How to Prepare for AIEED - Step by Step Guide

AIEED (All India Entrance Examination for Design) is a five-stage screening process conducted by ARCH College of Design and Business, Jaipur. To prepare effectively, you need to complete your online application, build a strong Portfolio of Abilities (POA), write a compelling Statement of Purpose (SOP), and be ready for an online interaction and an on-campus situation test. This guide walks you through every stage in detail. 

What is AIEED and Why Does It Matter?

If you have just completed your 12th and are researching admission to one of the best design colleges in India, AIEED is likely the first step you will encounter on your journey.

AIEED, the All India Entrance Examination for Design, was launched in 2010 by ARCH College of Design and Business, Jaipur. It is not a conventional written exam. It is a multi-stage screening process designed to evaluate your attitude, creativity, communication, and problem-solving ability, not simply your academic scores.

Since 2011, AIEED has been conducted online, making it accessible to students from across India and even internationally. The process helps ARCH identify students who are genuinely suited for a professional design career, regardless of which stream they studied in Class 12.

Understanding how AIEED works, and preparing thoughtfully for each stage, significantly improves your chances of securing admission.

AIEED 2026 - Key Dates to Know

Before diving into preparation, mark these dates carefully:

• Application Opens: 1 November 2025
• Application End (Series I): 30 March 2026
• Application End (Series II): 15 June 2026
• Situation Test and Group Discussion (On Campus): 6–18 April 2026
• Batch Starts: 18 May 2026

Apply early. Early applicants are prioritised for counselling sessions and on-campus interaction slots.

The AIEED 5-Step Process - Explained

AIEED is structured as a five-stage experience. Each stage is mandatory and contributes to your overall assessment. Here is exactly what happens at every step.

Step 1 — Fill and Submit Your Online Application

The first step is completing and submitting your AIEED application form online at aieed.com. The application fee is ₹3,000, payable by debit card, credit card, or online payment gateway.

Take this step seriously. Fill in all details accurately and ensure your contact information is correct, all further communication regarding your screening dates and login credentials will be sent to this address.

Step 2 — Submit Your Portfolio of Abilities (POA) and Statement of Purpose (SOP)

This is the most important stage of the entire AIEED process, and the one that requires the most preparation time.

Portfolio of Abilities (POA)

The POA is not a conventional art portfolio. ARCH does not expect you to be a trained artist. What they are looking for is evidence of how you observe, think, and respond to the world around you.

Your POA can include:

• Sketches, doodles, or visual observations from daily life
• Photographs you have taken that capture interesting perspectives, textures, or compositions
• Creative writing, journaling, or mind maps
• DIY projects, handmade objects, or craft work
• Collages, moodboards, or collections that reflect your visual sensibility
• Any work that demonstrates curiosity, creativity, and independent thinking

The golden rule: be authentic. Your POA should reflect who you are, your interests, your observations, your way of seeing. ARCH values originality and thinking over technical polish.

Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Your SOP is a written piece that introduces you, your background, your motivations, and why you want to pursue design. It is your opportunity to communicate directly with the admissions panel in your own voice.

A strong SOP answers three core questions:

1. Who are you and what has shaped your interest in design?
2. Which course are you applying for and why does it align with your goals?
3. What do you hope to achieve through your education at ARCH?

Keep your SOP honest, specific, and personal. Avoid generic statements. The ARCH admissions panel reads hundreds of SOPs, the ones that stand out are those that reveal a genuine, thinking individual behind the words.

After uploading your POA and SOP through your application panel, you will also be required to block a date for your Online Interaction and Counselling session (Step 3).

Step 3 — Online Interaction and Counselling

In this stage, you will have a one-on-one online session with an ARCH design expert. This is a conversation, not an interrogation. The panel is interested in understanding how you think, what drives you, and how you communicate your ideas.

How to prepare for the online interaction:

• Be ready to talk about your POA, what you made, why you made it, and what it means to you
• Think about your course of interest. For example, if you are applying for Fashion Design, be ready to discuss what draws you to the field, designers you admire, and current trends you have observed
• If Interior Design interests you, think about spaces you find compelling and why, how function and aesthetics interact
• If Product Design is your choice, consider everyday objects you find well-designed or poorly designed and explain your reasoning
• For students drawn to Graphic Design or Communication Design, think about visual communication you encounter daily, branding, signage, digital interfaces, and how it affects you
• Be curious, be yourself, and ask questions. The counselling part of this session is a genuine opportunity to learn about your programme and the college

Stay calm, speak clearly, and remember, ARCH is looking for attitude and openness, not perfection.

Step 4 — On-Campus Situation Test and Group Discussion

This stage takes place at the ARCH College campus in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan. It consists of two parts:

Situation Test

You will be given a creative brief or situation and asked to respond to it through making, drawing, writing, or ideation. This assesses your creativity, lateral thinking, and ability to work under time constraints. There is no right or wrong answer, the panel observes how you approach a problem, not whether your output is technically perfect.

Group Discussion

You will be placed in a small group with other candidates and asked to discuss a topic. This assesses your communication skills, your ability to listen and respond to others, your openness to different perspectives, and how you contribute constructively to a group dynamic.

Practical tips for this stage:

• Visit Jaipur a day before if you are travelling from another city, do not risk delays on the day of the test
• Get a good night's sleep — creative performance is directly linked to mental freshness
• Bring your own stationery (pencils, pens, markers) even if materials are provided
• In the group discussion, quality of thought matters more than volume of speech
• Stay composed, collaborative, and confident

Step 5 — Result Declaration and Admission Offer

Results are declared on the same day as your on-campus test. If selected, you will receive an offer of admission and be required to complete the admission formalities on the spot. This includes fee payment and course confirmation.

Come prepared with relevant documents, including your Class 12 mark sheet, identity proof, and passport-size photographs.

Eligibility — Who Can Apply for AIEED?

AIEED is open to students who have completed Class 12 from any recognised board, from any stream, arts, commerce, or science. There is no stream restriction. Your creativity and attitude matter far more than your academic background.

For postgraduate programmes, a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline is required.

Courses You Can Apply for Through AIEED at ARCH

Through the AIEED screening, students can apply to ARCH's full range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including:

• B.Des in Fashion Design
• B.Des in Interior Design
• B.Des in Product Design
• B.Des in Jewellery Design
• B.Des in Communication Design
• HND / Digital Design
• Photography
• Foundation Programme
• BBA in Business Administration, for students who want to combine design thinking with business and entrepreneurship

For students interested in combining creative thinking with management and strategy, the BBA in Business Administration at ARCH follows the same AIEED admission route and offers optional design specialisations in fashion, jewellery, interior design, and digital marketing. It is also the only AI integrated BBA course of its kind in the region, preparing students for the intersection of creativity, technology, and business.

Scholarships Available Through AIEED

ARCH offers scholarships, studentships, bursaries, and endowments through the ARCH Co-Welfare Initiative. These are awarded based on AIEED performance and are available to eligible students across all programmes.

For detailed eligibility and scholarship criteria, visit archedu.org/scholarships.html after completing your application.

Start Your AIEED Journey Today

AIEED is not a test to fear, it is a conversation between you and the college you are about to call home. Every stage is designed to help ARCH understand who you truly are and what you are capable of becoming.

If you are a Class 12 graduate looking for admission to one of the best design colleges in India, ARCH College in Jaipur offers programmes that will challenge you, shape you, and prepare you for a creative career that matters.

Apply for AIEED 2026 → aieed.com

Explore all courses at ARCH College → archedu.org