Abhishek
Abhishek Dhawan
Assistant Manager – Editorial Content
Updated on Oct 28, 2025 22:25 IST
The syllabus of NMAT is similar to CAT. It also has a sectional time limit that can prove to be a major roadblock in satisfactory exam performance. So you need to make a sound exam strategy and prepare well. Firstly, get hold of the best books for NMAT recommended by experts. Check the list of books recommended by experts for NMAT preparation below

The NMAT 2025 is conducted over a test window. Candidates must be worried about books that they can rely upon in the last phase of preparation. Go through the article to know which are the best books for NMAT preparation.

Best Books for NMAT Preparation

NMAT 2025 Books

Best Books for NMAT Preparation: NMAT by GMAC is among the most popular exams for admission to top business schools. Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is conducting NMAT 2025 in a test window typically ranging above 45 days. NMAT is one of the premier gateways to some top MBA schools, including NMIMS, ISB, IBS, VIT University, SPJIMR, and TAPMI, among many others. These colleges are famous for their alumni, placement track records, incredible campus culture and excellent faculty members. To ensure that they are referring to suitable study materials, this article of Shiksha brings the list of best books for NMAT preparation.  

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NMAT is unique to other MBA entrance exams in India, as it follows the format of GMAT – multiple attempts allowed to the candidate. But that doesn’t make NMAT an easy exam to crack. The syllabus of NMAT is similar to CAT. It also has a sectional time limit that can prove to be a major roadblock in satisfactory exam performance. So you need to make a sound exam strategy and prepare well. Firstly, get hold of the best books for NMAT recommended by experts. Check the list of books recommended by experts for NMAT preparation below.

Q:   Which books should be referred to study as per NMAT syllabus?
A:

NMAT exam comprises as many as three sections. Candidates can invest in one book which covers the syllabus for all the three sections. Alternatively, candidates may consider to study from three different books, one for each section. GMAC official guide for NMAT is considered the best sourse to study for the competitive exam. Candidates can also prepare using the books recommended for CAT exam preparation or any other MBA entrance exam preparation.

For the NMAT Quantitative Aptitude section, candidates can refer to Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma, Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal and How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma. For Languagew Skills, Noman Lewis' Word Power Made Easy is among the recommended books for competitive exams. For Logical Reasoning section, candidates can choose Logical and Analytical Reasoning by Ashok Gupta.

Besides the books mentioned above, candidates can choose from a ton of books available for competitive exam preparation.  Refer to the NMAT books article by Shiksha for complete preparation books guide (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/nmat-exam-books)

Q:   How can NMAT guidebooks help during preparation?
A:

The NMAT Official Guide is a one-stop solution for NMAT preparation. It comprises topics from all three sections of the NMAT exam. It can help users gain fundamental knowledge and conceptual clarity on all the topics included in the NMAT syllabus. Such knowledge when combined with the rigorous practice of NMAT mock tests and question papers helps any test taker to score high marks in the exam. The key advantage of the Official Guide is that it not only comprises the answers to the questions but also the solution of the same.

Q:   Do NMAT reference books comprise answers to all the questions?
A:

Official NMAT reference book, also known as NMAT by GMAC Official Guide, comprises a short description of the answer. Not all options will be right and the right answer will have a logic behind it. Such characteristics are exclusive to textbooks for preparation and one may not always find them in any other resources available for NMAT preparation. The official guide has past year papers along with the answers to the same. Candidates can get answers as well as solutions to the analytical questions.

Table of contents
  • NMAT Exam Pattern 2025
  • Best Books for NMAT Preparation
  • Books for NMAT: Language Skills
  • Books for NMAT: Logical Reasoning
  • Books for NMAT: Quantitative Skills
  • Best NMAT Study Material: Mock Test series

NMAT Exam Pattern 2025

There are three sections in the NMAT 2025 exam. All three sections carry 36 MCQs, but each section's duration is different. NMAT exam pattern has been changed in the previous session. Check the table below for the latest pattern:

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Sections Number of Questions Duration
Language Skills 36 28 minutes
Logical Reasoning 36 40 minutes
Quantitative Skills 36 52 minutes

Also Read: NMAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Going by the number of questions section-wise, it is visible that Quantitative Skills has more weightage in the NMAT question paper compared to other sections. You need to dedicate a big chunk of your preparation to this particular section. Which books are best to keep in mind as per the NMAT Syllabus? Let’s see.

Best Books for NMAT Preparation

Q:   What are some good books to study for MBA entrance exams such as CAT CMAT NMAT XAT etc. ?
A:

A list of the best books for the MBA entrance exam is mentioned here;

  1. How to prepare for Data Interpretation by Arun Sharma
  2. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R. S. Aggarwal
  3. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha
  4. Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
  5. A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R. S. Aggarwal
  6. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh
  7. Word Power Made Easy Book by Norman Lewis
  8. Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey
  9. High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren & Martin
  10. Target XAT (Past papers & mock tests) by Odisha experts
  11. Analytical and Logical Reasoning by Arihant Publications
  12. Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers) by R. K. Jha

Besides the books mentioned above, candidates can refer to some other important books for MBA exam preparation as well.

Q:   Should I refer to more than one book for NMAT preparation?
A:

Yes, it is always advisable to refer to at least two books for each section while preparing for the NMAT exam. This is helpful as candidates get a chance to compare the contents of more than one book. In addition, the language of books also matter. While person A might find Book 1 over Book 2 to be having a language simple to comprehend, person B may find Book 2 to be easier than Book 1. Additionally, candidates get a chance to cover more question variety from the wide range of practise material available with an extra book for preparation.

