Newly registered students have approximately 90 days to prepare for CSEET October 2026, with the Computer-Based Test expected in the last week of October 2026.

The Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) is conducted by ICSI three times a year. For the October 2026 session, students who registered in June 2026 have a clear window to build subject-by-subject mastery across Business Communication, Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning, and Economic and Business Environment. This 90-day plan breaks that window into three focused phases — foundation, practice, and revision — to help you clear CSEET with confidence.

  • CSEET October 2026 is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) plus Video-Based Test (VBT) conducted by ICSI.
  • The CBT carries 150 marks across three papers; the VBT (Current Affairs and Presentation Skills) adds 30 marks, for a total of 180 marks.
  • Passing criteria: 40% in each individual paper and 50% aggregate across all components.
  • There is no negative marking in CSEET — attempt every question.
  • Students who clear CSEET can register directly for the CS Executive Programme, skipping the Foundation Programme.
Direct Link — CSEET October 2026 Official Portal (ICSI) Visit Official Site

CSEET October 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance

Before mapping your 90-day schedule, understand what you are preparing for. CSEET October 2026 has two parts: a two-hour Computer-Based Test and a 30-minute Video-Based Test.

Component Paper / Subject Marks Duration
CBT Paper 1: Business Communication 50 2 hours
Paper 2: Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning 50
Paper 3: Economic and Business Environment 50
VBT Current Affairs and Presentation Skills 30 30 minutes
Total 180 2.5 hours

The qualifying standard is 40% marks in each individual paper and 50% marks in aggregate. With no negative marking on the CBT, you should aim to attempt every question. The VBT tests how well you present a topic on camera, so verbal communication practice is as essential as textbook study.


Month 1 (Days 1–30): Build Your Foundation

The first 30 days are for building a strong base. Do not rush through topics — understanding fundamentals now saves revision time later.

Week Focus Area Daily Target
Week 1 Business Communication — Grammar, Letter Writing, and Précis 2–3 hours study + 1 chapter notes
Week 2 Legal Aptitude — Indian Contract Act, Company Law Basics 2–3 hours study + 20 MCQ practice
Week 3 Economic and Business Environment — Micro and Macro Economics, Indian Economy 2–3 hours study + 15 MCQ practice
Week 4 Logical Reasoning — Coding-Decoding, Analogies, Syllogisms 1.5 hours + 25 reasoning questions

Month 1 tip: Use ICSI’s official study material as your primary source. Supplement with a standard grammar guide for Business Communication. Maintain a topic-wise formula and definition notebook from Day 1 — this becomes your rapid-revision tool in Month 3.


Month 2 (Days 31–60): Deep Practice and Concept Mastery

Month 2 shifts from reading to applying. Every chapter studied in Month 1 should now be reinforced through MCQ sets and past paper questions.

Week Focus Area Daily Target
Week 5 Business Communication — Report Writing, Meetings, Corporate Communication 2 hours theory + 30 MCQs
Week 6 Legal Aptitude — Negotiable Instruments Act, Consumer Protection, Legal Reasoning 2 hours theory + 30 MCQs
Week 7 Economic Environment — International Trade, Budget Concepts, RBI Policies 2 hours theory + 25 MCQs
Week 8 Integrated Practice — All 3 CBT Papers + Current Affairs Reading 2 hours mixed practice + 30 min news

Month 2 tip: Dedicate 30 minutes each evening to reading one reputable business newspaper. Current Affairs questions in the VBT frequently draw from economic policy, company law amendments, and national events of the preceding 3–6 months. Build this habit now rather than cramming in Month 3.


Month 3 (Days 61–90): Revision, Mock Tests and Final Push

The final 30 days are for consolidation, not new learning. Every hour invested in mock tests here directly raises your score on exam day.

