CEED 2026 – Cut Offs

The CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design) cut off marks are the gateway benchmark for aspirants aiming to secure a spot in reputed M. Des programs at IITs, IISc, and other participating design schools. The CEED 2026 cut offs will determine whether candidates qualify for further evaluation or not, based on portfolio reviews and interviews, and ultimately influence merit ranking and admissions.

How Are CEED 2026 Cut Offs Decided?

For CEED 2026, as in previous years, cut offs will be calculated separately for each category and primarily for Part A of the exam. Only those clearing the Part A cut off have their Part B answers evaluated.

Formula

• For the General (Open) category, the cut off is μ + (σ⁄2) = δ, where:
• μ = Mean of Part A marks scored by all candidates,
• σ = Standard deviation of Part A marks.
• For reserved categories, relaxation is applied:
• OBC-NCL/EWS: 0.9 × δ
• SC/ST/PwD: 0.5 × δ

Thus, the CEED cut off for each group varies according to the performance pattern of all test-takers.

CEED Cut Offs: Trends & Previous Years’ Data

The following table reviews past years’ CEED cut offs that will help aspirants to estimate the competitiveness of the exam and set realistic benchmarks.

These are Part A cut offs out of 100, which is the qualifying phase for Part B evaluation.

Factors Influencing CEED Cut Offs

CEED cut offs fluctuate annually due to these main factors:

• Difficulty level of the exam paper.
• Performance levels of candidates overall.
• Number of candidates taking the exam and seats available.
• Competitiveness in specific categories/participating institutes.

What Happens After Clearing the Cut Off?

• Shortlisting:Only candidates meeting or exceeding the Part A cut off are considered for Part B evaluation and inclusion in the merit ranking for M. Des admissions.
• Weightage:The final CEED score used for merit ranking is calculated as 25% weightage for Part A and 75% for Part B.
• Institute Cut Offs:Participating institutes may set their own (often higher) cut off marks for admissions, so qualifying the CEED threshold doesn’t always guarantee a call or final selection.

CEED 2026: Expected Cut Offs

Although actual cut offs for 2026 will be announced after the exam, expectations based on trends place them approximately as follows (out of 100 for Part A):

• General (Open): 30–55
• OBC-NCL/EWS:27 – 50
• SC/ST/PwD: 13–28

This range may shift depending on paper difficulty and candidate performance in 2026.

Get details about CEED 2026 eligibility

FAQs

Q1. What is the CEED cut off, and why is it important?

Ans. The cut off is the minimum score required in Part A to qualify for Part B evaluation. Only those meeting or exceeding the cut off are considered for merit ranking and subsequent admission rounds.

Q2. How is the CEED cut off calculated for different categories?

Ans. The general category cut off is calculated as μ + (σ⁄2), where μ is the mean score and σ is the standard deviation. For OBC-NCL/EWS, it’s 0.9 times the general cut off value, and for SC/ST/PwD, it’s 0.5 times the general cut off value.

Q3. Does qualifying the CEED cut off mean guaranteed admission?

Ans. No. Qualifying the cut off only means eligibility for merit ranking and Part B assessment. Final admission depends on institute-specific cut offs, interviews, and other requirements.

Q4. Do cut offs change each year?

Ans. Yes, cut offs vary annually based on exam difficulty, candidate performance, and the total number of test-takers and seats.

Q5. Where can candidates check the official CEED cut offs?

Ans.  Official CEED cut offs are published on the CEED IIT Bombay website after results are declared. Candidates should monitor the official portal for current and archived category-wise cut off details.