SET BCA Preparation 2025: Tips, Strategy & Guide

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. 

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

SET is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to various undergraduate courses. SET 2025 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 2024, 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 the 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 2024 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.

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: 

1. Using the SET syllabus as a guide, make a list of the subjects that the study materials must cover.
2. Plan your study time on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis according to the time available.
3. Analyze previous SET tests to note important topics.
4. You can find a mentor to assist you or join any online study group.
5. To enable thorough planning, assign a time limit to each section.
6. Start reading newspaper and magazine editorials to gain a command of the verbal skill section.
7. For the quantitative section, read the basic concepts and formulas from school textbooks.
8. Examine your progress through mock tests on a monthly basis.
9. Keep analyzing and improving your score over time until test day.
10. Set your score to meet the cutoff for the college to which you want to apply.

When preparing for the SET exam, using the right books and study materials can make a significant difference in your preparation. Here are some recommended books for various sections of the SET exam:

1. General English:

   • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
   • High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
   • Objective General English by SP Bakshi

2. General Awareness:

   • Manorama Yearbook
   • Pratiyogita Darpan
   • Lucent's General Knowledge
   • Current Affairs Magazines (e.g., Competition Success Review, Pratiyogita Darpan)

3. 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

4. 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

5. Previous Years' Question Papers:

   • Solve previous years' question papers and sample papers for SET to get an idea of the exam pattern and difficulty level.

Apart from these books, make sure to check reliable online resources for additional study material and mock tests specifically designed for the SET exam. Many online platforms offer comprehensive study material and practice tests tailored to the SET syllabus.

Additionally, keep yourself updated with current affairs by reading newspapers, magazines, and following relevant news portals regularly. Staying updated with current affairs is essential for the General Awareness section of the SET BBA exam.

The quantitative Aptitude section of the SET question paper is one of the toughest sections. The important topics of this section include Arithmetic, Algebra Modern Math, Geometry, Number System Average, Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Time, Speed and Distance, Mensuration Permutation and Combination, Quadratic Equation, Logarithm, Probability Statistics Pie Chart, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Mixture and Allegations, Time and Work, etc. The Quantitative Aptitude is the second or third section of the SET question paper and this section is difficult in nature. However, the overall difficulty level can be considered to be moderate to difficult. The Quantitative Aptitude section carries 16 multiple-choice questions each which are to be solved within 16 minutes. Candidates will be provided with the rough paper for calculations and they will be required to choose the correct option against the question.

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.

Yes, the students can appear for the SET exam more than once. During the SET registration process, candidates are asked if they wish to appear for the first session, the second session or both the sessions. Candidates can choose as per their convenience and mark the checkbox in front of the test date. The SET exam 2025 will be conducted in the second week of May 2025, tentatively, in the computer-based test mode. Having said that, students applying for the SET exam must make sure they fulfil the eligiblity criteria and age requirement for the SET exam. 

Yes, Symbiosis International University (SIU) typically provides mock tests for the SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test) on its official website. These mock tests are valuable resources for candidates preparing for the SET exam. Here are a few key points to consider regarding SET mock tests:

1. SET mock tests are designed to simulate the actual examination experience and are based on the current exam pattern and syllabus.

2. These mock tests are typically available for free. Candidates can access them to practice and become familiar with the types of questions, exam structure, and time management.

3. SIU provides mock tests for different programmes, allowing candidates to practice based on the specific programme they are applying for. This ensures that the mock test content aligns with the chosen programme.

4. After taking the mock tests, candidates may receive their scores and performance feedback. This can help them identify areas where they need improvement.

5. Practicing with SET mock tests can be instrumental in improving your confidence and performance on the actual SET exam. It allows you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, refine your test-taking strategies, and reduce exam-related stress.

Candidates preparing for the SET exam must take mock tests. These practice tests are excellent tools for effective preparation and can contribute to a higher level of confidence and performance on exam day.

In 2024, SET was conducted in two phase, i.e. Test 01 and Test 02. According to the SET analysis and student's relations, the difficult level of the exam is easy to moderate in both the sessions. A good score in SET BBA exam can be subjective but if we look at the analysis, then the following can be termed as a good score in SET:

SET is a speed-based test which is designed to assess a candidate's analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, Quantitative Aptitude and English comprehension. It may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to brush on these subjects and topics. All you will need is to brush up on the basics and practice the concepts on advance level problems. Students should solve previous years question papers, attempt an ample number of mock tests and be consistent to score well in the SET exam. Having said that, the preparation for the SET exam requires focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the SET exam. SET is one of the easiest BBA entrance exams and a good preparation strategy can help you crack the SET exam with a good score. Generally, the toughest section of the SET question paper is Quantitative Aptitude. But with daily practice and focusing on understanding the fundamentals, this section of the SET exam can be handled easily.

