Important Topics to Study for UCEED Exam

Every year, the IIT Bombay administers the Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design, or UCEED, which is the entrance exam for undergraduate-level design courses offered by IIT and other reputable private universities that use UCEED scorecards to make admissions decisions. To attempt the creativity section of the UCEED 2026 question paper, a candidate must be proficient in both the technical abilities required for Part-A and the drawing communication skills required for Part-B. Using the previous year's question paper as a guide, this article will give you Important Topics for UCEED 2026 preparation. UCEED 2026 will tentatively be conducted in January 2026.

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Key important topics for the UCEED-2026 Exam

In India, the UCEED is regarded as one of the most competitive entrance tests. There are two sections to the exam: There are 57 multiple-choice, multiple-select, and numerical response questions in Part A. The two questions in Part B are aptitude-based and sketching-based. Important Topics for UCEED include:

• Visualization and spatial ability

• Observation and design sensitivity

• Analytical and logical reasoning

• Design thinking and problem solving

• Drawing skills

1. Visualization and spatial ability

Since a lot of pictorial and diagrammatic questions are based on understanding different shapes, and volumes, their transformation and/ or manipulation of 2d shapes and 3d objects, how they can be interpreted when seen in cross sections, when rotated or how their views will appear, surface counting, and recognising different patterns, it becomes crucial to develop a good visualization and spatial ability.

• Mental Visualization: 2D to 3D Visualization based on views: Under this topic, questions are asked for students to mentally visualize and make mental drawings for 2-D shapes into 3-D forms for pictorial and diagrammatic questions.

• Surface Counting: In this type of question, one must answer by counting the number of cubes, surfaces, edges, vertices, missing pieces, parts, etc., for which a particular image is provided.

• Patterns and Tessellations: Repetition, Overlapping of Patterns for the Shapes, Tessellations and Tangram puzzles are crucial topics to be covered for practising the Patterns and Tessellations.

• Technical Drawings and Views: Technical Drawings and Views include the understanding of the application & limitations of the following topics:

1. Cross Section and Exploded Drawings

2. First and Third Angle Projections

3. Assembly and Exploded Drawings

4. Orthographic and Isometric Drawings

• Folding and Unfolding of Surfaces: Paper & Unfolding, Patten Continuity and Discontinuity etc.

• Coding-Decoding: In coding-decoding exercises, codes are given to several series (could be alphabets, numbers or if complex questions are asked basic figures), then according to these codes a question is asked where students have to apply these codes and come up with the solution.

Visualization and Spatial Ability UCEED Previous Years Questions and Answers

Ques: Shown in the top row are 4 pieces of building blocks. Which of the option(s) is/are made using all four pieces?

Option A:

Option B:

Option C:

Option D:

Solution:

If we join four pieces of building blocks, we can

see that all pieces can be seen in option A.

Hence, the answer is A.

2. Observation and design sensitivity

UCEED important topics include question-related to Understanding of Basic Design Principles: Balance, Contrast, Emphasis, Hierarchy, Movement, Proportion, Repetition, Rhythm, Pattern etc, Rule of Thirds / Layout and Principles of Design, Geometric Shapes and Fundamentals of Geometry, and Understanding of Organic Shapes (Nature Inspired), Evolution of Objects/Materials and Manufacturing Processes, Understanding of Gears and Pulleys and Basics of Motions, and Fundamental Principles of Motion/Mechanism (e.g. Hub-spoke Model) are usually asked in the UCEED exam to examine these skills.

Previous Years Question asked from Observation and Design Sensitivity UCEED Topic

Ques: Shown on the left is a sheet of stickers. Identify the option(s) in which monkeys of the same species are sitting together.

Option A:

Option B:

Option C:

Option D:

Solution:

We can see above that these 3 monkeys have dark faces. So, we can identify them through their tails and now check each option one by one.

Option A:

We can see the same tails which means this is correct.

Option B :

We can see they do not have the same types of tails.

Option C:

We can see the same tails which means this is correct.

Option D:

We can see they do not have the same types of tails.

3. Analytical and logical reasoning

One of the most important sections for UCEED important topics is analytical and logical reasoning. This section has questions from topics:

• Non-verbal reasoning Topics: Syllogism, Embedded Figures, Water and Mirror Images, Pattern Completion, Cubes and Dice, Analogy and Classification based on identified patterns, Rotations and Symmetry in the given shapes, etc. have repeatedly been asked in the past.

• Logical reasoning refers to the ability of students to systematically thinking and solving problems, make decisions and then come up with effective conclusions. This also includes Verbal reasoning which is the ability for students to understand, interpret, and logically analyze written information. This section is used to judge students' critical thinking, pattern recognition and analytical reasoning skills.

4. Design thinking and problem-solving

Let us start by understanding basic steps for design thinking and then problem solving, the first step is to mindfully identify the problem present. Design thinking is one of the most crucial sections in important Topics for UCEED preparation. Once you have an in-depth understanding of the problem users are facing, it becomes easier to come up with the solution. The next step is to develop empathy towards the problem. Another step is to start generating plausible ideas. After these steps, you need to create a prototype for the solution of the problem. Next step is to start user-testing the prototype and see how efficient it is. The final step is to launch the solution to the end users.

5. Drawing skills

Important Topics for UCEED preparation include:

Technical Drawing

Technical drawings are made when a specific solution is needed to be shown visually. These drawings are generally made by following a set of rules and regulations. Specific tools (scale, compass, graph, etc.) are needed to create these drawings.

• Projection Based: Orthographic Projection -90 Degrees and Isometric Projection-30/45 Degrees

• Informative Drawings: Section View- Cut view for internal information, Exploded Views: showing Individual internal Parts and Assembly Drawings/Packaging

• Geometric Shapes + Volumes : Cover understanding of 2D shapes & 3D volumes

Non-Technical Drawing/Sketching

Non-technical drawings are free-flowing sketches that are made when a solution for any design problem is expressed visually. They, unlike technical drawings, don't have a specific set of rules for them. They don’t have one specific meaning like technical drawings and can be interpreted by how their viewers see them. Non-technical drawings or sketches are a form of expression. Example: sketching for interior, fashion, travel, storytelling etc.

• Human Anatomy/Figure Drawing : Understanding of Human Anatomy

• Freehand Sketching for Products/Volumes : For Geometric or Non-Geometric Volumes

• Perspective Sketches : Based on Understanding of 1/2/3 point perspectives

• Doodling/Gesture/Life/Blind Contour Drawings : More Freehand

Sketching Skills UCEED Previous Years Questions and Answer

Ques: Sketching (30 minutes – 60 marks)

Nandu is giving a dance exam in online mode in front of a laptop kept on a table. His mother is prompting from behind. While the exam is going on, his pet cat Poco is running around tumbling over a glass of water, a plate of biscuits and a few books. No one can stop Poco and the exam must go on. Visualize and draw the whole situation as if you are sitting on the floor witnessing the scene.

Note:

• Make pencil sketches only

• Do not use colors

Evaluation Criteria:

• Observation

• Imagination

• Selection & composition of objects

• Quality of lines

• Presentation

• Attention to details

Solution: