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UCEED Previous Year Question Papers PDF (2015–2025) with Answer Keys

Author : Vineeta Agrawal

January 27, 2026

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Overview: If you are aspiring to take UCEED entrance exam next year, one of the best ways to prepare is by solving and referring to the UCEED Previous Year Question Papers. This post will help you with the last 10 years' UCEED question papers with solutions pdf. Understand the importance of solving UCEED PYQ papers and utilize UCEED sample papers in your preparation.

Quick tip: Start with the latest 2 papers in timed conditions, analyse mistakes, and then go year-wise backwards to strengthen speed, accuracy, and drawing approach.

Preparing for UCEED 2026 (Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design) isn’t just about learning concepts, it’s about training your mind to think, solve and create under real exam pressure. That’s why toppers and mentors swear by one golden rule: practice as many UCEED Previous Year Papers (PYPs) as you can.

Why? Because UCEED question papers not only help you practice at real exam-level, they give you a peek inside the examiner’s mind. They show you exactly how questions are structured, what themes or question formats repeat, and gives you insights on scoring pattern.

In short, UCEED Previous Year Question Papers help you transform your preparation from guesswork to strategy.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

  • Frequently repeated topics & section-wise trend analysis in UCEED PYPs
  • Sample Questions from Previous Year UCEED Papers
  • Why solving UCEED previous year papers is a game-changer
  • How to use UCEED PYQs effectively for maximum benefit
  • The common mistakes students make (and how to avoid them)

So, if you want to walk into the UCEED 2026 exam hall with confidence, this guide is your starting point. One of the best ways to prepare is by practicing with UCEED Previous Year Question Papers. They give you a clear idea of the exam pattern, types of questions, and help you fine-tune your time management. Let’s dive in!

Download UCEED Previous Year Question Papers PDF [2025-2015]

UCEED Previous Year Question Papers   UCEED PYQ PDF Links

UCEED 2026 Question Paper PDF

UCEED 2025 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2024 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2023 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2022 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2021 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2020 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2019 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2018 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2017 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2016 Question Paper PDF
UCEED 2015 Question Paper PDF

Check: What is a Good Score in UCEED 2026?

Download UCEED Previous Year Question Papers Answer Key PDF

UCEED Previous Year Question Paper Answer Key PDF PDF Links

UCEED 2026 Answer Key PDF

UCEED 2025 Answer Key PDF
UCEED 2024 Answer Key PDF
UCEED 2023 Answer Key PDF
UCEED 2022 Answer Key PDF
UCEED 2021 Answer Key PDF

Check: UCEED 2026 Expected Cut-off

UCEED Previous Year Question Papers Overview

UCEED previous year question papers are the official question papers asked in past Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) exams conducted every year for admission into B.Des programs at IITs and participating institutes. You can find them on official UCEED website or trusted design prep sources like CreativEdge.

These papers include:

  • Part A questions (NAT, MSQ, MCQ) testing logical reasoning, visualization, numerical ability, and design aptitude
  • Part B drawing questions testing creativity, observation, and visual storytelling

By solving the UCEED question papers for 2026 exam preparation, you can: 

  • Improve your time management skills and problem-solving skills.
  • Improve your speed and accuracy on the final day of the exam.
  • Build your confidence.

As the exam approaches, aspirants can feel overwhelmed by the vast UCEED syllabus and diverse question types. This is where UCEED sample papers come in. They are a powerful tool to elevate your preparation and boost your confidence.

To score good marks in UCEED 2026, try solving at least 2-3 UCEED previous papers on a weekly basis. 

UCEED Previous Year Question Papers: Trend Analysis & Difficulty Evolution

Analyzing UCEED previous year question papers reveals a clear shift in how the exam tests candidates. Over the years, UCEED has moved away from predictable questions toward concept-driven, logic-heavy, and application-based problems.

