CEED 2026 Exam: Date, Time, Rules, Key Dates & Next Steps

The Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, January 18, 2026. This important national-level exam helps students get admission to Master of Design (M.Des) programs at India's top Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other leading design schools. IIT Bombay is responsible for organizing the CEED exam this year.

Exam Details

The CEED 2026 exam will be a three-hour test. It will start at 9 AM and finish at 12 PM. Students will take the exam at various test centers located in 27 cities across India. This wide network of centers aims to make it easier for students from different regions to appear for the test.

Exam Day Rules: What You Need to Know

Reporting Time

On January 18, 2026, all candidates must report to their assigned exam center by 7 AM. This early reporting is very important. It allows time for completing entry procedures, which include recording your biometric information (like a thumb impression and photograph). Please note, no student will be allowed to enter the exam hall after the gate closes at 9 AM. It is vital to be on time to avoid any last-minute stress or being denied entry.

Documents to Carry

When you go to the exam center, you must bring two key documents:

• A printed copy of your CEED Admit Card. This is your hall ticket for the exam.
• A valid Photo ID proof. This could be your Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, or Voter ID. Make sure the ID you bring matches the details on your admit card.

Items Not Allowed

The exam centers have strict rules about what you can bring inside. Electronic gadgets are completely banned. This includes mobile phones, calculators, smartwatches, fitness bands, headphones, and any other communication devices. Also, no study materials, loose papers, or food items are permitted inside the examination hall. It is best to leave such items at home or deposit them at a designated counter if available at the center.

Understanding the Exam Format: The Sample Interface

To help students prepare better and understand how the online exam works, IIT Bombay has made a CEED sample interface available. This is like a practice platform for the actual test. You can access it at digialm.com/OnlineAssessment.

On this sample interface, the login details are already filled in for practice. Students just need to click "Sign In" to start.

Using this sample interface, you can learn important things like how to select answers, how to move to the next question, and how to mark a question that you want to check again later. Practicing with this tool can save you time and confusion during the real exam.

The CEED exam has two parts: Part A and Part B. In the actual exam, Part B questions will only be shown after the first 30 minutes of the test have passed. The sample interface can help you get used to this timing.

What Happens After the Exam: Key Dates

After you take the CEED 2026 exam, there are several important dates to remember for results and further steps. These are crucial for your admission process.

The draft answer key for Part A will be made public just two days after the exam, on January 20, 2026. This gives students a chance to check their answers. If you find any mistakes or have any doubts, you can submit your feedback or comments on this draft answer key until January 22, 2026.

After considering all feedback, the final answer key for Part A will be released on January 28, 2026.

The cut-off marks for Part A, which are the minimum scores needed to pass this section, will be announced on February 05, 2026.

Finally, the much-awaited CEED 2026 results will be declared on March 04, 2026.

Successful candidates will then be able to download their score cards from March 10, 2026. Make sure to download your score card before the last date, which is July 31, 2026. These score cards are essential for the next steps in your admission journey to M.Des programs.