Study Schedule 2026
Design exams are about common sense and observation, this schedule is designed for the designers.
The links are shared according to the 12 weeks. This is the comprehensive list that will be sufficient from the Part-A perspective of the exam. We will update the link as and when required.
Part-A & GAT Study Links
Week-1
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Indian Culture
•Indian Painters | •NCERT
•CCRT Website
•Other link
(Page 15 onwards) | Be selective in these theoretical topics. No need to spend too much time here. These topics should be used as filler in the preparation. |
Designers
•Satish Gujral
•Mahendra Patel
•Benoy Sarkar
•Shekhar Kamat
•Sudarshan Dheer
•R K Joshi | Just google about them and take a look what they are famous for. No need to read the whole biography. | |
Non-Verbal Reasoning
•Series
•Analogy
•Figure Matrix | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. | |
Verbal/Logical Reasoning
•Coding-Decoding
•Direction Sense | ||
Quantitative Aptitude
•Average | ||
PYQ
•UCEED 2019 | Attempt questions 1 to 36. Only for CEED/UCEED aspirants |
Week-2
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Folk Music/Instruments | This is a static section, this source always remain the same. Read about the categories in which these instruments can be divided.
Also, try to understand the basic physics on which each one is based. | |
Folk Dance/Dresses | Read about classical dances and folk dances in India.
In case of folk dances
(Do not try to memorize all the dance forms. One from each state is enough) | |
Designers
•Le Corbusier
•Laurie Baker
•Charles Correa | Just google about them and take a look what they are famous for. No need to read the whole biography. Follow the link given for more exhaustive list. | |
Solving Riddles | The best source for this section is PYQs of CEED and UCEED. There are many websites on riddles, try and explore them. | |
PYQ
•CEED 2019 | Attempt this paper this week. Only for CEED/UCEED aspirants |
Week-3
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Indian Crafts
•Handicrafts | This is a static section, this source always remain the same. Read about the categories in which these instruments can be divided.
Also, try to understand the basic physics on which each one is based. | |
Surface Counting
• Counting faces
• Counting triangles | Try attempting questions based on counting number of faces only from UCEED/CEED past papers. | |
Material and Process
•Textile
•Furniture
•Metal Works | For master’s aspirants only. This topic is relevant for both CEED and stream specific questions in NID | |
Non-Verbal Reasoning
•Analytical Reasoning | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. | |
Verbal/Logical Reasoning
•Alphabetical Series | ||
Quantitative Aptitude
•Ratio and Proportion
•Allegation & Mixture
•Chain Rule |
Week-4
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Material & Process
•Different Streams | For master’s aspirants only. Go through this document very quickly. No need to read and memorize everything. | |
Film & Video
• Basics of Video/Film | ||
Famous Personalities (Film)
•Satyajit Ray
•Mrinal Sen
•Mani Kaul
•Shyam Benegal | Just google about them and take a look what they are famous for. No need to read the whole biography. | |
Verbal/Logical Reasoning
•Blood Relation | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. | |
Quantitative Aptitude
•Time and Work
•Pipes and Cisterns |
Week-5
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Material & Process
•Plastics | For master’s aspirants only. No need to read and memorize everything. | |
Animation Study
• Basic Principles | The topic is important | |
Painting & Painters
•Claude Monet
•Edouard Manet
•Pierre-Auguste Renoir
•Pablo Picasso | •Link | Just go through the paintings once, no need to memorize or remember any date or year. |
Art History, Renaissance
•Art Movements (International) | Read about Indian Renaissance period briefly this will help you understand how Indian Modern Art developed. | |
Passage based questions | • | Attempt all the passage based questions form CEED and UCEED. These questions are different from normal reading comprehension questions. |
Verbal/Logical Reasoning
•Venn Diagram | •Link | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need to devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. |
Quantitative Aptitude
•Problems on Trains
•Boats and Streams |
Week-6
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Indian Language/Literature
•Language and Literature of India: Ancient
•Indian dress forms | What are classical languages?
Take a look at traditional dress forms of each state. | |
Typography | Cover theoretical topics from here and go to links in Part-B for practical understanding.
Attempt all the typography based questions from CEED and UCEED this week. | |
Famous Personalities (Cartoonists)
•K. Shankar Pillai
•Abu Abraham
•O. V. Vijayan
•R K Laxman | • Link-1 | Just google about them and take a look what they are famous for. No need to read the whole biography.
