CEEDCommon Entrance Exam for Design
About CEED
CEED is the postgraduate counterpart of UCEED — the national qualifier for Master of Design programmes across the IIT system and IISc Bangalore, conducted annually by IIT Bombay. The examination runs in two back-to-back parts on the same day: a one-hour computer-based objective screening (Part A, 150 marks) followed by a two-hour subjective paper (Part B, 100 marks) of five questions answered by hand in a booklet, testing drawing, design thinking and written communication. Part A serves as a shortlisting filter, and the published final score weighs Part B at 75% — a clear signal that sketching and idea-communication practice should dominate preparation.
A valid CEED score qualifies a candidate to apply but does not by itself secure a seat: each participating institute conducts its own further selection, typically a portfolio review, design test and/or interview, and admission requirements differ across programmes. Because CEED is open to graduates of any discipline with no age or attempt limits, it has become the standard conversion route for engineers and architects moving into design careers, particularly interaction and product design.
Accepted by: M.Des (and some PhD) programmes at 11 participating institutes — IITs Bombay, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Kanpur and Roorkee, IISc Bangalore, IIITDM Jabalpur and IIITDM Kancheepuram — with additional result-sharing institutes accepting the score for their own admissions
Official websiteCEED eligibility
Bachelor's degree or diploma of at least 3 years' duration (after 10+2) in any discipline, completed or appearing (to finish by the admission-cycle deadline); G.D. Art diploma holders (10+5 level) are also eligible; no age limit and no cap on attempts
CEED exam pattern
Sections
- Part A — Section 1: NAT (Numerical Answer Type), 8 questions × 4 marks, no negative marking
- Part A — Section 2: MSQ (Multiple Select Questions), 10 questions, +4 with partial credit, −1 for wrong combinations
- Part A — Section 3: MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions), 26 questions × 3 marks, −0.5 per incorrect answer
- Part B — 5 subjective questions testing design, drawing and writing skills (including sketching and creativity questions)
Marking scheme: Yes in Part A — MCQs carry −0.5 per wrong answer and MSQs −1 for incorrect combinations (partial credit applies); NAT and Part B have no negative marking
CEED syllabus outline
- Visualization and spatial ability
- Practical and scientific knowledge
- Observation and design sensitivity
- Environmental and social awareness
- Analytical, logical and language ability
- Drawing, sketching and form sensitivity (Part B)
- Creativity and communication skills (Part B)
Find colleges that accept CEED
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