CEED

CEED 2026 Exam: Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Admit Card, Result & Admission

Design

Updated on December 29, 2025

The Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) 2026 is a national-level entrance test conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to Master of Design (M.Des) and PhD programmes at premier design institutes across India. CEED 2026 exam is scheduled for January 18, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. The exam evaluates candidates' design aptitude, creativity, visual perception, logical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. With approximately 302 seats available across participating IITs and other institutions, CEED remains one of the most sought-after design entrance examinations in the country. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about CEED 2026 including registration, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, preparation strategies, and admission process.

CEED 2026 Exam Highlights

Before diving into the details, candidates should familiarize themselves with the key aspects of the CEED 2026 examination. The following table provides a quick overview of all essential information related to the Common Entrance Examination for Design 2026, helping aspirants understand the exam structure, important dates, and other crucial details at a glance.

Particulars	Details
Full Form	Common Entrance Examination for Design
Conducting Body	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay
Exam Level	National Level
Exam Frequency	Once a year
CEED 2026 Exam Date	January 18, 2026 (Sunday)
Exam Timing	9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon (3 hours)
Mode of Examination	Part A: Computer-Based Test (CBT), Part B: Pen and Paper
Courses Offered	M.Des and PhD in Design
Total Seats (Approx.)	302 seats for M.Des programme
Number of Exam Cities	27 cities across India
Application Fee (General)	Rs. 4,000
Application Fee (Women/SC/ST/PwD)	Rs. 2,000
Official Website	ceed.iitb.ac.in

CEED 2026 Important Dates and Schedule

IIT Bombay released the official CEED 2026 notification on October 1, 2025, along with the complete exam schedule. Candidates must keep track of these important dates to ensure they do not miss any crucial deadlines. The registration process has been completed, and candidates are now awaiting the admit card release. Here is the complete timeline of CEED 2026 events that aspirants should mark on their calendars.

Event	Date
CEED 2026 Notification Release	October 1, 2025
Online Registration Start Date	October 1, 2025
Last Date for Registration (Regular Fee)	November 5, 2025
Last Date for Registration (With Late Fee)	November 10, 2025
CEED 2026 Admit Card Release	January 2, 2026
Last Date for Admit Card Correction	January 8, 2026
CEED 2026 Exam Date	January 18, 2026
Draft Answer Key Release	January 20, 2026 (Expected)
Final Answer Key Release	January 22, 2026 (Expected)
CEED 2026 Result Declaration	March 4, 2026
Scorecard Download Start	March 10, 2026 (Expected)
Scorecard Validity	One year from date of issue

CEED 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Before applying for CEED 2026, candidates must ensure they meet the eligibility requirements specified by IIT Bombay. The eligibility criteria for appearing in the CEED exam may differ from the admission criteria of individual participating institutes. Candidates are advised to verify the specific requirements of their preferred institutions before applying.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must have completed a graduate degree/diploma/postgraduate degree programme of minimum 3 years duration after 10+2 level
Candidates appearing for the final examination of such a programme by July 2026 are also eligible
Candidates who have passed the GD Arts diploma programme (10+5 level) by July 2026 are eligible
Accepted degrees include B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Des, BFA (4-year programme), or equivalent

Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for appearing in CEED 2026
Candidates of any age can apply for the examination

Number of Attempts

There is no restriction on the number of attempts
Candidates can appear for CEED as many times as they wish

CEED 2026 Application Form and Registration Process

The CEED 2026 registration process was conducted entirely online through the official website ceed.iitb.ac.in. The application window has now closed, with regular fee submissions ending on November 5, 2025, and late fee applications closing on November 10, 2025. For future reference, here is the detailed step-by-step process that candidates followed to complete their CEED 2026 registration.

Steps to Apply for CEED 2026

Step 1: Visit the official CEED website at ceed.iitb.ac.in
Step 2: Click on the 'Registration Portal' tab and select 'Register' for new registration
Step 3: Complete the eligibility check by entering qualifying exam name and passing year
Step 4: Fill in personal, academic, and contact details
Step 5: Select three exam cities in order of preference
Step 6: Upload required documents as per specifications
Step 7: Pay the application fee through online payment modes
Step 8: Submit the form and download the confirmation page

CEED 2026 Application Fee

The application fee structure for CEED 2026 varies based on the category of the candidate. IIT Bombay provides fee concessions for women candidates and those from reserved categories. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable once paid.

