AIEED Creative Ability Test (CAT) covers 50 questions for 200 marks - 4 marks each - with no negative marking, making it the highest-scoring written stage of the three-tier exam. Download the practice papers below, then check the topic wise weightage table to see where the 200 CAT marks come from.
Official website: aieed.com
- Creative Ability Test (CAT): 50 questions, 200 marks, 4 marks per question, no negative marking
- Duration: 3 hours, conducted online
- Total exam marks: 500 - GAT (100) + CAT (200) + Portfolio and PI (200)
- AIEED 2026 registration: Opens November 1 - check aieed.com for the closing date
- Shortlisting: CAT score determines who reaches the Portfolio and PI round
AIEED Creative Ability Sample Papers 2026 - Download PDF
| Sample Paper | PDF Download |
|---|---|
| AIEED Creative Ability Sample Paper 1 | Download PDF |
| AIEED Creative Ability Sample Paper 2 | Download PDF |
| AIEED Creative Ability Sample Paper 3 | Download PDF |
| AIEED Creative Ability Sample Paper 4 | Download PDF |
| AIEED Creative Ability Sample Paper 5 | Download PDF |
| AIEED Creative Ability Sample Paper 6 | Download PDF |
PDFs will be updated as new papers are added. Bookmark this page.
| Year | Sets Available | Solutions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Full Paper | Available | Collegedunia |
| 2024 | Full Paper | Available | Collegedunia |
| 2023 | Full Paper | Available | Collegedunia |
| 2022 | Full Paper | Partial | Collegedunia |
| 2021 and earlier | Available | Limited | Official Site |
AIEED Creative Ability Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution 2026
The CAT is a 3-hour online test with 50 MCQs of equal weight. No negative marking means every unattempted question is 4 marks left behind - attempt all 50.
- Total questions: 50 MCQs
- Total marks: 200 (4 marks per question)
- Duration: 3 hours | Mode: Online
- Negative marking: None
- Question types: Image-based visual reasoning, color and composition MCQs, design scenario questions, lateral thinking and spatial puzzles
AIEED Creative Ability Sample Papers with Image-Based Visual Questions - Why 2024 and 2025 Papers Matter Most
AIEED moved the CAT fully online, and recent papers have a much higher share of image-based visual MCQs. Design thinking scenarios have grown steadily since 2022. Papers from 2019 and earlier had fewer visual questions; use them for topic practice only, not for pattern calibration.
- 2024 and 2025 papers: highest relevance - current format, image-heavy visual MCQs
- 2022 and 2023 papers: strong overlap with current style, good for building speed
- 2019 to 2021 papers: useful for topic practice, not for pattern calibration
AIEED Creative Ability Topic Wise Weightage - High Scoring Topics to Focus in Sample Papers
| Topic | Questions (approx.) | Difficulty | What to Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Thinking and Creative Problem Solving | 10-12 | Moderate | User-need scenarios, selecting the most practical or inventive solution |
| Visualization and 2D-3D Spatial Reasoning | 9-11 | Moderate-Hard | Unfolded shapes, mirror images, rotation of 3D forms |
| Lateral Thinking and Logical Reasoning | 8-10 | Moderate | Non-obvious connections, pattern completion, analogy-based visuals |
| Design Awareness and Principles | 7-9 | Easy-Moderate | Balance, rhythm, contrast, proportion in given visuals |
| Color Theory and Composition | 5-7 | Easy-Moderate | Color wheel relationships, complementary and analogous color use |
| Written Articulation and Expression | 4-5 | Easy | Describing a visual or design brief in precise language |
| Design History and General Awareness | 3-5 | Easy | Well-known designers, iconic products, major design movements |
| Observation and Attention to Detail | 3-4 | Easy-Moderate | Spot the difference in visual sets, odd one out in pattern grids |
Do not skip Design History and Observation. Together they carry 6-9 questions and are among the fastest to answer - 10 minutes of daily design awareness reading pays back on exam day.
AIEED Creative Ability Sample Paper Video Solutions 2026 - Watch Before You Start Solving
Watching an expert work through CAT-style questions shows you the reasoning process - not just the answer, but how to eliminate wrong options quickly.
Watch: AIEED Entrance Exam Pattern and Paper Walkthrough - Official YouTube Playlist
Channel: AIEED Official | Type: Exam pattern explanation and paper walkthrough series
How to Use AIEED Creative Ability Sample Papers to Clear the Exam in First Attempt
Solving papers without reviewing wrong answers is the most common mistake. Here is the method that moves your CAT score.
- Solve a full 50-question paper untimed first. Record how long each question took.
- Sort wrong answers into three buckets: topic gap, visual reasoning error, or time pressure.
- For topic-gap errors, revise that topic before the next paper. Do not skip ahead.
- For visual reasoning errors, sketch the question on paper - most spatial errors come from imagining the shape rather than drawing it.
- Set a 3.5-minute cap per question in timed papers; skip any question beyond that threshold.
AIEED Creative Ability Visual Reasoning and Lateral Thinking Strategy - Approach the Hardest CAT Questions
- For 2D-3D spatial questions, sketch the rotation or unfolding on paper rather than solving in your head - this alone cuts errors significantly.
- For lateral thinking questions, the most obvious answer is rarely correct. Read all four options before marking.
- For design scenario questions, pick the option that solves the user's problem with the fewest trade-offs - not the most elaborate answer.
- For color theory MCQs, know the three relationships: complementary (opposite on the wheel), analogous (adjacent), and triadic.
- Since there is no negative marking, never leave a question blank - eliminate two options and guess if time is short.
AIEED Creative Ability 4 Week Preparation Plan Using Sample Papers
- Week 1 - Solve the 2025 paper untimed. Mark questions that took more than 4 minutes and list the topics. Spend the rest of the week on those topics only.
- Week 2 - Solve the 2024 paper timed. Track how many visualization questions you skipped. Revise spatial reasoning and color theory daily - 30 minutes each.
- Week 3 - Solve two practice papers back to back. Build the habit of eliminating options fast. Spend as much time reviewing wrong answers as you spent solving.
- Week 4 - One full 50-question paper daily under exam conditions. Stop new papers 2 days before the exam. Review only your error log on those final days.
FAQs on AIEED Creative Ability Sample Papers 2026
Ques. How many AIEED Creative Ability sample papers are enough to clear the exam?
Ans. 8 to 12 full papers is a strong number, provided you review every wrong answer. Students who solve more without tracking errors rarely cross 160 out of 200.
Ques. Are AIEED CAT questions repeated across years?
Ans. Specific questions rarely repeat but topic types do. Visual reasoning, design thinking scenarios, and lateral thinking formats stay consistent year on year - papers from 2022 to 2025 give you full coverage.
Ques. Which topic should I start with if I have only 2 weeks for AIEED Creative Ability?
Ans. Start with Design Thinking and Creative Problem Solving - highest question count (10-12) at moderate difficulty. Then move to Visualization. Rely on elimination for color theory questions rather than deep theory revision.
Ques. Where can I download AIEED Creative Ability sample papers with answer key PDF for free?
Ans. The official aieed.com website provides sample papers. Collegedunia also hosts previous year AIEED papers with solutions - these two sources are the most complete.
Ques. Is AIEED Creative Ability drawing-based or fully MCQ?
Ans. The CAT is fully MCQ - 50 questions online, no drawing or sketching in the test itself. Drawing and portfolio work matter for the Portfolio and PI round, which is the third stage of the exam.
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