Go through the work not life history. |
Logo
•Government Institutions | Go through logos of important government institutions only: for example, IITs, Important cultural institutes (Banks, Aadhar, Election Commission etc.). | |
Verbal/Logical Reasoning
•Seating arrangement | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. | |
Quantitative Aptitude
•Probability
•Permutations and Combinations |
Week-7
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Mirror/Lens
•Convex/Concave mirrors
•Working of simple lens | Understanding basic working principle of mirror and lens would be enough. (Angle of Incidence, Reflection, Refraction, Effect of density, mirror used for rear view in vehicles). Don’t forget to read about uses. | |
Area/Mensuration | • | Go through all the topics on Mensuration and area from UCEED and CEED question paper. |
Designers/Personalities | Go through this topic from the previous weeks. | |
Logo
•Famous Brands
•Environment related | Go through logos of some famous brands. Do not restrict yourself to these links only. You should browse other websites also. | |
Verbal/Logical Reasoning
•Mirror Images | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more.
Revision of Week-1 topics | |
Quantitative Aptitude
• Simple Interest
Compound Interest |
Week-8
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Color
•Color Theory
•Color Psychology | Color theory is important for designers. Question on this topic is always there in the design exams. | |
Revise Week-2 Part-A | • | Go through design awareness topics from week-2 |
Material and Manufacturing
•Engineered Wood | Only for Master’s students. Read it briefly. | |
Force, Thrust & Pressure | Go through these videos quickly to revise your basics class 9th physics. Helpful for UCEED/CEED. | |
Verbal/Logical Reasoning
•Syllogism | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. | |
Quantitative Aptitude
•Mensuration | ||
English Grammar | • | Solve some basic grammar questions this week. |
Week-9
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Tessellation + Tilling | •Link
| Though question on this topic is not repeated. But, this can be a good visualization test question. Go through PYQs and this website to take a look at some tessellation basics. |
Famous Personalities
•Birju Maharaj
•Pandit Jasraj
•Rukmini Devi Arundale
| • Link | Just google about them and take a look what they are famous for. No need to read the whole biography. |
Revise week 3 & 4 | • | Go through design awareness topics from these weeks. |
Aptitude Reasoning
•Revision Week 3 & 4
•Clock | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. | |
• | Solve some basic grammar questions this week. |
Week-10
Topics | Links | Remarks |
3D Shape Intersection | Many 3D objects can be visualized, sketched, and modelled in a CAD system by combining simple 3D shapes. Going through the questions on 3D shapes intersection. | |
Media Study- Digital
•Vector Vs Raster Images
•Video Formats (Codec)
•JPG Vs PNG | Read about the basic of image and video formats. | |
Environmental Awareness | You can focus on this from October onwards. | |
Aptitude Reasoning
•Revision Week 5 & 6
•Grammar | • | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics. Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. Solve some basic grammar questions this week. |
Week-11
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Revise theory topics (Indian Culture) | Revise these topics! As of now, you can access the previous weeks study links. In the coming weeks we will create one link for the topic Indian Culture | |
Media Study- Digital
•PPI vs DPI
•Bleed (Printing) | Do not forget to revise the previous topics under the same heading. | |
Environmental Awareness
•Biospheres
•Pollution | The topic is not mandatory from he exam perspective, but, can be helpful. | |
Current Affairs | •Link | We will cover current affairs topics 2-3 months before the exam. |
Aptitude Reasoning
•Revision Week 7 & 8 | — | Just practice 10 questions daily from each topic. No need devote all the time just practicing these topics.
Students preparing for NIFT should focus on this section more. |
Solve some basic grammar questions this week. |
Week-12
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Test & Revision | — | If possible attempt a few tests this week for mental preparation and practice. |
Revise your notes | — | Do not forget to revisit your notes. |
Solve Aptitude Questions | Just hover over the topics and solve a few questions to test your preparation. | |
Current Affairs | Try to cover current topics every second day | |
Mental Preparation | — | It’s time to reflect on your efforts and time you have put in. If you believe you can, you’ll definitely crack the exam with good rank. |
If you have reached this far, take some time out to relax. |
Part-B Study Links
Study links and schedule will be updated here by the mentor before the first session. Stay tuned for updates here!
Memory Drawing Visual Sensitivity Typefaces Light and shadow Form in Design Shading of Material Spatial ability Story Writing Animation and Storyboarding Product Design Logo Design Visual Design Poster Design Drawing Notebook 29 Revisit Some PYQs
1, 2, and 3 point perspectives Isometric View Ant’s View Lizard’s Eye View Aerial View Unity and Harmony Problem Identification NID Stream Specific Human body Proportions Design concept/Inspiration or Design Thinking Body dimension and Proportions Talking about creativity Facial Expressions Composition Human figure drawing
Week-1
Topics | Links | Remarks |
1(linear perspective) , 2 and 3 point perspectives | These videos are to the point and just try to comprehend what the narrator is saying.
