The CEED Cutoff 2026 of Part A on 4th February 2026 by IIT Bomaby on its official website - ceed.iitb.ac.in/2026/.

The cutoff was released in the form of mean and standard deviation, with the mean score of Part A being 39.35 and the standard deviation being 16.89.

As per the CEED Cutoff of Part A, the expected cutoff of the different categories will be:

  • The General (CRL) category candidates need at least 47.80 marks in Part A to qualify.
  • Candidates belonging to the OBC or EWS category need around 43.02 marks to qualify.
  • Candidates from the SC, ST, or PwD category need at least 23.90 marks to qualify.

The final merit list will be prepared based on Part B scores because it covers 75% of the total score calculation. Candidates had to qualify for Part A to be eligible for evaluation of Part B.

Related Links:

CEED 2026 Cutoff Part (A) Out

What is the cutoff for CEED?

The CEED cutoff is the minimum score or rank a candidate must achieve in the CEED exam to qualify the exam and be eligible for admission to the M.Des and PhD Design programs at participating institutes like IITs and IISc.

The IIT Bombay releases the CEED cutoff of 2 type:

  • Qualifying Cutoff (Part A Cutoff): This is the minimum marks required to clear Part A of CEED.
  • Admission Cutoff (Institute-wise Cutoff): After qualifying CEED, each institute releases its own Opening and Closing Rank, which is the final cutoff for admission.

Only candidates who score above this cutoff in Part A will have their Part B evaluated.

CEED 2026 Qualifying Cutoff

The CEED Cutoff 2026 shows that the exam was moderately challenging and the cutoff also varies as per the different categories,

  • The General Category candidates need around 47.80 marks to qualify for CEED Counselling 2026.
  • The OBC-NCL/EWS cutoff is 43.02 marks, reflecting a 10% relaxation from the General cutoff.
  • The SC/ST/PwD cutoff is 23.90 marks, which is 50% of the General cutoff. This allows more candidates from these categories to qualify.
Category Cutoff Marks
GEN 47.80
OBC-NCL / EWS 43.02
SC / ST / PwD 23.90
CEED 2026 Qualifying Cutoff

CEED Cutoff of Part A

The CEED Part A cutoff is the minimum qualifying scores in Part A (the objective/computer-based test) of the CEED exam.

If you fail to clear the cutoff, your Part B won’t be checked and you won’t get a CEED merit rank.

CEED 2026 Cut-off Calculation Method

CEED 2026 cutoff is calculated using the statistical method that uses the mean (μ) and standard deviation (σ) of scores obtained in Part A.

To determine the qualifying marks, IIT Bombay uses a category-specific factor of the standard deviation.

  • μ (Mean Score): 39.35
  • σ (Standard Deviation): 16.89
CEED Cutoff 2026 Part A

Source - ceed.iitb.ac.in/2026/

What is the formula for the CEED cutoff?

IIT Bombay has provided the formula to calculate the CEED cutoff in its official Information Bulletin:

  • General (Open Category) - Cutoff = μ + (σ / 2)
  • OBC-NCL / EWS - Cutoff = 0.9 × δ
  • SC / ST / PwD- Cutoff = 0.5 × δ

Where:

  • μ = Average (Mean) marks
  • σ = Standard Deviation
  • δ = Cutoff marks for shortlisting
CEED 2026 Cutoff calculation

Source - CEED 2026 Official Brochure

Final Computed CEED Part A Cutoffs

The CEED 2026 Part A cutoff shows that the CEED 2026 exam was moderate difficulty level. The average score was 39.35 marks, which means that the most students scored around this range.

The standard deviation was 16.89, which shows that the marks were spread out, some students scored much higher, while many scored much lower.

Because of this variation the cutoff moved above the average.

  • The General (Open) cutoff is 47.80 marks, which is about 8.5 marks higher than the average. This means students had to score above average to qualify.
  • The OBC-NCL/EWS cutoff is 43.02 marks. This is lower than the General cutoff but still above the average score.
  • The SC/ST/PwD cutoff is 23.90 marks, which is much lower than the average. This provides more relaxation.
Category Formula Applied Applying Mean and Standard Deviation Final Cutoff (Approx.)
General (Open) μ + (σ / 2) 39.35 + (16.89 / 2) = 39.35 + 8.445 47.80
OBC-NCL / EWS 0.9 × δ 0.9 × 47.80 43.02
SC / ST / PwD 0.5 × δ 0.5 × 47.80 23.90

Check the latest News related to CEED 2026:

Admission Cutoff vs Part A Cutoff in CEED 2026

CEED 2026 is divided into two parts: Part A and Part B. The Part A cutoff is the equivalent of the minimum score to appear for Part B whereas the admission cutoff is the final marks that a candidate must secure to be eligible for admission to design programs.

