Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) - Syllabus and Pattern

Part-A contains objective questions of three types: Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Choice Question (MCQ), and Multiple Select Question (MSQ). Answers to Part-A have to be given on the computer. These will be design aptitude type questions that evaluate visual and spatial ability, environmental and social awareness, analytical and logical reasoning, language, observation and design sensitivity of the candidates.

Part-B consists of five questions that are aimed at testing design, drawing and writing skills. The questions in Part-B will be displayed on the computer screen and the answers are to be written in the answer book provided by the invigilator (NOT into the Computer). However, you need to tick the appropriate box on the computer screen to indicate that you have answered the same. Part-B answer books will be collected at the end of the examination.

Part-A
Total 41 Question with a Question number of 1 - 41 has 100 marks in total
Section: NAT
Number of Questions: 8
Question Number: 1 - 8
Marks if Correct: 3
Marks if Wrong: 0
Marks if Not Attempted: 0
Total Marks: 24

Section: MCQ
Number of Questions: 10
Question Number: 9 - 18
Marks if Correct: 3
Marks if Wrong: - 0.2
Marks if Not Attempted: 0
Total Marks: 30

Section: MCQ
Number of Questions: 23
Question Number: 19 - 41
Marks if Correct: 2
Marks if Wrong: - 0.5
Marks if Not Attempted: 0
Total Marks: 46

Part - B
Total 5Question with a question number of 1 – 5 has 100 marks in total.
Section: Sketching
Number of Questions: 1
Question Number: 1
Total Marks: 20

Section: Creativity
Number of Questions: 1
Question Number: 2
Total Marks: 20

Section: Form Sensitivity
Number of Questions: 1
Question Number: 3
Total Marks: 20

Section: Visual Sensitivity
Number of Questions: 1
Question Number: 4
Total Marks: 20

Section: Problem Identification
Number of Questions: 1
Question Number: 5
Total Marks: 20

CEED syllabus (Effective from the year 2024 onwards)

CEED will test candidates for open, creative and inquisitive disposition, ability to think critically, capacity to comprehend and communicate, and breadth of worldview. It will have two parts.

Part-A will have questions from the following topics: Visualization and spatial reasoning: Ability to visualize and transform 2D shapes and 3D objects and their spatial relationships. Practical and scientific knowledge: Know-how of scientific principles and everyday objects. Observation and design sensitivity: Capacity to detect concealed properties in day-to-day life and think critically about them. Attention to detail, classification, analysis, inference, and prediction. Environment and society: General awareness of environmental, social, and cultural connections with design. Analytical and logical reasoning: Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative information. Language: Proficiency in reading and comprehending Standard English. Creativity: Grasp of verbal and non-verbal analogies, metaphors, signs, and symbols. Art and Design knowledge: Awareness about art/artifact/product, artists/designers, art/design history, and trends. Design methods and practices: Knowledge of media, materials, production processes, and ergonomics.

Part B will have questions from the following topics: Drawing: Ability to draw products, people or scenes in proportion with good line quality, composition, proportion, perspective and shading. Creativity: Capacity to think out-of-the-box and come up with unique as well as diverse solutions. Communication: Skills to communicate concepts and ideas clearly with the help of text and visuals. Problem identification: Capability to understand the user and the context, knowledge of properties of materials and their appropriate use in design.

Note: The topics given above are exhaustive and indicative of the nature of the questions. However, the CEED may not cover all the topics.

CEED is an aptitude test and hence, no specific text book or guide is recommended for its preparation. Candidates may however practise their drawing, rendering and visualization skills. Question papers of some of the previous years are available on the official CEED website.