CEED Exam Pattern 2027: 49 Questions, 250 Marks, Marking Scheme and Part B Weightage

CEED 2027 (Common Entrance Examination for Design) is a 3-hour hybrid test conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to M.Des programs at IITs and other design institutes. The exam has two parts: Part A (computer-based, 1 hour, 150 marks) and Part B (pen-and-paper, 2 hours, 100 marks). The final CEED score = 25% of Part A + 75% of Part B.

• CEED 2027 is a 3-hour hybrid test with 49 questions totalling 250 marks across both parts.
• The exam has two parts: Part A (CBT, 44 questions, 150 marks) and Part B (Pen-and-Paper, 5 design tasks, 100 marks).
• Part A has three question types: MCQ (+3/−0.5), MSQ (+4 or partial/−1 per wrong option), and NAT (+4/no negative marking).
• Part B carries 75% weightage in the final CEED score — it determines your rank far more than Part A.
• Only students scoring at or above the Part A screening cut-off (δ = µ + σ/2) have their Part B answer books evaluated.
• There is no negative marking in Part B — partial marks are awarded for drawing and design tasks.
• The CEED 2027 official information brochure is expected on October 1, 2026 at ceed.iitb.ac.in; the exam is scheduled for January 17, 2027.

CEED Exam Pattern 2027: Overview

CEED 2027 follows a two-part hybrid format unique among national design entrance exams. Part A is a computer-based screening test that filters students using a statistical cut-off. Part B is a pen-and-paper design skills test evaluated manually by IIT Bombay faculty, and it is this part that builds your final rank.

Part B carries 75% of the final CEED score — your rank depends far more on drawing and design thinking skills than on Part A performance.

Part A acts as a screening gateway. Only students meeting the Part A cut-off (δ = µ + σ/2 for General category) have their Part B books evaluated. This cut-off is computed after the exam using live score data — it is not a fixed number announced beforehand. Category relaxations apply: OBC-NCL and EWS students need 0.9δ; SC, ST, and PwD students need 0.5δ.

CEED Exam Pattern 2027: Important Dates

IIT Bombay has confirmed January 17, 2027 as the CEED 2027 exam date. The official information brochure — which will carry exact dates for registration, admit card, and result — is expected on October 1, 2026. The dates below are expected based on the 2026 cycle schedule.

The only confirmed date as of September 2026 is the exam date: January 17, 2027. All other dates will be announced in the official brochure on October 1, 2026.

Source: IIT Bombay CEED Official Website

CEED 2027: Detailed Exam Pattern

CEED 2027 consists of two distinct parts held on the same day with different modes, question types, and evaluation methods. Part A is auto-graded instantly by the CBT system; Part B is sent to IIT Bombay for manual evaluation by design faculty — only after the Part A cut-off is applied.

Part A — Computer-Based Screening Test (1 Hour)

Part B — Pen-and-Paper Design Test (2 Hours)

Note: All 5 questions in Part B are compulsory. Part B questions are displayed on screen; you write and draw answers in a physical answer booklet provided at the exam centre.

Final CEED Score = 0.25 × (Part A Marks out of 150) + 0.75 × (Part B Marks out of 100).

CEED Marking Scheme 2027

CEED 2027 uses a multi-tier marking scheme in Part A — each of the three question types carries different mark values and different negative marking rules. Part B uses only positive and partial marking; no deductions apply.

Negative marking of 0.5 mark applies to MCQs in Part A — avoid random guessing on MCQ questions.

There is no negative marking for NAT questions or for any Part B question.

MSQ questions demand precise option selection. Selecting even one wrong option in an MSQ triggers −1 per wrong option — which can cancel out any partial credit earned. If you are unsure about a specific option in an MSQ, leaving it unselected is the safer strategy: you may still earn partial credit for the correct options you did select.

CEED Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2027

CEED 2027 Part A tests five core competency areas through MCQ, MSQ, and NAT questions. Part B tests applied design ability through five compulsory tasks worth 20 marks each. The breakdown below covers both parts and the skills each area demands.

Part A — Competency Areas

Part B — Applied Design Skills (5 Tasks × 20 Marks)

Since Part B carries 75% weight in the final CEED score, students who practice daily sketching and design ideation gain the most measurable rank advantage.

