Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    CEED 2026 Exam Analysis Out: Check Detailed Part A & Part B Paper Review

    CEED 2026 Exam Analysis Out: Check Detailed Part A & Part B Paper Review

    Achyuth NambiarUpdated on 19 Jan 2026, 03:48 PM IST

    As per CEED 2026 exam analysis the overall difficulty level of the exam was moderate. The Common Entrance Exam for Design was conducted by IIT Bombay to allow candidates to sign up for design courses at the many participating IITs or the Institutions that accept the CEED score. Appearing for the CEED exam requires candidates to prepare well in advance, and while practising CEED sample papers can give an edge, going through an analysis of previous CEED question papers can give quite an advantage. The difficulty level of the previous CEED entrance exam paper was easy to moderate, as per the students who appeared for the exam. Some of the candidates say the paper was lengthy, and the time management was hence difficult. The CEED exam 2026 analysis covers the paper pattern, questions, time management and the most important aspect, difficulty levels of the previous exams, to direct the candidates on their preparation strategy.

    CEED 2026 Exam Analysis Out: Check Detailed Part A & Part B Paper Review
    CEED Exam Analysis

    IIT Bombay had conducted the CEED 2026 on January 18, 2026, Sunday 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon in various exam cities. CEED 2026 exam analysis is updated here after the conclusion of the CEED entrance exam. The CEED exam analysis 2026 will include details on the difficulty level, types of questions asked, most asked topics, and much more.

    CEED Paper Analysis 2026

    Candidates can check CEED 2026 exam analysis on this page. CEED exam was held as a computer-based entrance test to evaluate candidates' aptitude in the field of design. The CEED question paper consists of two parts, Part A was conducted in online mode, whereas Part B in an offline mode. The CEED exam analysis 2026 will provide a comprehensive review of the exam, highlighting the difficulty level, types of questions asked, and the overall student performance. This analysis is crucial for future aspirants as it offers insights into the exam pattern and helps in strategising their preparation effectively.

    Pearl Academy M. Des 2026

    No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings

    UPES M.Des Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 26th March | Ranked #45 Among Universities in India by NIRF | 1950+ Students Placed, 91% Placement, 800+ Recruiters

    Previous Year CEED Exam Analysis

    CEED is a design entrance test that lasts for three hours and two parts. Candidates had to complete Part A in 1 hour online and Part B in 2 hours offline. Part A had three types of questions: Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). Part B had only one question that needed to be solved on paper. Aspirants can check the previous year CEED paper analysis below.

    Best Colleges in India Accepting CEED Score
    Discover top colleges in India that accept CEED scores. Get details on courses offered, cutoffs, eligibility criteria, and admission updates.
    Download EBook

    CEED Analysis 2025

    Section-wise & Overall Difficulty / Trends (2025)

    SectionObserved Difficulty / Comments
    Part A – NATModerate to Easy. Questions tested quantitative reasoning, visualization, deduction from visual data.
    Part A – MSQModerate to Easy. Many questions required careful selection of correct options (multiple correct possible), some negative marking / partial marking concerns.
    Part A – MCQEasy to Moderate. Majority of the objective questions were manageable, though time-management was key.
    Part B (Drawing & Design)Easy to Moderate — but slightly more challenging than Part A for many test-takers. Some questions, like a “human-animal interaction using blocks” prompt, were noted as tricky.
    Overall PaperModerate to Easy — most students found it manageable if time was used efficiently.

    Additional Observations & Feedback from Students

    • Most candidates reported that there were no major technical glitches during the exam.

    • Some questions were pattern-based or required interpretation of visual information rather than rote knowledge, which emphasised visual reasoning, observation, and design sense over pure theory.

    • Time management was a recurring challenge: although many questions were doable, their volume and variety meant that strategic attempt planning (easy first, tougher later) was important.

    Manipal Online M.Com Admissions

    Apply for Online M.Com from Manipal University

    CEED Analysis 2024

    • Overall difficulty level of CEED 2024 paper was moderate.

    • Most students who appeared for CEED 2024 paper found part B to be on an easier side.

    CEED Exam Analysis 2023

    As per the CEED exam 2023, the question paper for Part A was moderately difficult, and Part B was easy to moderate. According to the CEED exam analysis 2023 of experts and students, the duration of Part A was one hour and Part B was 2 hours. Although the questions of Part A and Part B appear on the computer screen, only the answers to Part A should be entered into the computer and the answers to Part B should be given in the answer book provided by the invigilator. CEED 2023 Part A had a total of 100 marks with 3 compulsory sections.

