CEED Syllabus 2026: Part A Topics & Part B Test

CEED 2026 syllabus totals 250 marks, not the 200 that circulates on a lot of pages. IIT Bombay conducts CEED 2026 for admission to M.Des and PhD design programmes, with Part A worth 150 marks through NAT, MSQ, and MCQ questions, and Part B worth 100 marks across 5 separate questions, not one combined drawing task. The MCQ penalty in CEED is also different from its sister exam UCEED, since the two are built around similar formats but use different exact deductions. Clearing CEED does not grant a seat directly either, since every participating institute runs its own additional interview or portfolio round afterward. This page covers the real Part A topic areas, Part B's five distinct questions, the exact marking scheme, and the official syllabus source.

CEED 2026 Syllabus Highlights

CEED decides admission to Master of Design and PhD programmes at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, and IISc Bangalore, and a candidate can attempt it a maximum of two consecutive times.

CEED's Real Total Is 250 Marks, Not 200

A frequently repeated figure describes CEED as a 200-mark exam split evenly across Part A and Part B, and this understates Part A specifically. Part A actually carries 150 marks, built from 3 sections whose marks add up beyond the rounder 100 that gets quoted elsewhere. Part B stays at 100 marks. Together, the two parts add up to 250, not 200. This matters beyond just getting a number right, since a candidate estimating their likely score using the wrong total ends up with a percentage that looks stronger or weaker than it actually is. A score of 150 out of a wrongly assumed 200 looks like 75%, while the same 150 out of the real 250 is only 60%, a meaningful difference when comparing against past cutoffs.

The Exact Marking Scheme for Each Question Type

MSQ questions use a graded partial marking system, and the MCQ penalty in CEED is smaller than the one used in UCEED, its sister exam at the same institute.

This 0.5-mark MCQ penalty is noticeably lighter than UCEED's 0.71, so a candidate moving between the two exams should not assume identical risk tolerance for careless guessing carries over unchanged.

Part A Topics

CEED Part A covers 6 broad areas, and questions frequently blend two or more of these areas within a single question rather than testing them in isolation.

Visualisation and Spatial Ability

This area in CEED's Part A tests mental manipulation of shapes rather than describing them in words.

Observation and Design Sensitivity

This CEED area is built around noticing overlooked details in familiar visual scenes rather than raw creativity.

Environmental and Social Awareness

This CEED area connects design to broader context, testing awareness rather than technical design skill directly.

Analytical and Logical Reasoning

This is the most conventional reasoning section within CEED's Part A, closer to a standard aptitude paper.

Language

Language testing in CEED stays functional, focused on comprehension speed rather than literary knowledge.

Design Thinking and Problem Solving

This CEED area leans closer to postgraduate-level design reasoning than the more general aptitude testing found in the other 5 areas.

Part B's Five Questions, Not One Combined Drawing Task

CEED's Part B is often summarised as a single drawing and design section, when it actually consists of 5 separate compulsory questions.

Each of the 5 questions carries 20 marks, and a candidate strong at sketching but weak at problem identification will still lose real marks on the questions built specifically around that gap. Since these questions test clearly different abilities, preparation built entirely around rendering technique leaves real marks on the table in the more conceptual questions.

PwD Candidates and the Same Part B Scribe Restriction

CEED follows the same rule UCEED uses for its own Part B, since both exams are conducted by IIT Bombay:

• A scribe is not permitted to assist with Part B, since the section exists specifically to evaluate a candidate's own drawing and design skill
• This restriction applies only to Part B, not to Part A, where standard accommodation rules for computer-based exams apply
• Candidates should confirm their accommodation arrangements with the exam authority well ahead of the exam date, since this cannot be requested on the day itself

Why a Cleared CEED Score Still Needs a Separate Institute Application

Clearing CEED 2026 does not by itself secure a seat, unlike some undergraduate entrance exams that flow directly into a seat allocation round.

• A qualifying CEED score only makes a candidate eligible to apply to participating institutes, not automatically admitted
• Each institute, whether an IIT or IISc, runs its own separate application process after CEED results are declared
• Shortlisted candidates then go through an institute-level interview, portfolio review, or design aptitude round specific to that institution
• Final admission weighs CEED's own score alongside this institute-level evaluation, and the exact weightage given to each varies from one institute to another
• A candidate with a strong CEED score but no prepared portfolio can still lose out at the institute-level stage, so portfolio preparation deserves attention well before results are declared

Where to Find the Official CEED Syllabus

The official CEED information brochure remains the safest source for exact topic-level detail:

• The complete syllabus and question paper structure are published on ceed.iitb.ac.in alongside the official information brochure
• IIT Bombay also releases the actual previous year question paper, which shows how each Part A area and Part B question type is really tested
• The brochure also confirms the exact institute-wise admission process, since this differs across IITs and IISc
• Cross-check any aggregator figure for total marks or Part A marks against the official brochure before finalising a study plan

CEED Syllabus 2026 FAQs

Ques: Is CEED Part A really worth only 100 marks?

Ques: Does CEED Part B have just one drawing question?

Ques: Is the MCQ negative marking the same in CEED and UCEED?

Ques: Does qualifying CEED guarantee admission to an IIT's M.Des programme?

Ques: Can a PwD candidate use a scribe for the drawing questions in Part B?