Year-Wise Difficulty Evolution in UCEED

Exam Year

Overall Difficulty

Key Observations

What Changed Compared to Earlier Years

UCEED 2020

Easy to Moderate

More direct questions, less conceptual depth

Lower reasoning complexity

UCEED 2021

Moderate

Better balance between NAT, MSQ & MCQ

Increased logical thinking

UCEED 2022

Moderate

Visualization & spatial ability gained importance

Fewer memory-based questions

UCEED 2023

Moderate to Tough

Conceptual NAT questions increased

Guesswork became riskier

UCEED 2024

Tough

Time-consuming logic & visualization problems

Speed became a key factor

UCEED 2025

Tough

High-level reasoning, tricky MSQs, intense time pressure, GK weightage increased substantially

Quality of attempts mattered more than quantity

Key Difficulty Trend

  • UCEED is not becoming longer, but mentally more demanding
  • Difficulty has shifted from knowing conceptsapplying concepts quickly
  • Negative marking impact has increased due to tricky MSQs

Must Read: How to Avoid Negative Marking in UCEED

Frequently Repeated Topics in UCEED Previous Year Question Papers

Despite changes in difficulty, certain topics consistently repeat in UCEED papers. These are must-focus areas for aspirants.

High-Frequency Topics in UCEED Part A (Based on Past Papers)

Topic Area

Frequency

Nature of Questions

Visualization & Spatial Ability

Very High

3D objects, rotations, views, nets, surface counting

Logical Reasoning

Very High

Pattern logic, sequencing, analytical puzzles

Numerical Ability (Basic)

High

Ratios, percentages, averages, geometry, visual math based puzzles, area/volume, HCF/LCM, figure counting, etc.

Data Interpretation

Moderate

Graphs, charts, logical data sets

Environmental & Social Awareness

Moderate

Sustainability, social impact, daily-life design

General Knowledge (Design-Oriented)

Moderate

Designers, architecture, design movements, basic static GK, basic practical & scientific knowledge

Observation-Based Questions

High

Spot differences, visual recall

Must Check: FREE Tutorial on Sketching Human Figures for UCEED 2026

Repeated Focus Areas in UCEED Part B (Drawing Section)

Skill Tested

Repetition Level

How It Appears

Perspective Drawing - Visual storytelling, human figures, composition & layout

Very High

1-point / 2-point scenes, Situation-based illustrations.

Product-Based Drawing

Very High

Objects in a real-life context for a particular audience group or to solve certain common design problems.

What These Trends Mean for Aspirants

What to Prioritize

  • Visualization & logical reasoning (highest ROI)
  • Concept clarity over formula memorization
  • Accuracy-focused attempts (especially MSQs)

What to Stop Doing

  • Blind guessing in MSQs
  • Ignoring Part B presentation & planning

Check: How to Tackle Trick Questions in UCEED 2026

Trend-Based Preparation Insight for UCEED 2026

Based on UCEED previous year question papers:

1. Expect similar or slightly tougher difficulty than 2025

2. Few “easy marks” questions on basic GK and basic practical & scientific knowledge.

3. Strong advantage for aspirants who:

  • Choose questions smartly
  • Avoid negative marking
  • Practice under timed conditions

Check: Most Important UCEED GK Questions with Answers

UCEED Sample Papers with Answers PDF

UCEED Exam Sample Paper PDF Links
UCEED Sample Paper 1
UCEED Exam Sample Paper 2

Section-wise Sample Questions from UCEED Question Paper PDF 2026

To score good marks in UCEED 2026, you are advised to practice drawing questions regularly.

Check out the UCEED sample questions given below. 

UCEED NAT Questions (Numerical Answer Type Questions):

Q1) A cube has six faces numbered 1 to 6. A schoolboy tosses up the cube twice and notes down the two numbers appearing on top in these two tosses. He multiplies these two numbers and notes down the multiplication result. How many individual multiplication results can he possibly get through this tossing game?

Q2) Fifteen people from different places came together for a family reunion. Each one of them had two gifts for every other person. When the gifts were exchanged, they hugged each other. What is the difference between the number of hugs and the number of gifts exchanged?

Q3) A pyramid with a base side of 6 cm and a height of 7 cm is merged with a cube of length 5 cm such that the cube's centroid matches the centre of the pyramid's base. The pyramid's base is parallel to the cube's base, and the edges of the pyramid's base are parallel to the sides of the cube. Count the number of surfaces in the resulting solid.

