CEED 2026 Exam
CEED stands for Common Entrance Examination for Design, an annual national-level test conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to the Master of Design (M.Des). This exam aims to evaluate and assess the interested candidates’ aptitude for design, which comprises drawing skills, logical reasoning, creativity, communication skills, and visual perception abilities. The CEED exam does not have any particular age limit. The CEED entrance exam has no limit on the number of attempts, and the CEED 2026 exam score is valid for one year from the date of result declaration. The CEED exam has two parts: Part A, a computer-based test comprising MCQ, MSQ & NAT, with an allotted time of 1 hour, and Part B, a pen-and-paper test focused on evaluating their drawing and writing skills, with an allotted time of 2 hours.
CEED 2026 Important Dates & Schedule
The important dates for CEED 2026 are yet to be officially announced, but the following are the tentative dates.
| Event | Date |
| CEED 2026 Application Start Date | First week of October 2025 |
| CEED 2026 Last Date for Application | Last week of October 2025 |
| CEED 2026 Last Date for Application with Late Fee | Mid-November 2025 |
| CEED 2026 Admit Card Download | Early-January 2026 |
| CEED 2026 Exam Date | Mid-January 2026 |
| CEED 2026 Answer Key | Late-January 2026 |
| CEED 2026 Result and Scorecard Declaration | March 2026 |
Please keep an eye on the CEED website from September 2025 for official updates and announcements.
CEED Entrance Exam Pattern
The CEED exam is designed to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude for design, visual communication, and creativity. The exam is divided into two parts, Part A and Part B, with a total duration of 3 hours.
Part A comprises a computer-based test, which is allotted a duration of 1 hour. This section has a total of 150 marks. The areas covered in this section include visualization, spatial ability, environmental & social awareness, analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, observation skills, problem-solving skills, design sensitivity, and thinking skills. The mark breakdown for this section is as follows:
| Question Type | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Negative Marking | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numerical Answer Type | 8 | 4 | 0 | 33 |
| Multiple Select Questions | 10 | Partial Marking | -1 | 40 |
| Multiple Choice Questions | 26 | 3 | -0.5 | 78 |
| Total | 44 | 150 | ||
Part B is a pen-and-paper-based exam answered in a booklet provided at the exam hall. This section is allotted a time limit of 2 hours with a total of 100 marks. After the test is over, the answer booklets will be gathered. The breakdown of marks for this section is as follows:
CEED 2026 Section-wise Breakdown
| Section | Question Type | Number of Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sketching | Freehand Drawing | 1 | 20 | No |
| Creativity | Visual Thinking | 1 | 20 | No |
| Form Sensitivity | Aesthetic Judgement | 1 | 20 | No |
| Visual Sensitivity | Composition Skills | 1 | 20 | No |
| Problem Identification | Design Thinking | 1 | 20 | No |
| Total | 5 | 100 | ||
Past Toppers from afdindia
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Bhadra Balu - AIR 1
NID M.Des – 2023
C S Jasweth - AIR 1
NID M.Des - 2020
Sreehari S
- AIR 1
NID B.Des - 2017
Arun Job Pynadath - AIR 1
NID B.Des - 2018
CEED 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the CEED entrance exam, you must meet the following criteria:
Educational Qualifications
- Candidates with a graduate degree/diploma/postgraduate degree program of a minimum of three years after 10+2
Or - Candidates appearing for the final examination of the above programs by July 2025
Or - Candidates who have passed the GD Arts diploma program by July 2025
*Please note that the eligibility criteria for CEED and the eligibility for your preferred university may vary, and all candidates must independently verify and ensure this information beforehand.
Age Limit and Number of Attempts
- There is no age limit for the CEED entrance exam.
- There is no limit on the number of attempts allowed for the CEED exam.
CEED 2026 Application Form
Follow the steps to fill out your online registration application form for CEED 2026.
- Go to the official CEED portal (this portal will only become active during October 2025).
- Create a profile by submitting the appropriate details, such as name, email, and phone number.
- After creating your profile, you can now go ahead and start the registration process for CEED 2026.
- Fill out all the appropriate details properly:
- Candidate’s name
- Father’s name
- Mother’s name
- Email ID
- Mobile number
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Academic Details
- Category (if any)
- Check that you have the following files ready to be uploaded during the registration process:
- Scanned copy of your signature
- Scanned copy of your recent photograph has been digitally scanned and uploaded as per the required dimensions.
- You must provide valid category certificates if you are applying under the EWS, SC, ST, or OBC-NCL categories.
- After uploading and confirming all the details and documents, pay the CEED registration fee as per the category.
| Candidate | Fee |
|---|---|
| Women | INR 2,000 |
| SC/ST/PwD | INR 2,000 |
| General/OBC-NCL | INR 4,000 |
Please note that an additional cost of INR 500 will apply to candidates who apply late after the regular application deadline.
CEED 2026 Syllabus
The syllabus for the CEED entrance exam is as follows:
Part A
- Visualization and spatial reasoning
- Practical and scientific knowledge
- Observation and design sensitivity
- Environment and society
- Analytical and logical reasoning
- Language
- Creativity
- Arts and Design Knowledge
- Design methods and practices
Part B
- Drawing
- Creativity
- Communication
- Problem Identification
CEED 2026 Participating Colleges List
The candidates in the CEED 2026 exam will be eligible to apply for the MDes and PhD programs in the following institutions:
| Institute | Program(s) |
|---|---|
| Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, IISc Bangalore | MDes in Product Design and Engineering, PhD in Design |
| IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay | MDes in Industrial Design, Communication Design, Animation, Interaction Design, Mobility, and Vehicle Design, PhD in Design |
| Department of Design, IIT Delhi | MDes in Industrial Design, PhD in Design |
| Department of Design, IIT Guwahati | MDes in Design, PhD in Design |
| Department of Design, IIT Hyderabad | MDes in Visual Design, PhD in Design |
| XR Design, IIT Jodhpur | MDes in XR Design |
| Design Programme, IIT Kanpur | MDes in Design, PhD in Design |
| Department of Design, IIT Roorkee | MDes in Industrial Design |
| Design Discipline, IIITDM Jabalpur | MDes in Design |
| School of Interdisciplinary Design & Innovation, IIITDM Kancheepuram | MDes in Integrated Product Design, PhD in Design |
Please note that qualifying in CEED 2026 does not automatically guarantee that you will gain admission to these institutions. There would be additional tests at each of the above institutions. A valid CEED score card is accepted as the entrance test score for admission to another 20 Institutes, across India.
Best Books for CEED 2026 Preparation
According to our team of experienced faculty from renowned universities, the following books are the best resources to help you prepare effectively for the CEED entrance exam 2026:
- Design Drawing by Francis DK Ching
- Perspective Drawing Handbook by Joseph D’Amelio
- Art Perception by David Cycleback
- CEED & NID M.Des Entrance Books and Test Series by Ashish Popli, Pradosh Swain, Rishabh Rhode
- Cracking CEED and UCEED by Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal
- Comprehensive English for NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, NATA, B.Arch & Other Design Entrance Exams, Designologue
- Design Drawing by Francis DK Ching
Tips to Crack the CEED Entrance Exam 2026
Follow the given tips to crack the CEED entrance exam with clarity and confidence:
- Practice sketching daily with freehand drawing for at least 1 hour per day.
- Attempt mock tests for the Part A of the exam by practicing MCQs, MSQs and NATs. This can help you improve your speed.
- Acquire, practice and analyze previous exam papers to identify heavy topics and recurring problems.
- Make sure that you know and understand all the basic elements and principles of design.
- Plan and curate a strong portfolio filled with versatile projects.
What afdindia Offers.
Receive personalised guidance from expert tutors, and gain the skills necessary to ace the CEED entrance exams. Don't miss this opportunity to shape your future in the world of design!
Why Choose afdindia for CEED Entrance Coaching
Our team of experienced faculty at afdindia is led by alumni from IITs, NIDs and other renowned institutions. With a curriculum strategically designed to give equal emphasis to part A (aptitude and analytical reasoning) and part B (drawing and creative problem-solving) of CEED, we ensure that all our students are thoroughly prepared for the exam. Our small batch sizes allow students to receive personalized attention and in-depth constructive feedback. They also get accustomed to the real exam conditions through regular mock tests and performance review feedback. We also conduct interactive workshops with experts in the field to further improve our students' creative confidence. Our students have been consistently achieving top ranks in the CEED, allowing them to get into their dream design institutes across the country.
Are you ready to ace the CEED exam? Contact us today to learn more about our enrollment process and coaching program. Acquire admission into your dream institute with afdindia!
10 FAQs About CEED Exam
1. Can I take CEED exam more than once?
Yes, there are no age or attempt limits for the CEED entrance exam.
2. Is the Part A score considered in the final ranking?
No. The Part B evaluation uses the shortlisted candidates from Part A. That means if a candidate does not score above the Part A cutoff, their Part B answers are not evaluated.
3. What is the validity of the CEED score?
One year. Candidates can only apply for admissions in the same academic year.
4. Are there cutoffs by section?
There is only a general qualifying cut-off for Part A, not sectional cut-offs.
5. Are graduates in architecture eligible to apply?
Yes, any final-year student or holder of a bachelor's or postgraduate degree is eligible to apply.
6. How can I speed up my drawing?
Make sure that you practice timed sketching exercises every day. Strive to focus on concept clarity over details.
7. Does Part A have negative marking?
In Part A, MSQs do not carry negative marking. However, incorrect MCQs result in a -1 mark.
8. Where will the CEED entrance exam be conducted?
The CEED entrance exam is conducted in multiple centers across the country. You can choose your center of preference while registering for the exam.
9. When will IIT Bombay announce information on CEED 2026?
The tentative date of registration for CEED 2026 is the first week of october 2025. IIT Bombay will update official information on https://www.ceed.iitb.ac.in/2025/ .
10. Can I make corrections in my application form after the submission?
Once submitted, the information in the CEED Application Form cannot be changed. Consequently, it is essential to carefully examine all information before submitting the form.
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