Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)

What this exam is

The Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) is the mandatory common entrance test for all undergraduate programmes at Symbiosis International (Deemed University), known as SIU. It is conducted once a year by SIU across multiple cities in India, entirely in online Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.

SET replaced what was formerly called “SET–General” in 2018, when SIU separated its engineering entrance test under a distinct name (SITEEE). The exam you sit for all non-engineering UG programmes at Symbiosis — management, economics, media, liberal arts, computer applications, statistics, AI, and sports sciences — is SET.

The test itself is a single, 60-question paper taken over 60 minutes. It produces a raw score out of 60 (one mark per question, no negative marking) and a percentile. That percentile is what each Symbiosis institute uses as its first filter to shortlist candidates for the subsequent Personal Interaction (PI) round.

One important structural point: SET is not a complete admission exam on its own. Clearing SET earns you a shortlist call from whichever Symbiosis institutes you have registered for (and paid the programme registration fee of ₹1,000 each). The final merit list is then built after the PI process — which typically includes a Written Ability Test (WAT), a Personal Interview, and in some institutes a Studio Test or Group Discussion. The SET score’s weight in the final merit list ranges from 30 to 70 out of 100 depending on the institute.

Since 2018, SIU has also moved to the NEP 2020 four-year degree framework. Most programmes are now offered as “Honours / Honours with Research,” with multiple entry and exit options. Candidates who want the Honours with Research track need to earn a CGPA of 7.5 or above by the end of Semester 6.

Who should take this exam

SET is relevant to you if you are planning to apply to any undergraduate programme at a Symbiosis institute. The test is compulsory — there is no alternative route into SIU for domestic students.

Management students aiming for BBA, BBA Finance, or BBA Marketing at SCMS campuses (Pune, Noida, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Hyderabad) must take SET. SCMS Pune is consistently the most competitive Symbiosis campus for management, with cutoffs in the 50+ range.

Economics students targeting SSE Pune’s BSc Economics — including its Dual Degree track with the University of Bristol, UK — must appear for SET.

Media and communication aspirants aiming for the BA Mass Communication or BBA Media Management at SCMC Pune need SET scores. SCMC’s admission process also includes a studio test and academic profile assessment, making it one of the more holistic processes within SIU.

Liberal arts students considering Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts (SSLA) — which accepts students from any stream — must take SET. SSLA also accepts IB diploma and certificate students provided they meet minimum credit requirements.

Computer applications and IT students applying to SICSR Pune’s BCA or BBA (IT) need SET scores.

If you are targeting Symbiosis specifically and are preparing for other national-level management entrance exams like IPMAT or CUET UG, your preparation will have significant overlap with SET — particularly in quantitative aptitude and English.

Exam pattern and structure

SET is a single-session, online exam of 60 minutes with 60 questions. Each question carries one mark; there is no negative marking for wrong answers.

Section	Number of Questions	Marks
General English	16	16
Quantitative Aptitude	16	16
General Awareness	16	16
Analytical and Logical Reasoning	12	12
Total	60	60

Key features:

• Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT), entirely online
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Question type: Objective (MCQ)
• Negative marking: None
• Language: English
• Score validity: Only for the academic year of the exam (not carried forward)

SET is offered on two dates each year (typically in May), allowing candidates who miss the first date a second attempt. Your score from whichever test you appear for is used. If you appear for both tests in the same year, the higher score is not automatically used — each test registration is independent.

The exam is conducted at test centres across multiple cities in India. The full list of cities is published on the official SET website before registration opens.

Syllabus overview

General English (16 questions)

This section tests reading, comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar. Expect passages followed by questions, sentence correction exercises, fill-in-the-blank vocabulary items, and para-jumble questions. The standard required is Class 12 level, but the focus is on application rather than rules.

Topics include:

• Reading comprehension passages
• Synonym and antonym identification
• Grammar: tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions
• Sentence correction
• Para-jumbles and sentence sequencing
• Fill in the blanks (vocabulary-based)

Quantitative Aptitude (16 questions)

This section covers standard Class 10–12 arithmetic and basic quantitative reasoning. It does not require calculus or advanced mathematics.

