CAT Books for 2025: Check Section-wise List recommended by Experts

Q: Is CAT exam tough for an average student?

CAT is a speed based test which is designed to assess a candidate's analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advance level problems. However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.

Q: Is it difficult for non-English medium students to crack CAT?

It is difficult but not impossible. If you give yourself a good enough time to improve English comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, you will be able to do it. Yes, a non- English medium student will require longer time for CAT preparation as they will have to start reading and improving English comprehension. So, may be they need to start English preparation for CAT in the second year of graduation, instead of final year (much earlier than English medium students). They may also need two attempts to crack CAT with high percentile. But that's not true for all. If you work hard and study smartly, you will be able to crack it.

Q: How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT by self-study?

To prepare for CAT Quantitative Aptitude by self-study, one needs to take help from books recommended by experts and sample papers, mock tests and practice questions. These books will help in understanding the concepts while practice questions will help in understanding the application of those concepts on different types of questions.

Q: What is a good attempt in Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT?

To score 99 percentile in the Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT, one needs to score around 32-34 marks in this section of CAT, thus one can say out of 22 questions, 10 to 12 correct attempts will be considered good. Candidates must note that they will get only 40 minutes for this section, so they need to carefully identify which questions to attempt and which ones to skip. They must aim for maximum accuracy (over 85%) in whichever questions they choose to attempt.

Q: Is there any negative marking in quantitative aptitude section of CAT?

Yes, there is negative marking of -1 in the Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT, but only for MCQ type questions. There is no negative marking for non-MCQ type questions. The CAT Quantitative Aptitude section is the only section that has non-MCQs. So, candidates can take a chance with non-MCQs in this section and attempt it even if they are not 100% sure. However, they must not do guess work in non-MCQs at any cost because if their chosen option is incorrect they will lose marks.

Q: What are the best books for CAT Quantitative Aptitude preparation?

The best books for Quantitative Aptitude preparation of CAT exam are listed below. These books are recommended by experts and mentors not only for CAT but also for other MBA entrance exams. NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10) How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Verm Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal The NCERT Mathematics book is recommended for CAT preparation because it is the best source of building or revisiting the fundamentals of Algebra Geometry, Trigonometry Mensuration and Arithmetic. The NCERT books are extremely helpful to students from non-Engineering background. Quantitative Aptitude books by Arun Sharma, Abhijit Guha, Sarvesh Verma, Nishit Sinha and RS Aggarwal are the main books for CAT preparation as they cover all the topics at advanced level. They also have 1000s of sample questions of easy, moderate and high difficulty levels for practice.

Q: What are the best books for CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension preparation?

There are a range of books available for preparation of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT. However, the most recommended books are mentioned below: How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit Sinha Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis/Simon and Schuster For English Grammar and Vocabulary, High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin is the best book. For Verbal Ability preparation, practice questions of different difficulty levels are a major part of preparation. The abovementioned books are the best resources of Verbal Ability and practice questions. To prepare for Reading Comprehension, candidates should read books, novels, magazines, research papers, newspaper editorials, etc. Along with these books.

Q: What is the syllabus for CAT exam?

CAT syllabus includes all the important topics of subjects that are relevant for business aptitude. For CAT exam, candidates have to study, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension VARC Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Given below are the key topics included in the CAT syllabus. VARC topics: Parajumbles, Paracompletion, Parasummary, Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. Quantitative Aptitude topics: Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra Trigonometry Modern Math, Number System and Mensuration. DILR topics: Puzzles, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Tables and Bar Graphs, etc.

Q: What is the sectional weightage of Quantitative Aptitude in CAT?

