IBSAT 2025 will be held on December 27 and December 28 in online mode. Candidates appearing for the exam must start their preparation. Here are best books to prepare for IBSAT 2025 for Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Adequacy and Quantitative Aptitude.
IBSAT Preparation Books
Best Books for IBSAT Preparation: IBSAT 2025 will be held on December 27 and December 28. As per the IBSAT 2025 exam pattern the question paper will comprise 140 multiple-choice questions for one mark each. While mock tests and study materials provided by coaching institutes play an important role, there is no denial of the fact that books are one of the most important resources for preparing for an MBA entrance exam. This article of Shiksha brings to you a list of section-wise books for IBSAT preparation. Candidates can also refer to CAT preparation books to practice for IBSAT exam as the syllabus and subjects are similar. ICFAI Business School has begin IBSAT 2025 application process and the candidates who want to appear for the exam can apply before the due date which is December 19, 2025.
Also Read:
Here is the section-wise list of top books candidates could refer to while preparing for IBSAT 2025:
- Verbal Ability Preparation Books for IBSAT
- Reading Comprehension Preparation Books for IBSAT
- Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation Preparation Books for IBSAT
- Quantitative Aptitude Preparation Books for IBSAT
Verbal Ability Preparation Books for IBSAT
Verbal Ability (VA) section in IBSAT exam carries 50 questions, the highest among all sections. Therefore, it should be the prime focus of candidates preparing for the exam. To score well in this section, a candidate should go through the syllabus and books recommended by the experts. These include:
IBSAT Syllabus for VA Section
- Punctuation
- Incorrect words
- Arrangement of words
- English usage
- Errors in grammar
- Sentence correction & completion
- Replace the missing words
- Para jumble
- Idioms
- Cloze test
- One-word substitution
Best Books for IBSAT Verbal Ability:
| Book |
Publication/ Author |
|---|---|
| Objective General English 10,000 questions |
R. S. Aggarwal |
| Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis |
| Mastering the Verbal Ability for CAT |
Ajay Singh |
| Business English and Communication |
Clark |
Commonly asked questions
IBS Mumbai Postgraduate Programme in Management (PGPM) is a two-year course divided into four semesters. The course is offered in a full-time mode. Aspirants seeking admission must meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Moreover, the selection process is entrance-based. Candidates have to appear for IBSAT and secure a good score of admission. However, candidates with a valid score in CAT/XAT/GMAT/NMAT by GMAC with the required minimum score are exempted from IBSAT. Candidates shortlisted based on the exam score are further invited for group discussion and personal interview round. Read here about on Career Scope of PGDM.
IBSAT syllabus for Quantitative Ability is based on CAT syllabus. Based on previous year question paper analysis, some of the important topics for IBSAT quantitative ability are:
- Percentages
- Ratios and Proportions
- Profit and Loss
- Time and Work
- Speed and Distance
- Averages
- Simple and Compound Interest.
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Number System
- Data Interpretation
- Probability and Statistics
The modes of ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad course admissions are online and offline. Admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on merit, entrance exam scores, and interview rounds. At the undergraduate level, the ICFAI Business School Hyderabad offers three-year BBA or a four-year BBA (Hons) to students. At the postgraduate level, the ICFAI Business School Hyderabad offers two-year MBA programme. IBS Hyderabad also offers full-time PhD courses to students.
Based on the programme strengths highlighted on NTPC School of Business's website and educational ranking portals, the top course offered at the institute is:
MBA in Power Management
Some key reasons why the MBA in Power Management seems to be their flagship course:
1. Uniquely Specialized: The programme is specially designed for the power and energy sector. This gives graduates an edge in relevant job roles.
2. Industry-Oriented Curriculum: The course is crafted in collaboration with IIM-Calcutta with subjects like power trading, renewable energy management, energy laws etc. directly applicable for the sector.
3. Strong Placements: As per reports, graduates get placed majorly in power, oil and gas companies at leadership posts indicating good ROI.
4. Faculty Pedigree: Faculty is highly qualified with past experience in the power industry to provide the right guidance.
5. Live Projects: Program has live case study projects for practical orientation.
While NTPC SOB also has other courses like Project Management, Business Analytics, Finance - their tailored MBA programme for the power management sector seems to be their most popular course making it officially their flagship offering.
Reading Comprehension Preparation Books for IBSAT
The section carries 30 multiple-choice questions or MCQs and is based on common topics such as:
- Comprehension (passages)
- Syllogism
- Vocabulary
- Antonyms & Synonyms
Candidates can refer to the below-mentioned books for RC section of IBSAT exam:
| Book Name |
Author/Publisher |
|---|---|
| English Reading Comprehension |
RPH Editorial |
| Verbal Reading and Reading Comprehension for CAT |
Pearson |
| Proficiency in Reading Comprehension |
Arihant Publications |
| Effective Comprehension |
H. S Bhatia |
Also Read:
Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation Preparation Books for IBSAT
This section carries 30 MCQs based on topics such as:
- Cause and Effect
- Assumptions and Conclusion
- Critical Reasoning
- Shapes
- Series
- Statements and Conclusion
- Data represented in charts, tables, and graphs.
