Will CEED have partial marking?

Part A of the CEED 2026 question paper will have three types of questions: NAT (Numerical Answer Type): 8 questions MSQ (Multiple Select Question): 10 questions MCQ (Multiple Choice Question): 26 questions The MSQ and MCQ type questions will have partical scoring. For instance, each NAT question carries 4 marks. Also, each MSQ may have one or more than one correct choice(s) out of the four given. If you get all the correct options, you will be awarded 4 marks. However, if all four options are correct, and you select only three correct options, you will get 3 marks.

Will IIT Kanpur offer PhD in Design course through CEED 2026?

Yes, IIT Kanpur will offer a PhD in Design course through CEED 2026. Candidates seeking admission to the program need to take the CEED 2025 entrance exam. The application forms for CEED will open in October 2025. Note that IIT Bombay will not consult any joint counselling for PhD candidates. As such, shortlisted candidates will have to apply directly to the participating institute.

Can I apply to PhD courses based on CEED 2026 scores?

IIT Bombay conducts the CEED entrance exam for M.Des and PhD courses. So, yes, you can take the CEED 2026 exam if you plan to get admission to the PhD program offered by participating colleges. Fill out the CEED 2026 application form before the last date. Applications will open in the first week of October 2025. If you qualify in the CEED exam, you will have to apply directly to the participaiting institute. The institute may have additional admission rounds or eligibility criteria.

Will CEED 2026 participating colleges conduct further admission rounds?

Yes, CEED participating colleges may conduct the admission rounds. Each participating institute can have its own eligibility criteria and admission rounds. Candidates should check the institute portal for updates.

Can I prepare for CEED by practicing previous year question papers only?

Since CEED is a general aptitude test, you can benefit greatly by practicing previous year question papers. Also, after practicing the papers, it is highly important to analyse your strong and weak areas for the exam and then work on them accordingly. But that being said, you can’t prepare for the CEED only on the strength of solving the sample papers. You need to read the text books to learn the concepts, understand the various dynamic. Note that unless your theoretical knowledge is sound, you won’t be able to feel truly confident.

Which are the best books for CEED 2026 preparation?

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 Academy of Fashion & Art Ceed & Nid (M.Des) Entrance Books And Test Series by TRENDZ ACADEMY

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.

Is there negative marking in CEED 2026?

Yes, there is negative marking in CEED 2026 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.

I am not able to complete CEED syllabus. What should I do?

CEED Syllabus is lengthy and tough. Try to study difficult topics first and then focus on easy ones when the exams are near. Revise daily whatever you have studied. CEED syllabus can be daunting for some candidates. So, if you are not able to complete it, don't panic. The trick in these situations is to first focus on the easy topics and complete the first. If you manage that your anxiety levels will automatically come down. Next move on the moderate difficult topics.

Will the question paper include questions from all topics mentioned in CEED syllabus?

The topics listed in the CEED syllabus is indicative in nature. Also, the syllabus is exhaustive in the sense that questions may be asked from all or some of the topics. So, the candidate can’t skip any topics when preparing for CEED. The candidate is urged to go through the previous years' question papers to get an idea about the paper structure and types of questions asked. That being said, keep in mind that the syllabus has been revised for CEED.

What are the important topics for CEED 2026?

IIT Bombay has released the syllabus for CEED 2026. When preparing for the exam, the candidate had to also pay special attention to the important topics as they carry more weightage and also have a higher chance of being asked in the exam. Here are important topics of CEED: 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- Lies and Shapes Graduation Chart Colour Theory, Colors Scheme and colors Compositions Still Life Drawings, Eye Levels and Symmetrical Drawing Concepts, Object drawings from everyday life Perspective- Types and Usage Human Body Knowledge Anatomy, Proportion and Division 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 Grind Colleagues Metamorphosis Study of Objects and Lateral Thinking Compositions Story Illustrations Pictograms and Signage Geometrical and Design Exercise Compositional sense Placement of different figure 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

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 will be held in May 2026 (tentative). As part of the design task/interview, the candidate is required to upload your digital portfolio. The portfolio must include five best projects (maximum size 10 MB) of the candidate. The official site reads" To merge and compress your works in a single PDF, you may use online tools such as (https://smallpdf.com/compress-pdf)". 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.

