Shiksha brings you a three-month SET exam preparation strategy including best books, prep tips and important topics to score well. Read the article below to know more.
Also Read: BBA colleges accepting SET score
- How to Prepare for SET Exam 2026 in 3 Months: Phase-wise Preparation Strategy
- Phase I: Preparation Strategy
- Phase II: Know the SET Exam Syllabus
- Phase III: Practice and Revision
How to Prepare for SET Exam 2026 in 3 Months: Phase-wise Preparation Strategy
Read below to know the three-month phase-wise preparation strategy for the SET exam 2026.
Phase I: Preparation Strategy
As mentioned above, it is very important to have a strong and effective preparation strategy to score well in any exam. And to make an effective strategy, it is very important to know your strengths and weaknesses. Time management is a key player here. SET exam is a time-based exam and candidates will not be given any extra time to complete the exam. Hence, candidates appearing for the SET 2026 exam must give enough time to each topic and divide them accordingly. SET exam 2026 will have four sections namely General English, Quantitative, General Awareness and Analytical & Logical Reasoning. Make a schedule that covers all the sections and religiously follow the same.
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Also Read: Best books to read for SET exam 2026
Phase II: Know the SET Exam Syllabus
Previously, the SET exam had 150 questions. They were reduced to 60 multiple-choice questions in the year 2021, and the duration of the exam was also reduced proportionally. Check out the table below to know what can be considered a good score in SET exam according to the previous years' analysis:
| Section | Total Marks | Good Score |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 16 | 12-14 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 16 | 10-12 |
| General Awareness | 16 | 11-12 |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 12 | 9-10 |
SET is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to various undergraduate courses. SET 2026 will be conducted in the computer-based test mode. The difficulty level of the SET exam is usually easy to moderate. But, a few questions might trick your mind and can be time-consuming.
General Knowledge and Analytical and Logical Reasoning are easier than the Quantitative Aptitude section. In 2025, according to the students who appeared for the SET session 1 exam, the SET exam was moderate. The General English section was the easiest of all four sections. The Quantitative Aptitude section was the toughest, and the other two sections were moderate to easy. The overall difficulty level of the SET question paper was moderate. Students who appeared for the SET 2025 session 2 exam said that the overall difficulty level was easy. Again, the General English section was the easiest. In this session, the Analytical and Logical Reasoning section was also easy to moderate. The Quant section was easy to moderate, and the General Knowledge section was difficult.
Choosing the right study material which covers all the important topics of the SET exam is very important. Refer to the study material and books available online as well as offline, general BBA preparation, as well as SET-specific books. Do not waste time collecting loads of material, but choose the best and most relevant ones. Start with the topic that you find the toughest. Study all the topics under that section. Topics such as Algebra, Probability, Profit and Loss, Interest, Discount, Time and Work, Percentage, Number Systems, etc., for the Quantitative Section should be prepared. Brush up on your calculations and theorems to ace this section. Revise all the grammar topics and improve your vocabulary to handle the General English section. To score well in the Analytical and Logical Reasoning section, an applicant must have a deep understanding of the patterns. Be thorough with formulae and theories. Ace the General Awareness section by making the newspaper your best friend for these three months. Be updated with the latest trends, news, awards, abbreviations, etc. For static GK, you can refer to Manorama Year Book.
Also Read:
| How to prepare for the Quantitative Aptitude section of SET exam | How to ace the General English section of SET exam | Tips to score well in the SET Logical Reasoning section |
Phase III: Practice and Revision
This is the last and one of the most important elements in a three-month preparation plan for the SET exam 2026. SET exam preparation is incomplete without practicing SET previous years’ question papers and mock tests. As the saying goes, “practice makes the man perfect”, no preparation can be complete without practicing what you have studied. Give at least 15 days to revise and practice the syllabus that you have covered. This will help candidates know their strengths and weaknesses and they can work on them accordingly. It will improve their speed and accuracy and at the same time help them tackle all kinds of questions.
In 2026, SET will be conducted in two phase, i.e. Test 01 and Test 02. According to the previous year SET analysis and student's reactions, the difficult level of the exam is easy to moderate in both sessions. A good score in SET BBA exam can be subjective, but if we look at the analysis, then the following can be termed as a good score in SET:
Section | Number of Questions | Difficult Level | Good Score |
|---|---|---|---|
General English | 16 | Easy | 13-15 |
Quantitative Aptitude | 16 | Moderate | 13-14 |
General Awareness | 16 | Moderate | 07-09 |
Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 12 | Easy-Moderate | 10-12 |
- Allocate time to each section and give priority to easier ones
- Do not avoid SET mock test.
- Learn concepts, practice and revise to increase chances of scoring well.
- Prepare for each section separately and prepare accordingly. Know the weaknesses and strengths and do a balanced preparation.
SET results are announced within a week of the SET exam. Once the results are announced, students can start preparing for the SET counselling rounds and apply to the college's websites. If the candidate meets the SET cutoff of the participating institute they will be called for the WAT/PI rounds. For the preparation of these rounds, students should focus on improving communication skills, current affairs awareness, general knowledge, etc.
All the best!
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Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud
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Student Forum
Answered 4 days ago
SET does not occur twice a year, but it takes place on two dates within same session. Candidates have the option to appear in either or both. The best attempt from the two will be considered. SLAT 2026 exam will be held on:
| Test 1 | 02-May-2026 |
| Test 2 | 10-May-2026 |
R
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
To download SET syllabus PDF, follow process below:
- Click on SET Exam Syllabus 2026 PDF link
- Login to Shiksha.com with user ID and password
- Click on Download buttton
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
SET and UGAT are undergraduate entrance exams conducted for BBA admissions.
- SET exam is conducted by Symbiosis International University for admission to the BBA course at its institutes. Eight SIU colleges accept SET scores for admissions. The duration of the exam is one hour and students have to ta
V
Beginner-Level 5
Answered a month ago
SET 2026 exam will be conducted on May 2 and May 10. SET exam will be conducted in CBT test format by Symbiosis International University. Duration of exam is one hour and students can take exam at their test centre.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
SET exam is conducted for admission to colleges of Symbiosis International University. Candidates can choose their preferred institutes during SET application process. The exam is a gateway to undergraduate programmes offered at these institutes. SET programme framework allows options to pursue sing
Registration - 15 Apr '26
Aspirants should start preparing for the SET exam at least six months before the test date. SET preparation requires planning thus one must start early. They can also join coaching institutes for focused preparation. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not. Divide your preparation into three phases - 1. Covering the syllabus 2. Practicing mock tests, sample questions and 3. Revision.
The SET syllabus includes the following topics:
General English: Parajumbles, Sentence Completion, Grammar, Comprehension Passages, Synonyms and Antonyms, etc.
Logical Reasoning: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Strong and Weak Arguments, and Syllogism
Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra Number System Arithmetic, Mensuration etc.
General Awareness: Companies and Founders, Awards, Books and Authors, Sports, Politics, Current Affairs, etc.
You can read the following SET books for exam preparation: