The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) for admission to the Bachelor of Design (BDes) program at the following participating institutes:
Overview

UCEED exam tests the candidate’s observation, problem-solving, analytical, and logical reasoning skills. Part B of the exam tests the candidate’s drawing skills and ability to think creatively and solve design problems.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the UCEED exam, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Educational qualification: Candidates must have passed all subjects in the qualifying examination (Class XII or equivalent) in 2023 or 2024. Those who appeared for the first time in their qualifying examination in 2021 or earlier are NOT eligible.
- Age limit: Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 1999, if belonging to the OPEN/EWS/OBC-NCL category, and born on or after October 1, 1994, if belonging to the SC, ST, or PwD category. 5 years of relaxation is given to SC, ST, or PwD category students.
- Number of attempts: A candidate can attempt UCEED for a maximum of two times and that too in consecutive years.
Candidates from all streams (Science, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities) are eligible to apply for the UCEED exam. However, for admission to BDes at IIITDM Jabalpur, only students with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology at 10+2 can apply. Students from Arts or Humanities at 10+2 are not eligible to apply for BDes admissions at IIITDM Jabalpur.
Exam Pattern
Part | Section | Type of Questions | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Negative Marking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 1 | Numerical Answer Type (NAT) | 18 | 4 | No |
A | 2 | Multiple Select Question (MSQ) | 18 | 4 | Yes (1 mark for each incorrect answer) |
A | 3 | Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) | 32 | 3 | Yes (0.71 marks for each incorrect answer) |
B | 1 | Drawing | 1 | 70 | No |
B | 2 | Design Aptitude | 1 | 30 | No |
Application Process
- The UCEED exam application process is online and can be completed on the official UCEED website. The application process typically opens in September and closes in October.
- To apply for the UCEED exam, you will need to create a user account on the official UCEED website and fill out the online application form. The application form will ask for your personal details, academic qualifications, and contact information. You will also need to upload scanned copies of the following documents:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Date of birth proof
- Qualifying exam certificates
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
3. Once you have submitted the online application form, you will need to pay the application fee. The application fee for the UCEED exam is INR 3,600 for general category candidates and INR 1,800 for reserved category candidates.
4. After you have paid the application fee, your application will be processed. If your application is complete and valid, you will receive a confirmation email. You will also be able to download the UCEED admit card from the official website.
Here is a step-by-step guide to the UCEED exam application process:
- Go to the official UCEED website and create a user account.
- Fill out the online application form.
- Upload scanned copies of the required documents.
- Pay the application fee.
- Download the UCEED admit card.
Syllabus
The UCEED exam syllabus is divided into two parts:
Part A
- Visualization and spatial reasoning
- Practical and scientific knowledge
- Observation and design sensitivity
- Environment and society
- Analytical and logical reasoning
- Language
- Creativity
Part B
- Drawing
- Design aptitude
Important Dates
Event | Date |
---|---|
Online registration begins | September 30, 2023 |
Last date for online registration with regular fee | October 21, 2023 |
Last date for online registration with late fee | October 29, 2023 |
Admit card download begins | January 13, 2024 |
Last date for rectification of discrepancies in admit card | January 17, 2024 |
UCEED Exam 2024 | January 26, 2024 |
Release of draft answer key | January 28, 2024 |
Last date for uploading comments on draft answer key | January 30, 2024 |
Release of final answer key | February 9, 2024 |
Declaration of results | March 9, 2024 |
Tips for Exam Preparation
- Understand the UCEED exam pattern and syllabus. This will help you know what to expect on the exam and focus your preparation accordingly.
- Create a study plan and stick to it. This will help you stay on track and make sure that you cover all of the important topics.
- Practice solving previous year’s UCEED exam question papers. This is the best way to get a feel for the types of questions that are asked on the exam and to improve your time management skills.
- Develop your drawing skills and creativity. This is essential for the Design Aptitude section of the exam.
- Improve your problem-solving and analytical skills. This is important for both Part A and Part B of the exam.
- Take mock tests to simulate the real exam experience. This will help you identify any areas where you need to improve and get used to the format of the exam.
FEES
Category | UCEED Registration Fee |
---|---|
Indian Nationals SC, ST, PwD Candidates | INR 1,800 |
All Other Indian Nationals | INR 3,600 |
Foreign Nationals (including PIO/OCI) Candidates from SAARC countries | USD 350 |
Foreign Nationals (including PIO/OCI) Candidates from Non-SAARC countries | USD 450 |
Conclusion
- The UCEED exam concludes with the release of the final results. The final results are typically released within a few weeks of the exam date. The results are released online, and candidates can check their results by logging into their UCEED account.
2. The final results are prepared based on the candidate’s performance in the UCEED exam and their All India Rank (AIR). The AIR is calculated by ranking the candidates in order of their total marks in the exam.
3. The participating institutes then release their own admission lists based on the UCEED results and their own criteria. Candidates who are shortlisted for admission to a particular institute will be required to go through a further selection process, such as a portfolio review or an interview.
Here are some tips for candidates after the UCEED exam:
- Check the final results carefully and make sure that there are no errors.
- If you are shortlisted for admission to a particular institute, follow the instructions given in the admission list carefully.
- If you are not shortlisted for admission to your preferred institute, do not be discouraged. There are many other good design institutes in India. You can also explore other options, such as taking a drop year to prepare for the UCEED exam again or applying to foreign design schools.
FAQ?
Candidates who have passed their Class 12 (or equivalent) examination from any recognized board are eligible to take the UCEED exam. There is no age limit for the exam. However, candidates can only attempt the exam twice, in consecutive years.
For Part A of the exam, 3 marks are awarded for each correct answer and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. There is no negative marking for unattempted questions. For Part B of the exam, there is no negative marking.
The UCEED exam is usually held in the month of January or February. The exact date of the exam is announced by IIT Bombay a few months before the exam.