Question 1

What is CEED and which institutes accept it?

Accepted Answer

CEED (Common Entrance Exam for Design) is conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to MDes (Master of Design) programs at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Jodhpur, IISc Bengaluru, and IIITDM Jabalpur. A valid CEED score is also increasingly used by other design institutes. CEED is the PG equivalent of UCEED and is extremely competitive given the prestige of the admitting institutions.

Question 2

What is the CEED 2027 exam structure?

Accepted Answer

CEED has two parts. Part A is a 3-hour computer-based test with MSQ, MSQ (Multiple Select), and NAT question types covering visual sensitivity, analytical reasoning, language skills, and design awareness — worth 40 marks. Part B is an offline sketching and design task component evaluated subjectively by IIT Bombay — worth 60 marks. Only candidates who qualify Part A are considered for Part B evaluation.

Question 3

What design disciplines can I pursue with CEED?

Accepted Answer

With a good CEED score, candidates can pursue MDes in disciplines such as Interaction Design, Industrial Design, Visual Communication, Mobility and Vehicle Design, Textile Design, Ceramic and Glass Design, Accessory Design, and Animation Design depending on the specialisations offered by the accepting institute. IIT Bombay offers the widest range of MDes specialisations among CEED-accepting institutes.

Question 4

How important is a portfolio for CEED admissions?

Accepted Answer

A strong portfolio is extremely important for the final selection stage after CEED. While CEED determines shortlisting, each IIT conducts its own portfolio review and interview to make final admission decisions. A portfolio should demonstrate design process, creative thinking, visual communication skills, and project outcomes across multiple mediums. Quality of ideation and process documentation is valued over polished final outcomes.

Question 5

Can someone from a non-design background appear in CEED?

Accepted Answer

Yes, CEED is open to candidates from any discipline — engineering, arts, commerce, and sciences — as long as they hold a bachelor's degree. Many CEED qualifiers come from engineering backgrounds and bring analytical and technical skills that complement their design education. What matters is the ability to think creatively, visualise spatially, and communicate ideas visually, not prior formal design training.

Subject / Section	Questions	Marks per Q	Total Marks	Time (approx)
Visualisation and Spatial Ability	18	+1.1	19.8	36 min
Environmental and Social Awareness	18	+1.1	19.8	36 min
Analytical and Logical Reasoning	18	+1.1	19.8	36 min
Language and Creativity	18	+1.1	19.8	36 min
Design Thinking and Problem Solving	18	+1.1	19.8	36 min
Total	90	—	100	180 min

Phase	Time Budget	Target Questions
First pass (attempt easy Qs)	108 min	63 Qs
Second pass (attempt medium)	54 min	18 Qs
Review & guess	18 min	Remaining

Year	Questions	Duration	Key Change
2025	90	180 min	Current pattern
2024	90	180 min	No major change
2023	90	180 min	Section added

CEED Exam Pattern 2027 — Complete Question Paper Structure

Exam Pattern at a Glance

Section-wise Pattern

Marking Scheme

Time Management Strategy

Year-wise Pattern Changes

Difficulty Distribution

Frequently Asked Questions

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