SET BA Mass Communication Syllabus 2026: Download Latest Syllabus PDF

Symbiosis Entrance Test 2026 ( SET )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 15 Apr '26

This exam is conducted for courses given below:
Saumya Jain
Updated on Feb 18, 2026 13:15 IST

By Saumya Jain, Assistant Manager- Content

SET exam syllabus 2026 is spread across four sections of the SET question paper, i.e. General English, Quantitative, General Awareness and Analytical & Logical Reasoning. Each section of the SET 2026 syllabus focuses on a specific skill and knowledge. But, the Symbiosis International (Deemed University) does not prescribe any specific syllabus.

SET exam question paper 2026 will carry multiple choice questions. The weightage of the questions and topics varies in each section. It is important to know the SET syllabus to ace the exam. The syllabus has remained unchanged for the past few years and this year too it is the same.

The difficulty level of Symbiosis SET exam is usually easy to moderate every year, and for SET exam 2026 will be notified after the exam. Students appearing for the exam must have conceptual and basic clarity of important topics of SET exam syllabus.

Table of contents
  • SET Exam Syllabus 2026 Highlights
  • SET Syllabus 2026: Most Important Topics
  • SET Exam 2026 Syllabus PDF Download
  • Symbiosis SET Exam Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Topics
  • SET 2026 Exam Pattern
  • SET Preparation Tips 2026
  • Best Books for SET Preparation 2026
  • FAQs Related to SET Syllabus
View More
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SET Exam Syllabus 2026 Highlights

Here is highlights of SET exam 2026 syllabus:

  • SET question paper is based on latest SET exam pattern 2026 and syllabus
  • Exam authority, Symbiosis Institute, does not prescribe a specific SET syllabus
  • The topics in SET syllabus aim to assess a candidate’s aptitude in various management skills
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Are Class 12th Maths questions asked in SET exam?
A: 

Questions on mathematics in the SET exam are based on Class 10 and Class 12 levels. The SET entrance is a popular BBA exam that the students can take after Class 12. The difficulty level of the SET exam is usually easy. The SET question paper is divided into four sections, i.e. General English, Quantitative Aptitude, General Knowledge and Logical Reasoning. The QA (Maths) is an important section of the SET exam and usually of a moderate difficulty level. The exam is a test of your speed and ability to pick and solve the right questions. Class 10 and Class 12 Maths dominate the exam. To score well in the SET exam, students must be very clear with the concepts of NCERT Mathematics. 

Subject

Questions

Marks

General English

16

16

Quantitative

16

16

General Awareness

16

16

Analytical and Logical Reasoning

12

12

Total

60

60

Q:   How to crack SET in first attempt?
A: 

To crack SET exam in first attempt, students should have a preparation plan for 3 to 6 months bifurcated according to topics, strengths and knowledge of students. Students should consistently practice to fetch good SET scores. 

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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SET Syllabus 2026: Most Important Topics

As mentioned before, SIU does not prescribe any specific syllabus for SET. But, Shiksha has analyzed the PYQs and trends, and here are the most important topics of the SET 2026 exam. There are mainly four sections of the syllabus, which further have subtopics. These are:

Section Most Important Topics
General English

Figures of Speech, Antonyms, Vocabulary, Grammar, Idioms and Phrases, Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Parts of Speech

Quantitative Aptitude

Ratio and Proportion, Profit Loss and Discount, Time, Speed and Distance, Number System, Algebra, Permutation and Combination, Probability

Analytical & Logical Reasoning

Syllogisms, Blood Relations, Coding and Decoding, Puzzles, Cause and Effect, Venn Diagram, Statements and Conclusion

General Knowledge

Current Affairs, History, Politics, Companies, CEOs and Founders, Books and Authors, Discoveries, Sports

Also Read: Top Symbiosis Colleges Accepting SET for BBA Admissions 2026

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Which are the high weightage topics for SET exam?
A: 

General English: Synonyms, Antonyms, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, correct grammar usage and their rules

Quantitative: Geometry, Algebra, Statistics.

General Awareness: General knowledge and current affairs. 

