Vipra Shrivastava

Vipra ShrivastavaSenior Manager - Content

Updated on Dec 10, 2024 13:25 IST

CAT 2025 aspirants must take care in choosing the right CAT books. Because making the right choice of CAT books is the first step towards a full-proof preparation. You would need to know the all the topics included in the CAT syllabus, their concept, theorems, formulae and application. Recommended CAT books have all of these. 

The market is flooded with a range of CAT books and each one of them claim to be the best. Then, how to ensure that you are referring to the best books for CAT preparation?

Shiksha has collated a list of best books for CAT recommended by experts and toppers, for you. Prepare for CAT 2025 with the below listed CAT books for Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. 

Q:   Are six months enough to prepare for CAT?

A:
Usually, it is recommended to start CAT preparation about a year or nine months in advance. However, one can prepare for this exam even in six months if they put 8-10 hours daily into it. Candidates who have attempted the CAT before may not face a lot of hurdles in six-month preparation as they have a foundation in CAT preparation from previous year, but candidates who are appearing in the exam for the first time may face obstacles, mostly related to accuracy. The syllabus of CAT is vast and includes a lot of reading. One also has to spend a lot of time in practice sessions and mock tests to be able to master all types of CAT questions - easy, moderate and tough. If you are a student of engineering/technical or commerce background you will need to pay extra attention on VARC . However, you'll be able to manage the syllabus of DILR and Quantitative Aptitude with adequate practice of topics. But if you are a student from Arts background, it is advised to start CAT preparation much earlier because you will have to brush up a lot of Mathematics. Reading Comprehension is one subject that cannot be mastered by student belonging to any academic stream, if their English comprehension is not strong. To develop reading habit all CAT aspirants will have to start much earlier.
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Q:   How do I improve my quant score for the CAT in 1.5 months?

A:
The Quantitative Aptitude section is one of the most scoring and tricky sections in the CAT. You can follow the given expert tips to improve your score in this section: 1. Learn to do mental calculations to solve questions with the minimum amount of calculation. 2. Memorize all important tables, square roots, and cube roots to do faster calculations. 3. Create some unconventional methods to arrive at answers in less time. This is possible in the percentage, ratio, and Number System topics. 4. Make a list of recurring question types in the quant section to practice such questions more. 5. To improve your score in the quant section, you must analyze areas in which you are scoring less. 6. You need to focus on the conceptual clarity of such topics where you are not scoring well. 7. You can learn some tips and tricks from YouTube and guides to solve time-consuming types of questions. 8. It would be better if you were able to create your own methods to solve questions and perform well in the exam. 9. Read all questions quickly and begin with the easiest before progressing to the more difficult ones. 10. Fix a time limit for attempting each question and practice as much as you can in the limited time you have.
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Q:   How to start preparing for CAT and from which year of UG should we start preparing for CAT?

A:

 Ideally, students start their preparation for CAT and other management entrance tests from the 2nd year onwards. -Starting by understanding the syllabus and the concepts of each section. -Once you are thorough will the syllabus, practice with mock tests, and identify your strengths as well as weak areas. -Be consistent with your stronger portions and keep working on your loose ends too. -If a particular topic is out of your understanding, don't waste much time on that. Rather try to improve the sections you are performing on average. -No student ever tries to attempt the whole exam. Strategies & plan on attempting your test. -Practice as many Mocks as you can, no matter how much score you are getting. Mock tests will help you will time management which is yet another important aspect of giving entrances. -Do keep the backup option of the other entrance tests as well as the syllabus is more or less the same. -Keep yourself updated with the Current Affairs and news, especially business and economics. That will help you with your GD&PI. -Last but not the least, don't pressurize yourself. Just take it easy and give your best. Good Luck :). .