Please do not just watch videos, but keep drawing and practice as many scenes possible. | |
Isometric View
• 2D to 3D Forms | Study about isometric grid you can download a isometric grid and print it or you can draw it yourself as you find convenient.
Use isometric grids only to attempt assignments on isometric questions. | |
Ant’s View | • Link | These topics are important from NID exam point of view, so they are kept in separate category.
Focus on them. |
Lizard’s Eye View | • Link | |
Aerial View | ||
Unity and Harmony | Try to relate these topics in your life which you observe visually. Try to analyze if things around you (may be films, paintings or architecture around you are in unity and harmony). | |
Problem Identification | Focus on questions asked in CEED. | |
NID Stream Specific | • Link | Start with reading about the basics of the stream. You can dedicate some time every week on this. |
Week-2
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Human body Proportions | • Link | Try drawing side by side as the video is played and try to replicate those drawings as shown in the videos. Then try making your from your own imagination. |
Design concept/Inspiration or Design Thinking | The videos provided are documentaries for you to watch and learn how the designers think and execute their concepts to the final product. We want you to understand what are designer’s tasks and responsibilities. | |
Body dimension and Proportions | No need to draw things in detail, just focus on basic shapes only keeping proportions in mind. | |
CEED Specific Questions | Every week go through PYQs from CEED.
Only for masters | |
NID Stream Specific |
Week-3
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Human body Proportions | Human body drawing is a difficult task to master. The links are same as previous weeks. Try drawing side by side as the video is played and try to replicate those drawings as shown in the videos. Then try making your from your own imagination. | |
Talking about creativity | Let’s talk about creativity in these videos. Creativity is skill and can be acquired with practice and right thinking process. |
Week-4
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Facial Expressions | These facial expressions are given to help you understand and make use of them in your animation or storyboarding questions. Study only 5 - 10 basic expressions and try to replicate them | |
Composition | Composition based questions are important for all the design exams. Keep practicing on this section every week. | |
Human figure drawing | Majorly students lack in this section. |
Week-5
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Memory Drawing | To be able to draw anything in the exam, the ability to draw something from memory is very important. Students are advised to redraw some of the earlier assignments for practice. | |
Visual Sensitivity | Only for masters. There are no specific links on visual sensitivity. Please go through the previous year questions on this topic. | |
Human figure drawing | Majorly students lack in this section. |
Week-6
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Typefaces | These videos will give you an introduction to typography and its use.
Please watch them in this order only. | |
Light and shadow | Try working with basic shapes such as cube ,sphere or cylinder and then go on to work with complex shapes. | |
Form in Design | The question asked in the exam on ‘forms’ are based on fundamental concepts. Hopefully these videos will be helpful. |
Week-7
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Shading of Material | Try rendering the objects shown in the video to develop the skill. | |
Light and shadow | Light and shadow demands time and practice to master. Keep working on this topic for some time. | |
Stream Specific Preparation (NID) | • Link | NID stream specific preparation starts with clear understanding of the stream. Go through the link and try to find out the keywords/jargons important for the stream. |
Week-8
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Color Theory & Psychology | This topic is important for NIFT and NID. | |
Spatial ability | Every year a question on spatial ability is asked in NID exam. |
Week-9
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Story Writing | These contain the basic structures of any story. It will give you an insight how to make a basic story line. | |
Animation and Storyboarding | Study these animation videos and try to use them to draw storyboards.
|
Week-10
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Product Design | Questions on this topic can be asked in NID and NIFT. | |
Logo Design | Attributes related to logos for example: color, shape or text should be observed. Try to understand how logo correlates to the identity of the brand. Questions on logo design is asked in both CEED and NID.
| |
Visual Design | • Link-1 | |
Revise Week 5 & 6 |
Week-11
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Poster Design | • Link-1 | Questions on this topic can be asked in NID and NIFT. |
Revisit previous weeks | Go through the topics in the previous weeks and try to recall what you practiced, and what you learned in the last 10 weeks. If possible, revisit the assignments. |
Week-12
Topics | Links | Remarks |
Drawing Notebook | Flip through the pages and see how much you have improved. Can you re-draw some of your earlier drawings this week? | |
Revisit Some PYQs | Re-attempt a question from Part-B and get it evaluated by someone. Observe your efficiency and quality of ideas. |
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