When will CEED 2026 counselling registration open?

The counseling process for CEED 2026 will start within a few days of the declaration of results. CEED 2026 results are scheduled to be declared on March 4, 2026. Candidates who have been shortlisted and allocated a merit rank can participate in the counseling. The counseling application form will open at individual participating colleges.

What is the last date to fill out the CEED 2026 application form?

IIT Bombay released the admission schedule for the CEED 2026 exam, including the application start and last dates, at the time of the release of the application form. The CEED application form was open from October 01, 2025 till November 05, 2025 with regular fees. Late fee window was open from November 06, 2025 to November 07, 2025.

What is the eligibility criteria for appearing in the CEED 2026 entrance exam?

To appear in the CEED 2026 exam, the candidate must have passed a degree, Diploma, or postgraduate degree exam of minimum three years. There is no limit on the upper age limit or number of attempts for appearing in CEED. The eligibility criteria that candidates need to meet for appearing in the CEED have been explained below. Qualifying exam: The candidate must have completed a degree, Diploma, or postgraduate programme of a minimum of THREE years (after 10+2). Or, Appearing for the final exam of such a programme by July 2026 or, Must have passed the GD Arts Diploma programme (10+5) level by July 2025. Age limit - No upper age limit. Number of Attempts - The CEED exam can be attempted any number of times. It is incumbent on the candidate to carefully go through the eligibility criteria before filling out the CEED application form. It is because if the candidate doesn't meet any of the criteria, then he or she can be disqualified at any stage of the admission process.

How can I check the status of my CEED 2026 registration form?

Candidates can know the status of their CEED 2026 application form on the official registration portals of the exam. In a situation wherein any more information or document is required then the CEED office gets in touch with aspirants through their registered email. It may be note that complete applications will be rejected. The candidate must carefully go through the step-wise process to fill out the form.

Which are the best books for CEED 2026 preparation?

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 Academy of Fashion & Art Ceed & Nid (M.Des) Entrance Books And Test Series by TRENDZ ACADEMY

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.

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 - https://design.iitd.ac.in/latest-news.html. 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.

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.

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.

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 2026 preparation?

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 Academy of Fashion & Art Ceed & Nid (M.Des) Entrance Books And Test Series by TRENDZ ACADEMY

CEED 2026: Result (DECLARED), Score Card (OUT), Merit List, Counselling Date & Admission Process

379 Students Q&A

Result - 10 Mar '26 - 31 Jul '26

Updated on Apr 9, 2026 17:15 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

CEED Scorecard is available for download from March 10, 2026. Scorecard for CEED will be 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. CEED Part-A marks will be displayed for all candidates who have appeared in the CEED 2026 exam. CEED Part-B marks will be displayed only for the shortlisted candidates. All shortlisted candidates will get a rank.

IIT Gandhinagar has been added to the list of CEED Participating Institutes. It will be offering M.Des in Integrated Design & Technology.

IIT CEED Result for CEED 2026 Entrance Exam was out on March 04, 2026. Candidates can use their login ID and password to view the result.

Latest Update:

CEED Cutoff for Part A was released 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.

Table of contents

CEED Exam Highlights 2026
CEED 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
CEED Result 2026
CEED Cutoff 2026
CEED Counselling 2026
CEED Admission Process 2026
CEED Answer Key 2026
How to Prepare for IIT CEED 2026
CEED Syllabus 2026
CEED Exam Pattern 2026
CEED Eligibility Criteria 2026
CEED Admit card 2026 & Centre
CEED Application Form 2026
CEED 2026 Entrance Exam - FAQs

CEED Exam Highlights 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 Name	Common Entrance Examination for Design
Common name	CEED
Conducting Institute	IIT Bombay
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Exam Mode	The 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.
Mode of application	Online
Language	English
Exam Duration	3 hours

Key Aspects of CEED Entrance Examinations

The following are the key aspects of the IIT CEED Entrance Examination:

1. Aim: CEED is conducted to check and evaluate the aptitude for design and creativity for the M.Des Programme.

2. Eligibility: It requires a Bachelor's degree.

3. Application: The application for CEED started on October 01, 2025 and ended on November 07, 2025.

4. Examination: The CEED Examination was held on January 18, 2026.

5. Negative Marking: There is negative marking in Part A.

6. CEED Score Acceptance: The score is accepted by almost all the IITs and other design institutes for M.Des Admission.

What's Next After the CEED Entrance Exam?

