CEED Syllabus 2027 will be released by IIT Bombay through the official information brochure at ceed.iitb.ac.in/2026/.
The syllabus is split into two parts: Part A is a computer-based objective section, and Part B is a drawing section.
- The CEED 2027 syllabus covers two parts: Part A (150 marks) and Part B (100 marks).
- Part A focuses on design aptitude, covering observation skills, spatial reasoning, art & design knowledge, design methods, materials, ergonomics, and practical scientific concepts required for real-world problem-solving.
- Part B focuses on freehand drawing, creative ideation, visual presentation techniques, and user-centric problem-solving through accurate representation, innovative thinking, etc.
- The syllabus has stayed unchanged since the 2024 revision by IIT Bombay.
Related Links:
- CEED 2027: Exam Date, Notification, Registration, Eligibility, Syllabus & Pattern
- CEED 2027 Exam Date: Check Expected Dates for Registration, Answer Key, Admit Card, and Exam Pattern
Key Summary
- Two parts of the CEED exam are Part A (objective, 150 marks, 1 hour, online) and Part B (drawing, 100 marks, 2 hours, pen & paper). Final score weightage: Part A 25%, Part B 75%.
- Part A Focus: 9 aptitude areas including visualization (highest yield), reasoning, observation, design methods, art & design knowledge, practical science, environment, creativity, and language.
- Part B Focus: 5 compulsory questions (20 marks each) testing drawing, creativity, product design, visual communication, and interaction/service design.
- Preparation Strategy: Prioritize Part B (daily sketching, annotations, timed practice), solve past papers for Part A, build GK systematically, and start mock tests 3 months before the exam.
| Table of Contents |
CEED Syllabus 2027: Overview
IIT Bombay conducts the Common Entrance Examination for Design for admission to M.Des and PhD design programmes.
- CEED does not follow a textbook syllabus like engineering or medical entrance exams. IIT Bombay instead publishes a list of aptitude areas inside the information brochure.
- Analyzing the past 5-10 years of official question papers is the only true way to understand the depth of each topic.
Source: CEED 2026 Information Brochure
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) |
| Conducting Body | IIT Bombay |
| Course Offered | M.Des and PhD in Design |
| Exam Mode | Part A online, Part B pen and paper |
| Total Marks | 250 marks |
| Total Duration | 3 hours |
| Official Website | ceed.iitb.ac.in |
Ques. Is the CEED 2027 syllabus the same as last year?
Ans. Yes. IIT Bombay last revised the CEED syllabus in 2024, and no change has been announced for 2027.
Also Check:
CEED Syllabus 2027: Important Dates
The dates below are based on the official CEED 2027 announcement and past year trends. Confirm each date from the brochure once IIT Bombay publishes it.
Source: Official CEED Website
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Notification and Syllabus Release | October 1, 2026 |
| Registration Window | October 2026 to November 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | January 2027 |
| CEED 2027 Exam Date | January 17, 2027 |
| Draft Answer Key | January 2027 |
| Result Declaration | March 2027 |
CEED Syllabus 2027: What Has Changed?
IIT Bombay last revised the CEED syllabus in 2024. That revision reorganised the Part A topic list and fixed the current three-section structure of NAT, MSQ and MCQ.
- No fresh syllabus change has been announced for CEED 2027 so far. Students can safely start preparing from the CEED 2026 brochure topic list.
CEED Part A Syllabus 2027
Part A is a one-hour computer-based test worth 150 marks. It screens you for Part B evaluation. The section covers 9 broad aptitude areas listed by IIT Bombay.
Source: CEED 2026 Information Brochure
| SEED 2026 Part A Syllabus Topic | Core Sub-Topics (Verified by PYQs) | Approx. Weightage (Out of 150 Marks) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Visualization and Spatial Reasoning | Mental rotation, paper folding/unfolding, isometric to orthographic conversions, surface development, count of intersecting solids | 35% – 40% (Highest Yield) |
| 2. Analytical and Logical Reasoning | Data interpretation charts, pattern recognition, syllogisms, grid-based puzzles, logic sequences | 15% – 20% |
| 3. Observation and Design Sensitivity | Spotting patterns, visual hierarchy, aesthetic judgement, identifying structural design faults | 10% – 12% |
| 4. Design Methods and Practices | Product ergonomics, user interface basics, manufacturing techniques, prototyping workflows | 8% – 10% |
| 5. Art and Design Knowledge | Art history, architecture timelines, iconic designers, typography classification, corporate logos | 8% – 10% |
| 6. Practical and Scientific Knowledge | Mechanics of everyday objects (gears, pulleys, levers), centre of gravity, basic material behaviours | 5% – 8% |
| 7. Environment and Society | Sustainable design solutions, Indian crafts and textiles, eco-labelling, civic/urban design contexts | 5% – 7% |
| 8. Creativity | Verbal and visual analogies, metaphor decoding, semiotics (interpreting signs and symbols) | 3% – 5% |
| 9. Language | English reading comprehension, basic textual inferences | 3% – 5% (Lowest Yield) |
Part A Marking Scheme
Part A splits into three sections. Each section uses a different marking rule:
- The section contains 44 questions divided into NAT, MSQ, and MCQ formats with a total of 150 marks.
