SET Exam English Question Paper 2026: Complete Guide

Overview: The SET Exam English Question Paper is designed to evaluate a candidate's language proficiency, comprehension skills, grammar, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning.

The English Question Paper of the SET Exam is a crucial component of the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET), which governs undergraduate admissions to programs such as BBA, BA, BCA, B.Sc. (Economics), and Mass Communication at Symbiosis International (Deemed University).

Understanding the structure, type of questions, and effective strategies for the SET Exam English question paper can significantly boost your overall score.

This blog offers a comprehensive guide to help aspirants excel in the English section of the SET exam.

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Overview of the SET Exam English Question Paper

The SET Exam English question paper tests multiple aspects of a candidate's English language proficiency, including grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and verbal reasoning.

The section is created to evaluate your understanding of language in context, rather than just memorized rules.

Key highlights of the SET English section:

Section	Number of Questions	Difficulty
Reading Comprehension	4-6	Moderate
Vocabulary	5-7	Easy to Moderate
Grammar & Sentence Correction	4-6	Easy
Verbal Reasoning	3-5	Moderate
Total Questions: 16-20		Time: 60 minutes

Types of Questions in the SET Exam English Question Paper

The SET Exam English Question Paper usually includes the following types of questions:

1. Reading Comprehension (RC)

Passages followed by multiple-choice questions.

RC tests your ability to:

• Identify main ideas
• Understand context
• Interpret vocabulary and tone
• Draw logical inferences

Sample RC Question:

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Read the passage carefully and answer the question.

Inflation may be defined as an unanticipated, rapid, and substantial increase in prices above the normal level of all goods and services in an "uncontrolled" economy. The specter of inflation has been haunting India since the outbreak of the Second World War. But never has the pinch been felt so severely or so pervasively as during the last five years. The fundamental question facing the country today is how to check the galloping inflation to save the economy from further erosion. The rapid rate of inflation and its cumulative impact on the growth and distributive pattern of the economy witnessed during the last two years is indeed a matter of grave concern. The index number of wholesale prices increased by about 13% in 1972-73 over the previous year and by 30 per cent in 1973-74 compared to 1972-73 or by over 45 per cent during the two years. Therefore, if garibi hatao has to be meaningful, we must fight inflation with all our might. The anti-inflationary methods obviously require the study of the causes of inflation. The Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, the exodus and repatriation of 9 million Bangladesh refugees followed by an unprecedented drought and floods in a large number of states involved public expenditure to the tune of several crores of rupees. The shortfall in the indigenous production of food grains meant more of imports at higher prices, which in turn, involved increased subsidies.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that the problem of inflation started to haunt India since

(a) The increase in the index number of wholesale prices

(b) The outbreak of the Second World War

(c) The Indo-Pakistan war of 1971

(d) The shortfall in the production of food grains.

Answer: (b) The outbreak of the Second World War

2. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(a) Present how bad the effects of inflation are in the Indian economy.

(b) Give awareness about the various causes of inflation.

(c) Study the various causes of inflation to arrive at the anti-inflationary measures.

(d) Prove that wars cause inflation

Answer: (c) Study about the various causes of inflation to arrive at the anti-inflationary measures.

3. A suitable title for the passage is

(a) Inflation in India

(b) How bad is the inflation in India?

(c) How to reduce inflation in India?

(d) Inflation-Its effects and causes in India Economy

Answer: (d) Inflation-Its effects and causes in India Economy

2. Vocabulary and One-Word Substitution Example

Questions:

1.Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentences. One who performs scientific analysis of elections

(a) Returning Officer

(b) Ombudsman

(c) Arbitrator

(d) Psephologist

Answer: (d) Psephologist

2. Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentences. A collection of information about a particular subject

(a) Anthology

(b) Compendium

(c) Bibliophile

(d) Encyclopaedia

Answer: (b) Compendium

3. Grammar

Grammar is an important section in the SET Exam English question paper.

You're often tested on some common areas such as:

• Tenses and verb forms
• Articles and prepositions
• Subject verb agreement
• Sentence correction, sentence completion, or error spotting.

Sample Question:

Q. Fill in the blank. She is not beautiful_____intelligent.

(a) And

(b) But

(c) Or

(d) So

Answer: (b) But

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4. Idioms and Phrases

Q. The idiom "go out on a limb" means:

(a) Get into a risky situation

(b) Without help

(c) Do something with pain

(d) Do something without practice

Answer: (a) Get into a risky situation

5. Spelling and Word Usage

Q. Find the word that is spelled correctly:

(a) Referred

(b) Acomodate

(c) Cemetary

(d) Rhithm

Answer: (a) Referred

Preparation Strategies for the SET Exam English Question Paper

To perform well in each SET Exam English question paper, candidates should adopt a systematic approach:

1. Daily Practice of Read: Read newspapers, editorials, or credible magazines to develop reading comprehension skills.
2. Build Your Vocabulary: Learn a new word a day and ensure you also learn related words like synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and phrases.
3. Revision of Grammar: Practice tenses, prepositions, articles, and subject-verb agreement.
4. Solve Previous Year Papers: Practising SET previous year question papers familiarizes you with the SET exam pattern and question types.
5. Practice Mock Tests: Attempt to take a full-length mock exam to get better at speed, accuracy, and time management.
6. Mistakes Analysis: Go over the wrong answers and reflect on how and why the right answer was right.

The SET Exam English Question Paper is more than just an assessment of your English level.

This section evaluates your comprehension, reason, and analytical skills as well.

Candidates should become familiar with the exam pattern, practice sample questions, and once they are comfortable ask you to develop a disciplined study plan, so that you can prepare effectively for this section of the exam and improve their overall SET score.

Your preparation for the SET Exam English Question Paper is critical to achieving the best results on your test score.

Carefully planned SET preparation tips can mean the difference between a great and good score - and perhaps even an entrance to one of Symbiosis International's highly esteemed programs.

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Key Takeaways:

• The SET Exam English Question Paper assesses reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and reasoning.
• The reading comprehension passages make up a large portion of this section.
• Vocabulary and idioms are assessed with one-word substitutions and phrases.
• It's important to practice regularly using mock tests and past papers. With a thoughtful approach, this section can be a high-scoring section.