CEED
Qualifying exam for admission to Master of Design (M.Des) programmes at IIT Bombay (IDC), IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, IIITDM Jabalpur and IISc Bengaluru, and to design-related PhD programmes at several institutes.
Eligibility
Candidates must have completed, or be in the final year of, a degree, diploma or postgraduate programme of at least three years' duration after Class 12 in any stream (engineering, design, architecture, arts, science and others), or hold a GD Arts diploma. There is no age limit and no restriction on the number of attempts. The CEED score is valid for one year only, and qualifying does not guarantee admission — institutes conduct their own tests and interviews.
Age limit: No age limit
Exam pattern
A 3-hour exam in two parts on the same morning. Part A (1 hour) is computer-based screening with Numerical Answer Type, Multiple Select and Multiple Choice questions testing visualisation, observation, design awareness and analytical ability; NAT questions carry no negative marking while wrong MCQs are penalised. Part B (2 hours) is answered by hand and tests drawing, creativity, communication and design problem-solving; it is evaluated only for candidates who clear the Part A cutoff. The final CEED score weights Part A at 25% and Part B at 75%.
Syllabus at a glance
Part A covers visualisation and spatial ability, environmental and social awareness, analytical and logical reasoning, language and creativity, observation and design sensitivity, and design history/awareness. Part B tests freehand drawing, perspective and proportion, form sensitivity, storytelling and storyboarding, and the ability to develop and communicate a design solution to an open brief. There is no fixed textbook syllabus; the official site publishes the topic list and all past papers.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CEED 2027 notification and registration open | Early Oct 2026 (notification by 1 Oct) | expected |
| Registration closes (late-fee window to mid Nov) | Early Nov 2026 | expected |
| Admit card release | Early Jan 2027 | expected |
| CEED 2027 examination | 17 Jan 2027 (9 am – 12 noon) | confirmed |
| Result declaration | Early Mar 2027 (2026 result came on 4 Mar) | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- The Design of Everyday Things — Don Norman
- Universal Principles of Design — William Lidwell, Kritina Holden & Jill Butler
- Sketching: Drawing Techniques for Product Designers — Koos Eissen & Roselien Steur
- Perspective Made Easy — Ernest R. Norling
How toppers play it
- Part A is only a screening gate while Part B carries 75% of the final score — clear Part A comfortably, but invest most preparation in timed sketching, storyboarding and design-brief practice.
- In Part A, attempt all NAT questions freely (no negative marking) but be selective on MCQs, which are penalised for wrong answers.
- Solve every past paper from the official archive: Part B question types (freehand sketch, story sequence, product ideation, form and visual sensitivity) repeat in structure year after year.
- Practise complete Part B answers in exactly two hours with clean annotation — examiners reward clear communication of the idea as much as rendering skill.
- Because the score is valid for only one year and admission also needs a portfolio, written test or interview at each institute, build your portfolio in parallel with exam prep rather than after results.