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Saumya Jain
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Updated on Sep 17, 2025 16:51 IST
SET is an entrance exam conducted for admission to various undergraduate courses. Shiksha brings you a 3-month SET preparation strategy to score well in the SET exam. SET 2026 will likely be conducted in the second week of May 2026. The exam will be conducted in the computer-based test mode. Read the article below to know more.

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.

SET 2026 3-month preparation: If one wants to score well in the SET exam 2026, they must start their exam preparations at least three months before the SET exam. Preparing for the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) in only three months can be challenging, but it is achievable with a structured plan and consistent effort. Begin by making an effective preparation schedule, understanding the exam pattern and SET syllabus 2026, and gathering the essential and right set of study materials and SET preparation books.

Students can begin by focusing on the SET syllabus in the first month. In the second month, students can focus on solving questions of higher difficulty levels and then take sectional practice tests. In the last month, students should completely shift their preparation to revision. They should take full-length SET mock tests and check ways to improve their time management skills. Regular practice, performance analysis, and maintaining a calm mindset will significantly enhance their chances of success in the SET exam. SET 2026 will likely be conducted in the first and second week of May 2026.

Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) is an online BBA entrance exam conducted by Symbiosis International (Deemed University). One can score well in the SET exam 2026 with a good preparation strategy. SET is a gateway to admission into undergraduate courses such as BBA and BCA to the prestigious Symbiosis International (Deemed University). In this article, Shiksha brings you a detailed strategy on how to prepare for SET in three months.

Also Read: BBA colleges accepting SET score

Table of contents
  • 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

Q:   What is the ideal time to prepare for SET exam?
A:

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:

  • A New Approach to Reasoning by BS Sijawali
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
  • Multi-Dimensional Reasoning by Mishra Kumar and Dr Lal
  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
  • High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
  • How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
  • Class 9 and Class 10 NCERT Mathematics books
  • Quantitative Aptitude by R. S Aggarwal
  • Manorama Year Book
Q:   What is a good score in SET exam?
A:

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:

SectionTotal MarksGood Score
General English1612-14
Quantitative Aptitude1610-12
General Awareness1611-12
Analytical and Logical Reasoning129-10
Q:   What is the difficulty level of SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test)?
A:

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.

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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

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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.

Q:   What is a good score for SET BBA?
A:

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

Q:   How to avoid mistakes in the SET exam?
A:
  1. Allocate time to each section and give priority to easier ones
  2. Do not avoid SET mock test. 
  3. Learn concepts, practice and revise to increase chances of scoring well. 
  4. Prepare for each section separately and prepare accordingly. Know the weaknesses and strengths and do a balanced preparation.
Q:   How can I prepare for the subsequent rounds of the SET admission process?
A:

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. 

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About the Author
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Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content

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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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 102-May-2026
Test 210-May-2026

R

Rashmi Shukla

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

Abhishek Kumar

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

...Read more

V

Vikram Hazarika

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

Shruti Tyagi

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

...Read more

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Saumya Jain

Contributor-Level 10