Candidates should practice with these books for DI & DA preparation:
| Book Name |
Author/Publisher |
|---|---|
| Data Analysis & Interpretation, Data Sufficiency |
Think Tank of Kiran Prakashan |
| Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency |
Ananta Ashisha |
| Quantitative Aptitude And Data Interpretation |
Pearsons |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency |
Arun Sharma |
Commonly asked questions
INR 9.01 Lakh is the total fee for PGPM at IBS Mumbai. There are multiple components included in the ICFAI Business School, Mumbai PGPM course fee such as tuition fee, refundable caution deposit, etc. For fee payment details, applicants can reach out to the IBS Mumbai admission office or visit its official website. It must be noted that the given fee is taken from an unofficial source. Hence, the actual amount may vary. Admission to the course is entrance-based. IBS Mumbai accepts IBSAT/ CAT/ GMAT/ NMAT by GMAC scores.
IBS Mumbai PGPM fees is INR 9.10 lakh. IBS Mumbai fee structure includes many components such as tuition fee, refundable caution deposit, etc. The total fee may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure.
The four-year PhD programme offered at IBS Mumbai involves five stages. These include courses, research workshops and projects, PhD qualifying examination, progress seminars, thesis proposal, and thesis work. During the first year, eight courses on seminars, interdisciplinary studies, and research methodology are undertaken by students. Ongoing assessment is carried out at each stage to monitor academic development.
The total semester fee for IBS Hyderabad BBA course is INR 11.40 lakh. Aspirants also need to pay INR 20,000 as admission fee. Check below the semester-wise fee for BBA course:
| Semester | Fee |
|---|---|
| Semester-1 | INR 1.40 lakh |
| Semester-2 | INR 1.40 lakh |
| Semester-3 | INR 1.40 lakh |
| Semester-4 | INR 1.40 lakh |
| Semester-5 | INR 1.40 lakh |
| Semester-6 | INR 1.40 lakh |
| Semester-7 | INR 1.40 lakh |
| Semester-8 | INR 1.40 lakh |
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Quantitative Aptitude Preparation Books for IBSAT
The section also carries 30 questions and is based on mathematical skills questions including topics below:
- Arithmetic
- Number system
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Ratio & proportion
- Percentage
- Profit & loss
- Mensuration
- Linear equation
- Mean, median & mode
- Arithmetic and geometric progression
To practice these topics and more from Quantitative Aptitude section, candidates should refer to the books below:
| Book Name |
Author/Publisher |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams |
R. S Aggarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning |
R.V. Praveen |
| Shortcuts in Quantitative Aptitude |
Disha Experts Publication |
| Rapid Quantitative Aptitude - With Shortcuts & Tricks |
Disha Experts |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
IBSAT question paper includes 140 multiple choice questions which are divided across four sections- verbal ability, reading comprehension, quantitative aptitude and date adequacy & data interpretation. Candidates will be required to attempt all questions within 120 minutes. IBSAT exam includes no ne
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
Yes, IBSAT exam is comparatively easier than CAT in terms of syllabus difficulty level and competition. CAT question paper requires high anlaytical solving skills to score well in exam, whereas IBSAT exam assesses candidate's speed and accuracy. The difficulty level of IBSAT exam is moderate.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
IBSAT cutoff varies for each IBS campus. Candidates seeking admission to top IBS campus must score a minimum of 80 percentile in IBSAT exam. Generally a score between 70 and 80 percentile in IBSAT exam is considered a good score.
D
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
To cover the IBSAT syllabus timely, candidates must first prioritise the high weightage topics and follow the section-wise preparation timetable. Students must focus on conceptual clarity and take regular mock tests to identify the weak areas and strong areas in IBSAT syllabus.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
The difficulty level of IBSAT syllabus is generally moderate. The syllabus for IBSAT is similar to the CAT syllabus. However, the IBSAT question paper includes more straightforward and less tricky questions compared to other MBA entrance examinations.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
IBSAT exam is generally considered easy to moderate in difficulty level compared to other major MBA exams like CAT and XAT. For an average student it is possible to score well in exam with good preparation strategy.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
IBSAT exam is conducted for a duration of two hours. It is a remote proctored test held across India. The IBSAT question paper consists of 140 multiple choice questions which have to completed in 120 minutes. The paper involves no negative marking.
K
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
Yes, IBSAT books are enough to cover the exam syllabus. Candidates can refer to the recommended books and study materials to prepare for the exam. Candidates must ensure that the books cover basic concepts, include section-wise practice questions and mock tests.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
No, it is not compulsory to attempt all sections of IBSAT exam. Some top tier IBSAT accepting colleges consider the minimum sectional scores to be shortlisted for admission. IBSAT exam does not involve any negative marking, hence candidates must focus on answering all 140 questions.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Yes — the IBSAT cutoff does change every year.
Why the IBSAT Cutoff Varies
- Exam Difficulty: If the paper is tougher, the cutoff percentile may be lower; if easier, higher.
- Number of Applicants: More applicants competing for limited seats can push the cutoff up.
- Seat Availability: Each ICFAI Business Sc
S
Contributor-Level 10
IBSAT Notifications
Shruti Garg is a graduate in English and Education with over 7 years of experience in content writing/editing and education journalism. At Shiksha.com, Shruti covers UG and PG entrance exams like MBA entrance exams,
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