As of February 1, 2026, aspirants of the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) are looking forward to the next major milestones following the exam's conclusion. With the final answer key released on January 28, candidates are now awaiting the announcement of Part-A cut-off marks scheduled for February 5.The official results for the 2026 session are expected to be declared by IIT Bombay on March 6, marking a critical step for admissions into B.Des programs. This period remains vital for candidates to estimate their scores and prepare for the joint seat allocation process across participating IITs and other institutes.

Following the nationwide conduct of the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) 2026 on January 18, the post-exam cycle has reached a significant phase. As of February 1, 2026, the candidate community has shifted its focus from the initial draft objections to the final evaluation metrics. IIT Bombay, the organizing body, has already processed the feedback received during the objection window, setting the stage for the upcoming qualification and ranking announcements.

Post-Examination Milestones and Key Dates

The UCEED 2026 schedule follows a precise timeline designed to ensure transparency in the evaluation of Part-A, which is computer-based, and Part-B, which involves subjective design aptitude. Candidates have already crossed the first major hurdle with the release of the final answer key on January 28.

• Final Answer Key Status: The definitive solutions for Part-A were published online, allowing students to finalize their self-assessment of the objective section.
• Part-A Cut-off Announcement: The next critical date is February 5, 2026, when the Consolidated Cut-off Marks for Part-A will be revealed. This determines which candidates will have their Part-B (Drawing) scripts evaluated.
• Official Result Declaration: The comprehensive UCEED 2026 results, including the Common Merit Rank (CMR), are slated for release on March 6, 2026.

Evaluation Methodology and Score Calculation

The Evaluation Process for UCEED 2026 is dual-layered. While Part-A scores are calculated through the automated system based on the final answer key, Part-B is evaluated manually by a panel of experts.

• Part-A Scoring: This section carries a total of 200 marks. The final answer key serves as the absolute reference for the NAT, MSQ, and MCQ sections. Negative marking is applied to the MCQ and MSQ portions, making the final answer key accuracy vital for rank prediction.
• Shortlisting for Part-B: Only candidates who meet the February 5 cut-off for Part-A will be considered for the Part-B evaluation. The Part-B score is then added to the Part-A score to determine the final All India Rank.
• Merit List Preparation: The final merit list is prepared by combining marks from both sections, totaling 300 marks. In case of a tie, the marks obtained in Part-B are used as the primary tie-breaker.

Anticipation for the Admission Cycle

As the February 1 dateline passes, the design aspirant community is increasingly monitoring the Official Admission Portal for updates on seat availability across participating institutes.

• Participating IITs: Successful candidates will compete for B.Des seats at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee, and IIITDM Jabalpur.
• Result Sharing Institutes: Apart from the IITs, over 30 other premier design colleges will accept the UCEED 2026 scores for their respective admission processes.
• Next Steps: Once the results are declared in March, the B.Des application process for the joint seat allocation is expected to begin on March 14, 2026.

Conclusion

The release of the final answer key on January 28 has provided UCEED 2026 candidates with a clear baseline for their expected performance in the objective section. As of February 1, the focus remains on the upcoming Part-A cut-off announcement on February 5, which will dictate the evaluation pool for the subjective Part-B section. This structured result timeline ensures that by March 6, a comprehensive merit list will be ready to guide the 2026-27 design admissions. The final answer key serves as the cornerstone for this evaluation, ensuring that the transition from examination to seat allotment is both fair and transparent for all design aspirants.