- NAT questions have no negative marking, while MSQs and MCQs carry penalties for incorrect answers.
- MCQs contribute the most marks (78 marks), followed by MSQs (40 marks) and NATs (32 marks).
| Section | Question Type | Number of Questions | Marks per Correct Answer | Negative Marking | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | NAT (Numerical Answer Type) | 8 | 4 | Nil | 32 |
| Section II | MSQ (Multiple Select Question) | 10 | Partial marking up to 4 | -1 | 40 |
| Section III | MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) | 26 | 3 | -0.5 | 78 |
| Total | 44 | - | - | 150 | |
Ques. Is the CEED syllabus the same as the UCEED syllabus?
Ans. The topic areas overlap heavily. CEED sets a higher difficulty level and adds a longer Part B design section.
Also Read: CEED and UCEED 2027 Exam Date Announced; Detailed Notification on October 1
CEED Part B Syllabus 2027
Part B is a two-hour pen-and-paper test worth 100 marks. Questions appear on the computer screen, but you write and draw answers in the answer book provided at the centre.
- Part B carries five compulsory questions of 20 marks each. Each question targets a distinct design skill.
Source: CEED 2026 Information Brochure
| Official Syllabus Topic | Question Mapping | Marks Allocation | Exact Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Drawing | Q1: Perspective Sketching – Tests line quality, human figures, context, composition, and shading | 20 Marks | 20% |
| 2. Creativity | Q2: Creative Visual Thinking – Tests divergent thinking, out-of-the-box solutions, and graphic storytelling | 20 Marks | 20% |
| 3. Communication & Problem Identification | Q3: Product Design – Tests user context, ergonomics, materials, annotations, and visual layouts | 20 Marks | 20% |
| 4. Communication & Problem Identification | Q4: Visual Communication – Tests graphic hierarchy, typography, logos, layouts, and message clarity | 20 Marks | 20% |
| 5. Communication & Problem Identification | Q5: Interaction/Service Design – Tests user workflows, interface/app layouts, and step-by-step problem solutions | 20 Marks | 20% |
| Total | 5 Compulsory Questions | 100 Marks | 100% |
Ques. Are art and design general knowledge questions asked in CEED?
Ans. Yes. Questions on famous designers, logos, design movements, typography and Indian crafts appear in Part A every year.
Also Check: CEED 2027 Exam Pattern, Check Revised Syllabus, Marking Scheme, Question Papers
CEED Syllabus 2027: Section-Wise Weightage
The table below shows how marks and final score weightage are split across both parts:
- Part B carries the highest importance with 75% weightage, while Part A contributes 25% to the final score.
- IIT Bombay calculates the final score as 0.25 multiplied by Part A marks plus 0.75 multiplied by Part B marks.
Source: CEED 2026 Information Brochure
| Part | Mode | Duration | Marks | Final Score Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Computer based | 1 hour | 150 | 25% |
| Part B | Pen and paper | 2 hours | 100 | 75% |
Ques. What topics come under CEED Part A visualisation?
Ans. Mental rotation, orthographic and isometric views, mirror images, paper folding and surface development questions appear regularly.
Related Link: CEED Registration 2027: Check Dates, Fees, Process & Eligibility
Best Books for CEED 2027
Pick two books per section rather than collecting a large pile. As per the YouTube video on the Design Prep channel, the recommended books for CEED prep are:
- The recommended books collectively cover Part A aptitude (reasoning, visualization, IQ) and Part B skills (creativity and sketching).
