SET Books 2026: Check out best books for exam preparation

Q: Can I use IPMAT preparation books for SET exam preparation?

Yes, IPMAT books can be used for the SET exam preparation as both are BBA entrance exams. Candidates can use the same books for preparing for topics such as Quantitative Aptitude and General English. However, the difficulty level of the SET exam is much easier as compared to that of the IPMAT exam. To prepare for other sections of the SET exam such as Analytical and Logical Reasoning and General Knowledge, candidates should refer to the subject-specific preparation books. To prepare well of the SET exam, candidates must also solve previous years' question papers and sample papers in order to know the important topics in the exam, structure, weightage of the topics, etc.

Q: What is the difficulty level of SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test)?

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.

Q: Which are the best books to read for the Logical Reasoning section of SET exam?

The Logical Reasoning section of the SET exam is usually moderately difficult. Some of the recommended books for the Logical Reasoning section are as follows: Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning by Pearson Publications A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by R. S Aggarwal Logical and Analytical Ability by Ashok Gupta. Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey A New Approach to Reasoning by BS Sijawali and Sijawali Multi-dimensional Reasoning by Mishra Kumar and Dr. Lal Logical and Analytical Reasoning by K Gupta A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal.

Q: What are the best books for SET BBA preparation?

SET exam preparation requires the best books for SET exam. Listed below are some of the best books for SET BBA exam: General English: Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin, Objective General English by SP Bakshi General Awareness: Manorama Yearbook, Pratiyogita Darpan, Lucent's General Knowledge, Current Affairs Magazines (e.g., Competition Success Review, Pratiyogita Darpan) Quantitative Aptitude: Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal, Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma, NCERT Mathematics textbooks of Class 9 and 10 Analytical & Logical Reasoning: A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit K. Sinha,

Q: Which are the best books for the preparation of Quantitative section of the SET exam?

The best books for Quantitative Aptitude preparation of SET exam are listed below. These are the recommended books by experts. NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10) Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal The NCERT Mathematics book is recommended for SET preparation because it is the best source of building or revisiting the fundamentals of Algebra Geometry, Trigonometry Mensuration Number Systems and Arithmetic. The NCERT books are extremely helpful to students from non-Engineering background. Quantitative Aptitude books by Arun Sharma, Abhijit Guha, Nishit Sinha and RS Aggarwal are the main books for SET preparation as well as other BBA and MBA entrance exams. These books cover all the topics at intermediate and advanced level. They also have many sample questions of easy, moderate and high difficulty levels for practice.

Q: What is the benefit of having SET books?

Preparing for the SET exam from books and study material recommended by experts is important in order to gain an in-depth knowledge on different topics included in the SET syllabus. SET reference books contain detailed information on each topic of SET syllabus and will acquaint the students with SET exam pattern and difficulty level of the questions. In addition, they also contain solved sample papers, which may or may not be present in online resources always. It is always a wise decision to refer to more than one book for SET exam. Test takers can make use of the additional information available in the books while preparing for SET exam. Cracking a competitive exam becomes easier with the right set of books and study material.

Q: What is the syllabus for SET?

SET syllabus includes all the important topics of subjects that are relevant for business and general aptitude. For the SET exam, candidates have to study, English Quantitative Aptitude General Knowledge and Analytical Reasoning. Given below are the key topics included in the SET syllabus: - The General English section of the SET exam syllabus includes various topics of Grammar, Word Meaning, Vocabulary, Para jumbles, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Completion, Synonyms and Antonyms, Reading Comprehension, etc. - The Quantitative Aptitude section of the SET syllabus includes all the topics of Mathematics from Class 9 to 10 such as Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra Trigonometry Modern Math, Number Systems and Mensuration. - The General Knowledge section of the SET exam syllabus includes topics on Current Affairs politics, sports Science, people and personalities, global news, awards and accolades, etc. - The Analytical and Logical Reasoning syllabus of SET exam includes topics that require analytical interpretation of data presented in the form of Puzzles, Pie Charts, Venn Diagrams, Tables and Bar Graphs.

Q: Can I prepare for SET exam at home?

If you have a good study plan, you can study independently at home for the SET exam. This exam is conducted only once a year and is relatively easier than other BBA entrance exams. The following is advice from professionals on how to create a SET study plan: Using the SET syllabus as a guide, make a list of the subjects that the study materials must cover. Plan your study time on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis according to the time available. Analyze previous SET tests to note important topics. You can find a mentor to assist you or join any online study group. To enable thorough planning, assign a time limit to each section. Start reading newspaper and magazine editorials to gain a command of the verbal skill section. For the quantitative section, read the basic concepts and formulas from school textbooks. Examine your progress through mock tests on a monthly basis. Keep analyzing and improving your score over time until test day. Set your score to meet the cutoff for the college to which you want to apply.

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

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: Which are the best books for the General English section of the SET question paper?

