The General English section of the SET exam is usually easy, but it is an important section. Read key tips to crack the General English section of Symbiosis SET exam in the article below.
- Symbiosis SET General English 2026: An Overview
- Key Topics to Cover in SET General English
- Symbiosis SET 2026 General English Syllabus
- Best Books for SET Preparation 2026: General English
- Preparation Tips to Score Well in Symbiosis SET General English Section
Symbiosis SET General English 2026: An Overview
As per the past few years' SET exam analysis, the General English section of the SET exam is easy. This section assesses the candidate’s hold on the English language. The section could be scoring as it does not involve any formulae and theorems to remember and solely depends on how well you know the basics. The General English section examines the aspirant’s understanding of basic grammar, vocabulary and use and application of the English language. Look at some of the important points to remember below:
- There are 16 multiple-choice questions in the General English section
- Each question carries one mark
- There will be no negative markings in case of wrong attempts
- An attempt of 10-13 questions with accuracy will be considered a good attempt
Also Read: SET exam pattern 2026
No, the SET exam will be conducted in a single shift. SET exam is usually conducted in a single shift for one hour, i. e. from 9 AM to 10 AM. The exam was, however, is conducted on two days.
However, in 2020, the SET exam was conducted in the remote-proctored mode in order to follow the social distancing guidelines for COVID-19, and the students had the option to choose the exam slot according to their preference and convenience. SET exam pattern was also changed after 2020.
Candidates must report to the SET exam centre at least an hour before the commencement of the exam. The SET exam will take place at 9 AM at various test centres, hence, candidates must reach the exam centre the latest by 07:30 AM. Candidates will not be allowed to leave the exam centre before 10:00 AM (morning session). Also, they can not re-enter the exam centre once they have submitted the exam.
Key Topics to Cover in SET General English
Although the complete SET syllabus is important for a strategic and strong preparation, mentioned below are some of the key topics to cover in SET General English preparation:
1. Reading Comprehension: These are short passages with inference, fact-based questions. These may also include vocabulary questions.
2. Grammar and Usage: Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks and sentence correction are some of the key topics for the SET exam preparation.
3. Vocabulary: This section of the General English syllabus will include one-word substitution, synonyms and antonyms, word usage, etc.
4. Sentence Completion: This part of the General English section may include sentence completion, para jumbles and rearrangement of phrases to form proper sentences.
Also Read: Types of Sentences
5. Critical Reasoning: This element is not usually included but appears sometimes. This includes important topics such as arrangements, assumptions and conclusions, analogies, etc.
Symbiosis SET 2026 General English Syllabus
The questions in the General English section of the SET exam can be asked from the topics mentioned below. Check the following table to know the important topics:
Important topics for SET 2026 General English Section |
|
---|---|
Error Spotting |
|
Grammar and Parts of Speech: Types, Exercises with Answers, Grammar Rules, Examples |
|
Fill in the blanks |
|
Paraphrasing in English | |
Also Read:
Pronouns with exercises and answers | Subject-Verb Agreement worksheet and answers | 12 Tenses in English: Examples, Exercises with Answers |
Best Books for SET Preparation 2026: General English
The following is the list of best books for the General English section of the SET exam. Check the recommended books below:
Book name |
Author/Publisher |
---|---|
High School English Grammar and Composition Key |
Wren and Martin |
Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis |
Objective General English |
SP Bakshi |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT |
Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay |
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To crack the General English section, read as much as you can. It is a tried and tested method. Developing a reading habit will be helpful to score well in this section. Make it a habit to read newspapers, magazines, books and novels to strengthen your vocabulary and grammar. Refer to various study materials and help books available online and offline.
Also Read: Best books for SET exam preparation
Quantitative Aptitude Preparation Tips for Symbiosis SET Exam 2026 | Logical Reasoning Preparation Tips for SET |
Preparation Tips to Score Well in Symbiosis SET General English Section
As mentioned above, to ace this section, one needs to have a stronghold over the basics of the language. Reading enough will help you score well in the exam. Check out some of the SET preparation tips to crack the General English section below:
- Develop a habit of reading newspapers, magazines, books, etc. Make sure you read something daily for an hour. Jot down the new and unfamiliar words that you come across and immediately check the meaning of those words. This will help in improving your reading skills and at the same time enrich your vocabulary. The English comprehension skills can be improved with reading.
