CAT (Common Entrance Test) is one of the most difficult entrance examinations to crack in India. It is the first step to getting admission into Indian Institute of Management. The scores in CAT exams are vital as high scores in CAT will one step closer to a seat in one of the 19 IIMs in India.
And the CAT scores are considered by various other institutions and B-School. Also, while preparing for CAT, you can attempt various other examinations too.
According to the latest syllabus, the exam computer based and there are three sections in the question paper viz. Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability. With over 2 lac students appear for CAT examinations, the competition is fierce. So you need to have thorough preparations.
Although there are many coaching institutions and training centers for CAT exam preparation, for students preparing individually, there are many books to guide you through. An in-depth analysis of one or two of these books is more than enough to get a 99+ percentile. I’ll brief you through 10 Books for CAT Exam Preparation. The exact prices keep changing due to offers and discounts so you will find an approximate cost and where you can get it.
This book is recommended by experienced trainers and people who have cleared CAT. It is the best book for aspirants who are starting their preparation. It gives you the groundwork needed for aptitude. The book has been prepared scientifically with student friendly approach. All the topics in CAT are organized in a structured manner. The latest version is currently available on Flipkart and Amazon at lower prices compared to other websites.
Price - ₹ 522/ ₹ 550
Once you are through with the basics, this book will take you all the way for an in-depth preparation. This book is flooded with a lot of tips and tricks that will help you solve problems faster. You get to learn how to approach the problem the way the trainer at coaching centers teach the aspirants.
Remember that you have sufficient time left for CAT before you start this book because it might have an entirely different approach to solving problems. You can get it at Flipkart or Amazon.
Price - ₹ 360/ ₹ 585
This book has all the topics covering Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation. The latest version has updated questions on Number System and Co-ordinate Geometry as per the latest examination pattern.
Various exercises and tests at the end of the chapter have been provided for self-assessment. Also for aspirants who are preparing for GRE and GMAT, Statistics section has been included.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 788/₹ 790
This is the ultimate bible for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT aspirants. It extensively covers all the topics required for cracking the exams. But this could act as a negative point because you will have to spend a lot of time on these books. And the questions are also repetitive. So you will have to choose the items selectively and solve them.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 225 - ₹ 370
The latest edition of this book has questions from all sections of Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation along with practice tests and previous year questions. The book has been designed for aspirants of other examinations such as IIFT, XAT, SNAP, IRMA, CMAT, etc. If you are preparing for CAT alone, this book is not recommended as some of the questions may not be up to the CAT standards.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 225 - ₹ 370
This book has many graded problems to help you assess your speed while solving the questions. In data interpretation section, it covers all kinds of charts and tables. For data sufficiency, many exercises have been provided. The book is also suitable for UPSC exams, other MBA entrances exams, and public service exams.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 200 - ₹ 250
This book has been divided into two major sections, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning which have been further composed of subsections. It can be used as a study tool to Civil Service Exams, Bank Exams, Railway and Placement aptitude tests apart from CAT. This book has been in stores for so long with latest editions arriving at regular intervals. And it is recommended by many IIM students and graduates.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 450 - ₹ 650
This book is another definitive guide from Arun Sharma, which focuses on verbal ability and reading comprehension. It covers the topics in depth. There are many practice questions and also previous year papers and solutions to it. Comprehension passages from various sources have been included for aspirants to immerse fully in the topics.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 570 - ₹ 750
This book is very popular among school students who rely on basic grammar lessons. But to develop a strong grammar foundation and to rewind the grammar taught in school, IIM graduates and coaching center faculty recommend this book as an essential material for cracking CAT. The book along with solutions are available at all leading online stores.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 600 - ₹ 700 (High School English Grammar & Composition + Key to Wren & Martin's Regular & Multi color Edition of High School English Grammar & Composition)
Although CAT has eliminated general knowledge section, it is present exams like XAT and TISSNET. And most of the time, the general education section turns out to be the crucial factor that decides the percentile of students. This book is a last minute study material for entrance exams. You don’t have to spend much time on it. And it will be useful for Written Ability Test, Group Discussions, and Interviews once you clear CAT.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 70 - ₹ 120
And if you try to buy the books online from websites such as Flipkart, you will get more discount and offers if you buy combos. These books will take you through the CAT exam but for clearing the Written Ability Test(WAT) and Personal Interview(PI), extra work is needed.
Since the WAT will mostly be based on current affairs, it is advisable to be a regular reader of English dailies such as The Hindu, Economic Times and magazines such as Competition Success Review, Business Today by India Today Group and Business Line by The Hindu Group. This will also help you hone your vocabulary skills.
Some B-Schools also have a Group Discussion (GD) round. So along with the examination preparation, make sure that you are doing your doing your homework for the other rounds too. With November end, NIL the CAT exams, an exhaustive 4-5 month preparation is more than enough to crack it. Good luck!
And the CAT scores are considered by various other institutions and B-School. Also, while preparing for CAT, you can attempt various other examinations too.
