UCEED Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Eligibility

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UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design) is a national design entrance test conducted by IIT Bombay. It is used for admission to the Bachelor of Design (B.Des) program at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIT Roorkee and IIITDM Jabalpur, and many other institutes also accept UCEED scores.

The exam is a single 3-hour sitting in two parts: an objective Part A answered on a computer and a Part B of sketching and design questions answered on paper. This guide covers the UCEED exam pattern, eligibility, syllabus, marking scheme and preparation.

UCEED at a glance

Full name	Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design
Conducted by	IIT Bombay
Exam level	National
Held	Once a year, usually in January
Mode	Part A computer-based; Part B pen and paper
Duration	3 hours (Part A 2 hours, Part B 1 hour)
Parts	Part A (NAT, MSQ, MCQ); Part B (sketching and design aptitude)
Total marks	300
Negative marking	Yes, in MSQ and MCQ; none in NAT or Part B
Language	English
Leads to	B.Des at participating IITs and IIITDM Jabalpur, and other institutes that accept the score
Official website	www.uceed.iitb.ac.in

UCEED important dates

These dates update automatically from Kosuki’s exam calendar. “Announced” dates come from the official notice; “Expected” months are based on past years.

Registration opensExpected October 2026 Expected
Last date to applyExpected November 2026 Expected
Exam17 Jan 2027 Announcedin 109 days
Admit cardExpected January 2027 Expected
ResultExpected March 2027 Expected

Conducted by IIT Bombay. Official website. Always confirm dates on the official website. Report a wrong date.

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What is UCEED?

UCEED is the common test for IIT design programs at the undergraduate level. The participating institutes offer seats through a joint allocation process run by the UCEED office, based on your rank and choices.

A long list of other colleges and universities also use UCEED scores in their own admissions. They run separate processes, so you apply to them directly.

UCEED eligibility

These rules are from the UCEED 2026 eligibility page. The years move forward each cycle.

You must be appearing in Class 12 for the first time in the current year, or have passed it for the first time in the previous year. Any stream is allowed: science, commerce or arts and humanities.
Age limit: general, EWS and OBC-NCL candidates must be born on or after a set date that makes the limit about 24 to 25 years; SC, ST and PwD candidates get five years of relaxation.
You can take UCEED at most two times, and only in consecutive years.
The UCEED score is valid for one year only.

UCEED exam pattern

The UCEED exam pattern has two parts in one 3-hour session. Part A is on screen and lasts two hours. Part B lasts one hour: questions appear on screen and you answer in a booklet.

Part and section	Questions	Marks
Part A: Numerical Answer Type (NAT)	14	56
Part A: Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)	15	60
Part A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)	28	84
Part B: sketching question	1	50
Part B: design aptitude question	1	50
Total	59	300

UCEED marking scheme

Part A uses three question types, each with its own marking. Knowing them well is part of the strategy.

NAT: 4 marks for a correct numerical answer, no negative marking.
MSQ: up to 4 marks, with partial credit when you pick only some of the correct options and no wrong ones. Any wrong option chosen gives minus 1.
MCQ: 3 marks for a correct answer, minus 0.71 for a wrong one.
Part B: marked by evaluators, no negative marking. Part B is evaluated only for candidates shortlisted on Part A marks, and the rank list uses the total of Part A and Part B.

UCEED syllabus

UCEED tests aptitude rather than school subjects. The topics listed by IIT Bombay for Part A are visualization and spatial reasoning, practical and scientific knowledge, observation and design sensitivity, environment and society, analytical and logical reasoning, language and creativity. Part B covers drawing and design aptitude.

Visualization and spatial reasoning: mental rotation, 2D and 3D shapes, patterns.
Practical and scientific knowledge: how everyday things, mechanisms and materials work.
Observation and design sensitivity: noticing details, hidden properties, and user needs in everyday objects.
Environment and society: materials, ecology, culture, and design history.
Analytical and logical reasoning: data, arguments and problem solving.
Language: reading comprehension and English usage.
Creativity: unusual solutions and ideas.
Part B drawing: proportion, perspective, light and shadow, and communicating a design idea by sketching.

UCEED result and seat allocation

IIT Bombay releases draft answer keys for Part A, then the final key and the result. The result gives your UCEED score and ranks, including category ranks.

To get a seat at the participating institutes, you register separately for seat allocation on the UCEED portal and fill in your choices. Seats are offered in rounds based on rank. Colleges accepting UCEED scores outside this process have their own forms and deadlines.

How to prepare for UCEED

UCEED needs two kinds of skill: quick, accurate reasoning for Part A and confident drawing for Part B. Split your practice time between both.

Solve all previous UCEED Part A papers from the official site. The question style repeats more than the questions.
Practice mental rotation, paper folding and counting-faces problems daily, since spatial questions are common.
Handle MSQ carefully. Mark only options you are confident about, because one wrong pick costs a mark.
Use NAT questions to build a safe score, as they carry no penalty.
Sketch from life for 30 to 60 minutes a day, focusing on perspective, proportion and shading.
For the design aptitude question, practice explaining an idea with clear labeled sketches in short time slots.
Take full timed mocks and review them; Kosuki can track your mock scores and preparation status if you want.

How to apply for UCEED

Register on the UCEED website when registration opens, usually in autumn.
Fill in personal and Class 12 details and upload your photograph, signature and category certificates.
Choose exam cities and pay the fee online.
Download the admit card before the exam and check the instructions for Part B materials.
After results, register for seat allocation if you want a seat at the participating institutes.

UCEED FAQs

Is there negative marking in UCEED?

Yes, in Part A. MCQs lose 0.71 marks for a wrong answer and MSQs lose 1 mark if any wrong option is chosen. NAT questions and Part B have no negative marking.

Can commerce and arts students take UCEED?

Yes. UCEED is open to Class 12 students from any stream who meet the age and attempt rules.

How many times can I take UCEED?

At most twice, and only in consecutive years.

Which colleges accept the UCEED score?

B.Des seats at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIT Roorkee and IIITDM Jabalpur are filled through UCEED seat allocation. Many other institutes also accept UCEED scores in their own admissions.

Is Part B always evaluated in UCEED?

No. Part B is evaluated only for candidates shortlisted on their Part A marks, with category-wise cutoffs, so a solid Part A score comes first.

What is the total mark of UCEED?

UCEED is out of 300: 200 marks in Part A and 100 marks in Part B.

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Sources

Last reviewed September 2026 against the official IIT Bombay notice and information brochure. Exam rules can change from year to year, so always confirm details on the official website before you apply. Kosuki is independent and is not connected with any exam body. Spotted something out of date? Write to contact@kosuki.com.

UCEED: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation