UCEED vs NID DAT vs CEED: Exam Pattern and Preparation

Published by Shikha Kumari on Sep 12, 2025

UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design), NID DAT (National Institute of Design – Design Aptitude Test), CEED (Common Entrance Exam for Design) are national level design entrance exams which are required to get admission to BDes (Bachelor of Design) and MDes (Master of Design) courses at top institutes like IITs, NID, NIFTs, etc. Some private institutes also accept admission on the basis of these scores. In this blog, we’ll look at the differences between these three exams.

UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design)

The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programs. 

Colleges Accepting UCEED scores

Several prestigious institutes in India accept UCEED scores for their undergraduate design courses. The list is as follows:

• IIT Bombay
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Guwahati
• IIT Hyderabad
• IIT Indore
• IIT Roorkee
• IIITDM Jabalpur (Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing)
• Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi
• World University of Design (WUD), Sonepat, Haryana
• JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur
• Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara, Punjab
• Department of Design, Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT), Delhi
• UPES School of Design, Dehradun
• VIT School of Design (V-SIGN), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
• Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Govt. of India (Various Campuses)
• O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonepat
• Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Bengaluru
• BITS Design School, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
• Chitkara University, Punjab
• Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida
• Jain University, Bengaluru
• Rishihood University, Sonepat
• MIT Institute of Design, Pune
• Nirma University, Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

Exam Pattern 

The UCEED exam is divided into two parts: Part A (computer-based) and Part B (pen-and-paper-based), conducted on the same day. The exam pattern is as follows:

• Mode of Exam:
  • Part A: Online (computer-based test)
  • Part B: Offline (pen-and-paper-based)
• Duration:
  • Part A: 2 hours
  • Part B: 1 hour
  • Total: 3 hours
• Question Format:
  • Part A: Objective questions, including:
    • Numerical Answer Type (NAT): Questions with numerical answers, testing analytical skills.
    • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): Single-correct answers, assessing general knowledge and reasoning.
    • Multiple Select Questions (MSQs): One or more correct answers, evaluating observation and spatial ability.
  • Part B: Subjective question, including:
    • Sketching: Tests drawing skills, perspective, and creativity.
• Marking Scheme:
  • Part A: 200 marks (NAT: 56 marks, MSQs: 60 marks, MCQs: 84 marks).
  • Part B: 60 marks (1 sketching question).
  • Total: 300 marks.
  • Both parts contribute to the final merit list; Part A is used for shortlisting, and Part B is critical for final ranking.
• Portfolio Submission: Not part of the exam but required during institute-specific interviews.

UCEED Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for appearing in the UCEED exam are as follows:

NID DAT (National Institute of Design – Design Aptitude Test)

The NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test) is conducted by the National Institute of Design for admission to Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and Master of Design (M.Des) programs. It consists of DAT Prelims (written exam) and DAT Mains (Studio Test and Interview).

Colleges Accepting NID DAT Scores

 The NID DAT scores are accepted by the following 7 NID campuses for their design programs:

• NID Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• NID Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• NID Bengaluru, Karnataka
• NID Andhra Pradesh (Amaravati)
• NID Haryana (Kurukshetra)
• NID Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal)
• NID Assam (Jorhat)

Exam Pattern 

The NID DAT for B.Des comprises two stages: DAT Prelims (written test) and DAT Mains (studio test and interview). The exam pattern for 2026 is as follows:

• DAT Prelims:
  • Mode: Offline (pen-and-paper-based).
  • Duration: 3 hours.
  • Question Format:
    • Objective: MCQs testing design aptitude, general knowledge, reasoning, and observation.
    • Subjective: Drawing, sketching, and design-based questions assessing creativity and visualization.
  • Marking Scheme:
    • Total: 100 marks (objective: ~30-40 marks, subjective: ~60-70 marks).
    • No negative marking; subjective questions evaluated for creativity, clarity, and relevance.
• DAT Mains:
  • Mode: Offline (studio test and personal interview).
  • Duration: 1-2 days, depending on the institute and specialization.
  • Marking Scheme: Total 100 marks (weightage: 40% Prelims, 60% Mains).

