CEED Exam 2026: Important Dates, Application Process and Admit Card Details

What is CEED Exam?

CEED, or Common Entrance Exam for Design, is a national-level entrance exam organized by IIT Bombay under the Ministry of Education. It serves as a qualifying exam to pursue postgraduate degrees like Master of Design (M.Des) at top institutes such as IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, and IISc Bangalore.

CEED assesses a candidate's design abilities, which include visualization skills, creativity, drawing skills, logical thinking, and communication skills. Clearing the CEED 2026 examination also allows candidates to seek admission and become eligible for interviews and design-related tests conducted by various institutes.

CEED 2026 Schedule

Tracking important dates helps candidates plan their preparation and application process effectively. The key dates for the CEED 2026 exam are as follows:

Eligibility Criteria of CEED 2026

Before applying, candidates must make sure they meet the eligibility requirements set by CEED authorities. The eligibility criteria for CEED 2026 are as follows:

• Educational Qualification: Candidates should have completed a minimum of a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce (10+2+3) or equivalent. Final-year students in such programs are also eligible to apply.
• Age Limit: There is no minimum or maximum age limit to take CEED 2026.
• Number of Attempts: There is no limit on the number of attempts. Candidates can reappear multiple times to improve their scores.
• Foreign nationals and candidates from international universities who meet the eligibility criteria are also eligible to apply.

CEED 2026 Application Form

Fill in the application form accurately to ensure smooth processing of the exam. These are the steps to be followed in filling the CEED 2026 application:

• Registration

Visit the official CEED website and create an account using your name, email ID, and mobile number. Activate your registration via email or SMS.

• Fill Form and Login

Log in with your credentials and carefully enter personal details, educational qualifications, category, and other required information.

• Upload Documents

Upload clear scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and category certificate (if applicable). The files should be in 3.25 by 3.25-inch format and not exceed 4.5 MB in size.

• Application Fee

Make the application fee payment via net banking, credit/debit card, or UPI.

• Submit this Form

Once completed, submit the form after reviewing all the information. Keep or print the confirmation page for future reference.

Application Fee for CEED 2026

The application fee depends on the candidate’s category. The fees are usually as follows:

• General/OBC: INR 3000
• SC/ST/PwD/Female candidates: INR 1500

The application fee must be paid online. It is non-refundable, so candidates should ensure their eligibility and verify details before making the payment.

CEED 2026 Exam Pattern

Understanding the pattern of the exam is of the utmost importance for the CEED exam in 2026. The CEED exam comprises two segments:

Part A: The Computer-Based Test (CBT): Part A includes three types of questions:

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
  
  
• Select Question Grouping (SQGs)
  
  
• Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions

It comprises common knowledge, design ability, analytical ability, and good judgment.

Part B: Drawing Test in Offline Mode
This section assesses a candidate's drawing skills and creativity through subjective questions such as sketching, perspective drawing, and design solutions.

Marking Scheme:

• Negative marking applies only to wrong answers in Part A’s MCQs.
• There is no negative marking for SQGs and NATs.

CEED 2026 Syllabus

Those preparing for the exam need to study the CEED syllabus, which has been prepared by the officials. Below, you will find the syllabus for Part A and Part B.

The CEED syllabus covers:

1. Visualization and Spatial Ability:

The Mental rotation, perspective drawings, and three-dimensional visualizations.

2. Environmental and Social Awareness:

General awareness of culture, people, and the environment related to design knowledge.

3. Thinking and Writing:

Analytical and logical reasoning, puzzles, sequences, and pattern recognition.

4. Language and Creativity:

English grammar and creative writing skills.

5. Basic Design Concepts and Problem Solving:

Understanding fundamental design principles and applying design thinking to solve problems.

6. Drawing and Sketching:

Freehand drawing, pattern creation, and aesthetics.

Targeting these areas through an optimal mix of both theory and practice will put the candidates in great stead for performing well in both parts of the CEED exam.