set texts

set texts — idiom

1. books, plays, poems, or other written works that a school or examination board r

1.idiomB2
Definition

books, plays, poems, or other written works that a school or examination board requires students to study and discuss as part of a course.

Example

This year's set texts for English Literature include two Austen novels and a Shakespeare play.

collocation: set texts for [subject]

The set texts for the final exams are announced by the department in September.

passive: are announced

Common collocations
  • set texts for [subject]
  • list of set texts
  • prescribed set texts
  • the set texts include
  • choose the set texts
Synonyms
  • required reading

    More common in American English; broader — can include articles, not just books or literary works

  • prescribed texts

    Formal synonym, common in exam-board documents; closer register to 'set texts'

  • set books

    Slightly narrower focus on whole books rather than shorter texts; more common in British English

Antonyms
  • optional reading

    Readings that students may choose to read but are not required to

Grammar Patterns

set texts + for + [subject/academic year]

Usage Note

Most common in British and Commonwealth education systems. In American English, required reading or required texts are more frequent. Typically appears in plural form.

Common Mistakes

The set texts is very long.
The set texts are very long.
'texts' is plural, so the verb must be plural ('are', not 'is').
The teacher gave us a set text to read over the holidays.
The teacher gave us some set texts to read over the holidays.
'set texts' is almost always plural because it refers to a collection of works, not a single assigned book.

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinBritish English

The phrase 'set texts' combines 'set' (from Old English 'settan', meaning 'to place, appoint, fix') in the sense of 'fixed or prescribed by authority', with 'texts' (from Latin 'textus', 'woven fabric' — later 'written work'). It emerged in British educational discourse in the mid-20th century as school exam boards began publishing fixed lists of required literary works for each subject.