UPES B.Des Admissions 2026
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UCEED Application Date:01 Oct' 25 - 31 Oct' 25
Understanding the evolving pattern of UCEED exam through the years with the updates and topic-wise weightage is crucial for aspiring students for UCEED 2026, who wish to make a career in design, through IIT’s and the affiliated design colleges. This article deep dive into the UCEED previous year paper from 2020-2025, for emphasizing the recurrent themes and how they affect your approach to preparing for UCEED 2026.
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                Aspiring students for UCEED exam 2026 can find key important areas, insights and important topics for UCEED 2026 preparation from UCEED previous year question papers of year 2021- year 2025 below:
| Year of Exam | Exam Structure | Approximate Weightage Section Wise | Part B | Key Insights | 
| 2020 | Part A (NAT, MSQ, MCQ)-240 marks Part B (1 Sketching based Question)-60 marks | Visual & Spatial: 30–35% Logical Reasoning: 20–25% Quantitative Aptitude: 15–20% GK & Current Affairs: 10–15% | 1 Drawing Based Question - 60 Marks | Core structure with 80:20 ratio and strong focus on Visual Reasoning. | 
| 2021 | Part A (NAT, MSQ, MCQ)-240 marks Part B (1 Sketching based Question)-60 marks | Visual & Spatial: 35–40% (increased in complexity) Logical Reasoning: 25–30% Quantitative Aptitude: 15–20% GK & Current Affairs: 10–15% | 1 Drawing Based Question - 60 Marks | Questions in the year 2021 regarding Visual and Spatial Reasoning evolved in complexity in 2025. | 
| 2022 | Part A (NAT, MSQ, MCQ)-240 marks Part B (1 Sketching based Question)-60 marks | Visual & Spatial: 35–40% Logical Reasoning: 25–30% Quantitative Aptitude: 15–20% GK & Current Affairs: 10–15% | 1 Drawing Based Question - 60 Marks | Similar pattern of questions as 2021, with continued focus on visual Reasoning. | 
| 2023 | Part A (NAT, MSQ, MCQ)-240 marks Part B (1 Sketching based Question)-60 marks | Section Breakdown: NAT: 18 Q, 72 marks MSQ: 18 Q, 72 marks (partial marking introduced) MCQ: 32 Q, 96 marks Topic Wise Weightage: Visual & Spatial: 35–40% Logical: 25–30% Quant: 15–20% GK: 10–15% | 1 Drawing Based Question - 60 Marks | Partial Marking scheme introduced for the MSQ section, increase in visual Complexity further in the questions. | 
| 2024 | 300 marks total (3 hour duration) Part A: 57 Questions-200 marks Part B: 02 Questions 100 Marks | Section Breakdown: NAT: 14 Q, 56 marks MSQ: 15 Q, 60 marks (partial marking retained) MCQ: 28 Q, 84 marks Weightage: Visual & Spatial: 40–45% Logical: 20–25% Quant: 10–15% GK: 10–15% | Introduction of 2 Drawing Question 100 Marks (* A critical shift in the pattern of examination) | Major structural change: Part B question almost doubled in weightage (from 60 to 100 marks).  **Drawing re-emphasized. | 
| 2025 | 300 marks total (3 hour duration) Part A: 57 Questions-200 marks Part B: 02 Questions 100 Marks | Section Breakdown: NAT: 14 Q, 56 marks MSQ: 15 Q, 60 marks (partial marking retained) MCQ: 28 Q, 84 marks Weightage: Visual & Spatial: 40–45% Logical: 20–25% Quant: 10–15% GK: 10–15% | 
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Students can understand what important key updates has been from UCEED previous year’s papers according to the UCEED 2026 Exam Pattern:
Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
EXAMS dates- 13-14 Dec | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
Increased emphasis from UCEED 2024 (two questions,100 marks) makes strong drawing and creative skills are critical. Students are also advised to check and practice UCEED drawing questions.
Highest weighted topic across all the UCEED exams have been, evolving from year to year, focussing on the fundamentals of the design thinking.
The introduction of the Partial Marking system was introduced in UCEED exam 2023 rewarding the importance of detailed understanding.
Focus on applying the knowledge and principles of the design in the UCEED questions, making it important for design thinking and not only memorizing everything.
For the UCEED exam, time management is crucial as outlined in the past. Regularly take UCEED mock tests and solve UCEED sample Papers under timed conditions. This helps you practice handling time constraints and boosts confidence.
Our analysis of the UCEED 2020-2025 illustrates the evolution of the marking process, particularly the significant shift towards Part-B (drawing and sketching) in the last two years with consistent focus on the visual/spatial reasoning in Part-A. These recent updates and the breakdown serves as the critical roadmap, prioritising the balanced approach in the preparation. Consistent practice, strategic time management, and awareness of design principles/current affairs will pave your way to success for the UCEED 2026 exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Water and Mirror Images, Pattern Completion, Cubes and Dice, Analogy and Classification based on identified patterns, have repeatedly been asked in the past in UCEED exams.
Question-related to Understanding of Basic Design Principles, Principles of Design, Fundamentals of Geometry, Evolution of Objects/Materials, and Basics of Motions are important for UCEED 2026.
While preparing for the sketching section for UCEED 2026 aspirants should focus on topics including Perspective Sketches, storyboarding and product design questions.
On Question asked by student community
Hello Dear Candidate,
Here's the full study material for UCEED 2026: https://design.careers360.com/download/ebooks/uceed-full-study-material Thank You
Hello,
NIFT 2026 admission - Applications release around November–December 2025.
UCEED 2026- Registrations open around September–October 2025.
Pearl Academy - They have multiple admission cycles (Jan, April, June). Applications usually open by October 2025 for Jan cycle.
Keep checking official sites regularly since dates shift slightly every year.
Thank you!
Hello!
UCEED is a competitive exam for design aspirants, testing design aptitude, logical thinking, creativity, and visualisation skills. To improve your score out of 300, start by understanding the exam pattern—Part A (objective) and Part B (subjective). For Part A, practice reasoning, numerical aptitude, and environmental & social awareness questions. For Part B, focus on drawing, sketching, and presenting your ideas clearly. Solve past year UCEED papers and join online mock test series. Spend at least 2–3 hours daily practising creative problem-solving and sketching. Also, work on time management because the exam requires quick thinking.
Thank you for reading, and I wish you the best
 
Hello Akanksha,
For NID DAT 2026, your eligibility is established based on your born date as you are born on or after July 1st 2005. For UCEED 2026, your eligibility is dependent on your born date by category. You are eligible if you are OPEN/EWS/OBC-NCL category and born on or after October 1, 2001. If you are SC/ST/PwD category you must be born on or after October 1, 1996 in order to be eligible. Based on your born date of December 20th, 2006 for both NID DAT 2026 and UCEED 2026; you will be eligible.
The UCEED exam is conducted by IIT Bombay, and the previous year’s question papers you can download the papers along with answer keys directly from the link given below :
https://design.careers360.com/articles/uceed-previous-year-question-papers
Thank you and all the best!
 

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