CEED Preparation Tips 2027: Section-wise Strategy, Topper Tips, Best Books, Study Material

Common Entrance Examination for Design 2027 ( CEED )

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CEED 2027 exam date

17 Jan '27

Sayeba Naushad
Updated on Jun 26, 2026 16:09 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

CEED Preparation 2027 - CEED exam has two parts - Part A was conducted in a computer-based mode, while Part B will be held in offline mode. The syllabus for CEED 2027 will be released soon. So, when preparing for the CEED exam, one must follow the current syllabus, especially to ensure you prepare for the exam on time. 

The question paper of CEED is such that it will test the design abilities of the candidate. Candidates appearing in the CEED exam need to ensure that they know the basics of designing to succeed. Apart from this, candidates were also advised to focus on improving their aptitude and knowledge related to subjects such as Logical Reasoning, English Language and Environmental and Social Awareness. Here we share the CEED 2027 preparation process. 

Go through the CEED 2027 preparation tips to score well in the design exam.  

 

Table of contents
  • CEED Exam Preparation Overview
  • CEED Section wise Prep Tips
  • Best books for CEED Exam preparation
  • CEED Question Paper PDF
  • CEED Mock Test
  • CEED 2027 Exam Preparation - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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CEED Exam Preparation Overview

CEED Exam has two parts. Part A has questions on GAT, DAT, Current Affairs, etc. Part B has sketching and creativity based questions.

CEED Exam  Details
Exam Name Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED)
Conducted By Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Exam Pattern

Part A: computer-based aptitude 

Part B: drawing and design aptitude.

What is tested by CEED? Visualization, analytical thinking, observation, creativity, design sensitivity, problem-solving and communication skills.
CEED Part A  Numerical ability, logical reasoning, spatial reasoning, visualization, observation, design aptitude and analytical skills.
CEED Part B  Sketching, visual communication, creativity, storytelling and design problem-solving.
Preparation Areas Observation, perspective drawing, visualization, logical reasoning, creativity and design awareness.
Sketch Daily Practice perspective, human figures, positions, objects and scenes.
Preparation Strategy Solve PYQs, practice sketching regularly, improve observation skills and take mock tests
Ideal Preparation Duration 6 to 12 months

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Where can I find the best books for CEED exam preparation?
A: 

CEED exam preparation books are available on different online websites - Amazon, Flipkart, and Kindle. Many coaching centres and stores also sell preparation books. Candidates preparing for CEED entrance exam can check study material available on different educational platforms. 

Q:   Is there negative marking in CEED 2027?
A: 

Yes, there is negative marking in CEED Question paper. Section MSQ and  MCQ will have negative marking under Part A. NAT section of Part A will not have any negative marking. CEED Part B will be a subjective paper and will have no negative marking.

Q:   What is the exam pattern for CEED 2027 - Part A?
A: 

Part A of the CEED question paper will include three types of questions - NAT, MCQ, and MSQ. 

Section

Maximum no. of Questions

No.

of Question

Maximum Marks

NAT

8

1 to 8

32

MSQ

10

9 to 18

40

MCQ

26

19 to 44

78

Total

44

1 to 41

150

 

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CEED Section wise Prep Tips

The CEED exam pattern will be released by IIT Bombay. CEED 2027 question paper will have two parts – A and B. 

CEED 2027 Part A Exam Prep Tips

  • Part A will of 150 marks and the duration will be 1 hour. Aspirants can go through the CEED 2027 exam pattern for the Part A exam in the table below.
  • Solve PYQs for Numerical answer type, MSQs and MCQs.
  • Know about the marking scheme and prepare accordingly.
  • Take mock test to know the pattern, question types, repeated questions, etc.
  • Watch prep videos on YouTube to get the idea of preparation.
  • Make a time table and try to follow it.
  • Pay more attention to weak areas. Discuss with your friends, mentor, seniors, etc.
  • Practice more and more. It will increase your speed and build confidence.
  • Read newspaper and magazines to improve English comprehension, current affairs, etc.

CEED 2027 Part B Exam Prep Tips

  • CEED 2027 Exam pattern Part B will be of 100 marks and there will be no negative marking in this section.
  • This will include questions on Sketching, Creativity,  Form Sensitivity, Visual Sensitivity and Problem Identification.
  • Observe more and more.
  • Practice daily life objects, human figures, etc.
  • Practice sketching daily.
  • Focus on providing solutions to the problems through your sketches.
  • Practice sketching for questions asked in the past.

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the important topics to prepare for CEED?
A: 

Some of the important topics to prepare for CEED include

  • Design Concepts
  • Product Designing
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Colour Theory, Color Schemes and color Compositions
  • Scale and Proportion
  • Poster, Logo, Character designing
  • Basics of Drawing - Lines and Shapes
  • Anatomy, Proportions and Divisions
  • Sketching
  • How to Develop Characters
  • Basic and advanced Human Drawings
  • Story Illustrations

These topics are important because they either carry more weightage or have a greater chance of being asked in the entrance exam.

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

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:   How can I develop my drawing skills for CEED?
A: 

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.

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Best books for CEED Exam preparation

Check out some of the books for CEED.

Name of the book

Author / Publication

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.

Cracking CEED and UCEED

Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal

CEED (M. Des) Test Series 

TRENDZ ACADEMY

Study Notes Material on IIFT + NID + NIFT 

Sourav Sir’s Classes

Comprehensive English for NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, NATA, B.Arch & Other Design Entrance Exams by Designologue

Disignologue

Design Drawing 

Francis DK Ching

CEED+NID (M.DES)

AFA

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the resources required to prepare for CEED exam?
A: 

Candidates can start preparing for the exam.

  1. Focus on the following resources to prepare for CEED:
  2. Make sure that you get the best books to prepare for the CEED.
  3. If the study material is good, it will contain few to no errors, will cover the entire syllabus, contain practice problems, etc.
  4. Solve sample and previous year's questions and sample papers
  5. Take mock tests.
  6. When studying, make it a point to take notes. These notes will help you jot down all the important points.
  7. Do timely revision. 
Q:   What is exam pattern for Part A of CEED?
A: 

Part A of the CEED question paper will include three types of questions, NAT, MCQ and MSQ. The number of questions per question type and marking scheme is given in the table below.

Section

Maximum no. of Questions

No.

of Question

Maximum Marks

NAT

8

1 - 8

32

MSQ

10

9 - 18

40

MCQ

26

19 - 44

78

Total

44

1 - 44

150

Note that Part B answer booklet will only be evaluated if the candidate qualifies Part A.

Q:   How many sections will the CEED question paper have?
A: 

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.

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CEED Question Paper PDF

Candidates must include solving CEED PYQs in their preparation. Solving question papers will help to understand the question type, pattern, marks, etc. Candidates must solve at least the last 10 years' question papers for thorough practice.

CEED M.Des Question Paper

The question paper for CEED is given 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 

 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Will CEED 2026 mock tests have the same types of questions as those asked in the exam?
A: 

The mock tests will have similar types of questions to those asked in the actual exam. But the CEED mock test will have less questions than the real exam.

Purpose of the mock tests is to help the candidate get an idea of the question paper structure and learn about answering process.

The candidate can take the mock tests closer to the exam and give finishing touches to their preparation. Mocks will help the candidate identify areas that need improvement and work on them.

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

Check out the important topics for CEED.

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

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.
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CEED Mock Test

CEED Mock Tests are conducted every year by IIT Bombay to help students to get the real feel of CEED Entrance Exam. It is known as Sample Exam Interface. It is made available on the CEED website. No Login credentials were required to access the mock test/ sample interface for the CEED Exam.

CEED Mock Test  Link 
CEED Exam Sample Interface digialm.com/OnlineAssessment

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the right time to solve sample papers for CEED 2026?
A: 

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. 

Q:   What is the weightage of CEED Part B exam?
A: 

CEED Part B is of 100 marks. They will have to attempt questions related to Drawing, Creativity, Communication, and Problem Solving. Part B carries 75% weightage.

Exam will check ability of candidate to draw products, people, scenes, etc., and also their capability to understand user and context.

Q:   Can I prepare for CEED exam without coaching?
A: 

It is possible to prepare for CEED without coaching. But before you start on exam preparation on your own, you need the conviction that you can do it. If you are not convinced yourself and only decide to forgo coaching on the advice of others, the journey may be difficult.

If you prepare for the exam on your own, you need to be serious and plan the preparation smartly. Go through the syllabus. You must be able to decide the difficulty level, the time it will take to cover the syllabus, and revise. 

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CEED 2027 Exam Preparation - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Check out important FAQs related to CEED 2027 exam preparation:

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

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. 

Q:   How should I prepare for CEED 2026?
A: 

You can start preparing for CEED exam by following the below steps.

  • Understand CEED exam pattern and syllabus well.
  • CEED syllabus has been revised for both Part A and Part B.
  • IIT Bombay will release the detailed exam pattern when it releases the information brochure, sometime in September.
  • Make a well thought-out 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 exam and work to improve those areas/subjects
  • Take mock tests.
Q:   Is coaching a sure shot way of cracking the CEED exam?
A: 

Candidates have the option to enroll in a coaching center to prepare for CEED. But by no means is coaching is a sure-shot route for success. In fact, it is far from it. If you pick up any statistics, only a very small percentage of students who get enrolled in a coaching institute manage to crack CEED. The reason being, a coaching class is attended by a large number of students. Now the coaching centre won’t be able to or may not pay attention to the needs of each student individually. The result being most of the students are left to fend for themselves. This means, if your fundamentals are not strong or you manage to be in the radar of the coaching management, you might not get the extra support that you require.

Q:   When should I start preparing for the General Awareness part for CEED?
A: 

Some experts suggest that you skip your GA preparation for now. Instead, you can start preparing for the section 45 days or so before the exam. The logic is, GA is more about theory than anything else. So, even if you must the subject now, you will have to do thorough revision closer to the exam to remember all the points. 

Also, you need not bother about the interview now. That part will be important only after the results are declared. 

Q:   When will the application form for CEED 2027 open?
A: 

CEED 2027 applications will open from October 1, 2027. The application had to be filled online at CEED portal. The candidate can apply with both regular and late fees.

Q:   When should I start my preparation for CEED?
A: 

Check out the steps to prepare for CEED Exam.

  • Go through CEED syllabus 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.
Q:   When will the CEED 2027 exam be conducted?
A: 

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

Q:   What should I do if I am not able to complete a particular topic from the CEED syllabus?
A: 

The CEED syllabus is vast. If you are not able to complete a chapter or topic, it is better to leave it and start another topic. Once you are done with the easier topics, you can come back and study the difficult ones. 

Q:   How much time is needed to prepare for the CEED 2026 exam?
A: 

In an ideal situation, a candidate will need around 6 months to prepare CEED exam. It is because with enough time in hand, he will be able to go through each topic and also take time to understand the concepts.

But if there is less time, then one need to solve previous year questions paper, take mock test and study topics which are not very difficult. Candidates must go through the syllabus and pattern.

To start with, be judicious with your time and prepare meticulously.

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