Category	Application Fee
All Women Candidates	Rs. 2,000
SC/ST/PwD Candidates	Rs. 2,000
All Other Candidates	Rs. 4,000
Late Fee (All Categories)	Rs. 500 (Additional)

Documents Required for CEED 2026 Application

Document	Format	Size
Photograph (Recent, Coloured)	JPG/JPEG	10 KB - 200 KB
Signature	JPG/JPEG	4 KB - 100 KB
Degree/Diploma Certificate	PDF	50 KB - 500 KB
Category Certificate (if applicable)	PDF	50 KB - 500 KB
PwD Certificate (if applicable)	PDF	50 KB - 500 KB

CEED 2026 Exam Pattern and Structure

Understanding the CEED exam pattern is crucial for effective preparation. The CEED 2026 examination consists of two parts conducted on the same day. Part A serves as a screening test, and only candidates who qualify Part A will have their Part B answer booklets evaluated. The final score combines performance in both parts with different weightages.

CEED 2026 Exam Pattern Overview

Aspect	Part A	Part B
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test (Online)	Pen and Paper (Offline)
Duration	1 Hour (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)	2 Hours (10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon)
Total Marks	100 Marks	100 Marks
Weightage in Final Score	25%	75%
Question Types	NAT, MSQ, MCQ	Subjective/Drawing
Number of Questions	Approximately 25-30	5 Questions
Negative Marking	Yes (for MCQ and MSQ)	No

CEED Part A Exam Pattern

Part A is a computer-based screening test designed to evaluate candidates' visualization and spatial ability, environmental and social awareness, analytical and logical reasoning, and design sensitivity. The section consists of three types of questions.

Question Type	Full Form	Number of Questions	Marks per Question	Negative Marking
NAT	Numerical Answer Type	5-8 Questions	4 Marks	No
MSQ	Multiple Select Questions	10-12 Questions	4 Marks (Partial Marking)	-1 for wrong answer
MCQ	Multiple Choice Questions	12-15 Questions	3 Marks	-0.5 for wrong answer

CEED Part B Exam Pattern

Part B is a pen-and-paper based test that evaluates design, drawing, creativity, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. The questions are displayed on the computer screen, and candidates must write/draw their answers in the provided answer booklet.

Question Number	Topic Area	Marks
Question 1	Drawing Skills	20 Marks
Question 2	Creativity and Imagination	20 Marks
Question 3	Communication Skills	20 Marks
Question 4	Problem Identification	20 Marks
Question 5	Design Problem Solving	20 Marks

CEED 2026 Syllabus

The CEED syllabus is designed to assess candidates' aptitude for design rather than testing theoretical knowledge. IIT Bombay revised the CEED syllabus to balance visual-spatial components with analytical and scientific concepts. Candidates should focus on developing skills across all areas mentioned in the syllabus for comprehensive preparation.

CEED Part A Syllabus

Visualization and Spatial Ability: Pictorial and diagrammatic questions assessing understanding of transforming 2D shapes, 3D objects, mental rotation, mirror images, and spatial relationships
Observation and Design Sensitivity: Detecting hidden properties in everyday life, critical thinking, attention to detail, visual distinctions, and aesthetic outcomes
Environmental and Social Awareness: Climate, population, water, pollution, design terminology, cultural significance, historical context, sustainability, and eco-conscious design
Analytical and Logical Reasoning: Proficiency in logical analysis, data interpretation, qualitative and quantitative information processing
Language and Creativity: English comprehension, vocabulary, creative thinking, and innovative problem-solving
Design Thinking: Knowledge of art, sculpture, design history, famous designers, and contemporary design trends

CEED Part B Syllabus

Drawing: Ability to visually represent ideas through freehand sketches, proportion, perspective, line quality, and shading
Creativity: Originality, ideation, conceptual thinking, and unique solutions to open-ended problems
Communication Skills: Clear expression of concepts through visual and written communication
Problem Identification: Identifying design problems in everyday situations and analyzing user needs
Design Problem Solving: Developing innovative solutions considering constraints, user experience, and functionality

CEED 2026 Admit Card

IIT Bombay will release the CEED 2026 admit card on January 2, 2026, at 1:00 PM through the official website. The admit card is a mandatory document for appearing in the examination, and candidates without a valid admit card will not be permitted to enter the exam hall.

How to Download CEED 2026 Admit Card

Visit the official website ceed.iitb.ac.in
Click on the 'Candidate Login' option
Enter registered email ID and password
Download and print the admit card in colour
Verify all details and report discrepancies by January 8, 2026

Details Mentioned on CEED 2026 Admit Card

Candidate's name and photograph
Roll number
Exam date and time
Exam centre name and address
Reporting time
Instructions for exam day

CEED 2026 Exam Centres

CEED 2026 will be conducted in 27 cities across India. Candidates were required to select three exam cities in order of preference during the registration process. The final allotment of exam centres is based on the preferences submitted and availability of seats. Below is the complete list of CEED 2026 exam cities.