Q4) There are some men and some women in a group. Each person shakes hands with exactly one other person in the entire group. After this round of handshakes, eight men and four women find that they shook hands with someone of the same sex. The total number of handshakes exchanged in the entire group is 87. At most, how many women can there possibly be in this group?

Q5) At most, how many spheres of the same size can be placed around the same size sphere at the centre so that they all simultaneously touch the sphere at the centre?

Check: Most Important UCEED NAT Questions

UCEED MSQ Questions (Multiple Select Questions)

Q1) Which of the following statements related to Indian musicians is/ are TRUE?

  • A. Ustad Allah Rakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain are known for playing the Tabla
  • B. Pandit Nikhil Banerjee and Ustad Vilayat Khan are known for playing the Sitar
  • C. Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, and Dr L. Subramaniam are known for playing the Violin
  • D. Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia is known for playing the Shehnai

Q2) Suresh, Biju, and Tina bring one gift each. When they meet, they swap their gifts so that no one gets back what they had brought with them. The gifts are a book, a pen, and a ball.

Suresh says: I gave my gift to the one who gave away the ball.
Biju says: I received my gift from the one who gave a gift to the one who gave away the ball.
Tina says: I got what I always wanted.
Biju says: But Tina, you had to give away your pen. Which of these statements is/are TRUE?

  • A. Tina gets the Ball                                                    
  • B. Tina gets the Book
  • C. Suresh gets the pen             
  • D. Biju gets the Book

Q3) Shown below are the vertical cross-sections of handpumps. Which of the following options depict(s) the correct working principle?

Q4) Which of the options will collapse completely?

Q5) Which of the options is/are correct according to pigment colour theory?

Check: UCEED Eligibility Criteria

UCEED Exam 2025 Results

UCEED exam results 2025

UCEED MCQ Questions (Multiple Choice Questions)

Q1) Shown below is a portion of a continuous strip. Which of the option(s) is/are part of this strip?

Q2) Which option from the right will replace the circles labelled 1, 2 and 3 in the image on the left?

Check: High-yield UCEED Visualisation Questions with Step-by-step Solutions

Q3) What is the total number of triangles in the figure given below?

(a) 24

(b) 25

(c) 26

(d) 27

Q4) Which option is the odd one out?

(a) WOW MADAM

(b) CIVIC ROTATOR

(c) SOLO LEVEL

(d) NOON SAGAS

5) Phulkari, Chikankari, Sambalpuri and Paithani are weaving traditions from different states of India. Which option lists them in the correct sequence?

(a) Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, Punjab

(b) Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra

(c) Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra

(d) Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Punjab

6) Shapes are cut out from two Black Discs, Disc-X and Disc-Y as given below. Identify the correct image, when Disc-Y is kept on top of Disc-X and rotated 60 degrees anti-clockwise.

Know more: UCEED Seat Allotment Process

UCEED Part B Drawing Questions

Q1) On a Sunday morning, 5-year-old Geet, her grandmother and father are cleaning their old garage. It is a big garage with large open windows near the ceiling. It has an old bicycle, a football and other objects. The father is cleaning the cobwebs. The grandmother while cleaning, finds her old guitar which she used to play during her college days. She gets excited and starts playing it as Geet starts dancing around. The garage also has a lot of old memories of Geet’s sporty grandmother and her studious father. Geet’s school friend stands at the door of the garage watching this whole scene. Draw this scenario from the friend’s point of view. (UCEED Question Paper 2024)

Note:

  • Use only pencil
  • Do not use colours

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Perspective
  • Proportion
  • Composition
  • Observation
  • Imagination
  • Quality of sketch
  • Attention to detail 

Q2) Design Aptitude A visit to a museum or a zoo is always something we look forward to with much excitement. But such visits are very tiring too; after about an hour or so we look for a place to sit – a chair or bench, that is never nearby. What if we could carry our own chair everywhere? Design a portable seating device that you could carry in your backpack or hand bag. It should be light enough to carry around, small enough to fit into your bag, easy to use, and good to look at. (UCEED Question Paper 2025)

Show the seating device when:

1) it has just been taken out of the bag and

2) it is ready to sit on.