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Best Books for CAT Preparation 2025

CAT books are essential for understanding the topics included in the CAT syllabus 2025 conceptually, theoretically and practically. These books contain chapter wise discussion, explanation and practice questions for all the topics from which questions are asked in the CAT. The list of best books for CAT preparation must include the ones by Arun Sharma, Nishit Sinha and RS Aggarwal. Shiksha has shared below, section-wise top CAT books that you must consult while preparing for the CAT exam. 

Also Read:

CAT Exam Preparation: Tips and Tricks

CAT Exam Preparation 2025 - Coaching vs Self Study

Q:   What makes CAT tougher than other MBA entrance exams?

A:
CAT exam is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIM. Every year, over 2.3 Lacs candidates apply for it. The CAT score is accepted by the Iims and all top MBA colleges in India. To select the best candidates from over 2.3 Lacs test takers there is a need for tough criteria. That's why, the CAT exam is tougher than other MBA entrance exams. Even though the syllabus of CAT is same as that of other MBA entrance exams, the question paper set by the IIM faculty always has tough questions. Moreover, CAT has sectional time limit for each section which is not there in any other exam expect XAT. Having a time limit for each section adds pressure on candidates to complete solving adequate number of questions in a section within the time limit. If a student is weak in a particular subject, they can't use the time as per their need. CAT's Reading Comprehension passages are long and dense unlike other MBA exams. This is one more reason why most candidates feel CAT is tougher than any other MBA entrance exam.
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Q:   How to improve reading speed for CAT preparation?

A:

The Common Admission Test (CAT) exam is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis every year. The CAT exam is an online computer-based test that is used as a primary criterion for admission into various management programs offered by the IIMs as well as other top business schools in India.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) exam syllabus is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section consists of 26 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): This section consists of 24 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA): This section consists of 26 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it.

The total duration of the exam is 180 minutes (3 hours). Each correct answer carries 3 marks, and there is a negative marking of 1 mark for each incorrect answer. However, there is no negative marking for unattempted questions. (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Here is a brief overview of the syllabus and some tips on how to prepare for each section:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section tests your reading comprehension and language skills. The syllabus includes reading comprehension passages, grammar, para jumbles, para completion, sentence correction, and vocabulary. To prepare for VARC, read a lot of books, newspapers, and magazines to improve your reading speed and comprehension skills. Practice grammar and vocabulary exercises regularly to improve your language skills. Also, practice solving previous year CAT papers and mock tests to improve your speed and accuracy.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): This section tests your ability to interpret data and make logical deductions. The syllabus includes bar graphs, line charts, pie charts, tables, Venn diagrams, blood relations, seating arrangements, and puzzles. To prepare for DILR, practice solving a variety of puzzles and logical reasoning questions. Develop a systematic approach to solving questions and focus on improving your speed and accuracy. Practice solving previous year CAT papers and mock tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA): This section tests your mathematical skills. The syllabus includes number systems, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, arithmetic, and modern mathematics. To prepare for QA, start with the basics and gradually move to advanced topics. Practice solving a variety of mathematical problems regularly to improve your speed and accuracy. Memorize important formulas and theorems. Also, practice solving previous year CAT papers and mock tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Each correct answer carries 3 marks.

Each incorrect answer carries a penalty of -1 mark.

There is no negative marking for questions that are left unanswered.

The CAT exam is used as a primary criteria for admission into various management programs offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as well as other top business schools in India. The selection process for CAT typically includes the following stages:

CAT Exam: Candidates who clear the CAT cutoff are shortlisted for the next stage.

Written Ability Test (WAT)/Group Discussion (GD)/Personal Interview (PI): Shortlisted candidates are required to appear for a WAT/GD/PI round, which is conducted by the respective IIMs or business schools.

Final Selection: Candidates are selected based on their CAT score, performance in the WAT/GD/PI round, academic background, work experience, and other relevant factors. The final selection is based on a composite score that considers all these factors.

The weightage given to CAT score and other selection criteria vary from institute to institute. It is important to check the admission criteria of the respective institutes you are applying to.

