CEED 2026 Part-B Evaluation Continues Following Part-A Cut-Off Announcement

As of February 7, 2026, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has officially shifted focus to the manual evaluation of Part-B answer booklets.Following the announcement of the Part-A cut-off marks on February 5, only shortlisted candidates are now eligible for the creative assessment round.This update covers the mean and standard deviation scores released, the 75% weightage of Part-B in the final merit rank, and the upcoming result timeline for March 4.Aspirants can now verify their shortlisting status through the official portal to gauge their progress toward M.Des and PhD admissions. The Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) 2026 has entered its most critical phase of assessment. Following the successful conduct of the exam on January 18, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) officially announced the qualifying cut-off marks for Part-A on February 5, 2026. This announcement serves as a filter, determining which candidates proceed to the next stage of the design admission evaluation. As of today, February 7, the specialized panel of design experts has commenced the intensive manual grading of Part-B answer booklets for those who surpassed the required threshold.

Understanding the Part-A Cut-off Metrics

The Part-A cut-off is not a fixed number but a statistical calculation based on the collective performance of all test-takers. For the 2026 cycle, IIT Bombay utilized the standard formula where the cut-off $(\delta)$ is defined as the mean plus half the standard deviation $(\mu + \sigma/2)$. According to the official CEED portal, the mean $(\mu)$ for Part-A was recorded at 39.35, with a standard deviation $(\sigma)$ of 16.89.

• Open Category Threshold: Candidates in the General category required a score of approximately 47.80 to qualify.
• Reserved Category Relaxations: In line with national norms, the cut-off for OBC-NCL/EWS was set at $0.9\delta$, while SC/ST/PwD candidates required $0.5\delta$ to remain in the running.
• Shortlisting Impact: Only candidates who meet these specific design admission evaluation criteria will have their Part-B sketches and creative responses reviewed.

The Rigorous Part-B Evaluation Process

Unlike the computer-based Part-A, Part-B is a pen-and-paper assessment that requires a nuanced human touch. The evaluation of CEED Part-B focuses on five key subjective questions that test sketching proficiency, visual sensitivity, and problem identification. Because there is no "model answer" for creativity, the IIT Bombay examination cell employs a holistic rubric to ensure fairness.

The weightage distribution for the final merit rank calculation is heavily skewed toward this subjective section. Part-B accounts for 75% of the final CEED score, while Part-A contributes the remaining 25%. This means that a candidate who narrowly cleared the Part-A cut-off can still secure a top rank by demonstrating exceptional design thinking during the manual evaluation.

Next Steps and Result Timeline

With the evaluation of CEED Part-B now underway, the administrative team is working toward a strict deadline. The final results, which include the cumulative score and the All India Rank (AIR), are scheduled to be released on March 4, 2026. Candidates are reminded that there is no provision for re-evaluation or re-totalling for Part-B marks due to the subjective nature of the assessment. Once the results are declared, the scorecards will be available for download from March 10 through July 31 via the NTA exam archives and the official IIT portal.

Conclusion

The announcement of the Part-A cut-off has streamlined the competitive field for the Common Entrance Examination for Design 2026. As the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay proceeds with the manual evaluation of CEED Part-B, candidates must wait until March to see how their creative output translates into a final merit rank calculation. This period remains a vital bridge between the objective testing of aptitude and the subjective measurement of design potential for India's future innovators.

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