Criteria Part A Cutoff Admission Cutoff
Purpose Minimum score to qualify for Part B Final score required for admission to institutes
Evaluation Based on the Part A score (objective section) Based on the combined score of Part A and Part B
Impact Shortlist candidates for Part B Determines eligibility for specific institutes
  • CEED 2026 is expected to have a General/Open category cutoff of 27.30%. The final admission cutoff will likely vary depending on Part B performance; some institutions like IITs and IISc may require higher total scores.
  • Those who have scored more than 75% in Part A are very likely to have a better chance of getting admission to top IITs and IISc Bangalore.

CEED 2026: Marks Vs Rank

Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) is a national-level entrance test for eligibility to join Master of Design (M.Des) courses in some of the top institutions of India.

The Candidates need to know the relation between the marks obtained and the corresponding rank as it is important to get a seat in the desired institute.

Marks Range Expected Rank Range Colleges Offered (Based on Past Trends)
70 and above 1 – 50 IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad
60 – 69 51 – 200 IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIITDM Jabalpur
50 – 59 201 – 500 IIT Roorkee, IIT Jodhpur, Srishti Manipal Institute
40 – 49 501 – 1000 MIT Institute of Design, UPES Dehradun, Pearl Academy
30 – 39 1001 – 2000 UID Ahmedabad, DJ Academy of Design
Below 30 Above 2000 Private Design Colleges, Backup Options Required
  • Candidates who rank in the top 50 with 70+ marks stand the best chance of admission to IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi which are the most competitive design institutes.
  • Students with scores between 60 and 69 who fall in rank 51 to 200 usually obtain admission to IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, and IIITDM Jabalpur according to historical admissions data.
  • Students with scores between 50 and 59, ranked 201 to 500, can choose between institutions like IIT Roorkee, IIT Jodhpur, and leading private design schools such as Srishti and UPES.

What is a good score in CEED?

A good score in CEED depends on the competition level and institute cutting. In general, a score of over 60 is considered to be competitive for IIT, while private institutions can accept lower scores.

  • Students who obtain 70 or more are guaranteed admission to IIT Bombay or IIT Delhi both of which require the highest scores.
  • Scoring between 60-69 presents opportunities to get into IITs such as Guwahati, Kanpur, and IIITDM Jabalpur.
  • Students with scores between 50-59 have moderate possibilities of getting admitted into IIT Roorkee and IIT Jodhpur along with several top private design colleges.
Score Range Admission Chances Institutes Accepting
70+ Excellent (Top 50 Rank) IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi
60 – 69 Very Good (Rank 51-200) IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIITDM Jabalpur
50 – 59 Good (Rank 201-500) IIT Roorkee, IIT Jodhpur, Srishti Manipal
40 – 49 Moderate (Rank 501-1000) UPES, MIT, Pearl Academy
30 – 39 Low (Rank 1001-2000) UID Ahmedabad, DJ Academy
Below 30 Weak (Above 2000 Rank) Private Design Colleges

CEED 2026 Seat Matrix: Institute Wise

The CEED 2026 seat matrix shows the number of Master of Design (M.Des) program places at India’s leading design institutes. This analysis shows seat distribution for CEED at leading IITs along with category-wise seat allocation through past trends.

IIT Bombay (Expected 2026 Seat Matrix)

Specialization General EWS SC ST OBC-NCL Total
Communication Design 7 2 3 1 4 17
Animation Design 5 2 2 1 4 14
Industrial Design 7 1 2 2 5 17
Mobility and Vehicle Design 6 1 2 1 4 14
Interaction Design 6 2 3 1 4 16
Total 31 8 12 6 21 78

What is the CEED marks for IIT Bombay?

CEED marks for IIT Bombay are determined based on the candidate's results in the exam, especially for admission to the Master of Design (M.DES) programs. While cutting varies each year, it is affected by factors such as the number of applicants, the level of difficulty of the survey, and available seats.

  • CEED Part A Cut-off: About 39.35 (mean), with a standard deviation of 16.89.
  • General Cutoff: According to past trends, around 40-45 marks for eligibility.
  • Category Seat Distribution: With a very competitive nature for general category students, the total number of seats across specializations such as communication design, industrial design, etc. is 78.

IIT Delhi (Expected 2026 Seat Matrix)

Specialization General EWS SC ST OBC-NCL Total
Industrial Design 12 3 4 2 6 27
Communication Design 10 2 3 1 5 21
Interaction Design 8 2 3 1 4 18
Total 30 7 10 4 15 66

IIT Guwahati (Expected 2026 Seat Matrix)

Specialization General EWS SC ST OBC-NCL Total
M.Des 13 3 5 3 9 33

IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee, and IIITDM Jabalpur (Expected 2026 Seat Matrix)

Institute Specialization Total Seats
IIT Hyderabad M.Des 30
IIT Roorkee Industrial Design 20
IIITDM Jabalpur M.Des 30

Past Year Cut-off Analysis for CEED (2024-2022)

The CEED cut-off marks are critical to the candidates who are desiring admission into the M.Des courses offered in the different institutes. The marks indicated here are the minimum for the candidates to be considered for subsequent rounds of the selection process.