Overall, the CAT exam is a highly competitive exam, and candidates are advised to prepare well and perform to the best of their abilities.

If you want to prepare you can  download LK ACADEMY learning app for daily free mock test, Current Affairs video lectures, study notes and many more all on your convenient time. The coaching provides comprehensive way to cover the syllabus and make you prepare for preliminary, Mains and interview round.

Good luck!

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Q:   What are the topics on which I should read books for RC preparation?

A:

Candidates must read books on economy, philosophy, science, astronomy, psychology, sociology, history, geography, psychoanalysis, economics, astronomy, art & culture, literature, fiction novels, auto-biographies and biographies. Most of the passages that appear in any MBA entrance exam are based on these topics. The RC passages length may vary but most of the times the language is tough with foreign words and expressions or a good amount of data.

It is also recommended to candidates to read research papers, survey reports, etc. to have the practice of understanding and relating data in a quick read. Always refer to dictionary for word meanings while reading books.

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Explore subject-wise topics asked in CAT

Select your preferred subject

Best books for CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Quantitative Aptitude is considered to be the toughest section of CAT exam as it is Mathematics based and calculation intensive. Over the years, the difficulty level of CAT Quantitative Aptitude has remained high, and CAT 2025 will be no different. Since this section is calculation heavy and requires accuracy, pay extra care in preparing for it. Listed below are most recommended CAT books for Quantitative Aptitude and their USP:

CAT Book Name and Author

USP

NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10)

NCERT Mathematics books are very good for students of non-Science background for brushing up fundamental concepts and theorems to solve advance level Quant problems later.

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma

This book by Arun Sharma is very popular among aspirants as it teaches basics in a simple manner and is easy to understand.

Each topic covered in this book has three levels of difficulty and five test papers which help aspirants in covering all types of questions - from low to high.

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha

This book by Abhijit Guha is a comprehensive resource for Quant preparation for not only CAT but also other MBA entrance exams as well as competitive exams.

Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Verma

This book by Sarvesh Sharma is highly recommended for students from non-Maths background or those who find QA difficult. Its USP is easy flow of language and over 4000 questions with answers.

Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha

Nishit Sinha is an IIM Lucknow alumnus and CAT expert. This book written by him is the best source to understand advanced concepts and application.

Plus, it has over 4000 solved questions and five online mock tests

Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal

Oldest reference book for QA since 1989, this RS Aggarwal authored book covers all the topic and has over 5500 questions with answers for practice.

Also Read:

Q:   What should be my approach towards Quantitative Aptitude on CAT exam day?

A:

Quantitative Aptitude is the last section of CAT. By the time you reach this section, it is natural for fatigue to set it. Don’t get bogged down by fatigue. Stay energized and alert as this section requires Mathematical calculations. Read the questions calmly and then choose the ones you can solve with maximum accuracy. The CAT Quantitative Aptitude section is dominated by Mensuration and Arithmetic, so have a good control on those topics.

Do not spend too much time on any question that is posing a challenge to you. Do not get greedy and fall in the trap of negative marking.

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Q:   What is the sectional weightage of Quantitative Aptitude in CAT?

