Exam On - 3 Jan '27
XAT study material includes books by RS Aggarwal, Arun Sharma and Wren & Martin. Aspirants must refer to recommended XAT books only. Check here section-wise list of XAT preparation books for 2026 exam session.
It is crucial to choose the right XAT books, as the syllabus is vast and difficulty level high. XLRI shortlists candidates above 92-94 percentile, so candidates cannot be ill prepared for the exam. So, for exam preparation, you must refer to expert recommended books for XAT 2026.
Choose only those XAT preparation books, that include all the topics includes in the XAT syllabus. The XAT syllabus comprises subjects like Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, Logical Ability, Data Interpretation, Decision Making and General Knowledge. The books should also have additional XAT study material such as practice questions, sample papers and topic wise exercises of various difficulty levels. Read below to know the best books for preparation of XAT 2026.
- Best Books for XAT Preparation: Expert Recommendation
- XAT Preparation Books for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
- XAT Preparation Books for Decision Making
- XAT Preparation Books for Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning
- XAT Study Material for General Knowledge
- XAT Study Material: Previous Year XAT Question Papers
- XAT Mock Tests
- XAT Syllabus 2026
- XAT Exam Pattern 2026
Best Books for XAT Preparation: Expert Recommendation
Every section of the XAT exam has different weightage and cut-off marks, therefore, for an overall good XAT score, candidates need to perform well in each section. Experts suggest that candidates should apply subject specific strategy to prepare every section of XAT, which should include recommended XAT books. We have listed section-wise best books for XAT preparation 2026 (recommended by experts) and other study material below. Read on.
Commonly asked questions
Some of the top books to cover XAT syllabus include
| Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Jabbing the XAT | RK Jha |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| QA/LR books | Arun Sharma or RS Aggarwal |
For Decision Making, candidates can refer to past papers for XAT preparation
XAT Preparation Books for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
Quantitative Ability (QA) and Data Interpretation (DI) questions are grouped in a single section in XAT as they are based on arithmetical problems. Since, the topics of XAT syllabus is same as CAT syllabus, you can refer CAT books for preparation. Given below is the list of XAT books for Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation preparation.
| XAT Books for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
Author Name |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations |
RS Aggarwal |
| How to prepare for Data Interpretation |
Arun Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations |
Abhijit Guha |
| Data Interpretation for the CAT |
Nishit K Sinha |
XAT Preparation Books for Decision Making
Since Decision Making section is unique to XAT, the best source of preparation are previous years' XAT question papers and sample papers. You can also take up secondary reading material. Listed below are sample papers and books for XAT Decision Making.
| XAT Books for Decision Making |
Author Name |
|---|---|
| Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers) |
RK Jha |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
Arihant Publications |
| Target XAT (Past papers & mock tests) |
Disha Publication |
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XAT Preparation Books for Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning
The XAT VARC section includes tough Reading Comprehension passages as well as a poem, so it is important that candidates have a good control over the language. Additionally, English grammar and vocabulary need focused preparation. XAT books recommended for English grammar and vocabulary are listed below:
| XAT Books for Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning |
Author Name |
|---|---|
| Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis |
| Analytical Reasoning |
MK Pandey |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning |
RS Aggarwal |
| High School English Grammar & Composition |
Wren & Martin |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
Ajay Singh |
XAT Study Material for General Knowledge
Newspapers and Magazines such as Economic Times, Financial Express, Hindu Business Line, Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Business Today, Business World, and Competition Success Review are the best source of increasing general knowledge. This section of XAT mainly has current affairs questions which you can prepare/memories towards the end of the preparation phase.
XAT Study Material: Previous Year XAT Question Papers
Candidates must practice previous years XAT question papers to know the trend of types of questions asked, weightage of topic-wise questions and difficulty level. Shiksha has a repository of XAT question papers of last 10 years which you can download for free. Click here to download previous years' XAT question papers
Candidates must start practicing XAT previous year question papers, mock tests and sample papers two months prior to the exam. The strategy must include practicing variety of questions on each topic of XAT 2026 syllabus. This will help candidates in grasping the core knowledge of each concept and one can solve questions with ease on the exam day.
XAT Mock Tests
As XAT is a computer based test, it is best that candidates practice online mock tests. This will not only help them in familiarising themselves with the actual exam atmosphere but also help them in improving speed, accuracy and time management skill. Candidates must practice at least 30-40 XAT mock tests for best results. The mock tests should be of various difficulty levels too, so that one is prepared for any type of XAT exam - easy, moderate or tough. Shiksha has created free XAT mock test for aspirants. Click on the links below for Shiksha's free XAT mock test.
| XAT_Mock_Test_1 | XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
| XAT_Mock_Test_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
XAT Syllabus 2026
When selecting XAT books, do check whether they have comprehensive chapters on the topics of XAT syllabus or not. Listed below are some important topics of XAT syllabus:
| XAT sections |
Important topics |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary, Analogy based on vocabulary, Para Jumble, Grammar, Critical Reasoning and Inference, Para Completion, etc. |
|
| Decision Making |
Decision Making, Analogy, Seating Arrangement, Logical Sequence, Assumption, Premise, Conclusion, etc. |
| Tables and Caselets, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Algebra, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, etc. |
|
| General Knowledge |
Science, Economy, Business, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prize and Award, World, Government Policies, Constitution of India, etc |
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XAT Exam Pattern 2026
The XAT question paper 2026 will have four sections - Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. Given below is the brief overview of XAT exam pattern 2026:
| XAT Exam Features |
Details |
|
|---|---|---|
| Test mode |
Computer Based Test |
|
| Duration of exam |
3 hours |
|
| Total questions |
95 questions |
|
| Type of questions |
Multiple choice questions |
|
| Sections |
Four |
|
| Number of questions per section |
Decision Making |
21 questions |
| Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 questions |
|
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation |
28 questions |
|
| General Knowledge |
20 questions |
|
| Marking Scheme |
|
|
Read More:
| XAT Preparation Articles |
|
|---|---|
| XAT Preparation in Three Months | |
| How to Prepare for XAT in One Month | |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
Standard books useful across these exams include Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma or R.S. Aggarwal, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation by Nishit Sinha, and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis for building a strong vocabulary.
L
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
It might be difficult to get admission at XIME Kohchi with 88% in XAT. The institute accepts a 99.99% in XAT. However, these rules may change in the future; students are recommended to visit the Shiksha official page for the latest updates.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Candidates can apply by selecting the course and campus option while filling out the XAT application form. There is no separate application form for XLRI courses.
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
XLRI Jamshedpur officially releases the XAT registration and application form. It is made available online on their official exam website, xatonline.in. Candidates must register on this portal to apply for the exam and for XLRI admission
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
The XAT application process is facilitated online. Candidates must visit the official website to register, fill the form, upload scanned documents, and pay the exam fee.
R
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
Candidates holding a bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognised university can apply for XAT exam. Final year graduation students are also eligible to apply.
J
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
Candidates can complete the XAT registration by generating a XAT ID, filling academic and personal details, uploading scanned documents, selecting test cities, and successfully paying the application fee online.
L
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, candidates must separately fill the admission forms of other XAT accepting colleges. There is no option to choose multiple colleges other than XLRI in the XAT form.
V
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
No, candidates do not need to fill separate application form. The XAT application form has an optional field to select the preferred XLRI courses. Candidates have to pay an additional fee for the same.
D
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
Candidates cannot select a specific test centre for XAT exam, but they can choose two test city preferences from a drop-down menu during registration. Authorities allot XAT centres based on these preferences on a first-come, first-serve basis.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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