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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.
Since XAT is a high difficulty level test, its preparation requires meticulous planning. The most important aspect of a successful preparation plan is selecting the right XAT books so that you score 99 percentile in the exam. Candidates must select only those books that have topic wise explanations as well as sample questions for practice of easy, medium and high difficulty levels.
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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. Candidates must also check expert recommendation for XAT books. 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 Preparation Books for Best 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. XAT exam 2026 will have four sections. 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.
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 |
XAT Preparation Books for Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning
Candidates need to develop reading speed to score well in this section of XAT exam. 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. It is best to prepare with the recommended XAT books given 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 Preparation Books for Best 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 |
Also Read:
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 |
|
|
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 weeks ago
XLRI Jamshedpur considers XAT scores for admission to PGDM programmes. Those who are seeking admission in PGDM BM, PGDM HRM and Double Masters Degree in Supply Chain Management and logistics (PGDM & MS) requires XAT scores. Aspirants can also apply for admission to General Management programme (PGDM
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 4 weeks ago
Candidates who are applying for XAT have to pay an application fee. Aspirants have to pay INR 2,200 to apply for XAT. Candidates can pay the fee via any of the online payment modes. Aspirants have to pay INR 200 each for every additional programme of XLRI.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 4 weeks ago
XLRI Delhi accepts XAT scores for admission to PGDM programme. Aspirants seeking admission in PGDM Business Management are offered seat only via their XAT scores. For PGDM IEV, candidates can also take admission without XAT based on their scores in CAT, MAT, GMAT, etc. Candidates have to register on
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 4 weeks ago
No, you cannot use the score of XAT 2025 for admission to 2026 batch at XLRI as the validity of exam score is one year only. Thus, you will have to appear for XAT 2026 exam if you plan to pursue MBA from XLRI in 2026. The registration process for XAT 2026 is open and the last date to apply is Decemb
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 weeks ago
The total course fee of full time MBA at XLRI is INR 28 Lacs according to Shiksha. The fee is to be paid semester wise. The first installment is to be paid at the time of admission. The XLRI course fee includes tuition fees, hostel and mess charges, caution money, library chargers and other miscella
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 weeks ago
There is no process of applying for multiple XAT accepting colleges through one form because there is no common counselling for XAT. Candidates have to apply to the colleges of their choice individually. They must keep in mind the application last date so they don't miss out on it. Also, they must c
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
No, the XAT entrance exam 2025 has already been concluded for PGDM admissions at SOIM. However, the registration dates for the XAT 2026 entrance exam are soon getting announced. Candidateswho are interested in appearing for XAT to gain admissions in the PGDM course at SOIM are advised to visit the o
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
XAT cut off different for male and female candidates to promote diversity in the candidate pool. However, the difference in cut offs is not too big. There's usually a difference of 1 or 2 percentile between XAT cut offs for male candidate and female candidate. Infact, the difference is not limited t
E
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
XAT score is the only examination score accepted for domestic candidates for admission to full-time MBA programmes offered by XLRI Jamshedpur. Check below the stages of XLRI MBA admission through XAT.
1. Apply for XAT exam
2. Appear for XAT exam
3. Participate in AEW/PI round
3. Final selection list rel
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, you can apply for Jagannath University, Haryana MBA 2025 using XAT scores. Students first need to ensure that they qualify for the eligibility criteria for MBA programme and XAT exam. Secondly, register yourself for the XAT exam. Generally, the registration window starts in July and is availabl
M
Contributor-Level 10