CEED 2026 Part-B Evaluation Underway Following Part-A Cut-Off Release

Following the release of the CEED 2026 Part-A cut-off on February 5, IIT Bombay has officially commenced the manual evaluation of Part-B answer booklets. Design aspirants can now check their qualifying status on the official portal to see if their creative responses are under review for the final merit list. The evaluation process uses a specific weighted formula to determine the All India Ranks for M.Des and PhD admissions. Working hyperlinks and data tables are included in this comprehensive update for the 2026 academic session.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has officially transitioned into the most critical phase of the Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) 2026. Following the announcement of the Part-A qualifying marks yesterday, February 5, the specialized evaluation of Part-B answer scripts is now in full swing. This stage is pivotal for thousands of design aspirants, as Part-B marks carry the highest weightage in the final score calculation.

Statistical Shortlisting and Part-A Cut-Off Trends

The shortlisting process for Part-B is strictly governed by the performance in Part-A. Only candidates who have cleared the category-wise qualifying marks, calculated using the mean ($\mu$) and standard deviation ($\sigma$) of the entire cohort, will have their subjective booklets evaluated. This "gatekeeper" section ensures that only candidates with a foundational grasp of visualization and design sensitivity proceed to the creative assessment.

• Qualifying Criteria: The cut-off is defined as $\delta = \mu + (\sigma/2)$ for the Open category, while reserved categories receive proportional relaxations.
• Performance Metrics: Preliminary reports suggest that the difficulty level of the 2026 Part-A section was moderate to high, influencing the final $\delta$ value.
• Result Impact: Candidates who do not meet the Part-A threshold will not be assigned a rank, regardless of their performance in the drawing section.

Manual Evaluation Process for Part-B

Unlike the computer-based Part-A, Part-B is a pen-and-paper test that requires manual grading by a panel of design experts. The evaluation focuses on subjective parameters such as sketching proficiency, visual storytelling, and problem-solving abilities. This manual process is time-intensive and follows a rigorous double-checking protocol to ensure transparency.

• Creativity and Execution: Examiners look for originality in design solutions rather than just technical sketching skills.
• Weightage Balance: In the final merit list, Part-B accounts for 75% of the total score, making it the primary differentiator for top ranks.
• Evaluation Timeline: The manual grading is expected to conclude by the end of February to meet the official result declaration deadline.

Preparation for Institutional Rounds

With the evaluation underway, candidates are advised to begin preparing their portfolios for the subsequent admission rounds. While the CEED score provides the rank, admitting institutes like IIT Delhi and IISc Bangalore often conduct independent studio tests and personal interviews. The validity of the CEED 2026 scorecard will remain active for one year from the date of result declaration.

• Portfolio Development: Aspiring designers should compile their best creative works to showcase during interviews.
• Institute Applications: Candidates must apply separately to each participating institute once the results are out in March.
• Rank Consistency: In case of a tie in total marks, the candidate with higher marks in Part-B is generally awarded the higher rank.

Conclusion

The commencement of the Part-B evaluation marks the final administrative step before the results are announced on March 4, 2026. As the specialized panel reviews the creative responses, candidates can monitor the official portal for any further notifications regarding the seat allocation process. The rigorous nature of this assessment ensures that the next generation of design leaders is selected based on a balanced mix of analytical and creative excellence.