SET Exam Pattern 2026: Check Latest Pattern, Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

Q: How many sections does the SET BBA exam have?

The SET question paper is divided into four sections, I. e, Analytical and Logical Reasoning, General English Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness. All the sections carry multiple-choice questions and each question carries one mark. There is no negative marking in the SET exam but the students have to complete the exam within one hour. Given below is the number of questions in each section: General English- 16 Quantitative Aptitude- 16 General Knowledge- 16 Analytical and Logical Reasoning- 12 There is a total of 60 questions in the SET question paper which are divided across these four sections.

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: What is the sectional weightage of SET exam?

SET exam has four sections having multiple-choice questions. The sectional weightage of each section of the SET question paper is different. The General English, Quantitative Aptitude and General Knowledge sections have 16 questions. Each question carries one mark. The Analytical and Logical Reasoning section of the SET question paper has12 multiple-choice questions and each question carries one mark. For incorrect answers, there is no negative marking. The detailed SET sectional weightage is given below: Subject Questions Marks General English 16 16 Quantitative 16 16 General Awareness 16 16 Analytical and Logical Reasoning 12 12 Total 60 60

Q: Will the SET BBA exam be conducted in double shifts?

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.

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: Which section of the SET exam has the least weightage?

Three out of the four sections of the SET exam namely, General English, Quantitative Aptitude and General Knowledge, have equal weightage. Each question carries one mark for correct attempt. There is neither a negative marking for incorrectly marked answers nor there is marks deduction for unanswered question. The last section of the SET exam, i.e. Analytical and Logical Reasoning carries the least weightage. There are only 12 questions in this section which carry one mark each. The marking scheme of all the four sections is the same. Given below is the sectional weightage of SET exam. General English: 16 questions, 16 marks General Knowledge: 16 questions, 16 marks Quantitative Aptitude: 16 questions, 16 marks Analytical and Logical Reasoning: 12 questions, 12 marks One should prepare well for all the sections of the SET exam. If you will score equally well in every section, only then will your overall score will be good. Also, many colleges consider sectional scores as well for admission shortlist so it is important to perform equally well in all sections of SET.

Q: What is the marking scheme of SET test?

SET has a total of 60 questions. The General English Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness sections carry 16 questions and the Analytical and Logical Reasoning section carries 12 questions. For each correct attempt, one mark is awarded and one mark is deducted for an incorrect attempt. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Therefore, the total marks of SET is 60. The sectional marking scheme for SET is given below: 1. General English 16 2. Analytical and Logical Reasoning: 12 3. Quantitative Ability: 16 4. General Knowledge: 16 Candidates must choose the questions to solve very carefully and smartly as they will not be awarded marks for incorrect answers. If they are not sure of the correct answer, they should leave the question instead of taking a chance.

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

Q: What are the important topics of the Analytical and Logical Reasoning section in SET question paper?

The Analytical and Logical Reasoning section of the SET question paper is considered the toughest of all the sections of the SET exam. This section of the exam mainly consists of topics from Analytical Reasoning and Critical Reasoning. Some of the important topics of the Analytical and Logical Reasoning that the students should not miss include: 1. Syllogisms 2. Critical Reasoning 3. Cause and Effect 4. Statement and Conclusion 5. Strong and Weak Arguments 6. Coding and Decoding 7. Statement and Inference 8. Data Sufficiency 9. Data Interpretation 10. Arrangements

Q: Are there any subjective-type questions in the SET exam?

No, there are no subjective-type or long form answer questions in the SET exam. The SET question paper only has 60 multiple-choice questions that are to be solved in one hour or 60 minutes. Candidates must attempt all the sections keeping in mind that the exam has negative marking. Candidates must note that each question in the SET question paper will have four options. They will be required to choose the correct answer and select the radio button against the answer. If the candidate marks two options for a particular answer, then that answer will be considered incorrect. Each question in the SET carries one mark and one mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer. No marks are awarded or deducted for unattempted questions.

205 Students Q&A

This exam is conducted for courses given below:

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

Updated on Aug 13, 2025 15:29 IST

By Saumya Jain, Assistant Manager- Content

SET exam pattern 2026 will likely be the same as last year. Symbiosis International (Deemed University) prescribes the exam pattern for the SET exam. There are four sections, and each section has 16 MCQs except Analytical and Logical Reasoning. The exam is 60 minutes long without any negative marking.

SET exam 2026 is expected to be held in the second week of May 2026, in computer-based test mode (CBT). The SET exam will be conducted across various exam centres in the country. The nature and structure of the SET exam have not changed in the past few years. The SET is usually conducted for one hour in the morning shift.

The SET question paper 2026 will have four sections with multiple-choice questions. The Analytical and Logical Reasoning section carries the least number of questions. Candidates appearing for the exam can check the SET exam pattern, mentioning question paper details such as subjects, marks, sectional weightage and other test details here.

SET Exam Structure and Details

Duration: 60 minutes
Mode: Online
Sections:
- General English
- General Knowledge
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Analytical and Logical Reasoning
Question Type: Multiple-choice questions

Q: What is the sectional weightage of SET exam?

Q: Will the SET BBA exam be conducted in double shifts?

Table of content

SET Exam Pattern 2026
SET Marking Scheme 2026
SET 2026 Exam Pattern: Key Points
FAQs on SET Exam Pattern

SET Exam Pattern 2026

Get an overview of the SET exam pattern 2026 in the table below.

Features	Details
Exam mode	Computer-Based Test mode
Test duration	60 minutes
Sessions	One
Exam timings	9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Type of questions	Objective-type question with four options each
Marks per question	1 mark
Negative marking	There will be no negative marking in case of wrong attempts

The candidates must note that they cannot carry a calculator or electronic gadget to the exam centre. Since the SET exam is an online entrance exam, the candidates will have to key in or select the right answer on the computer screen. Thus, it is important for them to practice at home and familiarise themselves with the online examination mode. Candidates will be provided with rough sheet for calculations.

Also Read:

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the syllabus for SET?

Q: Which section of the SET exam has the least weightage?

Q: What is the marking scheme of SET test?

SET Marking Scheme 2026

The SET question paper will be divided into four sections. Refer to the table below to know the sectional weightage of the question paper.

Subject	Questions	Marks
General English	16	16
Quantitative	16	16
General Awareness	16	16
Analytical and Logical Reasoning	12	12
Total	60	60

Also Read:

Tips to prepare for the Quantitative section in SET

How to ace the General English section of SET exam 2026

SET 2026: Tips and tricks to prepare for Logical Reasoning

Commonly asked questions

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

Q: What are the important topics of the Analytical and Logical Reasoning section in SET question paper?

SET 2026 Exam Pattern: Key Points

Given below are some key points for the SET exam pattern 2026:

Since the SET exam is a computer-based test, the candidates are not required to keep any stationery items on the exam day.
Each applicant will be given a rough paper and pen/pencil for rough work on the exam day.
Candidates cannot leave their seats during the exam.
There is no negative marking in the exam.
Candidates must not carry any electronic gadget to the exam centre and must not indulge in malpractice of any kind. If caught, they will be disbarred from the exam.

Read More:

Commonly asked questions

Q: Are there any subjective-type questions in the SET exam?

Q: What is the SET exam duration and exam slot?

Q: Is there negative marking in the SET exam?

FAQs on SET Exam Pattern

Check some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on SET pattern:

Commonly asked questions

Q: How many sections does the SET BBA exam have?

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

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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