According to the latest syllabus, the exam computer based and there are three sections in the question paper viz. Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability. With over 2 lac students appear for CAT examinations, the competition is fierce. So you need to have thorough preparations.
1. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT
Author – Arun SharmaThis book is recommended by experienced trainers and people who have cleared CAT. It is the best book for aspirants who are starting their preparation. It gives you the groundwork needed for aptitude. The book has been prepared scientifically with student friendly approach. All the topics in CAT are organized in a structured manner. The latest version is currently available on Flipkart and Amazon at lower prices compared to other websites.
Price - ₹ 522/ ₹ 550
2. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
Author – Abhijit GuhaOnce you are through with the basics, this book will take you all the way for an in-depth preparation. This book is flooded with a lot of tips and tricks that will help you solve problems faster. You get to learn how to approach the problem the way the trainer at coaching centers teach the aspirants.
Remember that you have sufficient time left for CAT before you start this book because it might have an entirely different approach to solving problems. You can get it at Flipkart or Amazon.
Price - ₹ 360/ ₹ 585
3. The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation for the CAT
Author – Nishit K SinhaThis book has all the topics covering Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation. The latest version has updated questions on Number System and Co-ordinate Geometry as per the latest examination pattern.
Various exercises and tests at the end of the chapter have been provided for self-assessment. Also for aspirants who are preparing for GRE and GMAT, Statistics section has been included.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 788/₹ 790
4. How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for the CAT Common Admission Test
Author – Arun SharmaThis is the ultimate bible for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT aspirants. It extensively covers all the topics required for cracking the exams. But this could act as a negative point because you will have to spend a lot of time on these books. And the questions are also repetitive. So you will have to choose the items selectively and solve them.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 225 - ₹ 370
5. The Pearson Guide to Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT and other MBA Entrance Examinations
Author – Nishit K SinhaThe latest edition of this book has questions from all sections of Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation along with practice tests and previous year questions. The book has been designed for aspirants of other examinations such as IIFT, XAT, SNAP, IRMA, CMAT, etc. If you are preparing for CAT alone, this book is not recommended as some of the questions may not be up to the CAT standards.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 225 - ₹ 370
6. Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
Author – Anantha AshishaThis book has many graded problems to help you assess your speed while solving the questions. In data interpretation section, it covers all kinds of charts and tables. For data sufficiency, many exercises have been provided. The book is also suitable for UPSC exams, other MBA entrances exams, and public service exams.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 200 - ₹ 250
7. A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
Author – R S AggarwalThis book has been divided into two major sections, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning which have been further composed of subsections. It can be used as a study tool to Civil Service Exams, Bank Exams, Railway and Placement aptitude tests apart from CAT. This book has been in stores for so long with latest editions arriving at regular intervals. And it is recommended by many IIM students and graduates.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 450 - ₹ 650
8. How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT
Author – Arun SharmaThis book is another definitive guide from Arun Sharma, which focuses on verbal ability and reading comprehension. It covers the topics in depth. There are many practice questions and also previous year papers and solutions to it. Comprehension passages from various sources have been included for aspirants to immerse fully in the topics.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 570 - ₹ 750
9. High School English Grammar & Composition
Author – P C Wren, H MartinThis book is very popular among school students who rely on basic grammar lessons. But to develop a strong grammar foundation and to rewind the grammar taught in school, IIM graduates and coaching center faculty recommend this book as an essential material for cracking CAT. The book along with solutions are available at all leading online stores.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 600 - ₹ 700 (High School English Grammar & Composition + Key to Wren & Martin's Regular & Multi color Edition of High School English Grammar & Composition)
10. General Knowledge 2017
Author – Manohar PandeyAlthough CAT has eliminated general knowledge section, it is present exams like XAT and TISSNET. And most of the time, the general education section turns out to be the crucial factor that decides the percentile of students. This book is a last minute study material for entrance exams. You don’t have to spend much time on it. And it will be useful for Written Ability Test, Group Discussions, and Interviews once you clear CAT.
Flipkart | Amazon
Price - ₹ 70 - ₹ 120
Final Verdict
For CAT aspirants who are currently working or are in a position where you are unable to attend classes, these books will help you reach your goal. Also, the level in coaching centers is an expensive affair. But the books are cheaper and to cut the cost further, you can rely on e-books, Kindle versions or get old books at lower prices from other students or shops.And if you try to buy the books online from websites such as Flipkart, you will get more discount and offers if you buy combos. These books will take you through the CAT exam but for clearing the Written Ability Test(WAT) and Personal Interview(PI), extra work is needed.
Since the WAT will mostly be based on current affairs, it is advisable to be a regular reader of English dailies such as The Hindu, Economic Times and magazines such as Competition Success Review, Business Today by India Today Group and Business Line by The Hindu Group. This will also help you hone your vocabulary skills.
Some B-Schools also have a Group Discussion (GD) round. So along with the examination preparation, make sure that you are doing your doing your homework for the other rounds too. With November end, NIL the CAT exams, an exhaustive 4-5 month preparation is more than enough to crack it. Good luck!
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