A:
The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is the third and the last section of the question paper. It has 22 questions and the total marks is 66. This section of the CAT exam is usually dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra. Most of the questions out of 22 are asked from these two topics. In CAT 2022, there were about 7-9 Algebra questions and 7-9 Arithmetic questions (the exact number varied for all three slots). Apart from these two topics, there are questions from Mensuration Modern Math and Number System in the Quantitative Aptitude section CAT. Some of the important sub topics in this section include: Arithmetic topics: Ratio and Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss Mixtures and Allegations Averages, Percentages, Mean Median Mode, Time and Work, Time Speed and Distance Algebra topics: Basics Algebraic Formulae, Number of integer solutions, Quadratic Equations, Finding out roots, Maxima and Minimal, Higher Degree Equations, Linear Equations, Problems on ages, Descartes Rule of Signs, Inequalities, Logarithm, Functions, Modifications of Graphs, The smallest Value in a Maximum Function Number System topics: Finding Out Last Two Digits, Number of Trailing Zeroes, Finding out Remainders based on, Basic Divisibility Rules, Binomial Theorem, Simplifying the Dividend (Single and/or Multiple Divisors), Basics of Numbers, Properties of Numbers, Divisibility Rules, Divisibility and Factors, the highest Common Factor and the lowest Common Multiple, Finding Out the Last Digit, Fermat's Theorem, Euler's Theorem, Pattern Recognition and Cyclicity of Remainders, Wilson's Theorem, Base Systems, Conversion of Bases, Addition/Subtraction/ Multiplication in different bases Geometry Topics: Lines and Angles, Triangles Basic Concepts, Area, Angles, Similar Triangles Polygons, Circles, Solids / Mensuration 3D Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry Modern Math topics: Sequence and Series Binomial Theorem, Set Theory, Permutation and Combination, Probability.
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Q:   What are the important topics of CAT syllabus from which maximum questions are asked?

A:
CAT lays a lot of emphasis on analytical skills so the questions are asked mostly from those topics which require deep learning and practice. The three sections of CAT question paper are designed in such a way that candidates have to use their ability of minute observation and fast calculation. Shared below are the section wise main topics from which questions are asked in CAT. Verbal Ability: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences Reading Comprehension: Questions based on passages, Para meaning, Order of sentences Data Interpretation: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency Logical Reasoning: Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Sets and Caselets, Family Tree, Assumptions Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra Number System Modern Math, Arithmetic, Mensuration The difficulty level of CAT questions is usually moderate to high. Only a few questions are easy and quick to solve. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to pay attention to the abovementioned topics.
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Best books for CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

The DILR section of CAT is mostly of moderate to high difficulty level. Sometimes the LR questions can be tricky and candidates can misjudge them. The key to crack CAT DILR section is understanding the pattern of puzzles accurately which can be done by ample practice of sample questions and mock exercises. So, choose CAT books that have ample number of sample questions for practice. Given below is the table for best CAT books for DILR:

CAT Book Name and Author

USP

A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Agarwal

This book by RS Aggarwal is highly recommended for beginners who need to start with the most basic LR concepts.

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma

This book covers all the topics of Logical Reasoning. Explanation of each topic is followed by problems with different difficulty levels for candidates to practice and assess their preparation level.

How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma

This book covers all the topics of Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency along with sample questions, previous years CAT questions and model test papers.

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha

This book has five section tests and 500+ solved DILR questions along with self-assessment tests and model questions for SNAP, XAT and IIFT.

Data Interpretation by Nishit Sinha

This practice book is not only useful for CAT but also for other MBA entrance exams like XAT, GMAT, NMAT, CMAT, etc.

CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri

This book covers all advanced level of topics and solved problems. It also contains 5 mock tests and topic wise solved papers of over 15 years.

Free DILR Questions with Answers for Practice Free QA Questions and Answers for Practice
Free VARC Questions with Answers for Practice

Q:   What are the best ways to prepare for the DILR section?

A:

The best way to prepare for DILR section is through practice. Before starting the preparation, aspirants should be accustomed to the question types by going through previous years’ question papers and solving those. Since there is not much conceptual understanding required in this section, practice is the key to excel in this area.

Some of the most popular books on DILR section that you can refer are How to Prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Pearson, to name a few.

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Q:   What is the sectional weightage of DILR in CAT?

