaks to freshen up my mind. I used to do “SKETCHING BEFORE SLEEPING” (kind of my practice mantra to awaken my design muscles)." - AIR 1, 2021, (SC category), VANSH ANEKAR.
"I would say that sketching is not a one-night thing. It has to be practiced daily. And one must try LIVE SKETCHING to understand the depth of the process." - AIR 1, 2021, (SC category), VANSH ANEKAR.
"I solved only the UCEED question papers of the past three years (2015, 2016, and 2017). I recommend students solve past years’ CEED question papers as the two exams (CEED and UCEED) are similar in nature. The logical reasoning sections of Olympiads could also be of help in UCEED preparation." - AIR 1, 2019, Vishwaprasanna Hariharan.

Best Books for UCEED Preparation 2026

Candidates can consider preparing for UCEED 2026 by studying the topics mentioned in the books listed below:

Name of the Book	Author
UCEED Design Environment & Social Awareness In Design Perspective Combined With Mental & Verbal Aptitude	Srijan Shilpa
Cracking CEED & UCEED (with Previous Years’ Papers and Mock Tests	Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal
NID-NIFT-UCEED-CEED Workbook	Ar Revati Shantanu Parkhi and Rhythm Singh Kachhawa
Comprehensive English for NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, NATA, B.Arch & Other Design Entrance Exams	Designologue
Quantitative Aptitude	RS Aggarwal
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning	RS Aggarwal
UCEED (BDes) Entrance Books and Test Series	AFA India
Analytical Reasoning, Mental Aptitude, Verbal Aptitude (UCEED Guide)	Institute Of Creative Sciences

View list of Books

UCEED Sample Papers 2026

IIT Bombay, the exam conducting body, releases the question paper and answer keys for UCEED within a few days of the conduct of the entrance exam. This means the question paper and answer keys for the UCEED 2026 exam will also be available after the exam.

In the meantime, the candidate can download the previous year's question papers for practice. They can refer to the answer keys to check their answers.

Additionally, sample papers for UCEED are easily available in the market. For instance, the candidate can buy sample papers online from Amazon, Flipkart, etc. The candidate can purchase these sample papers for practice.

You can download the UCEED sample papers here.

UCEED Mock Test 2026

The mock tests for UCEED 2026 are meant to be taken in the last few weeks or days leading up to the entrance exam.

The purpose of the mock tests is to help the candidate get an exam-like ambiance to practice in and thus get acquainted with the exam process.

Note that the UCEED 2026 Part A will be conducted in a computer-based mode and include NAT, MCQ, and MSQ-type questions. The duration of the exam will be 1 hour. Meanwhile, Part B will be administered in an offline mode and will be 2 hours long.

The mocks can also help the candidate identify silly errors and fix them.

UCEED Preparation 2026 - FAQs

The candidate may go through the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the UCEED 2026 exam preparation below.

Commonly asked questions

Q: Is it possible to prepare for UCEED 2025 in 3 months?

Q: What will be the structure of the UCEED 2026 question paper ?

Q: What is the last month exam preparation tips for UCEED 2025?

Q: What types of questions will be asked in Section 2 of UCEED 2026 question paper?

Q: What do I need to do in the last few week of UCEED 2025 exam preparation?

Q: What key points do candidates need to remember about UCEED 2026 Part B of question paper?

UCEED Exam

Student Forum

Anything you would want to ask experts?

Write here...

Is UCEED still open for registration for BDes admissions at Saintgits Design School?

Answered a month ago

No, UCEED 2025 entrance exam has been concluded at this point of time. Saintgits Design School BDes course admissions also accept different entrance exam scores as well including the SDAT entrance exam conducted by Saintgits Design School itself. Candidates can find all the accepted entrance exams f

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

What is the UCEED cutoff for B.Des admission at IIT Indore? I belong to SC category

Answered a month ago

For students belonging to the SC category under the AI quota, the UCEED last round closing rank was 31 for IIT Indore B.Des admission. Please note that the cutoff ranks vary for different rounds. The round-wise UCEED 2025 closing ranks for IIT Indore are tabulated below for the SC category.

Round	UCEED Cutoff 2025 (Closing Rank)
1	24
2	24
3	24
4	24
5	31

Rashmi Sinha

Contributor-Level 10

Does the IIT Indore B.Des cutoff vary across categories?

Answered a month ago

Yes, the IIT Indore cutoff 2025 varies across different rounds and categories. For the last round, IIT Indore cutoff UCEED 2025 was 119 for BDes admission for the General AI quota. On the other hand, for the OBC category candidates, the cutoff rank was 61 for the last round. Refer to the table belo

Rashmi Sinha

Contributor-Level 10

When will the official notification for UCEED 2026 be released?

Answered a month ago

The official notification of UCEED 2026 will be released by October 01, 2025, by IIT Bombay on the official website. The exam dates are out and will be conducted on January 18, 2026.

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

What is the timing of UCEED 2026 Exam?

Answered a month ago

UCEED Exam 2026 will be conducted on January 18, 2026 (Sunday), from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The details will be released by October 01, 2025, on the official website.

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

What is the exam pattern for UCEED 2026?

Answered a month ago

UCEED consists of two parts:

Part A (Computer-based): Objective questions (NAT, MSQ, MCQ)
Part B (Pen-and-paper): Drawing and design aptitude questions

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

When will the UCEED 2026 application form be available?

Answered a month ago

UCEED 2026 Applications for the B.Des programme will be released by IIT Bombay in the last week of September 2025 or in the first week of October 2025. The application form will be available on the official website of UCEEED. The UCEED Entrance Exam 2026 will be conducted on January 18, 2026 (Sunda

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

When will UCEED Entrance Exam 2026 be conducted?

Answered a month ago

IIT Bombay will conduct the UCEED 2026 Entrance Exam for B.Des programmes on January 18, 2026. The notification will be out in the first week of October 2025.

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

I have passed H.S.C. vocational examination. Am I eligible for admission to the B.Des program?

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, candidates who have passed their H.S.C. vocational examination may apply for admission to the B.Des program.

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

What is the UCEED category-wise cutoff for IIT Roorkee?

Answered 2 months ago

The IIT Roorkee UCEED cutoff 2025 was released for different categories of students belonging to the All India quota. The institute accepts the UCEED entrance exam, followed by counselling rounds for B.Des admission. For the General category students belonging to the AI quota, the UCEED last round c

Rashmi Sinha

Contributor-Level 10

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