Exam prep·India· 9 min read

SET Exam Guide (Symbiosis Entrance Test for UG)

Understand the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) for undergraduate admission — how it differs from SLAT, SITEEE and SNAP, which programmes it covers, the test format, application steps, and how to verify details on set-test.org.

Last updated 1 July 2026

Key facts

Exam: SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test) — general UG entrance
Conducting body: Symbiosis International (Deemed University)
Mode: Online computer-based test (CBT)
Sibling UG tests: SLAT (law), SITEEE (engineering) — separate tests
Not to confuse with: SNAP (PG / MBA-level test)
Official website: set-test.org (verify programmes, pattern, fees, dates)

SET vs SLAT vs SITEEE vs SNAP — get the right test

Symbiosis International (Deemed University) runs several separate entrance tests, and picking the wrong one is the most common mistake. SET (the general Symbiosis Entrance Test) is for undergraduate programmes such as BBA, BCA, B.Sc and liberal arts. SLAT is the separate law test for five-year integrated law (BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB). SITEEE is the engineering test for B.Tech at Symbiosis Institute of Technology.

SNAP is different again — it is the postgraduate MBA-level test, not a UG test at all. So a Class 12 student choosing a management or science UG course takes SET; a law aspirant takes SLAT; an engineering aspirant takes SITEEE.

SET (general): BBA, BCA, B.Sc, liberal arts and similar UG programmes
SLAT: five-year integrated law (BA/BBA/B.Com LLB) — separate test
SITEEE: B.Tech engineering — separate test
SNAP: postgraduate MBA-level test (not a UG test)

What SET covers and who conducts it

SET is a university-level, computer-based entrance test conducted by Symbiosis International (Deemed University) for admission to its undergraduate programmes across multiple Symbiosis institutes and cities.

Programmes admitted through SET span management (BBA and specialised BBA variants), computer applications (BCA), economics and applied-statistics/data-science B.Sc courses, mass communication, liberal arts and more. The exact institute-and-programme list is refreshed each cycle, so confirm the current offering on the official SET website.

University-level CBT by Symbiosis International (Deemed University)
Covers BBA/BCA/B.Sc, mass communication, liberal arts and related UG courses
Offered across several Symbiosis institutes and cities
Confirm the current programme list on set-test.org

Exam pattern and marking

SET (general) is a short online computer-based test. It broadly assesses general English, quantitative ability, general awareness, and analytical/logical reasoning, and a notable feature is that there is typically no negative marking — so attempting every question is usually sensible.

The precise number of questions per section, total duration and marking are set each cycle. Rather than rely on an old summary, read the current pattern from the official website so you prepare against the exact structure you will face.

Short online CBT
Broad areas: English, quantitative, general awareness, reasoning
Typically no negative marking (confirm current rule)
Exact question count, timing and marking — verify on set-test.org

Eligibility and how selection works

Eligibility is based on passing Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board, with programme-specific minimum-percentage requirements (relaxations may apply for reserved categories). Beyond the SET score, several Symbiosis institutes shortlist candidates for a further stage such as a personal interaction / written assessment before the final merit list.

So a strong SET score gets you shortlisted, but the final offer depends on the institute's complete selection process. Read each target institute's process on the official site so you know all the stages in advance.

Class 12 (10+2) pass; programme-specific minimum marks
SET score is followed by institute-level selection stages at many institutes
Final merit combines the test with the institute's process
Confirm each institute's stages on the official site

How to register and apply

Registration is online through the official SET website. You create an account, pay the SET registration fee, then separately register (and pay) for each institute/programme you want to apply to. Many candidates apply to more than one programme to widen their options.

After the test, follow each chosen institute's admission steps — shortlisting, any further selection stage, document verification and fee payment for the allotted seat. Track institute-specific deadlines carefully, as they differ across Symbiosis institutes.

Register and pay the SET registration fee online
Register and pay separately for each institute/programme choice
Complete each institute's selection and admission steps
Track institute-specific deadlines

Preparation and verify-before-you-pay

Prepare across the four broad areas — English, quantitative ability, general awareness and reasoning — using the official sample structure, and practise timed attempts since the test is short. With no negative marking, learning to attempt efficiently across sections matters.

All hard specifics — the exact pattern, fees, per-programme eligibility, dates and each institute's selection stages — are cycle-specific. Treat set-test.org as your single source of truth and confirm every figure before registering or paying.

Practise timed attempts across all four areas
Use the no-negative-marking structure sensibly
Confirm pattern, fees, eligibility and dates on the official site before paying

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SET and SNAP?

SET is Symbiosis's undergraduate general entrance test taken after Class 12 (for BBA, BCA, B.Sc, liberal arts, etc.), while SNAP is the postgraduate MBA-level test. A school-leaver applying to a UG programme takes SET, not SNAP.

If I want law or engineering at Symbiosis, do I take SET?

No. Five-year integrated law admission uses SLAT (a separate test), and B.Tech engineering uses SITEEE. SET (general) is for management, computer-applications, science and liberal-arts UG programmes. Check the right test for your course on the official site.

Is there negative marking in SET?

SET (general) typically has no negative marking, which usually makes it sensible to attempt every question. Because rules can change each cycle, confirm the current marking scheme on the official SET website before your exam.

Is the SET score enough to get admission?

A strong SET score gets you shortlisted, but many Symbiosis institutes have a further selection stage (such as a personal interaction or written assessment) before the final merit list. Read your target institute's full selection process on the official site.

What are the SET fees and dates?

The SET registration fee, per-programme charges, exam sessions and results dates are set each cycle and can change, so this guide does not quote figures. Verify the current fees and dates on set-test.org before you register.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: SET — Official Symbiosis UG entrance test website; SLAT — Official Symbiosis Law Admission Test website.

Last verified: 1 July 2026.