    CEED 2023 Paper Analysis - Part A

    Section

    Number of Questions

    Marks if Correct

    Marks if Wrong

    Total Marks

    Difficulty Level

    NAT

    8

    3

    0

    24

    Moderately Difficult

    MSQ

    10

    3

    − 0.2

    30

    Moderately Difficult

    MCQ

    23

    2

    − 0.5

    46

    Easy

    Total

    41

    -

    -

    100

    Moderately Difficult

    CEED 2023 Paper Analysis - Part B

    Section

    Question

    Sketching

    1

    Visual Sensitivity

    1

    Problem Identification

    1

    Creativity

    1

    Form Sensitivity

    1

    Total number of questions

    5

    Top Fashion Design Colleges by Location

    CEED Analysis 2022

    Part A: As per the CEED 2022 exam analysis, the difficulty level of the paper was moderate. In part A, candidates took 25 minutes to answer numerical answer-type questions and they found MCQs easy.

    Part B: There were 5 questions that were asked in part B and candidates found the questions a bit confusing. According to the CEED exam analysis 2022, each question in part B was to be answered on a separate page and some of the candidates found it difficult to understand.

    CEED 2021 Exam Analysis

    According to the CEED 2021 exam analysis, the difficulty level of the paper was moderate. In part A, students took 25 minutes to answer numerical answer-type questions and they found multiple-choice questions easy. According to them, time was a major constraint. In part B, they were asked questions based on character design, 2D graphics icon, problem identification on a toothbrush, and mixer grinder.

    In CEED 2021 Part A there were three sections- numerical answer type questions (NAT), multiple select questions (MSQ), and multiple-choice questions (MCQ). Part B assessed drawing, creativity, communication skills, and problem identification skills.

    CEED 2019 Exam Analysis

    Overall CEED 2019 paper had the same difficulty level as the previous year's CEED question paper and was pretty straightforward. The range of topics covered in CEED 2019 was as expected. However, there was a difference in the mix of questions asked. More weightage was given to Mental Ability, Logical Reasoning, Visual-Spatial Ability, and Math as compared to General Knowledge.

    General knowledge questions asked were more application-based. Topics covered included knowledge of photography, audio, video terminology (screen resolutions), printing, etc. Only one direct GK question was asked in which four objects were given- a cup, a fan, a toy, and a ceramic piece and you had to match the items to the state of India it was associated with images of a Palki (palanquin) were given and you had to choose the right image, this required application of basic physics in which you had to judge the center of gravity.

    The exam pattern of part A was as follows:

    Number of questions

    Marks

    Penalty

    10(NAT)

    30

    -

    10(MSQ)

    20

    -

    25(MCQ)

    50

    -0.6

    The paper structure for Part B of the CEED exam was as follows:

    Section

    No. of Questions

    Question Number

    Total Marks

    Discipline-Specific Question

    5 (Answer anyone)

    1-5

    40

    Creativity Question

    1

    6

    20

    Sketching Question

    1

    7

    20

    Visualization Question

    1

    8

    20

    Total

    8

    1-8

    100

    CEED 2018 Exam Analysis

    The CEED 2018 exam was similar to the exam conducted as per trends. The CEED 2018 question paper was divided into two parts, A and B. The exam was three hours in duration. Part A of the exam was one hour, followed by Part B of two hours.

    CEED 2018 Part A: It carried a total of 100 marks and was divided into five sections.

    CEED 2018 Part B: The drawing section of CEED consisted of eight questions in total.

    Number of questions

    Marks

    Q.(1-5)

    50 marks(any one optional)

    Q.(6-7)

    20 marks(compulsory)

    Q.(8)

    10 marks(compulsory)

    Therefore, out of the eight questions given in the paper, a student had to answer four questions in total.

    CEED 2017 Exam Analysis

    Part A of CEED 2017 consisted of three sections

    Number of questions

    Marks

    Penalty

    10 (NAT)

    30

    -

    10 (MSQ)

    20

    -

    25 (MCQ)

    50

    -0.6

    The difference from last year was that this year, the NAT did not have any negative marks. This means that the students could take a wild guess and would not be penalised for it.