Region	Cities
North India	Delhi, Noida, Chandigarh/Mohali, Lucknow, Jaipur, Dehradun, Patna
South India	Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Hubballi
East India	Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar
West India	Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Panaji
Central India	Bhopal, Raipur, Visakhapatnam

CEED 2026 Cutoff Marks

The CEED cutoff is released by IIT Bombay after the examination in the form of mean and standard deviation values. The Part A cutoff determines which candidates will have their Part B answer booklets evaluated. The cutoff varies for different categories based on the prescribed formula.

CEED Cutoff Formula

For General/Open Category: δ = μ + (σ/2), where μ is the mean and σ is the standard deviation of Part A scores.

CEED 2025 Part A Cutoff (Previous Year Reference)

Category	Cutoff Formula	CEED 2025 Cutoff Marks (Approx.)
General/Open	μ + (σ/2) = δ	53.97 marks
OBC-NCL/EWS	0.9δ	48.57 marks
SC/ST/PwD	0.5δ	26.99 marks

CEED 2025 Statistics: Mean (μ) = 45.48, Standard Deviation (σ) = 16.98

CEED Marks vs Rank Analysis

CEED Score Range	Expected Rank Range	Possible Institutions
70+ Marks	Top 50	IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IISc Bangalore
60-69 Marks	51-200	IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad
50-59 Marks	201-500	IIT Roorkee, IIT Jodhpur, IIITDM Jabalpur
Below 50 Marks	500+	Private Design Colleges accepting CEED scores

CEED 2026 Result and Scorecard

IIT Bombay will declare the CEED 2026 result on March 4, 2026, on the official website. The result will display Part A marks for all appeared candidates, while Part B marks will be shown only for those who qualified Part A cutoff. The scorecard will be available for download from March 10, 2026.

CEED Final Score Calculation

Final Score = (0.25 × Part A Marks) + (0.75 × Part B Marks)

CEED 2025 Exam Statistics

Parameter	CEED 2025 Data
Total Registered Candidates	5,090
Candidates Appeared	4,371
Candidates Qualified	1,848
Qualification Rate	42.3%

CEED Participating Institutes 2026

Currently, there are ten participating institutes in CEED 2026 that use CEED scores for admission to M.Des and PhD programmes. These institutes together offer approximately 302 seats in the M.Des programme. Unlike UCEED, there is no joint seat allotment for CEED, and candidates must apply individually to each institution.

Institute	Programmes Offered	Approximate Seats
IIT Bombay (IDC School of Design)	M.Des in Industrial Design, Interaction Design, Animation, Communication Design, Mobility & Vehicle Design	61
IIT Delhi	M.Des in Industrial Design	25
IIT Guwahati	M.Des in Design	40
IIT Hyderabad	M.Des in Visual Design, Interaction Design	35
IIT Kanpur	M.Des in Design	25
IIT Roorkee	M.Des in Industrial Design	20
IIT Jodhpur	M.Des in Design	20
IISc Bangalore	M.Des in Product Design and Engineering	20
IIITDM Jabalpur	M.Des in Design	30
IIITDM Kancheepuram	M.Des in Design	26

CEED Result-Sharing Institutes

Apart from participating institutes, several other colleges accept CEED scores for their M.Des programmes. These result-sharing institutes may also consider scores from other entrance exams for admission.

VIT School of Design (V-SIGN), Vellore
Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore
UPES School of Design, Dehradun
MIT Institute of Design, Pune
JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur
GLS University, Ahmedabad
Avantika University, Ujjain
World University of Design, Sonipat
Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida
Lovely Professional University, Punjab

CEED Previous Year Question Papers

Practicing previous year question papers is one of the most effective preparation strategies for CEED. IIT Bombay releases official question papers and answer keys on the CEED website after each examination. Candidates can access papers from 2010 to 2025 for comprehensive preparation.

Year	Question Paper	Answer Key
CEED 2025	Available on ceed.iitb.ac.in	Available
CEED 2024	Available on ceed.iitb.ac.in	Available
CEED 2023	Available on ceed.iitb.ac.in	Available
CEED 2022	Available on ceed.iitb.ac.in	Available
CEED 2021	Available on ceed.iitb.ac.in	Available
CEED 2020	Available on ceed.iitb.ac.in	Available

CEED 2026 Preparation Tips and Strategy

Preparing for CEED requires a balanced approach that focuses on both analytical skills for Part A and creative abilities for Part B. Here are expert-recommended strategies and tips to help candidates prepare effectively for CEED 2026.