Analytical Reasoning: Coding and decoding, Data interpretation, True or false statements, Probably true or false statements, etc. 

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

General English section of SET exam important books are:

Name of the BookAuthor/ 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
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SET Exam 2026 Syllabus PDF Download

Candidates preparing for SET 2026 exam can download syllabus PDF below. To prepare and crack the Symbiosis SET exam, along with the best books for SET, prepare for the important topics and subtopics mentioned in the free SET syllabus PDF linked below:

SET Syllabus 2026 PDF Download

 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When will the Symbiosis SET 2026 exam be conducted?
A: 

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. 

Q:   How to download SET syllabus PDF?
A: 

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
Q:   Is SET BBA exam difficult for students who have not studied Maths in high school?
A: 

Students can prepare for SET exam even if they have not studied mathematics in high school. To prepare for mathematics component of SET exam students can start their SET preparation by learning formulas and theorems. The difficulty level of the QA section is slightly higher than rest sections but with practice, even a non-maths student can score well. 

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Symbiosis SET Exam Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Topics

Listed below are section-wise SET syllabus topics which the students must study for their SET exam preparation 2026. The weightage of the topics may vary in each section. Check below the syllabus for the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) for each section of the question paper:

SET syllabus

SET syllabus 2026

SET 2026 Syllabus for General English: Section 1

The General English section will have 16 questions. Refer to the table below to know the important topics in the General English section.

SET syllabus for the General English section

English Synonyms

Antonyms

Error Spotting

Fill in the blanks

Analogy

Prepositions

Articles in English

Grammar

English Vocabulary

Types of Tenses: Rules, Structure, Definition

Pronouns

Subject and Predicate

Also Read: How to prepare for the General English section of SET exam 2026

SET Syllabus 2026 for Quantitative Aptitude: Section 2

The QA section will have 16 questions in the MCQ format. Refer to the table below to know the important topics of the Quant section.

SET syllabus for the Quantitative section

Percentage

Profit and Loss

Discount

Time, Speed and Distance

Algebra

Time and Work

Number System

Permutation and Combination

Probability

Also Read: How to score well in the SET 2026 Quantitative Skills section

SET Exam Syllabus 2026 for Analytical and Logical Reasoning: Section 3

The Analytical and Logical Reasoning section carries the least number of questions, i.e. 12 questions. The students must have conceptual clarity to ace the section as most of the questions in this section are logic-based. Refer to the table below to know the important topics of the Logical Reasoning section.

SET exam syllabus for the Logical Reasoning section

Arrangement

Series

Blood Relations

Venn Diagram

Syllogism

Assumptions

Verbal Reasoning (cause and effect)

Situation-based Decision Making

Also Read: Tips to prepare for the Logical Reasoning section of SET exam 2026

SET Syllabus 2026 for General Awareness: Section 4

This section also carries 16 questions. The questions will be based on current affairs and static GK. Refer to the table below to know the important topics of the General Awareness section.

SET exam syllabus for the General Awareness section

Companies and Founders

Awards

Sports

Books and Authors

Science

Current Affairs

Check:

Analytical Reasoning questions with answers Quantitative Skills questions with answers Verbal Ability questions with answers Current Affairs Guide
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is there negative marking in the SET exam?
A: 

No, SET exam does not have negative marking. Each question in SET exam carries one mark and if answer is incorrect, no marks will be awarded for that question. 

Q:   Where can I download the SET exam syllabus from?
A: 

The SET syllabus is not available for download because the SET exam authority, SIU, does not provide any details other than the exam sections related to the SET syllabus. Aspirants who want to appear in SET can refer to the syllabus of other BBA entrance exams similar to SET to get an idea of the topics associated with the SET syllabus. However, students can check the SET syllabus and important topics for SET preparation on Shiksha pages. 