Topics include:

• Number systems and divisibility
• Percentages, profit and loss, discount
• Ratio, proportion, and mixtures
• Time, speed, distance, and work
• Simple and compound interest
• Basic algebra (linear and quadratic equations)
• Geometry (basic mensuration)
• Data interpretation (tables, bar graphs, pie charts)

General Awareness (16 questions)

This section is entirely current-affairs-oriented with some static GK. Questions cover events from the preceding 12 months as well as enduring facts about business, science, geography, culture, and awards.

Topics include:

• Current affairs (national and international events)
• Business and economy (Indian and global)
• Science and technology breakthroughs
• Sports events and achievements
• Geography, history, polity
• Awards, honours, and appointments
• Books, films, and cultural milestones

Analytical and Logical Reasoning (12 questions)

This section tests pure reasoning ability rather than subject knowledge. It includes both verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

Topics include:

• Number and letter series
• Analogies
• Syllogisms
• Direction and distance problems
• Blood relations
• Coding and decoding
• Seating arrangements
• Logical deductions and puzzles

Eligibility and registration

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for most SET programmes are:

• Passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent examination from any recognised board
• Minimum 50% aggregate marks for General category candidates
• Minimum 45% aggregate marks for SC/ST category candidates
• Students currently appearing in Class 12 or awaiting results can apply provisionally, subject to submission of passing certificates by the date notified by SIU
• Candidates from foreign boards must obtain an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
• IB diploma and certificate students are accepted at SSLA, provided they have a minimum of 24 credits with passing in at least three subjects at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL)

Note: Some programmes (such as Honours with Research tracks) have additional CGPA requirements at the university level after admission. These are not an entry-level barrier.

Registration process

Registration for SET is done entirely online at set-test.org. The process involves two components:

1. Test registration: Pay the SET exam fee of ₹2,250 (plus applicable taxes) to register for the test itself. You can register for one or both test dates.
2. Programme registration: Separately pay ₹1,000 per programme for each Symbiosis institute programme you wish to be considered for. This is a distinct payment from the test fee. You can register for multiple programmes across multiple institutes.

Both registrations must be completed before the registration deadline (typically mid-April). Admit cards are released approximately one week before each test date.

For 2026: Registration and payment close on 15 April 2026. Test dates are 2 May 2026 and 10 May 2026. Results are expected on 20 May 2026.

Important: You must register for a programme before the test to be eligible for shortlisting by that institute. Registering for the test alone, without paying the programme registration fee, does not make you eligible for any institute’s PI process.

Cutoffs and score interpretation

SET scores are given as raw marks out of 60 and as a percentile. Institutes use the SET percentile — not the raw score — to draw their shortlists for PI. The raw score equivalent for a given percentile varies each year based on difficulty and number of candidates.

SET cutoffs are institute-specific and programme-specific. SCMS Pune is consistently the most competitive campus. Expected cutoffs (SET raw score out of 60) based on 2025 data:

Institute	Programme	Expected Cutoff (General)
SCMS, Pune	BBA	54+
SCMS, Noida	BBA	48+
SCMS, Bengaluru	BBA	36
SCMS, Nagpur	BBA	31
SCMS, Hyderabad	BBA	31
SICSR, Pune	BBA IT / BCA	43
SSE, Pune	BSc Economics	35
SCMC, Pune	BA Mass Communication / BBA Media Management	31

These are the scores needed to clear the SET stage and receive a PI call. Getting shortlisted does not guarantee admission — the final merit list is built after completing all PI components.

Final merit list weightages (2026)

The overall admission score (out of 100) at most Symbiosis institutes is computed as:

Component	Most institutes	SCMS Pune
SET score (scaled)	70	70 (scaled up to 70)
Personal Interaction (PI)	30	30
Total	100	100

SCMC Pune has a different model:

Component	SCMC, Pune
SET score	30
Written Ability Test (WAT)	10
Personal Interview	30
Studio Test	10
Academic Profile	20
Total	100

Scoring well above the cutoff in SET is important because it reduces your relative disadvantage in PI, which is subjective. A significantly higher SET score creates a buffer.