Q:   Where can I get the best books to study for NMAT exam?
A:

NMAT by GMAC is among the major MBA exams conducted for admission in India and abroad. Candidates planning to pursue MBA typically appear for NMAT exam besides XAT, MAT, CAT, SNAP and more. Owing to its popularity, candidates preparing for the NMAT exam can find numerous books on exam preparation available at major book stores and online retailers. Candidates can also find the NMAT preparation books at a few libraries. In cases when the NMAT books cannot be found in the nearest store, one can use CAT exam books for NMAT preparation.

GMAC offers comprehensive study material to NMAT aspirants through an official guide and a mock test series. Apart from preparing using these books, you can study other MBA exam preparation books highly recommended by experts. Some of them are listed below.

Books for NMAT: Language Skills

For the Language Skills section, apart from books, newspapers, magazines, journals, etc. are also quite helpful. The editorial section of newspapers enriches the vocabulary and reading speed. You must read 2-3 editorial articles daily. Apart from this, you can solve Reading Comprehension (RC) passages and practice sample questions offered by MBA coaching centres.

Let’s have a look at some NMAT books for Language Skills:

Books

Authors

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT

Arun Sharma

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT

Nishit K. Sinha

Word Power Made Easy

Norman Lewis

High School English Grammar & Composition

Wren & Martin

Books for NMAT: Logical Reasoning

This section tests your analytical and logical abilities. Apart from referring to the books, you must deploy regular practice as part of your preparation strategy. Have a look at a couple of best books for Logical Reasoning, which not only provide theoretical understanding but practice materials as well:

Books

Authors

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT

Nishit K. Sinha

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT

Arun Sharma

Books for NMAT: Quantitative Skills

The Quantitative Skills section checks your problem-solving ability. Listed below are the best books for Quantitative Skills.

Books

Authors

Quantitative Aptitude for CAT

Arun Sharma

Quantitative Aptitude

R.S. Aggarwal

How to prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT

Arun Sharma

Best NMAT Study Material: Mock Test series

The candidates must practice NMAT mock test series and previous years’ question papers. It gives you a feel of the actual questions and tests your preparation level from scratch. This also helps you distinguish between your weak points and forte. After several mocks, you can list topics that need to be polished. With a better understanding and practice of those topics, you can excel in those topics.

Read More:

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

Predict NMAT Admission Calls
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About the Author
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Abhishek Dhawan
Assistant Manager – Editorial Content

Abhishek is a content writer and editor with 7+ years of experience in education journalism. He completed his graduation from University of Delhi with a BA Degree. At Shiksha.com, he handles content for MBA, BBA, an

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Answered 20 hours ago

Candidates appearing for NMAT test have to carry any of the following documents with NMAT admit card:

  • Aadhaar Card
  • Passport issued by Government of India
  • PAN Card
  • Voter's ID Card
  • Driver's License

V

Vikram Tyagi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 20 hours ago

Candidates need to carry a valid photo ID proof along with a hard copy of admit card on the NMAT exam day.

N

Nikita Saxena

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 21 hours ago

The process to download NMAT admit card for a retake attempt remains the same as it was followed for the first attempt. Candidates have to provide login credentials

D

Dhanya Shekhar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 21 hours ago

No. GMAC releases a separate admit card for all attempts of NMAT exam. NMAT admit card for each attempt is downloadable after the exam scheduling is complete.

L

Loveleen Sharma

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 days ago

No, NMIMS Indore MBA admissions are not accepted without NMAT exam. However, if you are looking to get admission in any other NMIMS Indore course, you may apply without NMAT scores. Make sure to check the admission requirement of the desired course. NMIMS Indore admissions are entrance-based only.

A

Anupama Garg

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The Bangalore University MBA Cutoff 2025 has been announced for admission to the MBA/PGDM programme via the Karnataka PGCET, CAT, NMAT, XAT, and other accepted exams. According to the Bangalore University Karnataka PGCET Cutoff 2025, students needed to obtain a rank of 3375 for admission to ABBS Ba

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

The accepted entrance tests at the FOSTIIMA Business School are CAT, XAT, CMAT, and others. Students must get good scores in the accepted entrance tests for admissions. For NMAT related info, seek information from the college. The college admission office will surely help students knowning whether

...Read more

J

Jagriti Pruthi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

How many NMAT-accepting colleges are there in India?

As of the latest admission cycle, around 55–60 B-schools in India accept NMAT by GMAC scores for MBA/PGDM admissions. These colleges include a mix of top-ranked institutes, well-known private universities, and emerging business schools across majo

...Read more

A

Aditi Sharma

Beginner-Level 3

Answered 3 weeks ago

The BML Munjal University NMAT Cutoff 2024 was released for admission to the MBA/PGDM courses for all categories under the All India quota. As per the NMAT Cutoff 2024, admission to the MBA in Human Resources course, had a qualifying score of 150 for the candidates belonging to the General All India

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

School of Management, BML Munjal University accepts the NMAT entrance score for selecting students to its MBA/PGDM courses. In 2024, the NMAT cutoff score was 150 for MBA in Human Resources, MBA in Business Analytics and MBA in Finance courses. 

R

Rashmi Sinha

Contributor-Level 10