After the CEED Entrance Exam, the results are announced on the official website. Candidates are then required to apply individually to the institutions of their choice using the CEED Score card. Each Institute will have a separate application process, portfolio review, interview rounds, etc. CEED does not conduct any joint counselling for the shortlisted candidates. Counselling is done by individual institutions.

Also Read:

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

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

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

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 (5)

CEED Result 2026

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

The results of CEED 2026 was declared on March 04, 2026. The results are available online at the admission portal of CEED 2026 - ceed.iitb.ac.in. The result includes the Part A marks for all candidates. However, the Part B marks and CEED 2026 merit ranks will only be released for shortlisted candidates.

CEED Part B is descriptive, and as such, it is evaluated holistically based on the criteria mentioned in the question paper. The evaluated Answer Booklet for Part B has not been released to the candidate. Also, there is no provision to re-evaluate either Part A or Part B.

The CEED scorecard is available for download from March 10, 2026.
The scorecard of CEED 2026 download deadline is July 31, 2026.
The scorecard can be downloaded through the candidate login. Hard copies of the scorecard are not sent to the candidate.
The Final merit list of CEED 2026 will be prepared by giving 25% weightage to Part A and 75% weightage to Part B.
The CEED 2026 scorecard is valid for one year from the date of declaration of results.
The scorecard cannot be used as proof of date of birth, category, or disability status.

The final score of CEED is calculated as Final score = 0.25 × Marks scored in Part-A + 0.75 × Marks scored in Part-B.

CEED Cutoff 2026

IIT Bombay released CEED 2026 cutoff for Part A on February 05, 2026. Cutoff marks for Part A is used to shortlist candidates. Part B answer booklets will only be evaluated for shortlisted candidates.

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.

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 Counselling 2026

CEED counselling registration form is to open 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.

Note: In addition to the participating institutes, CEED 2026 scores will also be accepted by institutes like the World University of Design (WUD) to fill UG and PG seats. Applicants can apply to these institutes as the CEED 2026 results are announced.

Read More:

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

CEED Admission Process 2026

Fill out the form at the admission portal - ceed.iitb.ac.in. One has to use only genuine and verifiable information. This is because details provided by the candidate will be verified at the time of counselling. If any information is found to be incorrect or misleading, the candidate may be disqualified.

Download the CEED Admit card

The admit card is released for registered candidates. Download the admit card by entering your email ID and password. On the day of the CEED 2026 exam, you will also need a valid photo ID proof along with the admit card.

Appear in CEED 2026 Entrance Exam

The CEED question paper has two mandatory sections, A and B. Part A will comprise objective-type questions, while Part B will be subjective-type. Part B answer booklets will only be evaluated if the candidate qualifies Part A. The qualifying marks for Part A will be released before the declaration of CEED 2026 results.

Minimum Marks to Qualify CEED Part A Exam
Open	10%
Open-NCL	9%
SC/ST/PwD	5%

Check CEED Result

The results will be declared for all candidates appearing in the CEED 2026 exam. However, only such candidates who qualify in the entrance exam will be issued merit ranks and will be eligible to participate in the counseling process.

Apply to CEED-participating colleges

Clearing the CEED exam does not guarantee admission to any of the colleges accepting CEED exam scores. The candidate needs to apply to participating institutes based on their CEED 2026 scores. The participating institutes will conduct counselling and seat allotment at the institute level.

Also read:

How to prepare for CEED 2026 in 4 months - Tips and Tricks

CEED 2026 - Last Three Months’ Study Plan

How to Prepare for CEED 2026 Part A Exam: Important Tips

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. The 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 will be released after considering the comments/ feedback of candidates.

How to Prepare for IIT CEED 2026

The CEED 2026 question paper is designed to evaluate the visual perception, creativity, drawing skills, logical reasoning and communication skills of the candidate.

Tips to prepare for the IIT CEED 2026 entrance exam is given below.

