IIT Bombay is set to release the UCEED 2026 draft answer key and candidate response sheets on January 20. Learn how to download the PDF, calculate Part A scores, and submit objections through the official candidate portal by the January 22 deadline.

The admission cycle for the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) has reached a critical evaluation phase. Following the successful conduct of the national-level entrance exam on January 18, 2026, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has concluded the initial objection window for the provisional results. As of today, January 31, thousands of design aspirants are awaiting the final publication of the Part-A solutions, which will serve as the definitive basis for the merit list. While the exam consists of two parts, the immediate focus remains on the computer-based segment, as its draft key allows candidates to estimate their scores before the official results are declared in March.

Timeline of Key Release and Response Sheet Access

The UCEED 2026 timeline follows a structured sequence designed to maintain transparency. Typically, the draft answer key and the candidate response sheets are made available within 48 to 72 hours of the exam's conclusion. This year, the portal was updated on January 20, allowing students to compare their marked answers against the official institutional record.

• Draft Key Publication: Released on January 20, 2026, covering all 57 objective questions in Part-A.
• Objection Window: Candidates were given until January 22, 5:00 PM, to upload comments or challenges regarding any discrepancies in the draft solutions.
• Response Sheet Validity: The digital response sheet, which contains the options marked by the candidate during the CBT, is available for download only until the result declaration.
• Final Key Status: The final version of the answer key, incorporating valid corrections from the student feedback phase, was officially published on January 28, 2026.

Calculating Scores and Understanding the Marking Scheme

With the final answer key now available, students are actively calculating their probable marks to gauge their standing for the IIT design programs. It is important to note that the answer key is strictly provided for Part-A, as Part-B (Drawing) is subjective and evaluated manually by a panel of experts.

Aspirants must multiply their correct responses by the respective weightage and subtract the negative marks in Sections 2 and 3 to reach their raw Part-A score. Only those who meet the minimum prescribed cut-off in this section will have their Part-B (Drawing) scripts evaluated by the IIT faculty.

Next Steps: Result Declaration and Seat Allotment

As the final key phase concludes today, the focus shifts toward the official result announcement. IIT Bombay uses a normalization process if required, though typically UCEED results are straightforward based on the combined performance of both parts.

• Result Date: The official results are scheduled for declaration on March 6, 2026.
• Scorecard Download: Qualified candidates can download their official scorecards from March 10 until July 31, 2026.
• B.Des Applications: The joint seat allocation process for participating IIT campuses begins on March 14, 2026.
• Rank List: A common merit list is prepared, but only students scoring above the Part-A cut-off are assigned an All India Rank (AIR).

Conclusion

The availability of the UCEED 2026 final answer key and response sheets brings much-needed clarity to candidates who appeared for the test earlier this month. While the draft phase allowed for necessary corrections, the current data serves as the final precursor to the March results. As the IIT administration prepares the final merit lists, aspirants are advised to keep their login credentials ready and begin researching portfolio requirements for the upcoming counselling and seat allotment rounds in April.