The General English section of the SET exam is usually easier than the other two sections. This section of the SET question paper is based on English usage and Grammar. The General English section aims to assess the candidate’s hold on language comprehension, grammar and vocabulary. The section examines the candidates on how well they comprehend the given data, analyse the question, vocabulary, grammar, etc. Name of the Book Author/ Publication Word Power Made Easy Norman Lewis High School English Grammar and Composition Wren and Martin Pearson Guide to IIM Indore-IPM Entrance Examination Pearson Objective General English SP Bakshi

205 Students Q&A

This exam is conducted for courses given below:

BBA BCA BA Mass Communication BSc Eco/Eco (H)

Updated on Sep 28, 2025 16:26 IST

By Saumya Jain, Assistant Manager- Content

SET books 2026: Students interested in taking the SET exam 2026 should get hold of the best and recommended SET books to score well in the exam. The best way to prepare for the SET exam is through studying with the right set of books and study materials. Various SET books also have SET practice question papers based on the concepts studied in the SET book.

SET is a gateway to the Symbiosis Institutes for admission into the BBA programme. Symbiosis International (Deemed) University will conduct the SET exam in about 80 cities across India. Choosing the right preparation books is an integral part of any entrance exam preparation. Shiksha brings you a compilation of best books for SET exam 2026.

Table of content

Best Books for SET Exam 2026
How to Choose the Best Books for SET Exam 2026
Section-wise Best Books for SET 2026
FAQs on SET Preparation Books

Best Books for SET Exam 2026

It is very important to have a good set of SET exam books and study material to ace the entrance test. Candidates must know that choosing the best books for SET exam 2026 is an imperative part of SET exam preparation. In order to have a stronghold over the SET syllabus 2026, having the best books for SET and study material is also very crucial. Read below to know the section-wise best books for SET.

Also Read:

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the syllabus for SET?

Q: Can I prepare for SET exam at home?

How to Choose the Best Books for SET Exam 2026

Take a look at the factors which must be kept in mind before choosing the best books for SET.

SET syllabus: While choosing the study material for the SET exam, you must keep in mind that the books that you choose must cover the entire SET syllabus. It must cover all the important topics which can be asked in the SET question paper.
Edition: The books that you choose should be of the most recent edition which must contain the latest topics and syllabus
Solved Sample Papers: A book with solved SET sample papers will be of great help. Sample papers give you an insight into the SET exam pattern, type of questions and at the same time help you in analysing your progress.

Also Read: Is IPMAT tougher than SET?

Commonly asked questions

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

Q: Which are the best books for the General English section of the SET question paper?

Section-wise Best Books for SET 2026

Check out the section-wise best books for all the sections of the SET exam in the tables below.

Best Books for General English Section

This section of the SET 2026 question paper comprises topics such as Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Sentence Completion, Phrases and Idioms, Prepositions, Error Spotting, Analogy, etc. Look at the table below to know the important books for the General English section.

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

Best Books for Quantitative Aptitude Section

Check the table below to know the best books for the Quantitative Aptitude section of the SET question paper. The section includes topics such as Number systems, Graphs, Arithmetic Equations, Ratio and Proportion, Time, Speed and Distance, Probability, etc.

Book Name	Author/ Publisher
Quantitative Aptitude for All Competitive Examinations	Abhijit Guha
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination	RS Aggarwal
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic	Arihant Publications
NCERT Mathematics Book for 9^th and 12^th class	NCERT

Best Books for Logical Reasoning Section

This section of the SET question paper comprises topics such as Verbal Reasoning, Blood Relations, Analogy, Coding and Series, Syllogisms, Assumptions, Venn Diagram, etc. Check out the best books for Logical Reasoning section in the table below.

Book Name	Author/ Publisher
A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning	R.S. Aggarwal
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT	Arun Sharma
Analytical and Logical Reasoning for CAT & Other Management Exams	Peeyush Bharadwaj
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT	Nishit K. Sinha

Best Books for General Knowledge Section

This section of the SET exam has topics related to Current Affairs, Awards, the Latest Trends, Sports, Events, etc. The best study material for this section would be newspapers such as The Hindu, Financial Express, and Economic Times, etc. and magazines such as India Today, Business Today, Wall Street Journal, etc. Candidates should also be updated with the latest trends. For static GK, candidates can refer to the Manorama Year Book. Also Read: Current Affairs Guide

Read More:

Tips to prepare for GK	How to ace the General English section of SET
Tips and tricks to ace the Quant section	How to score well in Logical Reasoning section: Tips and Tricks
SET cutoff	SET application form
SET counselling	SET admit card

Commonly asked questions

Q: Can I use IPMAT preparation books for SET exam preparation?

Q: What is the difficulty level of SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test)?

View list of Books

FAQs on SET Preparation Books

Check some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on SET books.

Commonly asked questions

Q: Which are the best books to read for the Logical Reasoning section of SET exam?

Q: What are the best books for SET BBA preparation?

Q: Which are the best books for the preparation of Quantitative section of the SET exam?

Q: What is the benefit of having SET books?

SET Exam

Student Forum

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How to Download JK SET Answer Key?

Answered 3 weeks 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

Pragati Datta

Beginner-Level 5

When will SET application form 2026 release?

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

Vikram Hazarika

Beginner-Level 5

Is SET compulsory for admission at SCMS Pune?

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

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

How many attempts will be allowed for the SET 2026 exam?

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

Shruti Tyagi

Beginner-Level 5

What are the SET 2026 registration dates?

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

Rashmi Chatterjee

Beginner-Level 5

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