CEED Question Types 2027

CEED 2027 Part A uses three computer-based question formats, each with distinct scoring rules. Understanding exactly how each type is marked helps you decide when to attempt, when to guess, and when to skip — especially under the 60-minute Part A time pressure.

• MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions): Each MCQ has four options with exactly one correct answer. A correct response earns +3 marks; a wrong answer deducts −0.5 marks. CEED 2027 has 26 MCQs in Part A for a maximum of 78 marks. With a modest penalty, educated guessing on MCQs is acceptable when you can eliminate two or more options.
• MSQ (Multiple Select Questions): Each MSQ may have one or more correct options — the question does not tell you how many. Full marks (+4) are awarded only when every correct option is selected and no wrong option is ticked. Partial marks (+3, +2, or +1) apply when some correct options are chosen and no wrong option is included. Selecting even one wrong option triggers −1 per incorrectly selected option — which can erase partial credit and cause a net loss. CEED 2027 has 10 MSQs in Part A.
• NAT (Numerical Answer Type): You type a numeric answer directly using an on-screen virtual keypad — no options are provided. A correct answer earns +4 marks with no negative marking. CEED 2027 has 8 NAT questions in Part A. These offer the best risk-adjusted return: maximum marks, zero penalty.
• Part B Design Tasks (Subjective): Five open-ended tasks displayed on screen; you answer in a physical booklet using pen, pencil, and colour as instructed. Evaluation is manual by IIT Bombay design faculty. No negative marking applies; examiners award partial credit for partial responses. The quality of your design thinking and visual communication matters as much as technical drawing skill.

Strategy note: Prioritize NAT questions in Part A — +4 marks, no penalty. Apply caution to MSQs — a single wrong option selected costs −1 and erases the partial credit you earned from correct options.

CEED Exam Pattern: Changes in 2027 vs Previous Year

The official CEED 2027 information brochure is expected on October 1, 2026. No structural changes have been officially announced as of September 2026. The table below compares the 2026 and 2027 patterns using the confirmed exam date and currently available information.

This page will be updated once IIT Bombay releases the official 2027 brochure. Students can monitor ceed.iitb.ac.in directly for the latest official pattern information.

How to Prepare Based on CEED Exam Pattern

The CEED 2027 pattern directly tells you where to invest your time. With 75% of the final score coming from Part B, the smartest preparation strategy mirrors that weight — not a 50/50 split between the two parts.

1. Make daily sketching your non-negotiable habit. Part B carries 75% of your final score and tests drawing, creativity, form sensitivity, and visual communication. Practice 60–90 minutes of timed sketching every day — use past CEED Part B questions as briefs to build exam-ready speed and quality.
2. Clear Part A cut-off without over-investing. Part A is a screening gateway, not a score-builder. Aim to comfortably answer 28–35 questions correctly, which is typically enough to cross the cut-off. Over-preparing Part A at the cost of Part B practice is the most common strategic error in CEED preparation.
3. Start Part A with NAT questions. NAT questions give +4 marks with zero negative marking — they are the highest-return questions in Part A. Attempt all 8 NAT questions first, before tackling MCQs and MSQs.
4. Apply a strict filter to MSQs. The −1 per wrong option selected in MSQs can rapidly drain your Part A score. Attempt an MSQ only when you are confident about which options are correct AND which are not. If even one option is uncertain, select only the options you are sure of — or skip entirely.
5. Build design thinking, not just drawing skill. IIT Bombay’s Part B evaluation rewards empathetic, user-centred solutions with clear annotations. Practice structuring a response: state the problem, show your ideation, select and refine one solution, annotate your sketch with dimensions and materials.
6. Train your design observation daily. CEED tests observation and design sensitivity in both Part A and Part B. Regularly analysing products around you — their ergonomics, materials, form language, and user interaction — builds the intuitive design vocabulary the exam rewards.
7. Solve the last 5 years’ CEED papers under timed conditions. Part A’s question structure has remained consistent. Familiarity with the format reduces time pressure on exam day and helps you allocate the 60-minute Part A window optimally across MCQ, MSQ, and NAT question types.