Candidates will know their allotted SET exam centre only from the admit card. There is no way to know the test centre before the release of the SET admit card. The examination authority allots a test centre to aspirants in the city of their first preference as mentioned in the city. So, candidates can atleast be assured that they will get a test centre in the city they had chosen as first preference in the SET application form. However, the venue will be mentioned only on the candidate’s admit card. So as soon as the SET admit card is released, candidates must check the test city and test centre details. In order to avoid any confusion, they must visit the centre at least once before the exam day.

Candidates can choose upto three SET test cities according to their preference. Candidates must very carefully select the cities as once the SET application form is submitted, they can't change city preference. They should choose the first city of preference as their hometome or where they are residing as the exam authorities will likely allot the test centres to candidates in their first city of preference. Candidates are allotted a test centre in second or third preference only if the seats have been filled or the exam centre has been cancelled at that location. Candidates should know that the SET test cities cannot be changed once the form is submitted even during the form correction window. 

The important documents to be carried to the exam centre include the following:

• Two coloured printouts of the SET admit card
• Photos of the candidate affixed to the SET admit card (preferrable the same as the one uploaded in SET application form)
• Valid photo ID proof (issued by the Government of India) such as Passport, Aadhar Card, Driving License, Pan Card, etc. 
• Black or blue ball point pen
• Hand sanitizer
• Transparent water bottle

On the day of the SET exam, it is essential to be well-prepared and avoid certain mistakes or "don'ts" to ensure a smooth experience. Here are some important "don'ts" to keep in mind:

1. Do not reach late to the exam centre. Ensure that you reach the exam center well before the scheduled reporting time. 

2. Don't forget the SET admit card. Make sure to carry two printouts of your SET admit card/hall ticket to the exam center. 

3. Don't carry prohibited items such as electronic devices (mobile phones, calculators, smartwatches), study material, notes, bags, or any other items that are not allowed as per the exam guidelines.

4. Don't panic. Maintain a calm and composed mindset throughout the exam day. 

5. Don't engage in malpractice and refrain from any form of malpractice or cheating. 

6. Don't ignore exam instructions. 

7. Don't leave early after completing the exam. Review your answers and ensure you haven't left any questions unanswered or marked incorrectly. Revise the answers before submitting your answer sheet.

On the SET exam day, candidates have to follow certain guidelines which include reaching on time, cooperating with the exam centre staff, following instructions of the test invigilator and following the test navigation for solving the SET questions. There are some key dos and don'ts that candidates should follow on the SET exam day, which have been listed below:

SET exam day dos:

1. Reach the examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your SET admit card
2. Carry two copies of the SET admit card, one photo ID card and passport size photos
3. PwD candidates should carry the relevant certificates and documents as prescribed by the examination authorities. 
4. Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing the attendance sheet
5. Carry personal drinking water, hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves
6. Cooperate with the test centre staff and follow instructions during entry
7. Candidates must write their name and roll numbers on the rough sheet provided by the invigilator and sign on it

One can easily crack SET in three months. Here are a few tips:

• Time Management: Calculate the estimate time you are giving for preparations and divide it equally as per the syllabus. Adjust your time and try to solve each question within the prescribed timing. Make a suitable time-table for preparation as per your routine and include short breaks between the longer study periods. Divide the preparation in several steps and complete them one by one.
• Prepare as per Syllabus: Firstly, gather all the information about the officially prescribed syllabus for SET Exam. Each question paper of this exam will contain different sections. Include every single topic of the syllabus in your preparation as per the courses opted.
• Study Material and Previous Year Question Papers: Students can prepare for this exam through the study materials available in the book stores or Internet. Mock tests are also a good way for preparations of the exam. Students can practice the mock test and work on their difficult points. Students can also practice the previous year question papers of this exam. This will help students to understand the type of questions, question weightage and pattern of the exam.
• Maintain Health: A good health is an important thing which is required for a good exam preparation. A healthy mind and body will help you to concentrate on your studies. Take a nutritious diet in preparation time. Include fresh fruits and veggies in your diet and avoid oily and junk food. Practice Yoga and Meditation this will help students to concentrate better in the studies.