The cut-off category-wise for 2024, 2023, and 2022 are presented in the tables below:

CEED 2024 Cut-off

  • General Category: The cutoff for the General category in 2024 was 50.26, the highest in the last three years. This is up by 23.86% from the cutoff in 2023 (27.30), showing a competitive exam or increased level of difficulty.
  • EWS/OBC-NCL: Both EWS and OBC-NCL recorded the same cutoffs (45.23), a 16.5% increase over 2023 (24.57), indicating a more competitive examination environment.
  • Reserved Categories (PwD, SC, ST): The PwD, SC, and ST cutoffs stood at 25.13, indicating a higher cutoff than in 2023 (13.65), probably as a result of the difficulty of the exam or greater competition.
Category Part A Cut-off Marks
General 50.26
EWS 45.23
OBC-NCL 45.23
PwD 25.13
SC 25.13
ST 25.13

CEED 2023 Cut-off

  • General Category: The cut-off in 2023 was 27.30, down by 62.1% from 2022 (72), which shows that the exam in 2023 was comparatively easier.
  • EWS/OBC-NCL: Both of them shared the same cutoff of 24.57, 25% down from 2022 (22.12), indicative of an easier exam overall or reduced competition.
  • Reserved Categories (SC, ST, PwD): The cutoff for SC, ST, and PwD was 13.65, which declined dramatically by 42.5% from 2022 (12.29) following the easier exam trend.
Category Part A Cut-off Marks
General 27.30
EWS 24.57
OBC-NCL 24.57
PwD 13.65
SC 13.65
ST 13.65

CEED 2022 CUT-off

  • General Category: The cut-off for General was 24.58, the lowest in three years. This is a decline of 65% from 2021, which indicates a lighter exam or lower number of applicants.
  • EWS/OBC-NCL: Both EWS and OBC-NCL categories shared the same cutoffs of 22.12, which were about 25% lower than last year, reflecting a less competitive year.
  • Reserved Categories (PwD, SC, ST): The cutoffs for PwD, SC, and ST were 12.29, reflecting a consistent trend in reserved category cutoffs year after year following reservation principles.
Category Part A Cut-off Marks
General 24.58
EWS 22.12
OBC-NCL 22.12
PwD 12.29
SC 12.29
ST 12.29

Factors Affecting CEED 2026 Cut-off

CEED 2026 cut-off is guided by various considerations that decide the minimum marks to join the M.Des courses of institutes. The variables include the applicant count, test difficulty level, candidates' performances, and accessible seats.

  • Number of Applicants: The greater the number of applicants, the higher the cut-off since there is greater competition.
  • Difficulty of the exam: If the exam is tougher, the cut-off can be lower since fewer candidates can pass the minimum standards.
  • Seat Availability: More available seats usually result in a lower cut-off, as the demand-supply balance affects the scores.
  • Reservation Policies: The availability of reservation quotas for SC, ST, OBC, and PwD impacts cut-off levels differently for categories.
  • Trends of Previous Years: Previous year cut-offs provide a standard benchmark to be expected and are usually utilized to gauge the current year's cut-off.

CEED 2026 Result

The result of CEED 2026 will be declared on March 05, 2026, by IIT Bombay. The result will contain individual candidate scores in Part A and Part B along with their cumulative ranking (where applicable). Those candidates who obtain the minimum required marks will become eligible for counseling for admission to the participating institutions.

Also, check: CEED 2026 Result

Colleges Accepting CEED 2026 Score and Seats Offered

The following table provides the institutes that accept CEED 2026 scores, the courses they offer, and the number of seats available for admission to their M.Des programs. These institutes are well-established in design education and provide different specializations in design.

Institute Programs Offered Seats Offered
IIT Bombay M.Des in Industrial Design, Visual Communication, Product Design, etc. 40-50 seats
IIT Delhi M.Des in Industrial Design 30-40 seats
IIT Guwahati M.Des in Design, Product Design, etc. 20-30 seats
IIT Hyderabad M.Des in Interaction Design, Product Design 20-25 seats
IIT Kanpur M.Des in Design, Interaction Design 20-25 seats
IIT Roorkee M.Des in Industrial Design, Visual Communication 25-30 seats
IIITDM Jabalpur M.Des in Design, Engineering Design 20-25 seats
IIT Varanasi (BHU) M.Des in Industrial Design 15-20 seats
NID (National Institute of Design) Various Design Programs (Primarily in Industrial Design) 50-70 seats
CEPT University M.Des in Urban Design, Product Design, etc. 25-30 seats