What is UCEED's Entrance exam syllabus?

UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design) is a joint entrance exam conducted yearly by all IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) for under graduate design programs. UCEED has its own website for official updates about the exam. Only if you’ve passed in all subjects in the qualifying examination (Class XII or equivalent) can you apply. The exam usually takes place around January. 

 The UCEED exam is divided into two parts; section A and B. Both are conducted on the same day. Section A consists of design aptitude questions and is objective. Section B includes design, drawing and writing skills-based questions which are subjective. You get 2 hours and 30 minutes for the Part A and 30 minutes for Part B.

 The syllabus and marking criteria have been mentioned on their official website as of 2023. The syllabus is as follows:

Part A

Visualization and spatial ability: Pictorial and diagrammatic questions to test understanding of transformation and/or manipulation of 2D shapes and 3D objects and their spatial relationships, knowledge of practical and everyday mechanical and scientific concepts. 

 Observation and design sensitivity: Ability to detect concealed properties in ordinary things, people, situations, and events, and thinking critically about them. Applying attention to certain details, analyzing, reasoning, classifying, inferring and predicting. Ability to discern subtle differences in visual properties and aesthetic outcomes. 

 Environmental and social awareness: General awareness of environmental factors such as climate, population, water, vegetation, pollution, weather, natural resources etc., and their implications on the design of products, images, infrastructure and environment. Awareness of social and cultural connection with design, history of the designed artefact, and socially responsible and environmentally sustainable design responses. History of art, sculpture and literature. 

 Analytical and logical reasoning: Ability to look at information, be it qualitative or quantitative in nature, and discern patterns within the information. Ability to weigh opinions, arguments or solutions against appropriate criteria. Ability to check for hidden bias or hidden assumptions and whether evidence and argument support conclusions. Ability to use logic and structured thinking to deduce from a short passage, which of a number of statements is the most accurate response to a posed question. Data interpretation, brainteasers, and patterns. 

 Language and creativity: Ability to understand and use Standard English. Reading comprehension, knowledge of English grammar. Ability to think creatively in terms of alternatives, ability to distinguish innovative options and to think out- of-the-box. 

 Design thinking and problem solving: Ability to use visual analogies, metaphors, signs and symbols. Ability to understand complexity, identify problems, generate alternatives, evaluate options and select solutions.

Part B

This section will have only one question.

Drawing: Ability to draw products, people or scenes in proportion with good line quality, composition, proportion, perspective and shading.

And the marking and evaluation criteria as of 2023:

All the data provided above about the syllabus and marking and evaluation is from the UCEED 2023 official information brochure.

And that's all the information you'll be needing if you're planning to give the UCEED exam. IIT is pretty clear an straightforward. They've given you all the information straight up. Now what you've got to do, is follow the given syllabus and practice your drawing skills in terms of organic and analytical drawing. 

Plus, the aptitude section. That's a really major part of the exam. It's really tricky and time runs out very very fast. So, go through all the previous year papers, solve them and do similar questions from other sources. Good Luck!

For more information about UCEED visit their website: https://www.uceed.iitb.ac.in/2023/index.html

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Parinita Manchanda

Communication Design/NID Vijayawada

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