Note:

  • Make pencil sketches only
  • Do not use colour
  • Explain your design only through visuals and short labels.
  • Do not write separate explanations.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Suitability of the design for the given context
  • Ease of carrying and use
  • Uniqueness of design
  • Attention to detail
  • Explanation of features through visuals only
  • Clarity of the sketch and quality of presentation

Also Solve: UCEED Sketching Questions

Why Solving UCEED Previous Year Question Papers Matters? - Benefits 

If you wonder how solving UCEED Previous Year Papers help in your UCEED preparation

Go through the points below to know the benefits of solving UCEED previous year papers.

  • You will get an idea of the exam pattern and what can be asked in the exam: UCEED question papers reveal the structure, recurring themes, and question formats of the exam. You start understanding what to expect and ideal time allocation for different questions.
  • You can understand the weightage & trends: By reviewing all the UCEED sample paper questions that have already been asked in UCEED exam, you can spot which topics (e.g. spatial visualisation) appear frequently. This helps prioritize prep.
  • You can benchmark your skill level: Assess which sections need more attention and practise. Solving past year UCEED papers help you analyse your performance in actual UCEED questions. You can compare your timing, accuracy and idea depth against the standard that exam demands.
  • Improving Time Management: Solving UCEED question paper under timed questions help improve your time management skills, accuracy, and speed. You start knowing how to distribute time more intelligently. When to keep thinking about an idea, when to move on, and how long to spend on sketching vs. aptitude.
  • Builds Confidence: You can handle your exam fear and build the confidence levels required on exam day.
  • Developing Design Thinking: Repeated exposure to varied exam-like prompts from UCEED Previous Year Question Papers, and feedback on them sharpens your instincts, allowing you to recognize what a good solution looks like.

Read more: UCEED Exam Analysis Year Wise

Best UCEED Past Year Papers Book (Completely Solved)

UCEED previous Year Question Papers Book by CreativEdge:

  • Latest 10 UCEED Previous Year Papers (2015-2024)  - Complete (Part A + Part B) with step-by-step solutions to help you practice smarter.
  • QR-Based Video Solutions for Part B drawing questions, so you can see how experts approach them.
  • 5-Year Trend Analysis - Identify high-weightage areas, recurring question types, and exam patterns that matter.
  • 100% Authentic & Updated - Aligned with the latest UCEED syllabus and carefully curated for serious aspirants.

This book isn’t just practice it’s your prep guide, problem-solver, and pattern-decoder, built to help you approach UCEED with confidence and pursue design straight from the esteemed IITs.

Check: UCEED Exam Centres

UCEED Previous Year Question Papers

How to Use UCEED Previous Year Question Papers Effectively for Preparation

1. Start with Basic Analysis: (First 2-3 papers)

  • Take 2-3 UCEED past papers and attempt them fully under exam-like conditions (same time and minimal distractions).
  • Don't focus on perfection. This exercise is just to benchmark your initial level.
  • Record time taken per section, questions you got stuck on, recurring idea gaps and clarity of sketches.

2. Deep Review & Error Log:

  • As you progress in your preparation, after each UCEED Previous Year Question Paper, spend double the time reviewing. Repeated exposure to varied exam-like prompts, coupled with detailed feedback, sharpens your instincts and helps you recognize what a good solution looks like
  • For sketching prompts analyse your concept, composition, perspective, labeling, and storytelling. Then redraw improved versions.
  • For objective/problem sections, identify if the errors you made while solving the UCEED past year papers were conceptual, calculation based or just careless mistakes.
  • Maintain an error log with categories like interpretation error, execution error or mismanagement of time. Revisit this sheet weekly.

Refer: UCEED Exam is for what purpose

3. Work with Progressive Difficulty:

  • Early Phase: Start with untimed UCEED past papers, such as UCEED Previous Year Question Papers, to get familiar with the pattern and analyze your individual aptitude.
  • Middle Phase: Fully timed UCEED past papers, but allow yourself few second pauses to collect thoughts.
  • Final Phase: Exactly mirror the exam pressure. Strictly timed mocks, no pauses.

