Saumya
Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content
Updated on Aug 19, 2025 12:41 IST

SET books are crucial for an effective preparation strategy. SET exam 2026 will be conducted for admission into prestigious Symbiosis colleges. Check out the best books for SET 2026 in the article below. 

SET exam books for preparation

Best Books for SET Exam 2026: To prepare well for the SET exam, having the right set of SET exam books is crucial. Whether the candidate will be able to clear an entrance exam depends largely on which preparation books they use for their SET exam preparation. As experts say, choosing the right SET exam books is imperative in your SET preparations to help you understand the concepts extensively. Books such as Objective General English, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT, Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams, etc., are some of the recommended SET exam books. 

SET or Symbiosis Entrance Test is a national-level entrance exam conducted by Symbiosis International (Deemed University) for admission into various undergraduate courses in the Symbiosis institutes in India. The exam is conducted once a year and is a gateway to admission into top Symbiosis colleges. SET 2026 will likely be held in the first and second week of May 2026. In this article, you will find the compilation of the best books for SET and study material to prepare to excel in the SET 2026 exam, SET exam pattern and SET syllabus.

Table of content
  • SET Exam Pattern 2026
  • SET Exam Syllabus 2026
  • Best SET Exam Books for General English Section
  • Best SET Exam Books for Quantitative Ability Section
  • Best SET Exam Books for Logical Reasoning Section
  • Best SET Exam Books for General Knowledge Section
  • Choosing Best Books for SET Exam Preparation 2026
  • SET Preparation: Pro Tips
View More

SET Exam Pattern 2026

SET exam is conducted in computer-based test mode. The SET question paper is divided into four sections. Look at the table below to understand the SET exam pattern 2026.

Features 

Details 

Exam Mode

Computer-Based Test mode

Test Duration

60 minutes

Sessions 

One

Type of Questions

Objective-type questions with four options each

Marking Scheme

1 mark for correct answers

No negative marking

SET Exam Syllabus 2026

SET is an entrance exam for undergraduate courses such as BBA, BCA, BA Mass Communication and Economics Hons. Look at the table below to know the SET syllabus 2026.

Section Name

Important Topics

General English

Synonyms, Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension

Quantitative Aptitude

Algebra, Discount, Percentage, Arithmetic

Logical Reasoning

Syllogism, Coding, Arrangements, Blood Relations

General Awareness

Awards, Books, Current Affairs, Sports

 Also Read: Detailed guide on SET syllabus

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Best SET Exam Books for General English Section

The General English section of the SET exam checks the fluency of the aspirants in the English language. The section has topics such as  Antonyms, Articles, Editing, Omitting, Prepositions, Analogy, etc. Check the table below for the best books for SET General English section.

Q:   Which are the best books for the preparation of Quantitative section of the SET exam?
Q:   Which are the best books to read for the Logical Reasoning section of SET exam?
Q:   Can I use IPMAT preparation books for SET exam preparation?

Book Name

Author/ Publisher

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT

Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay

High School English Grammar and Composition Key

Wren and Martin

Word Power Made Easy

Norman Lewis

30 Days to More Powerful Vocabulary

Norman Lewis

Objective English

RS Aggarwal

The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay

Also Read: Tips to prepare for General English section of SET exam

Best SET Exam Books for Quantitative Ability Section

This section of the SET exam will assess arithmetic ability and is all about the mathematics that students would have studied in school. The table below has a list of the best books for SET 2026 exam that will help in acing the exam.

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Author/ Publisher

Quantitative Aptitude for All Competitive Examinations

Abhijit Guha

Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation for CAT

Nishit Sinha

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT

Arun Sharma

NCERT Mathematics Book for 9th and 12th class

NCERT

Fast Track Mathematics

Rajesh Verma

Quantitative Aptitude

RS Aggarwal

Also Read: Tips to prepare for the Quant section

Best SET Exam Books for Logical Reasoning Section

The Logical Reasoning section evaluates the candidates’ analytical ability and critical reasoning. The candidates must brush up the topics such as coding-decoding, series, syllogism, ratio and proportion, permutation and combination, Venn diagrams, blood relations, assumptions, etc. Check the table below to know the best books for the SET exam’s Logical Reasoning section.

Book Name

Author/ Publisher

A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning

R.S. Aggarwal

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT

Nishit K. Sinha

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT

Arun Sharma

Analytical and Logical Reasoning for CAT & Other Management Exams 

Peeyush Bharadwaj

Also Read: Tips and tricks to ace the Logical Reasoning section

Best SET Exam Books for General Knowledge Section

To excel in the General Knowledge section, candidates should be well aware of all the current affairs. Reading newspapers every day will be a big help in excelling in this section. Candidates must develop the habit of being updated with all the current news in all fields. Also, the Manorama Year Book is a good reference book for static GK. 

Q:   What are the best books for SET BBA preparation?
Q:   What is the benefit of having SET books?

Also Read:

Name of the Book

Author/Publication

Lucent’s General Knowledge

Vinay Karna

1400 Objective Questions

Manohar Pandey

S Chand’s Advanced Objective General Knowledge

RS Aggarwal

The Hindu

Newspaper

The Financial Times

Newspaper

Wall Street Journal

Newspaper

Business World

Magazine

Economic Times

Newspaper

Financial Express

Newspaper 

Business Today

Magazine

Hindu Business Line

Newspaper

Choosing Best Books for SET Exam Preparation 2026

Choosing the right set of books for the Symbiosis Entrance Test 2026 is crucial. Here are a few ways to choose the best books for SET 2026 preparation: 

1. Covers Complete SET Syllabus and Topics: Students should ensure choosing the SET exam books which cover the complete syllabus and all important topics and concepts according to the latest SET syllabus. 

2. Read Reviews: Before buying, read the reviews written by users online. This will help the students gauge the effectiveness of the book. Also, reviews from learners and teachers will assess whether the books include all the important topics and subtopics, or whether the book offers conceptual clarity and exam-focused strategies with adequate questions for practice.

3.  Solved SET Question Papers: Prefer a book which includes solved SET sample papers and practice tests. This will help the students understand the SET exam pattern and know how to increase speed and accuracy. 

4. Latest Edition: Students should always opt for the latest edition of the SET exam books since they include the latest SET syllabus, exam pattern and concepts. They also reflect the latest trends, current affairs, etc. 

SET Preparation: Pro Tips

Students can follow the below-mentioned SET BBA preparation tips:

  • Focus on Speed and Accuracy: The SET exam is conducted only for 60 minutes. Hence, speed and accuracy are the key players in landing a good SET score.
  • Revise GK Daily: Students can choose newspapers and news apps to stay updated with current affairs, latest trends, politics, economics, etc. 
  • Practice English Comprehension: To prepare for the English sections, students should read editorials and aim to solve at least one RC every day. 
  • Mock Test: To stimulate an exam-like environment, mock tests are important. They help the students improve speed, manage time and know how much time to spend on a particular question.

Read more:

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About the Author
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Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content
Saumya brings over seven years of editorial experience, with more than five years of wielding pen (and keyboard) at Shiksha. A graduate in English Literature from Delhi University, she is a storyteller at heart. A t Read Full Bio
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Student Forum

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Answered 2 weeks ago

Candidates can download JK SET answer key PDF using the following steps:

  1. Visit the official website 
  2. Click on the 'Display/ Challenge Answer Key' link
  3. Accept the declaration
  4. Enter the roll number and mobile number
  5. Download the key PDF

P

Pragati Datta

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

SET application process 2026 is expected to begin in the second week of December 2025. The application window for the Symbiosis SET exam is usually open for approximately four month. The SET registration 2026 is expected to continue till April 2026. 

The SET exam application schedule is announced onl

...Read more

V

Vikram Hazarika

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Candidates seeking admission in BBA (Hons) programme of SCMS Pune must pass Symbiosis Entrance Test or SET. Symbiosis International (Deemed University) conducts SET once in a year in online mode for one hour. Those who pass SET are further called for a PI round for admission. Once selected, aspirant

...Read more

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 2 months ago

Candidates can only attempt the SET exam twice on the given test dates. The SET exam 2026 is expected to be conducted on two dates, likely in the first and second week of May 2026. The SET exam 2026 will likely be conducted on two days (one session each day).

Candidates can mention their number of at

...Read more

S

Shruti Tyagi

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

SET application process 2026 is expected to begin in the second week of December 2025. The SET exam 2026 will likely be conducted in the first and second week of May 2026.

The SET exam application schedule will be announced online. The SET exam application process begins with filling out the SET exam

...Read more

R

Rashmi Chatterjee

Beginner-Level 5