CEED
Admission to Master of Design (M.Des) programmes at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, IISc Bengaluru, IIITDM Jabalpur and IIITDM Kancheepuram, and to design PhD programmes at several institutes. Some other institutes also accept CEED scores.
Eligibility
Candidates need a degree, diploma or postgraduate programme of at least three years after Class 12 (completed or in the final year by July), or the five-year GD Arts diploma (10+5 level). There is no age limit and no cap on attempts. The score is valid for one year from the result date.
Age limit: No age limit
Exam pattern
Three-hour paper held at once. Part A (screening, on computer) has Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Select (MSQ) and MCQ questions on visual, spatial, analytical, language and design-sensitivity skills, with negative marking on some question types. Part B has five questions shown on screen and answered by hand in an answer book: drawing, design aptitude and creativity tasks. Only candidates who clear the Part A cut-off have Part B evaluated. Final score = 0.25 × Part A + 0.75 × Part B.
Syllabus at a glance
Visual and spatial ability, environmental and social awareness, analytical and logical reasoning, language and creativity, observation and design sensitivity (Part A), and drawing, problem identification, communication and form/composition skills (Part B). No subject knowledge is needed beyond general awareness of design, art, culture and materials.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Online registration with regular fee (open now) | 1 Oct - 5 Nov 2026 (extended) | confirmed |
| Online registration with late fee (no further extension) | 6 - 10 Nov 2026 (till 5 pm) | confirmed |
| Admit card download | From 1 Jan 2027, 1 pm | confirmed |
| CEED 2027 examination | 17 Jan 2027 (Sunday), 9 am - 12 noon | confirmed |
| Draft Part A answer key | 19 Jan 2027 (comments till 21 Jan, final key 26 Jan) | confirmed |
| Part A cut-off announcement | 4 Feb 2027 | confirmed |
| Result declaration | 3 Mar 2027 (scorecards from 10 Mar to 31 Jul 2027) | confirmed |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - Betty Edwards
- Perspective Made Easy - Ernest R. Norling
- Sketching: The Basics - Koos Eissen & Roselien Steur
- The Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning - R.S. Aggarwal
How toppers play it
- Part B carries 75% of the final score, but it is only evaluated if you clear the Part A cut-off. Practise for both, and use Part A mocks to make sure you comfortably cross the screening line.
- Sketch daily from life: people, products and scenes in one- and two-point perspective, with shading. Timed 15-20 minute drawings mirror the exam.
- For the Part B design question, show your process clearly: user, problem, ideas, chosen solution with labelled sketches. Examiners reward clear thinking over polished art.
- Read negative marking rules question type by question type in the brochure. Attempt NAT questions freely and be cautious with MCQs and MSQs.
- Solve every past CEED paper on the official site and keep a design-awareness notebook (Indian crafts, iconic products, logos, materials).