As of February 2, 2026, aspirants of the Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) are finalizing their post-exam review of the Part A draft keys.Following the January 18 exam and the subsequent objection window that closed on January 22, the final answer key was released on January 28, 2026.Candidates are now using these definitive responses to calculate their estimated scores before the Part A cut-off announcement on February 5.The official result declaration is scheduled for March 4, which will determine eligibility for M.Des and PhD admissions at IITs and IIScAccess to the candidate portal remains crucial for downloading response sheets and staying updated on the merit list generation process.

By February 2, 2026, the initial post-exam turbulence for the Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) has settled into a phase of careful calculation. Following the exam conducted by IIT Bombay on January 18, candidates have navigated through the provisional feedback stage. The university released the final Answer key for Part A on January 28, incorporating valid changes from the student objection window. Aspirants are now actively cross-referencing this definitive document with their individual Response sheets to project their performance. This internal review is a vital step for candidates to gauge their chances of clearing the Part A cut-off, which is the gateway to having their Part B drawing portfolios evaluated. Updated documents are available on the Official CEED 2026 Portal.

Final Key Release and Marking Analysis

The release of the final Answer key on January 28 has provided the necessary clarity for the 2026-27 admission cycle. Unlike the draft version, this Response from the experts at IIT Bombay is final and will be used to generate the official scores for the objective section of the test.

• Final Key Status: The definitive Part A key was uploaded to the portal on January 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
• Response Sheet Access: Candidates can still download their digital Response sheets from the dashboard to verify their marked options.
• Accuracy in Calculation: Since Part A contains MSQs and MCQs with negative marking, the final Answer key is the only valid source for tallying raw marks.
• Part B Evaluation: Only candidates who meet the section-wise cut-off based on the final Answer will have their subjective Part B evaluated.
• Shortlisting: The process of shortlisting based on these finalized marks is currently underway by the examination cell.

Important Dates and Result Trajectory

With the final Answer key now in the hands of the students, the focus has shifted toward the upcoming administrative milestones. Every candidate Response is being processed to ensure a transparent merit list for the March 4 result declaration.

• The announcement on February 5 will clarify the minimum marks required in each category to qualify for a merit rank.
• The final result on March 4 will provide the "Open Rank" and "Category Rank" for those who successfully passed the screening.
• To view the detailed marking scheme, candidates can refer to the CEED 2026 Information Brochure.

Post-Result Counseling for M.Des Programs

While reviewing the final Answer and their own Response, many aspirants are also researching the specific admission criteria for participating institutes. CEED qualification is the first step, but individual IITs will conduct their own selection rounds.

[Graph showing the weightage of Part A (25%) vs Part B (75%) for the final CEED score]

• Participating Institutes: Includes IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Roorkee, and IISc Bangalore.
• Admissions 2026: Each institute will release its separate application forms for M.Des and PhD programs between March and April 2026.
• Scorecard Validity: The 2026 scorecard will remain valid for one year, allowing students to apply for the July 2026 and January 2027 intakes.
• Candidate Support: For technical issues regarding the portal, aspirants can use the CEED Helpdesk Contact.

Conclusion

The ongoing review of exam responses and the finalized keys by CEED 2026 aspirants marks the conclusion of the first major phase of the admission cycle. With the definitive answer key released on January 28, the ambiguity of the draft phase has been replaced by a clear data-driven outlook for all candidates. As the examination cell prepares to announce the Part A cut-off on February 5, the accuracy of each candidate response remains the cornerstone of the merit list generation. This systematic process ensures that only the most creative and technically sound designers move forward to the March 4 result stage. Aspirants are encouraged to keep their login credentials ready and monitor the portal for the upcoming cut-off scores, which will define their trajectory for postgraduate design education in 2026.