NID DAT Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for appearing in the NID DAT (B.Des) exam are as follows:

CEED (Common Entrance Exam for Design)

The Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to Master of Design (M.Des) programs at premier institutes in India. CEED evaluates candidates’ design aptitude, creativity, and problem-solving skills, serving as a gateway to advanced design education for postgraduate aspirants.

Colleges Accepting CEED Scores

Several prestigious institutes in India accept CEED scores for their postgraduate design courses (M.Des and related programs). The list is as follows:

• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore
• Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) Jabalpur
• World University of Design (WUD), Sonepat, Haryana
• UPES School of Design, Dehradun
• Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida
• VIT School of Design (V-SIGN), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
• Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi
• Nirma University, Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
• MIT Institute of Design, Pune
• Jain University, Bengaluru
• Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Bengaluru

Exam Pattern

The CEED exam is divided into two parts: Part A (computer-based) and Part B (pen-and-paper-based), each testing different aspects of design aptitude. The exam pattern for CEED 2025 is as follows:

• Mode of Exam:
  • Part A: Online (computer-based test)
  • Part B: Offline (pen-and-paper-based, conducted on the same day)
• Duration:
  • Part A: 1 hour
  • Part B: 2 hours
  • Total: 3 hours
• Question Format:
  • Part A: Objective questions, including Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Single-correct answers, and Multiple Select Questions (MSQs).
  • Part B: Subjective questions, including Sketching, Creativity, Form Sensitivity, Visual Sensitivity and Problem Identification.
• Marking Scheme:
  • Part A: 100 marks (NAT: 24 marks, MSQs: 22 marks, MCQs: 46 marks).
  • Part B: 100 marks (5 questions, 20 marks each).
  • Only Part A is used for shortlisting; Part B is evaluated for shortlisted candidates during the final selection.
• Portfolio Submission: Not part of the exam but required during institute-specific interviews. Portfolios should include 8-12 samples showcasing design projects, sketches, and creative work in relevant fields (product design, interaction design).

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for appearing in the CEED exam is as follows:

Preparation Tips

• Prioritize High-Weightage Sections by focusing more on Part B skills (sketching, creativity, form sensitivity) as they contribute 75% to the final score. Allocate 2-3 hours daily to sketching and design exercises.
• Develop a daily timetable, dedicating 1-2 hours to Part A (aptitude, reasoning, GK) and 2-3 hours to Part B (sketching, design problems). Review progress weekly to adjust focus.
• Download previous years’ papers from the official website and solve them weekly, increasing frequency closer to the exam. Analyze mistakes to identify weak areas.
• Spend 1 hour weekly revising basics like design principles, materials, and visual perception to strengthen Part A and Part B performance.
• Stick to 1-2 reliable resources (study guides, online tutorials) to avoid confusion. Supplement with mock tests and design blogs.
• Dedicate 1-2 hours daily to timed sketching exercises, focusing on perspective, proportion, and creativity. Build a portfolio with 8-12 diverse projects for institute interviews.
• Practice timed tests for Part A (1 hour) and Part B (2 hours) to build speed and accuracy.

NID DAT Schedule 2026

NID DAT schedule for 2026 examination has been released, the important dates are mentioned in the table below:

UCEED Schedule 2026

UCEED notification for 2026 exam was released on 1 October 2025, the exam is scheduled to be conducted on 18 January 2026.

CEED Schedule 2026

CEED 2026 registration started on August 25, 2025, and the last date to register was October 6, 2025, with a correction window from October 7 to 10, 2025. The admit card releases on January 2, 2026, and the exam takes place on January 18, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Results announce on March 6, 2026, with scorecards available from March 10 to July 31, 2026.

Conclusion

Here’s a table summarizing the differences between the three exams: