CEED 2026 Part-A Cut-Off Released; Part-B Evaluation Process Begins

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has officially released the qualifying cut-off marks for Part-A of the Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) 2026 today, February 5, 2026. Following the successful conduct of the exam on January 18, this announcement marks a pivotal moment for thousands of postgraduate design aspirants. The cut-off serves as the primary filter; only candidates who secure a score equal to or above these marks will proceed to the next stage, where their Part-B (subjective) answer books are evaluated. This two-tier progression ensures that only those with a strong foundational aptitude in design are considered for final ranking.

Part-A Qualifying Criteria and Methodology

The cut-off for Part-A is determined using a statistical formula based on the mean and standard deviation of marks obtained by all candidates. For the Open category, the qualifying mark is calculated as $\mu + (\sigma / 2)$, where $\mu$ represents the average and $\sigma$ represents the standard deviation. This mathematical assessment provides a fair benchmark across the diverse candidate pool.

• Category Relaxations: Reserved category candidates benefit from relaxed qualifying marks, with the OBC-NCL/EWS cut-off set at 90% of the Open category mark, and SC/ST/PwD at 50%.
• Evaluation Scope: Part-B consists of questions testing design sensitivity and drawing skills, which are evaluated manually by experts.
• Score Weightage: While Part-A is a qualifying round, it still contributes 25% to the final CEED score, with Part-B holding the remaining 75%.

Documentation and Final Results

As the evaluation of Part-B answer books begins, candidates are advised to keep their digital assessment records ready. The final CEED 2026 results are scheduled to be declared on March 4, 2026. Candidates will be assigned an All India Rank (AIR) based on their consolidated performance in both parts. It is important to note that qualifying the Part-A cut-off does not guarantee admission but is a mandatory step in the progression toward the merit list.

• Scorecard Validity: The CEED 2026 scorecard will be available for download from March 10, 2026, and remains valid for one year.
• Verification: Participating institutes will verify candidate progression and category certificates during the interview and portfolio review stages.
• Final Rank: Ranks are awarded only to those who qualify in both parts as per the official CEED 2026 Information Brochure.

Conclusion

The release of the Part-A cut-off brings clarity to the competitive landscape of the 2026 admission cycle. Candidates can check their qualifying status by logging into the official CEED portal. For a detailed understanding of how the Shortlisting Criteria is applied, students are encouraged to refer to the official notifications. This standardized assessment ensures that the most capable candidates move forward to the final stages of the M.Des admission process.