A:
The total number of questions in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section of CAT exam is 20. There is equal number of question distribution between Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, which means both sections have 10 questions each. The total marks for DILR is 60. The questions on Data Interpretation as based on Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, whereas Logical Reasoning questions are based on Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Caselets and Syllogism. This section of the CAT is usually moderate in terms of difficulty level and about 12-14 correct attempts are good enough to score high marks. Some of the other important topics include Series, Proposition, Direction Sense, Coding-Decoding, Assumptions, Clocks and Calendars, Statements, Binary Logic, Data Structures, Data Sufficiency and Data Arrangement. To score high in this section, candidates must practice a good number of practice tests and sectional mock tests. The better you learn to interpret given data and apply reasoning to a given situation, the better you get at solving related questions.
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Q:   From where can I download CAT question papers?

A:
CAT question papers are released within a week of the exam in the form of a PDF as a response sheet and answer key. Candidates who have appeared for the test are able to access the CAT question paper and answer key. The question paper of every slot is released on the same day along with candidate response sheet and official answer to all question. If any candidate needs previous year CAT question papers for preparation purpose, then they can download them from Shiksha website. We have hosted last five years' CAT question papers for aspirants to download and practice. These official CAT question papers are available for download free. You can download the CAT question paper PDFs at this link: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam-question-papers Candidates must check and practice the latest CAT question paper to know the latest exam pattern and difficulty level.
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Best books for CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

A candidate's CAT VARC score is directly proportional to their strength in English grammar and comprehension. The more you read, the better your English comprehension will become. However, only having a good reading and comprehension speed is not enough. You need to know more. Check the list of best CAT book for VARC below:

CAT Book Name and Author

USP

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay

This book is an exhaustive book frr VARC preparation comprising concepts, explanation, tips, exercises and model questions. It is divided into four parts – RC, VA, VR and sample papers. 

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension For the CAT by Nishit Sinha

This book contains lasted topics and exercises of VARC along with five mock tests, over 2,000 solved questions and seven years’ solved CAT question papers.

Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

This book is one-stop-shop for strengthening English vocabulary. It I easy to use and has pronunciation, contextual explanation and usage of each word.

High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin

This book is the best source to study English grammar and usage. This book is recommended at school-level to build a strong foundation in spoken and written English.

30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster

This book is of great help in developing word power & usage and improving pronunciation with simple exercises and self-tests.

Also Read:

Q:   How many RC questions does CAT have?

A:

The CAT VARC section is dominated by RC questions. Out of 24 questions about 14-16 are based on Reading Comprehension passages and the rest of them are based on parajumbles, para completion, etc.

CAT has about 12-16 RC question. In CAT 2022, there were four RC passages each having four questions. The ideal attempt was estimated at 13. Since, it is not mandatory to solve all the questions, candidates can maximize their scores by leaving out the questions related to the passage they find the toughest. There is negative marking in CAT so candidates must ensure that they mark only the correct options or do not mark any option at all.

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Q:   What is the sectional weightage of VARC in CAT?

A:
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of the CAT exam has 24 questions. This section has the maximum weightage. 24 questions carry 72 marks. The major part of this section is dominated by Reading Comprehension. It covers about 14-16 questions through 4-5 passages. Rest of the questions are asked from Verbal Ability like Para jumbles, Para summary and Para completion. Every Reading Comprehension passage of the CAT carries about four to five questions. There are usually 3-4 para jumble questions, 3-4 para summary questions and 2-3 para completion questions. Lately it has been seen the CAT does not have word meaning or grammar-based questions. CAT VARC is a high weightage section of high difficulty level. High difficulty level, because the CAT Reading Comprehension passages are long, dense and inference based. To read and understand the passages in a short time poses a challenge to a large number of candidates. So, it is very important to develop reading habit if you want to score high in CAT.
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Q:   How many CAT mock tests to practice to score 99 percentile?

