The Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED 2026) was held on January 18, 2026 . IIT Bombay conducted the exam across various test centres, in both online and offline modes. The question paper had two main sections: Part A, which included objective-type questions, and Part B, which focused on design-related questions. Students who appeared for the exam are now eagerly waiting to know what scores they need to secure a seat in top Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programs at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Understanding what qualifies as a "good score" in UCEED 2026 is crucial for students to assess their admission prospects. This good score is not fixed and depends on several important factors. These factors include the total number of seats available for B.Des courses across all participating IITs, the overall performance level of all candidates who took the exam, the reservation criteria set by the government for different categories, and the difficulty level of the UCEED 2026 question paper itself. Analyzing these points helps in estimating cutoff scores.
UCEED 2026 Expected Good Scores for IIT Admission
Based on a thorough analysis of previous year trends and expert insights, here are the expected good scores and corresponding ranks for different student categories. These projections can guide students in understanding their potential admission chances and which IITs they might consider targeting for their design education.
| Category | Expected Good Score | Expected Rank | Possible IITs |
| General | 210+ | Top 100 | IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi |
| OBC/EWS | 180-190 | Top 200 | IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati |
| SC/ST | 140-160 | Top 400 | IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad |
For General category students aspiring to join highly sought-after IITs, a raw score of 180 or more is generally considered a strong performance. This kind of score places candidates in a competitive position. For students belonging to reserved categories like OBC, EWS, SC, and ST, the minimum qualifying score, often called the cutoff score, could range approximately between 70 and 120 . These cutoffs vary based on the specific category and the particular IIT program they are applying for.
Previous Year UCEED IIT-wise Cutoff Ranks
To provide students with a clear reference point and a fair idea of what to expect, the previous year's cutoff ranks for the top IITs are presented below. These tables show the opening and closing ranks for the General category, illustrating the rank range within which students secured admission in the respective years. This data helps in understanding the competitive landscape for B.Des admissions.
UCEED 2025 Cutoff Ranks (General Category)
| Participating IIT | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
| IIT Bombay | 1 | 14 |
| IIT Delhi | 15 | 35 |
| IIT Guwahati | 19 | 77 |
| IIT Hyderabad | 28 | 52 |
| IIT Indore | 56 | 80 |
| IITDM Jabalpur | 78 | 144 |
UCEED 2024 Cutoff Ranks (General Category)
| Participating IIT | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
| IIT Bombay | 1 | 16 |
| IIT Delhi | 21 | 35 |
| IIT Guwahati | 17 | 60 |
| IIT Hyderabad | 22 | 54 |
| IIT Indore | 67 | 119 |
| IITDM Jabalpur | 56 | 94 |
Next Steps for UCEED 2026 Candidates
Students who appeared for UCEED 2026 can soon get an estimate of their performance. The draft answer keys for UCEED 2026 are scheduled to be released on January 20, 2026 . These keys will allow students to compare their answers and calculate their possible raw scores. This step is crucial because it helps candidates make informed decisions about which institutions they can target for admission, even before the official results are declared. Planning based on these estimated scores can give students a significant advantage in the competitive IIT admission process.