- Try understanding the root meaning when approaching the vocabulary section. Read about the meanings of prefixes and suffixes and focus on etymology. There are many words that change meanings in different contexts. Study words in terms of their meaning, origin and usage. Focus on understanding the nuances, context, usage, structure and formation of the words and sentences.
- Practicing as much as you can will help in the Grammar section. Begin the SET preparation by studying the fundamentals. Make short note of definitions with examples and regularly revise them. Questions like editing and omitting and word substitution are the most common Grammar questions in entrance exams. Prepare for grammar like Maths. There is no other way of acing questions based on English grammar but by having conceptual clarity of the fundamentals.
- To attempt the reading comprehension passages, develop reading speed. Speed is a critical component of the exam. Reading quickly and carefully is important to tactfully attempt the questions. The passages are usually easy but still require careful reading. Make sure you read the passage first and then the questions. Read the questions twice just to be clear on what is asked.
- Revision goes a long way in preparation for any competitive exam. Attempt an ample number of sample papers and mock tests after completing the syllabus. Practice and read as much as you can. These two will help you get through the General English section with a good score in hand. Even though there is no negative marking, but attempt those questions first which you are sure of. You can always come back to a tricky question and attempt it later. Having said that, another thing to keep in mind is that SET is a time-based exam hence candidates must keep a check on that too.
No, the SET exam cannot be given remotely. Every year the SET exam is conducted in the computer-based test mode. In 2021, the exam was however conducted in the internet-based test mode because of the coronavirus pandemic. Ever since, the SET exam has always been conducted in the computer-based test mode (CBT). To take the exam, candidates have to visit the SET exam centre and take the exam online. They can choose upto three preferred SET test cities during the SET exam registration. Candidates must reach the test centre at least an hour before the commencement of the exam in order to avoid any hassle on the exam and complete the frisking formalities at the exam GATE smoothly.
SET exam is held in about 80 test cities across the country. An applicant can select up to three test cities during the SET application process. They should choose the test city carefully as the request to change the test city later may or may not be accepted due to non-availability of seats at the centres in that particular city. Given below are the cities where SET exam is usually held.
Agra, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Karnal, Ahmednagar, Kochi, Ernakulam, Ajmer, Aligarh, Kolhapur, Allahabad, Ambala, Amritsar, Amravati, Kota, Kolkata, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Asansol, Aurangabad, Bareilly, Bengaluru, Bhilai, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Mohali, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuttak, Dehradun, Madhurai, Ludhiana, Meerut, Mumbai, Mysuru, Nagpur, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Panipat, Panjim, Patiala, Patna, Delhi, Port Blair, Dhanbad, Dibrugarh, Faridabad, Gandhinagar, Gangtok, Guwahati, Gwalior, Hoogly, Hyderabad, Indore, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Roorkee, Shillong, Shimla, Siliguri, Surat, Thane, Thiruvanathapuram, Thrissur, Jalandhar, Jamshedpur, Jhansi, Jodhpur, Vadodara, Udaipur, Varanasi, Vijayawada and Vishakhapatnam.

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Student Forum
Answered a month ago
Candidates can download JK SET answer key PDF using the following steps:
- Visit the official website
- Click on the 'Display/ Challenge Answer Key' link
- Accept the declaration
- Enter the roll number and mobile number
- Download the key PDF
P
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
V
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
N
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
S
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
R
Beginner-Level 5
The Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) is a national-level entrance test conducted for admission to various undergraduate courses provided by Symbiosis International (Deemed University). Usually, the SET exam is conducted in the first or second week of May every year. The SET exam date varies each year and is released along with the complete SET exam schedule on the official website. The SET exam is usually conducted only once a year. The SET admission cycle generally concludes in a month or two.