4. Theme Based Practice:

  • Categorize past paper questions based on subjects/themes. Like from Part-B drawing section list out questions involving human figures sketching separately or compile sustainability questions together from Part- B.
  • For drawing section, pick up the theme you think you need more practice on. Create your own 3-5 prompts similar to the questions asked previously on the theme in UCEED, solve them and get feedback.
  • For aptitude section, take up question types from your weak areas, solve them and then compare your time and accuracy with your past performance in the topic.

5. Timed Micro Practice Sessions:

  • Cluster together a few past year questions and try to solve them in record time. For example, '3 sketch ideas in 10 minutes', 'visual reasoning puzzles in 5 minutes', or '1 design-sensitivity question with two alternative concepts'. 
  • This helps build speed without sacrificing idea quality.

6. Reattempt after Feedback:

After you are done reviewing each paper, always reattempt the same paper or at least try to solve similar questions after 5-7 days to ensure you've improved. 

Check: How many total UCEED seats are there

7. Group Review/Peer Discussion:

Seek feedback on your sketches from a peer or mentor. Hearing how someone else interpreted a prompt or reached a solution can expose you to alternate concepts and thinking paths and can eventually expand your own idea bank.

8. Integrate with Daily & weekly Study Plans:

  • As you near the exam dates, allocate specific days for past paper practice. For example, theme practice on Wednesdays and full UCEED past papers practice on Sundays.
  • Balance it with other prep tasks. For example, 60% time for new learning and 40% for application (questions solving).

9. Final 30-day Sytrategy:

  • Focus on 3-5 past papers that most closely match recent UCEED exam pattern.
  • Do one full paper every 3 days, followed by focused revision of weak areas.

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Don't keep solving papers without reviewing deeply. No analysis means no clarity on scope for improvement.
  • Don't put the same logic behind similar drawing questions always. Try to come up with unique ideas every single time. Understand the intent of the question and then re-interpret.
  • Don't jump to advanced practice straight up, before knowing your baseline status. Unless you know where you stand initially, you won't know what your efforts are leading to.
  • Don't ignore your weak areas. The entire point of solving real UCEED past year papers is to recognize them and improve your speed and accuracy in them.

Solving the UCEED 2026 Question Papers PDF allows you to practice and hone the skills required to crack the entrance exam.  It helps to understand the exam pattern, the difficulty level of the questions and the type of questions to expect in the exam.

If lucky, you could also find a similar or the same question from the previous year's paper. Finally, solving UCEED question papers can help you build confidence and overcome exam-related anxiety.

Check: How to Download UCEED admit card 2026

Key Takeaways:

  • Importance of Regular Practice: Engaging with UCEED previous year question papers and sample questions on a weekly basis is essential for improving problem-solving speed and accuracy, which are critical for the real exam scenario.
  • Understanding the Exam Pattern: Solving UCEED Question Papers gives candidates a clear understanding of the exam layout, types of questions asked, and the difficulty level, which is crucial for effective study planning.
  • Building Confidence: Regular practice with these UCEED pyq papers helps in reducing pre-exam nervousness and builds confidence by familiarizing candidates with the exam environment.
  • Identifying Weak Areas: Continuous practice allows candidates to identify their weak areas, enabling focused revisions where needed most, thereby optimizing their preparation strategy.
  • Utilization of Resources: It is advisable to use additional resources such as UCEED Mock Tests and drawing practice for specific segments of the exam, alongside solving UCEED 2026 question papers, to enhance overall preparedness and performance.

Read more: Is UCEED tougher than JEE

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I download UCEED Previous Year Question Paper PDF?

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About the Author

Faculty
Vineeta Agrawal

Communications Executive

Vineeta Agrawal is a seasoned content writer with 3 years of experience and a flair for turning ideas into impactful stories across industries. She blends creativity with strategy to craft content that clicks and converts. Off the clock, she’s a fiction film buff always chasing her next cinematic escape.... more