A:
Experts recommend that aspirants must practice at least 40 CAT mock tests to score above 99 percentile well in the exam. Most of the CAT test takers take up to 50 mock tests of various types and difficulty level. CAT toppers in previous years have practiced even up to 80 mock tests during their preparation. However, candidates must decide the number of CAT mock tests depending on their control and confidence on topics as the exam day comes closer. Mock tests are the best way to judge your performance viz. The important topics of CAT. The more one practices CAT mock tests, the more accurate they get in solving questions from all subjects. It is very important to know which formula to apply to which type question to solve the problem accurately. Mock tests help candidates in this aspect which is why practicing mock tests is most important in CAT preparation.
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Recommended Readings for CAT RC Preparation

Only reading CAT books will not help because the RC section is tough. Read books and novels of various genres. During CAT 2025 preparation, dedicate two hours daily to read books and novels recommended for CAT so that in the exam you are well prepared for RC passages from any genre and field. Reading extensively will also improve your English vocabulary. Listed below are some of the popular fiction and non-fiction books for CAT preparation:

Name of the Book

Author

Genre

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen Covey

Management

A Brief History of time

Stephen Hawking

Science

Cosmos

Carl Sagan

Science

War & Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Fiction

Ulysses

James Joyce

Fiction

An Illustrated Retelling of Mahabharta – Jaya

Devdutt Patnaik

Mythology & Management

India in Slow Motions

Mark Tully

Politics

Capitalism & Freedom

Milton Friedman

Economics

Maximum City

Suketu Mehta

City Life - Mumbai

Shantaram

David Gregory Roberts

Autobiography – City Life

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho

Fiction

Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela

Autobiography - Politics

Wings of Fire

APJ Abdul Kalam

Autobiography

Shantaram

David Gregory Roberts

Autobiography – City Life

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy

Fiction

A Brief History Of Time

Stephen Hawking

Cosmology

The Hard Thing about Hard Thing

Ben Horowitz

Biography

First Among Equals

Jeffrey Archer

Political Fiction

Q:   What is the best all-in-one book for MBA (CAT/MAT/GMAT) preparation?

A:
It is difficult to prepare for all MBA entrance exams with one book due to different exam patterns. Also, since there are multiple sections in each exam, one book might not be able to cover the complete syllabus of these entrance exams. However, there are certain section-wise books that can be referred to for different MBA exams. These are: 1. Arun Sharma or R. S. Agrawal for quantitative aptitude 2. Nisiht Sinha or Pearson for data interpretation and logical reasoning 3. Arun Sharma or Odisha Publication for Verbal Ability 4. For logical reasoning books by Arun Sharma or Nishit K. Sinha You can choose any of these books to prepare for the exam according to the syllabus.
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Q:   Is CAT exam tough for an average student?

A:

CAT is a speed based test which is designed to assess a candidate's analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advance level problems.

However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.

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CAT Preparation 2025: Sectional Breakup

Revise important topics with CAT books in this last month of CAT exam. Before making a CAT 2025 preparation plan, you need know what is the composition of the test. This is also necessary for selecting the best books for CAT preparation. The VARC section usually has 12-14 Reading Comprehension questions. Rest of the questions are based on parajumbles, para completion, etc. In the DILR section, the division of questions is equal between DI and LR - 10 questions each. The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra. About 8-10 questions are asked from Arithmetic and 3-4 questions from Algebra. Rest of the questions are asked from Geometry, Modern Math, Trigonometry and Mensuration. Check below the section wise composition of CAT question paper:

CAT 2025 Sections

Number of Questions

Allotted Time

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

24

40 minutes

Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI)

22

40 minutes

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

22

40 minutes

Total

68

120 minutes

Read More:

CAT Percentile predictor prepared by Shiksha.com helps students to get their predicted CAT percentile on the basis of their expected exam score. So, predict your CAT score by clicking the link below:

CAT Percentile Predictor

Check CAT cut offs and predict calls from IIMs and Non-IIMs accepting CAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all CAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

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FAQs Related to CAT Books and Preparation

Check below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to CAT books and preparation:

Q:   When should I start preparing for CAT exam?

A:

Aspirants should start preparing for CAT exam at least nine months in before the test date. CAT preparation requires long-term planning thus one must start early. The best time to start CAT preparation is in March. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not.