The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is the third and the last section of the question paper. It has 22 questions and the total marks is 66. This section of the CAT exam is usually dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra. Most of the questions out of 22 are asked from these two topics. There are about 7-9 Algebra questions and 7-9 Arithmetic questions (the exact number varied for all three slots). Apart from these two topics, there are questions from Mensuration Modern Math and Number System in the Quantitative Aptitude section CAT. Some of the important sub topics in this section include: Arithmetic topics: Ratio and Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss Mixtures and Allegations Averages, Percentages, Mean Median Mode, Time and Work, Time Speed and Distance Algebra topics: Basics Algebraic Formulae, Number of integer solutions, Quadratic Equations, Finding out roots, Maxima and Minimal, Higher Degree Equations, Linear Equations, Problems on ages, Descartes Rule of Signs, Inequalities, Logarithm, Functions, Modifications of Graphs, The smallest Value in a Maximum Function Number System topics: Finding Out Last Two Digits, Number of Trailing Zeroes, Finding out Remainders based on, Basic Divisibility Rules, Binomial Theorem, Simplifying the Dividend (Single and/or Multiple Divisors), Basics of Numbers, Properties of Numbers, Divisibility Rules, Divisibility and Factors, the highest Common Factor and the lowest Common Multiple, Finding Out the Last Digit, Fermat's Theorem, Euler's Theorem, Pattern Recognition and Cyclicity of Remainders, Wilson's Theorem, Base Systems, Conversion of Bases, Addition/Subtraction/ Multiplication in different bases Geometry Topics: Lines and Angles, Triangles Basic Concepts, Area, Angles, Similar Triangles Polygons, Circles, Solids / Mensuration 3D Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry Modern Math topics: Sequence and Series Binomial Theorem, Set Theory, Permutation and Combination, Probability.

Q: What are the important topics of CAT syllabus from which maximum questions are asked?

CAT lays a lot of emphasis on analytical skills so the questions are asked mostly from those topics which require deep learning and practice. The three sections of CAT question paper are designed in such a way that candidates have to use their ability of minute observation and fast calculation. Shared below are the section wise main topics from which questions are asked in CAT. Verbal Ability: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences Reading Comprehension: Questions based on passages, Para meaning, Order of sentences Data Interpretation: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency Logical Reasoning: Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Sets and Caselets, Family Tree, Assumptions Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra Number System Modern Math, Arithmetic, Mensuration The difficulty level of CAT questions is usually moderate to high. Only a few questions are easy and quick to solve. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to pay attention to the abovementioned topics.

13.4K Students Q&A

Admit Card - 5 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25

Updated on Sep 14, 2025 13:57 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

CAT books that cover all the topics included in the CAT syllabus, their concept, theorems, formulae, application and practice questions of various difficulty levels are the ones exam aspirants should refer. Making the right choice of CAT books is the first and a major step towards a full-proof preparation. Shiksha has collated a list of best books for CAT recommended by experts and toppers, for you. Prepare for CAT 2025 with the below listed CAT books for Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension.

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Table of content

Best Books for CAT Preparation 2025
Best books for CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Best books for CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Best books for CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Recommended Readings for CAT RC Preparation
CAT Question Paper: Sectional Breakup
FAQs Related to CAT Books and Preparation

Best Books for CAT Preparation 2025

CAT books are essential for understanding the topics included in the CAT syllabus 2025 conceptually, theoretically and practically. These books contain chapter wise discussion, explanation and practice questions for all the topics from which questions are asked in the CAT. The list of best books for CAT preparation must include the ones by Arun Sharma, Nishit Sinha and RS Aggarwal. Shiksha has shared below, section-wise top CAT books that you must consult while preparing for the CAT exam.

Aspirants must also study a large variety of fiction and non-fiction novels to improve English comprehension, as merely reading recommended CAT books for VARC will not be enough. Reading books on science-fiction, philosophy, sociology, biography, auto-biography etc. will be quite helpful in improving English comprehension and speed reading.

How to Choose Best Books for CAT 2025 Preparation?

Check below some tips on how to choose best books for CAT preparation 2025:

Choose the latest edition of the recommended books. They should have latest CAT topics and questions.
The books should have comprehensive coverage of each topic included in CAT syllabus
Buy books that have sufficient number of official CAT questions with solutions - easy, moderate and tough
Author reputation is important. So opt for books that are popularly recommended by peers and experts.
Check reviews of books and authors before purchasing. The books that you invest in should provide you best guidance.
Choose books that explain complex topics in a simple way, so that it is easy to understand and you can remember the fundamentals clearly.
The CAT books should also have shortcut tricks and tips for quick yet quality preparation.
The books should also have previous years' CAT questions (solved) for you to know what to expect in CAT 2025.