Week Focus Area Daily Target
Week 9 Full-Length Mock Test 1 (all 3 CBT papers, timed) + error analysis 1 mock test + 2 hours error review
Week 10 Targeted revision of weak areas identified in Mock 1 3 hours subject revision + 30 MCQs per paper
Week 11 Full-Length Mock Test 2 + VBT presentation practice 1 mock test + 2 VBT practice sessions
Week 12 Final rapid revision — definition notebook + 1 last timed mock 2 hours revision + 1 timed mock

Month 3 tip: Simulate the actual CSEET environment — sit the mock test in one uninterrupted block on a computer and time yourself strictly. For VBT preparation, record yourself presenting a 3-minute summary on a current topic and review your clarity and pace. Aim for 90+ marks out of 180 in timed mocks to build a comfortable buffer above the 50% aggregate cutoff.


Subject-Wise Preparation Tips for CSEET October 2026

Each of the three CBT papers has a distinct character. Use the strategies below to tailor your approach per subject.

Paper High-Yield Topics Preparation Strategy
Business Communication (50 marks) Letter formats, grammar rules, précis writing, meetings vocabulary, report writing Read passages daily; practise one letter or email format per day in Month 1; solve grammar MCQs throughout Month 2
Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning (50 marks) Indian Contract Act, Companies Act basics, syllogisms, coding-decoding, analogy questions Solve 25+ MCQs daily from Month 2; make a landmark-provision list for key legal acts; vary reasoning question types every session
Economic and Business Environment (50 marks) Indian economy key data, RBI and SEBI roles, international trade, Union Budget highlights, banking sector basics Link textbook concepts to current news; maintain a monthly economy-events chart updated each week
VBT — Current Affairs and Presentation (30 marks) Business, economic, and legal events of the past 6 months; presentation and communication skills Daily 30-minute newspaper reading; weekly 3-minute self-recorded presentation reviewed for clarity and pace

For logical reasoning, attempt varied question types — patterns repeat across CSEET sessions and familiarity speeds up your response time significantly. For the VBT, a structured 3-part delivery (clear opening, 2–3 key points, crisp conclusion) scores better than a longer but rambling answer.

CSEET October 2026 Preparation FAQs

Ques. How many hours per day should I study for CSEET October 2026?

Ans. A consistent 4–5 hours daily is sufficient for most students over 90 days. Split this into a 2–3 hour morning session for new concepts and a 1–2 hour evening session for MCQ practice or current affairs reading. Quality of study matters more than raw hours — focused sessions with daily MCQ practice outperform passive reading for longer periods.

Ques. Is ICSI official study material enough for CSEET preparation?

Ans. Yes, ICSI’s official CSEET study material is the primary and most reliable resource. Supplement it with a standard English grammar guide for Business Communication and daily newspaper reading for Current Affairs. You do not need multiple reference books for the CBT papers.

Ques. What is the passing score for CSEET October 2026?

Ans. Students must score at least 40% marks in each individual paper — that is 20 out of 50 per CBT paper — and 50% marks in aggregate across all components, which is 90 out of 180. There is no negative marking, so you should attempt all questions.

Ques. How should I prepare for the CSEET VBT (Video-Based Test)?

Ans. Practise speaking on business and current affairs topics for 2–3 minutes at a stretch. Record yourself on a phone camera, review your posture, clarity, and pace, and improve session by session. Reading one national business newspaper daily from Month 1 onwards keeps your Current Affairs knowledge current for the VBT and removes the need to cram current events in the final week.

Ques. How many mock tests should I attempt before CSEET October 2026?

Ans. Aim for a minimum of 3 full-length timed mock tests in Month 3, with thorough error analysis after each one. Combine these with at least 25–30 topic-wise MCQs per subject daily in Month 2. The combination of timed full mocks and daily MCQ practice is the most effective preparation approach for CSEET.

Ques. Can I clear CSEET October 2026 without coaching in 90 days?

Ans. Yes. CSEET has a well-defined syllabus and official study material published by ICSI. Students who follow a structured self-study plan — covering all topics in Month 1, practising MCQs in Month 2, and taking timed mock tests in Month 3 — regularly clear the exam without any coaching. Consistent daily study and disciplined mock-test review are the decisive factors.