• Updated on Aug 04, 2025 by Amrita Das
UCEED 2026 Exam Pattern: The conducting authority, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), will be releasing the UCEED Exam Pattern 2026 on the official website. The detailed exam pattern will be included in the official information brochure of UCEED 2026. According to the UCEED 2026 exam pattern, candidates will be given two papers, namely, Part A (57 questions) and Part B (one drawing-based question & one aptitude-based). The UCEED 2026 Part A exam will be carried out for 120 minutes and Part B for 60 minutes. The UCEED 2026 exam is expected to take place on January 18, 2026. Along with the exam pattern, candidates are advised to go through the UCEED Syllabus 2026 in detail for better preparation. Continue reading further to know more about the UCEED Exam Pattern 2026.
UCEED 2026 Exam Pattern
The UCEED 2026 exam will consist of two parts namely, Part A (Computer-Based) and Part B (Offline). Part A will include Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). Part B will have 2 subjective questions: one on Drawing and another on Design Aptitude. Only those who qualify Part A will have their Part B evaluated. The total duration of the exam will be 3 hours (180 minutes). Check out the following table for the exam pattern of UCEED 2026.
Particulars | Part A | Part B |
Medium of Instruction | English | English |
Question Type | NAT (14), MSQ (15), MCQ (28) | Sketching (1), Design Aptitude (1) |
Total Questions | 57 | 2 |
Total Marks | 200 | 100 |
Duration | 120 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test | Offline (Written/Sketch in answer book) |
UCEED 2026 Question Types
The UCEED 2026 question paper will have two parts, namely, Part A and Part B, both of which are mandatory. Part A will test candidates’ aptitude through Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). Part B will assess drawing and design aptitude through Sketching and Design Aptitude questions. The total exam duration will be 3 hours, in which 2 hours is for Part A and 1 hour for Part B. The total marks for the exam are 300 marks. Check out the following table for UCEED 2026 Question Types.
Part | Question Type | Format | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
Part A | NAT | Numerical answer entered using virtual keyboard | 14 | 4 | 72 |
MSQ | One or more correct answers | 15 | 4 (Partial marking) | 72 | |
MCQ | Single correct answer | 28 | 3 | 96 | |
Part B | Sketching | Drawing-based | 1 | - | 50 |
Design Aptitude | Design-related problem solving | 1 | - | 50 | |
Total | - | - | 59 | - | 300 |
Check UCEED Previous Year Question Papers
UCEED 2026 Marking Scheme
The UCEED 2026 marking scheme is different for each question type. NAT questions carry no negative marking whereas MCQ questions have negative marking for wrong answers. UCEED 2026 MSQ questions have a partial marking system, depending on the number of correct choices selected. The Part B questions are subjective and will be evaluated based on creativity, originality, and design skills of candidates. Check out the following table for the marking scheme of UCEED 2026.
Part | Section | Correct Answer Marks | Wrong Answer Marks | Total Marks |
Part A | NAT | +4 | 0 | 72 |
MSQ | +4 (full), +3, +2, +1 (partial) | -1 | 72 | |
MCQ | +3 | -0.71 | 96 | |
Part B | Sketching | Evaluated by examiner | No negative | 50 |
Design Aptitude | Evaluated by examiner | No negative | 50 | |
Total | - | - | - | 300 |
UCEED 2026 Syllabus
The UCEED 2026 Syllabus will cover topics from both Part A and Part B. The UCEED 2026 Part A will focus on analytical reasoning, creativity, visualization, observation, and environmental awareness. The Part B will test a candidate’s drawing skills, creativity, and ability to think and represent design concepts visually. Candidates must practice both objective and sketching-based questions to perform well. Check out the following table for UCEED 2026 Syllabus overview in brief.
Part | Topics |
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 |
UCEED 2026 Preparation Tips
Every year, around 15,000 students appear in the UCEED exam to fill 225 B.Des seats offered by UCEED participating colleges. Going by the limited number of seats, it is clear that there is very high competition. So, candidates are advised to go through the below-mentioned tips to crack UCEED 2026 with a good score.
- Focus on Mathematical Geometry
- Sharpen Observation and Visualisation Skills
- Solve Sample Papers & Mock Tests
- Practice Previous Years’ Question Papers
- Pay Extra Attention to Abstract Tests
- Practice English Comprehension
UCEED 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
What is the pattern of UCEED 2026?
The UCEED 2026 exam will have two parts - 1) online-based Part A and 2) offline-based Part B. Part B answer booklets will be evaluated only if the candidate qualifies for Part A. The UCEED 2026 exam will last three hours, during which the candidate will have to attempt 59 questions.
Is 50 a good score in UCEED 2026?
A good score in UCEED 2026 depends on various factors, such as the difficulty level of the exam and the number of applicants. Generally, a score between 11-125 is considered competitive, especially for top institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati.
Who is eligible for the UCEED exam 2026?
A candidate should have appeared for the Class XII (or equivalent) examination for the first time in either 2024 OR 2025 to be eligible for attempting UCEED 2026. Students from ALL STREAMS (Science, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities) are eligible.
What is the study material for UCEED 2026?
The candidate can use some good books to prepare for UCEED 2026: Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal. Analytical Reasoning, Mental Aptitude, Verbal Aptitude (UCEED Guide) of Institute Of Creative Sciences. NIFT NID/IIFT Admission Test by Surendra Kavimandan.
Is 6 months enough for UCEED 2026?
With early preparation, consistency, and a keen understanding of the question paper, students can crack the UCEED exam in 6 months. It is a moderately tricky paper.
Is UCEED 2026 tougher than Jee?
UCEED is challenging on its own, especially for those not from a design background, but generally considered less difficult in terms of technical content compared to JEE Main.
Does UCEED 2026 have a negative marking?
Further, aspirants who wish to know “there is a negative marking in UCEED” should note that there will be no negative marking for NAT questions. However, partial marks -1 and 0.71 will be deducted for MSQ and MCQ in Part A, respectively.