Divide your preparation into two phases -

  1. Covering the CAT syllabus 
  2. Practicing mock tests, sample questions and revision.

The CAT syllabus includes the following topics:

  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences, Questions based on passages, para meaning, order of sentences
  • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Caselets and Syllogism
  • Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra, Number System, Arithmetic, Mensuration.

You can read the following CAT books for exam preparation:

  • CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
  • Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
  • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
  • 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis/ Simon and Schuster
  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Sharma and Upadhyay
  • High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
  • How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
  • Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha
  • Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Sharma
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha.
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Q:   What are the best books for CAT Quantitative Aptitude preparation?

A:
The best books for Quantitative Aptitude preparation of CAT exam are listed below. These books are recommended by experts and mentors not only for CAT but also for other MBA entrance exams. NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10) 1. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma 2. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha 3. Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Verma 4. Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha 5. Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal The NCERT Mathematics book is recommended for CAT preparation because it is the best source of building or revisiting the fundamentals of Algebra Geometry, Trigonometry Mensuration and Arithmetic. The NCERT books are extremely helpful to students from non-Engineering background. Quantitative Aptitude books by Arun Sharma, Abhijit Guha, Sarvesh Verma, Nishit Sinha and RS Aggarwal are the main books for CAT preparation as they cover all the topics at advanced level. They also have 1000s of sample questions of easy, moderate and high difficulty levels for practice.
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Q:   What are the best books for CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension preparation?

A:
There are a range of books available for preparation of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT. However, the most recommended books are mentioned below: 1. How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay 2. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit Sinha 3. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis 4. High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin 5. 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis/Simon and Schuster For English Grammar and Vocabulary, High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin is the best book. For Verbal Ability preparation, practice questions of different difficulty levels are a major part of preparation. The abovementioned books are the best resources of Verbal Ability and practice questions. To prepare for Reading Comprehension, candidates should read books, novels, magazines, research papers, newspaper editorials, etc. Along with these books.
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Q:   Which is the best book of logical reasoning for CAT preparation?

A:
Books of Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT exam: 1- Logical Reasoning by Arihant. 2- Logical and Analytical Reasoning by Ashok Gupta. 3- A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal. 4- How To Prepare Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma. 5- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit K Sinha. Books of Verbal Reasoning for the CAT exam: 1- Verbal Reasoning by Bhupendra Kumar Singh. 2- How to Crack Test of Reasoning by Jaikishan and Premkishan. 3- Shortcuts in Reasoning for Competitive Exams by Odisha Experts. 4- A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R. S. Agarwal. 5- A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal and Non-Verbal by B. S. Sijwali and Indus Sijwali. I hope this will help you.
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Q:   What is the syllabus for CAT exam?

A:
CAT syllabus includes all the important topics of subjects that are relevant for business aptitude. For CAT exam, candidates have to study, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension VARC Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Given below are the key topics included in the CAT syllabus. The VARC section of CAT exam syllabus includes various topics of English Grammar, Word Meaning, Vocabulary, Parajumbles, Paracompletion, Parasummary, Fill in the Blanks, Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT syllabus includes all the topics of Mathematics from Class 9 to 10 such as Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra Trigonometry Modern Math, Number System and Mensuration. The DILR syllabus of CAT exam includes topics that require analytical interpretation of data presented in the form of Puzzles, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Tables and Bar Graphs.
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Q:   What are the best section-wise books to prepare for the CAT?