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 for CEED https://ceedapp.iitb.ac.in.
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.
Practise CEED Previous Year’s Exam Papers: Visit CEED official site and download last year’s PDF question papers. Practice as many question papers as you can. This will help you to make a mindful time management plan to solve the CEED 2026 exam.
Get CEED Mock Test Series or Sample Papers: Candidates should practice CEED self-mock tests, solved sample paper PDF and online tests. It helps to create a better study plan, opens up your mind and strengthens inner confidence to clear the entrance exam.

CEED Exam Day Guidelines

On the day of the IIT CEED Entrance Exam, candidates must take care of the following things.

The exam time was 9.00 am to 12.00 noon on January 18, 2026.
Candidates could report at the examination centre from 7:00 am on Sunday on January 18, 2026.
There will be biometric attendance at the CEED exam centre. So be present on time.
Candidates must bring a valid Admit Card and a Photo Identity Proof to the exam centre.
The identity of the candidates will be verified by invigilators as well as IIT representatives at the centre.
Candidates cannot bring any electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, watches of any type, calculators, tablets.
Candidates must bring their own pencils in a transparent packet. Shades of black colour are permitted. However, sketch pens, color pencils, poster colors and other colouring materials are NOT permitted inside the examination hall.
Candidates cannot leave the exam hall early. They had to be in hall from 9 AM to 12 PM.

Also Read:

CEED Syllabus 2026

The CEED 2026 Information Brochure contains the syllabus that the candidate needs to follow for the entrance exam. The brochure will contain the topics for Part A and Part B. The candidate must refer to the CEED 2026 syllabus for exam preparation. Note that questions in the exam will be asked from within the syllabus.

CEED 2026 Syllabus for Part A and Part B

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

Also Read:

Top-ranked design colleges in India

NIFT Topper (AIR 1) Kalyani Pareek shares tips to prepare for NIFT 2023 Personal Interview

CEED Topper Interview - Anmol Kashyap (AIR 10) cracks exam in 2 months

CEED Exam Pattern 2026

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

Shortlisting of candidates: Part B answer booklet will be evaluated only if the candidate qualifies in Part A.

Also Read:

CEED Eligibility Criteria 2026

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.

Also Read:

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

CEED Admit card 2026 & Centre

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. The candidate could download the admit card from the CEED - IIT Bombay admission portal till January 18, 2026.

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.

Admit card Link: Download Now

CEED Entrance Exam Centre

IIT CEED entrance exam was held at the following citites. There were 27 test centres for CEED 2026.

Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh/Mohali, Coimbatore, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Ernakulam, Guwahati, Hubballi (Hubli), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Panaji, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Visakhapatnam.

Candidates should report to CEED examination centre at 7:00 am on Sunday, January 18, 2026, along with a printout of the Admit Card.
There will be biometric attendance at the centre.
Candidates will not be allowed to entre the examination centre/hall after the start of examination (9:00 AM).
Candidates must bring a valid photo identity proof (original) and the Admit Card to the examination centre.
Candidates must bring their own drawing materials, such as pens, pencils, sketch pens, and colours for the examination. They should not bring drawing sheets.

CEED Application Form 2026

The application form for CEED 2026 is closed. The candidate will have to fill out the application form online. CEED 2026 admit cards will be issued to candidates only if they have successfully filled out the application form. The last date to fill out the application form with regular fees was November 05, 2025 and with late fees was November 10, 2025.

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.

The CEED application can be filled out with both regular and late fees. The late fee will be around INR 500.

CEED 2026 Entrance Exam - FAQs

Check the important FAQs related to the CEED 2026 exam.

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: What is the application fee of CEED 2026?

The updated application fee that candidates have to pay an application fee when applying for the CEED exam is shown below.

Women candidates - INR 2000

SC, ST, PwD candidates - INR 2000

All other candidates - INR 4000

The candidate will have to pay a fee as per the category they belong. If the candidate selects the wrong category and pay the wrong feels, he or she may be disqualified. So, care must be taken when selecting ones category.

Q: When will CEED Examination 2026 be held?

CEED Entrance Examination 2026 was conducted on January 18, 2026. The exam timing was 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

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?

A total of 5090 candidates registered for CEED 2025, out of which 4371 candidates appeared, and 1848 candidates qualified in the exam.

Q: When will the CEED 2026 application start?

CEED 2026 application started on October 01, 2025. The official notification was out on October 1, 2025. The last date to fill the application form was November 05, 2025.