Q:   How to prepare for SET exam?
A: 
  1. Understand the pattern of the question paper for your subject.
  2. Examine previous year's questions to determine the requirements of each section.
  3. SET question papers mostly consist of four sections, including English Quant, GK, and Reasoning.
  4. Collect study material accordingly to study each concept in detail.
  5. Make a proper study plan as per the time available and strengths in each section.
  6. Take brief notes on important topics to aid in revision.
  7. Practice as much as you can via sample papers to prepare well for SET exam day.
View Syllabus
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SET 2026 Exam Pattern

SET exam pattern is similar to most of the BBA entrance exams in terms of the overall structure. The SET question paper includes multiple-choice questions. Check below the highlights of the SET exam pattern 2026:

  • All the sections in the SET question paper are mandatory to attempt.
  • One mark will be awarded for every right attempt and there is no negative marking.
  • The total marks for the SET exam will be 60, one mark per question. 
  • SET exam will be held in Computer-Based-Test mode.
  • The exam duration will be 60 minutes or one hour. The exam will be conducted from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. 
  • There will be no sectional time limit in SET.
  • The difficulty level of the SET exam is usually easy to moderate

Also Read: Is IPMAT Indore tougher than the SET exam?

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the sectional weightage of SET exam?
A: 

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?
A: 

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. 

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SET Preparation Tips 2026

SET 2026 exam preparation requires time and dedication. To prepare for the SET exam, students should begin by knowing the paper pattern and covering the SET Symbiosis syllabus. The main aim of the student who is preparing for the SET exam should be practicing PYQs and SET mock tests. Mock tests are a great source of good preparation. Using online and offline study materials to prepare for the exam will help the student score well in the SET exam. Students will have a limited time to attempt all four sections and 60 questions overall of the SET question paper. They will not get a lot of time to ponder which section to attempt or the questions they want to opt out of or attempt last. Therefore, knowing the exam pattern will add to the skill of solving the exam faster. 

Read More:

SET BBA 2026 Preparation Tips for Class 12 Students: 6 Month Plan

How to prepare for SET exam 2026 in three months How to prepare for SET exam in one month

How to prepare for SET 2026 General English

Symbiosis SET Cutoff 2026 (Expected) SET vs MAH BBA CET

 

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is SET easy or tough?
A: 

SET is conducted for BBA admissions at Symbiosis International University. SET is considered easy to moderate in terms of the difficulty. 

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Best Books for SET Preparation 2026

Choosing right SET books is very important to cover the SET syllabus. Candidates can refer to the IPMAT books as well to prepare for the SET exam, as the syllabus for both is similar. Check the best books for SET exam preparation below:

Best Books for General English Section of SET Exam 2026

Students can refer to the books mentioned below to prepare for the General English section of the SET exam:

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 Logical and Analytical Reasoning Section of SET 2026 Exam

Students can refer to the books mentioned below to prepare for the LR section of the SET exam:

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 Quantitative Aptitude Section of SET 2026

Students can refer to the books mentioned below to prepare for the QA section of the SET exam:

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 9th and 12th class

NCERT

Best Books for General Knowledge Section of SET Exam

Students can refer to the books mentioned below to prepare for the GK section of the SET exam:

This section of the SET exam has topics on Current Affairs, Awards, the Latest Trends, Sports, Events, etc. The best study material for this section of the SET exam would be newspapers such as The Hindu, Financial Express, and Economic Times, as well as 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 Yearbook. 

Also Read: Symbiosis SET vs MAH BBA CET: Which is Better for BBA Admissions 2026?

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the important topics of the General English section of SET exam?
A: 
Like other management entrance exams, the General English section is divided into Reading Comprehension and English Usage. There are a few comprehension passages while the topics of English usage are as follows: 1. Synonyms 2. Antonyms 3. Grammar 4. Fill in the blanks 5. Word meanings 6. Vocabulary 7. Parajumbles 8. Idioms and Phrases 9. Error Identification 10. Para Formation Questions (PFQs) 11. Correct statement 12. Cloze 13. Incorrect word/phrase.
Q:   What are the important topics of General Knowledge section of SET exam?
A: 
The General Knowledge section of SET is usually of a higher difficulty level but it can be completed in maximum 15 minutes. The questions pertain to static GK and Current Affairs. Topics included in SET GK section are: 1. Business 2. Politics 3. Awards 4. Inventions 5. Science and Technology 6. Sports 7. Society 8. World 9. Advertising 10. Books and Authors 11. Entertainment 12. History 13. Geography 14. Politics.
Q:   Is SET BBA exam difficult for students who have not studied Maths in high school?
A: 

Students can prepare for SET exam even if they have not studied mathematics in high school. To prepare for mathematics component of SET exam students can start their SET preparation by learning formulas and theorems. The difficulty level of the QA section is slightly higher than rest sections but with practice, even a non-maths student can score well. 