- The emphasis is on solving diverse problems, improving creativity, and building sketching skills through regular practice instead of relying on formula-based approaches.
| Book | Recommended For | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Arihant (Ali Sagarwal) Book | Part A – Aptitude Preparation | Helps practise visualization, reasoning, and design aptitude questions. Use it for practice, but avoid relying only on formula-based methods. |
| Check Your IQ – Clifford | Part A – Visual Reasoning | Improves problem-solving skills for visual puzzles and spatial reasoning questions. |
| Logical Thinking Puzzles | Part A – Analytical Reasoning | Builds logical thinking ability and enhances problem-solving approach. |
| How to Have Creative Ideas – Edward de Bono | Part B – Creativity | Develops creative thinking, idea generation, and out-of-the-box problem-solving skills. |
| Drawing Made Easy – Subodh Narayan | Part B – Drawing Skills | Covers product sketching, human figures, composition, and basic drawing techniques required for design exams. |
Ques. Does clearing the CEED cutoff guarantee admission?
Ans. No. Each participating institute runs its own portfolio review or interview round after the CEED result.
Also Read: CEED College Predictor 2026: Predict Your Admission Chances at IIT for Design
How to Download CEED Syllabus 2027 PDF
To download the official CEED 2027 Syllabus PDF, you need to download the CEED 2027 Information Brochure from IIT Bombay, as the institute does not release the syllabus as a separate PDF.
The CEED 2027 Information Brochure is expected to be released on October 1, 2026. The steps to download the brochure are:
- Visit the Official Portal: Open your browser and navigate to the official IIT Bombay website at ceed.iitb.ac.in.
- Locate the Downloads Tab: Click on the "Downloads" or "Information Brochure" link visible on the primary homepage dashboard.
- Download the Brochure PDF: Select the active link titled "CEED Information Brochure PDF". The document will automatically download to your device.
- Navigate to the Syllabus Section: Open the downloaded document and jump directly to Section 11 ("Syllabus") to view the full 9-pillar breakdown for Part A and the 4-pillar guidelines for Part B.
Ques. How much time is enough to complete the CEED syllabus?
Ans. Around six months works for most students. Give roughly 60% of that time to Part B drawing practice.
Related Link: CEED Exam Centres 2027: Check the List of Test Centres & Exam Day Guidelines
CEED Preparation Tips 2027
Preparing for CEED requires separate strategies for Part A and Part B, as each section evaluates a distinct set of design aptitude and creative skills.
Part A Preparation
- Solve at least ten years of CEED and UCEED papers, since question styles repeat.
- Practise 3D visualisation daily using physical objects and rotation exercises.
- Build a running notebook of designers, logos, movements and Indian crafts.
- Time yourself at 44 questions in 60 minutes to fix your attempt order.
Part B Preparation
- Sketch for 45 minutes every day, moving from objects to people to scenes.
- Practise one full 20-mark question under a strict 24-minute limit.
- Label your drawings, because clear annotation carries real marks.
- Get feedback on your sheets from a design student or a mentor.
Start Part B practice on day one instead of treating it as a last-month task. Drawing improves slowly, and you cannot build it in four weeks.
Check: CEED Syllabus: Download PDF for Part A and B, Study Materials, Important Topics, Books
Students on Reddit suggest the following for effective CEED prep:
- Learn Indian heritage and global design icons for instant recognition and engage with newspapers, design magazines, TED talks; always connect content back to design.
- Begin mock tests 3 months before the exam; attempt 15–20 full papers to identify weak areas.
- A comprehensive GK book saves time and ensures systematic coverage.
Source: Reddit
CEED Syllabus 2027: FAQs
Ques. Where can I download the CEED 2027 official syllabus PDF?
Ans. The topic list is published inside the CEED information brochure at ceed.iitb.ac.in. There is no separate syllabus PDF.
Ques. Which part carries more weightage in CEED?
Ans. Part B carries 75% weightage in the final score. Part A carries only 25% and mainly works as a screening filter.
Ques. How many questions are there in CEED Part A?
Ans. Part A has 44 questions worth 150 marks: 8 NAT, 10 MSQ and 26 MCQ questions.
Ques. Is there negative marking in the CEED syllabus sections?
Ans. NAT has no negative marking. MSQ deducts marks based on the number of incorrect options ticked, and MCQ deducts 0.5 marks for a wrong answer.
Ques. Is drawing compulsory for CEED?
Ans. Yes. All five Part B questions need drawing or visual answers, and all of them are compulsory.
Ques. Do I need a design background to cover the CEED syllabus?
Ans. No. Students from engineering, architecture, arts and science backgrounds clear CEED every year with focused practice.
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