Part A Preparation Strategy

Practice visualization exercises including 2D to 3D transformations, mirror images, and paper folding
Solve logical reasoning puzzles from various competitive exams
Revise elementary mathematics and science concepts up to class 10th
Read newspapers and design magazines for environmental and social awareness
Study design history, famous designers, and contemporary design trends
Practice time management with mock tests under exam conditions

Part B Preparation Strategy

Practice daily sketching for 15-30 minutes focusing on proportion, perspective, and shading
Develop storyboarding and visual communication skills
Work on speed sketching to complete drawings within time limits
Practice identifying design problems in everyday objects and situations
Focus on creativity and originality in solutions rather than artistic perfection
Create a design portfolio showcasing your best work

Recommended Books for CEED Preparation

Book Name	Author	Focus Area
Design Drawing	Francis D.K. Ching	Drawing fundamentals
Perspective Made Easy	Ernest R. Norling	Perspective drawing
Cracking CEED & UCEED	Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal	Complete preparation
Manorama Yearbook	Various	General knowledge
The Design of Everyday Things	Don Norman	Design thinking

CEED 2026 Admission Process

After CEED 2026 results are declared, qualified candidates must apply individually to participating institutes. Each institute conducts its own admission process, which typically includes additional rounds beyond the CEED score.

General Admission Process Flow

Step 1: Qualify CEED 2026 with required cutoff
Step 2: Apply to preferred participating institutes through their admission portals
Step 3: Upload CEED scorecard and required documents
Step 4: Appear for Design Aptitude Test (DAT) if conducted
Step 5: Attend personal interview with portfolio presentation
Step 6: Final merit list declaration based on combined scores
Step 7: Document verification and seat allotment

Typical Admission Weightage

Component	Weightage (Varies by Institute)
CEED Score	60-70%
Written Test/DAT	15-20%
Personal Interview	15-20%
Portfolio Review	Variable

Frequently Asked Questions

CEED stands for Common Entrance Examination for Design. It is a national-level entrance test conducted annually by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay for admission to Master of Design (M.Des) and PhD programmes at participating institutes including IITs and IISc Bangalore.

Yes, self-preparation for CEED is entirely possible with dedicated effort and the right resources. Many toppers have cracked CEED without formal coaching. The key is to practice previous year papers, develop sketching skills through daily practice, focus on design thinking, and use online resources like YouTube tutorials, Telegram groups, and design blogs. However, coaching can provide structured guidance and feedback on your work.

The CEED exam is considered moderate to moderately difficult. Part A tests analytical and reasoning abilities with some questions requiring careful thinking due to negative marking. Part B focuses on creative skills and is subjective in nature. The overall difficulty has been consistent over the years, with time management being the biggest challenge for most candidates.

No, there is no age limit for appearing in CEED. Candidates of any age can apply for the examination. Additionally, there is no restriction on the number of attempts. You can appear for CEED as many times as you wish until you achieve your desired result.

CEED is for postgraduate (M.Des and PhD) admissions while UCEED is for undergraduate (B.Des) admissions. Both exams are conducted by IIT Bombay on the same day. CEED is open to graduates while UCEED is for 10+2 students. The exam pattern is similar but CEED has a higher weightage on Part B (75%) compared to Part A (25%).

The CEED scorecard is valid for one year from the date of issue. Candidates can use the score to apply for admission to participating institutes only during this validity period. After one year, candidates must appear for the CEED exam again if they wish to pursue M.Des admission.

Part B carries 75% weightage in the final CEED score, making it the most crucial section. Even if you qualify Part A, a poor Part B performance will significantly impact your final rank. Many candidates with good Part A scores fail to secure admission due to weak Part B performance. Therefore, it is essential to focus on developing strong drawing and design skills.

Yes, working professionals can appear for CEED. Many candidates with work experience successfully clear CEED and pursue M.Des programmes. Work experience, strong portfolio, and professional certificates can add value during admission interviews at participating institutes, especially if the CEED rank is not in the top bracket.

M.Des graduates from IITs have excellent career prospects. Average salary packages range from Rs. 5-15 LPA, with top recruiters including Adobe, Samsung, Google, Accenture, 3M, and leading design consultancies. Career roles include UX/UI Designer, Product Designer, Interaction Designer, Design Strategist, and Design Researcher. Many graduates also pursue entrepreneurship in the design sector.

While drawing skills are important for Part B, CEED does not require artistic perfection. The exam evaluates your ability to communicate design ideas visually and clearly. Candidates from non-design backgrounds can develop adequate sketching skills with 4-6 months of focused practice. The emphasis is on design thinking and problem-solving rather than artistic excellence.

For Part A (1 hour), spend no more than 1.5 minutes per question and attempt easier questions first. For Part B (2 hours), divide time equally among 5 questions (approximately 20-24 minutes each), leaving 5-10 minutes for review. Read all questions before starting and prioritize based on your strengths. Practice timed mock tests to build this habit.

Candidates must bring a colour printout of the admit card and original valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID, or Driving License). For Part B, bring drawing materials including pencils (H and B grades), sketch pens, crayons, poster colours, eraser, and sharpener. Electronic devices, calculators, and study materials are strictly prohibited.