A:
Hi shruti The CAT exam is conducted for admission to the top management colleges, including the Iims. It is of utmost importance that you choose the correct study material to prepare for the CAT exam. According to experts, some of the best section-wise books to prepare for the CAT are given below: 1. Quantitative Aptitude Section: To prepare for this the toughest section, you should start with NCERT Mathematics books, particularly if you are not a math student. Then, you can select any other well-known author for the CAT quant section, such as How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma or Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit Sinha. 2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Section: For this section, you can choose A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Agarwal or How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma. You can also choose CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri for practice purposes. 3. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Section: The basic requirement to prepare for this section is reading the newspaper regularly. You can prepare for this section with Nishit Sinha's VARC for CAT High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin, and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. 4. Reading Comprehension: To prepare for this section, the simple rule is to develop a reading habit. You should read a national newspaper every day. Apart from it, you can read any popular writer such as Stephen Covey, Carl Sagan, or Milton Friedman. And if it's help you like it.
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Q:   How can I improve my score in Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT?

A:

The key to improving score in Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is practice, practice and more practice. Listed below are some tips you can apply while preparing for CAT.

  • Practice Mental Maths to be less dependent on calculators
  • Make short notes of formulae and sample questions to revise them on the go
  • Develop the ability to choose which questions to answer in the exam
  • Avoid negative marking. Don’t attempt questions you are not sure of
  • Practice Quants questions in a time bound manner to be able to utilize maximum time in the main exam
  • Solving a sample question is not enough. Practice the same set of questions multiple time
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Answered Yesterday

No, CAT is not compulsory for admission to PGDM course at  Pillai Business School. As the college accept other national-level exam scores as well, such as MAT/XAT/GMAT/MAT/ATMA/ABSAT. Thus, candidate without CAT score can apply with a valid score in either of the mentioned exam. Further, the final s

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Mukul Shukla

Beginner-Level 5

Answered Yesterday

The expected CAT/XAT percentile for GLIM G is about 80+

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pradeep kumar

Scholar-Level 18

Answered 3 days ago

IILM University helps MBA Specialization studentss stay update with the latest developed reesources. they offer industry visit and seminor in your specialisation by the expert in related field . althrough faculty incourage the student to develope there skills . The university have the good connectio

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Abhishek Singh

Beginner-Level 3

Answered 4 days ago

With a 70 percentile in CAT and 58% in graduation, admission to BITS Pilani for MBA may be difficult, as they typically have high cut-offs and look for strong academic performance. BITS Pilani usually requires a higher CAT score (above 90 percentile) and a solid academic record. However, it's worth

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Rupesh Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

The CAT result date for SIES College of Management Studies typically follows the official CAT result release date, which is usually in the first week of January. Once the results are out, SIES College will shortlist candidates based on their CAT scores for further rounds like Group Discussion (GD) a

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Rupesh Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

With a 50-60 percentile in CAT, top IIMs may be out of reach, but there are still several good options for you. Consider institutes like IMS Noida, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Indira Institute of Management, and ITM Business School. Other options include BIMTECH, UPES, and Lovely Professional

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Rupesh Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

With a 68 percentile in CAT, getting into one of the new IIMs (like IIM Kashipur, IIM Rohtak, IIM Trichy, etc.) could be challenging, even under the OBC category. While new IIMs generally have slightly lower cut-offs compared to the older ones, they still maintain high academic and professional stan

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Rupesh Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

With a CAT percentile of 44.28, getting into top-tier B-schools may be tough, but there are still good options available. You can consider institutes like IMS Noida, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Amity Business School, ITM Navi Mumbai, and LPU Punjab. Other options include Welingkar Institute, B

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Rupesh Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

With a 98.07 percentile in CAT, you're in a strong position for calls from top B-schools in India. Based on your profile (Gen CAT, Non-Eng Male, 22 months work experience, 84% in Xth, and 91% in XII), you can expect calls from prestigious institutes like:

  1. IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Luckn

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Rupesh Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

With an 87 percentile in CAT, you have some good B-school options in India. Consider institutes like IILM University (New Delhi, Gurgaon), which offers a strong MBA programme with industry exposure, or Xavier Institute of Management (XIMB), Bhubaneswar, known for its solid curriculum and placements.

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Rupesh Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

1617 Institutes accepting CAT

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Master of Business Administration (MBA)
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  • 2 years
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