Colleges and programmes that accept this exam

All undergraduate programmes at Symbiosis International (Deemed University) require SET. This includes programmes across five states. The full list of participating institutes as of the 2026 admission cycle:

Pune:

• Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS) — BBA
• Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication (SCMC) — BA Mass Communication, BBA Media Management
• Symbiosis School of Economics (SSE) — BSc Economics
• Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR) — BCA, BBA IT
• Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA) — BA Liberal Arts, BSc Liberal Arts
• Symbiosis Statistical Institute (SSI) — BSc Applied Statistics and Data Science
• Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII) — BSc AI, BBA AI
• Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences (SSSS) — BSc Sport and Exercise Science
• Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts and Nutritional Sciences (SSCANS) — BBA Hospitality and Culinary Management

Other campuses:

• SCMS Noida — BBA, BBA Global Dual Degree (Deakin University)
• SCMS Bengaluru — BBA, BBA Dual Degree (Deakin University)
• SCMS Nagpur — BBA
• SCMS Hyderabad — BBA

Several SCMS campuses also offer a Global Dual Degree programme in collaboration with Deakin University, Australia, where students spend one year at SIU, one year at SIU Dubai, and two years at Deakin. These tracks admit through the same SET process.

Note: SIU’s engineering institute (SIT Pune, SIT Nagpur, SIT Hyderabad) does not use SET. Engineering programmes require SITEEE or JEE Main.

How to prepare

SET is a 60-minute exam with no negative marking. The absence of negative marking changes the strategy: attempting all questions is always optimal. You lose nothing by guessing on questions you are uncertain about.

General English: Practice reading comprehension from newspapers and editorial pages. Build vocabulary through contextual reading rather than rote lists. Practise identifying grammatical errors in sentences. At the SET level, you are not expected to have advanced literary knowledge — accuracy in basic grammar and reading speed matter more.

Quantitative Aptitude: The quantitative section is not advanced. Focus on speed and accuracy in Class 10 arithmetic topics. Practise mental calculation for percentages, ratios, and time-speed-distance. Data interpretation questions require reading tables and graphs quickly rather than complex computation. Mock tests under timed conditions are the best preparation.

General Awareness: This section rewards consistent reading habits more than short-term cramming. Read a national newspaper (The Hindu, Indian Express, or Hindustan Times) daily for two to three months before the exam. Maintain a notebook of important current events, appointments, sports results, and business news. Standard GK books and monthly current affairs digests can supplement this.

Analytical and Logical Reasoning: Practice reasoning questions from standard aptitude books. This section rewards pattern recognition and methodical thinking. The topics are predictable — series, analogies, syllogisms, directions, blood relations, coding — and can be mastered with practice.

Mock tests: Take full-length SET mock tests available on coaching platforms. The SET paper’s 60-minute duration is unforgiving. Time management — not just subject knowledge — determines performance. Target 45–50 correct answers (out of 60) to compete for the top campuses.

WAT and PI preparation: Since SET is only the first stage, prepare for WAT and PI simultaneously. WAT topics are typically related to current affairs, management ethics, social issues, or hypothetical business scenarios. PI panels assess communication skills, general awareness, co-curricular profile, and field of interest. Building your awareness of Symbiosis as an institution and its programmes signals genuine interest.

Key dates and timeline

The SET cycle follows a predictable annual pattern, typically running from December to June.

Event	Typical Timeline	2026 Dates
Registration opens	December	December 2025
Registration and payment closes	Mid-April	15 April 2026
Admit Card — Test 1	~10 days before Test 1	24 April 2026
SET Test 1	First/second week of May	2 May 2026
Admit Card — Test 2	~10 days before Test 2	30 April 2026
SET Test 2	Second week of May	10 May 2026
Results declared	Third week of May	~20 May 2026
PI rounds at institutes	May–June	Varies by institute
Final merit lists	June	Varies by institute
Fee payment and seat confirmation	June–July	Varies by institute

Each institute sets its own PI schedule after SET results are declared. Check the individual institute website for PI dates. Note that it is mandatory to attend all components of the PI process to remain eligible — absence from any single component results in disqualification.

Related exams

Students considering SET should also be aware of:

• CUET UG — The national common entrance test for central and participating universities. Not required for Symbiosis admissions, but relevant for students exploring multiple university options.
• IPMAT — The Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test conducted by IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak. Covers similar quantitative and verbal aptitude sections and is the primary competition exam for students targeting IIM-affiliated BBA programmes.
• DU JAT — Formerly the entrance test for BMS/BBA(FIA) at Delhi University colleges. Now replaced by CUET UG.

Sources Used

• Symbiosis Entrance Test official website: https://set-test.org/
• SET Overview and merit list structure: https://www.set-test.org/overview
• SET 2026 exam pattern and eligibility blog: https://www.set-test.org/blog/symbiosis-entrance-test-set