View list of Books
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FAQs Related to SET Syllabus

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

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How many questions do I have to answer in the SET exam?
A: 

SET exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. Each question carries one mark, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers. Candidates should however be cautious while answering the questions as accuracy is key a player in scoring well in the SET exam. Practicing previous years' papers can help in understanding the question pattern and managing time effectively.

Since there are no optional questions in the SET exam, all 60 MCQs are compulsory. 

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

Important topics are:

  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:   How to prepare for SET exam?
A: 
  1. Understand the pattern of the question paper for your subject.
  2. Examine previous year's questions to determine the requirements of each section.
  3. SET question papers mostly consist of four sections, including English Quant, GK, and Reasoning.
  4. Collect study material accordingly to study each concept in detail.
  5. Make a proper study plan as per the time available and strengths in each section.
  6. Take brief notes on important topics to aid in revision.
  7. Practice as much as you can via sample papers to prepare well for SET exam day.
Q:   Does SET exam have advanced level topics?
A: 

Syllabus in SET exam is based on Class 12 and students need not study advanced topics beyond Class 12. SET syllabus assesses knowledge of students and skills at Class 12 level. 

Q:   Are IPMAT preparation books useful for SET preparation?
A: 

Yes, IPMAT books can be used for SET exam preparation as both are BBA entrance exams. Candidates can use same books for preparing for topics such as Quantitative Aptitude and General English. However, the difficulty level of SET exam is much easier as compared to that of IPMAT exam.

Q:   Why should I take SET BBA Exam?
A: 

SET exam is conducted for admission to eight prestigious colleges of Symbiosis International University. Candidates can choose their preferred institutes during SET application process. It is a gateway to undergraduate programmes offered at Symbiosis colleges.

Q:   How to download SET syllabus PDF?
A: 

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

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Student Forum

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Write here...

Answered 4 hours ago

Candidates will know their allotted SET exam centre only from SET admit card. SIU allots SET centre to aspirantsin city of their first preference usually. So, candidates can at least be assured that they will get a test centre in the city they had chosen as first preference in the SET application fo

...Read more

R

Rashmi Chatterjee

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

There are 16 MCQs in the General English section of SET exam. Overall there are 60 MCQs. 

R

Rashmi Chatterjee

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

There are 16 MCQs in the logical Reasoning section of SET. Overall there are 60 MCQs. 

R

Rashmi Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

Yes, SET can be prepared without coaching. Students should have serious and smart study plan if they are preparing without coaching. After going through the syllabus, students should revise and practice to ace the exam.

78439184
Saumya Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

Students must have secured a minimum of 50% in Class 12 to appear for SET. The cut off for SET is expected to be between 25 to 42 across categories. 

M

Mani Malhotra

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

Total marks in SET are 60, which is divided into 4 sections of the question paper:

  • General English: 16 marks
  • Quantitative Aptitude: 16 marks
  • Analytical and Logical Reasoning: 12 marks
  • General Knowledge: 16 marks 

S

Shiksha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

No, direct admission to BBA programme at SIU is not possible. Admission to SIU is based on SET scores, Personal Interaction and Written Ability Test.

Final merit list is prepared based on performance in SET, WAT and PI. 

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

Students have to take SET for BBA admissions 2026 at SCMS Pune. They also have to participate in PI and WAT if they are shortlisted after SET cutoff.

R

Rohini Bhatnagar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

No, the only way to get BBA admission 2026 in Symbiosis University is through SET exam. Students have to appear for PI and GD for final admissions. 

A

Abhishek Kumar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

SET merit list will be prepared by each pariticpating institute based on the score obtained in the SET exam. 

M

Mayank Singh

Contributor-Level 6

5 Institutes accepting SET

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