    Overall, the paper was a little difficult, and the branch-specific questions were quite lengthy as compared to previous years’ papers. Part B consisted of even tougher concept-building and sketching questions. Also, many candidates were expecting a full length of 50 marks for the sketching question, but the questions carried only 20 marks and that too had a choice of two. In general, the CEED 2017 raises the bar further even for the candidates who were well prepared.

    CEED 2016 Exam Analysis

    Similar to last year, CEED 2016 Part B consisted of compulsory questions of 50 marks weightage followed by a single 50 marks question, which could be selected from a set of four questions. The pattern for compulsory questions was slightly different from last year. This was primarily because 30 marks were allocated to memory drawing, followed by 20 marks for idea generation questions and finally 10 marks for story writing.

    For the optional 50-mark question, the pattern of last year was repeated, where a candidate could choose to attempt a question out of four choices. These four choices were chosen from a specific branch of design, namely, product design, animation, visual communication, and interaction design.

    Also Check:

    NIFT Syllabus 2026

    UCEED Syllabus 2026

    NID Syllabus 2026

    CEED Syllabus 2026

    NIFT Question Paper

    NID Question Paper

    UCEED Question Papers

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: When is CEED 2026?
    A:

    CEED 2026 was conducted on January 18, 2026.

    Q: Is CEED exam difficult?
    A:

    As per the student reactions and the CEED exam analysis, the entrance test was easy to moderate and lengthy.

    Q: Is there a negative marking in CEED 2026
    A:

    • Part-A NAT has 0 negative marks for wrong answers.

    • Part-A MSQ has a deduction of -1 mark for wrong answers

    • Part-A MCQ has -0.5 negative marks for an incorrect answer.

    • Part-B (Subjective Questions: Sketching, Creativity, Form Sensitivity, Visual Sensitivity, Problem Identification): There are no negative marks for any questions in Part-B.

    Q: What is the weightage of Part A and Part B in CEED?
    A:

    In CEED exam, the weightage of Part A is 25%, while for part B is 75%. 

    Q: Can I crack CEED exam in one attempt?
    A:

    The CEED exam can be manageable if you are well-prepared and have a solid understanding of design concepts and principles. The exam tests your ability to apply your knowledge and skills in various design domains, including product design, animation, visual communication, and interaction design. To succeed in the CEED exam, you should also possess strong observation, visualization, sketching, and analytical skills.

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Design Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    DAIICT Application Date

    24 Mar'26 - 25 May'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Certificate Program in Machine Learning and AI with Python
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
    Certificate Program in Design Thinking
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
    Computer Fundamentals
    Via Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
    Data Analysis Using Excel
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
    Visual Effects VFX Course
    Via Tech Mahindra SMART Academy for Digital Technologies, Visakhapatnam
    PG Diploma in Software Development
    Via International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore
    Udemy
     1087 courses
    Coursera
     505 courses
    Edx
     330 courses
    Vskills
     157 courses
    Swayam
     136 courses
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe

    Questions related to CEED

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CEED ?

    Hello,

    To prepare for M.des exams like CEED or NID DAT, here are some points which you can follow:

    Understand the pattern – focus on creativity, design aptitude, and problem-solving.

    Practice sketching daily and improve visualization.

    Study basics of color, form, and design concepts.

    Solve previous papers and build a

    NIFT M.Des / NID / CEED – Careers360 Study Material

    1. Careers360 NIFT Study Material → Guides + 10 free mock tests → Careers360 NIFT Material

    2. E-books & Sample Papers → Practice questions & previous papers → Careers360 NIFT E-books

    Focus Areas: Creative Aptitude, General Ability, Situation Test.

    Hii

    Common Entrance Examination for Design is a test includes design aptitude, your creativity, visualisation, problem-solving, and also analytical ability.

    CEED exam structure is divided in 2 parts (PART A & PART B) and you can check what to study and syllabus of CEED on career360 https://design.careers360.com/articles/ceed-syllabus-2025


    CEED syllabus includes:

    Visualization and spatial ability

    Design thinking and problem solving

    Drawing skills

    Creativity

    Communication skills

    Analytical and logical reasoning

    Environmental and social awareness

    Observation and design sensitivity Also includes topics on form, function, aesthetics, and technical drawing.


    Hello Anushka,

    Thanks for reaching out!

    You can definitely prepare for CEED to pursue UI/UX design.since you're not from design background you'll need 4-6 months of focused prepration.

    Focus on:

    Sketching

    Visual communication

    Design concepts

    User experience basics

    Problem - solving skills

    Past CEED papers.

    Practice drawings, story boarding, Idea