Commonly asked questions

Q: What are the topics on which I should read books for RC preparation?

Q: What makes CAT tougher than other MBA entrance exams?

Q: When should I start preparing for CAT exam?

Best books for CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Quantitative Aptitude is considered to be the toughest section of CAT exam as it is Mathematics based and calculation intensive. Over the years, the difficulty level of CAT Quantitative Aptitude has remained high, and CAT 2025 will be no different. Since this section is calculation heavy and requires accuracy, pay extra care in preparing for it. Listed below are most recommended CAT books for Quantitative Aptitude and their USP:

CAT Book Name and Author	USP
NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10)	NCERT Mathematics books are very good for students of non-Science background for brushing up fundamental concepts and theorems to solve advance level Quant problems later.
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma	This book by Arun Sharma is very popular among aspirants as it teaches basics in a simple manner and is easy to understand. Each topic covered in this book has three levels of difficulty and five test papers which help aspirants in covering all types of questions - from low to high.
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha	This book by Abhijit Guha is a comprehensive resource for Quant preparation for not only CAT but also other MBA entrance exams as well as competitive exams.
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Verma	This book by Sarvesh Sharma is highly recommended for students from non-Maths background or those who find QA difficult. Its USP is easy flow of language and over 4000 questions with answers.
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha	Nishit Sinha is an IIM Lucknow alumnus and CAT expert. This book written by him is the best source to understand advanced concepts and application. Plus, it has over 4000 solved questions and five online mock tests
Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal	Oldest reference book for QA since 1989, this RS Aggarwal authored book covers all the topic and has over 5500 questions with answers for practice.

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the sectional weightage of Quantitative Aptitude in CAT?

Q: What are the important topics of CAT syllabus from which maximum questions are asked?

Q: What should be my approach towards Quantitative Aptitude on CAT exam day?

Best books for CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

The DILR section of CAT is mostly of moderate to high difficulty level. Sometimes the LR questions can be tricky and candidates can misjudge them. The key to crack CAT DILR section is understanding the pattern of puzzles accurately which can be done by ample practice of sample questions and mock exercises. So, choose CAT books that have ample number of sample questions for practice. Given below is the table for best CAT books for DILR:

CAT Book Name and Author	USP
A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Agarwal	This book by RS Aggarwal is highly recommended for beginners who need to start with the most basic LR concepts.
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma	This book covers all the topics of Logical Reasoning. Explanation of each topic is followed by problems with different difficulty levels for candidates to practice and assess their preparation level.
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma	This book covers all the topics of Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency along with sample questions, previous years CAT questions and model test papers.
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha	This book has five section tests and 500+ solved DILR questions along with self-assessment tests and model questions for SNAP, XAT and IIFT.
Data Interpretation by Nishit Sinha	This practice book is not only useful for CAT but also for other MBA entrance exams like XAT, GMAT, NMAT, CMAT, etc.
CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri	This book covers all advanced level of topics and solved problems. It also contains 5 mock tests and topic wise solved papers of over 15 years.

Free DILR Questions with Answers for Practice

Free QA Questions and Answers for Practice

Free VARC Questions with Answers for Practice

Commonly asked questions

Q: What are the best ways to prepare for the DILR section?

Q: From where can I download CAT question papers?

Q: What is the sectional weightage of DILR in CAT?

Best books for CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

A candidate's CAT VARC score is directly proportional to their ability to read and understand advance level English. The more you read, the better your English comprehension will become. However, only having a good reading and comprehension speed is not enough. You need to know more. Like underlying meaning of a given sentence or an idiom, usage of words in different contexts. Sometimes, placement of words can change the meaning of the sentence. Check the list of best CAT book for VARC below:

CAT Book Name and Author	USP
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay	This book is an exhaustive book for VARC preparation comprising concepts, explanation, tips, exercises and model questions. It is divided into four parts – RC, VA, VR and sample papers.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension For the CAT by Nishit Sinha	This book contains lasted topics and exercises of VARC along with five mock tests, over 2,000 solved questions and seven years’ solved CAT question papers.
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis	This book is one-stop-shop for strengthening English vocabulary. It I easy to use and has pronunciation, contextual explanation and usage of each word.
High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin	This book is the best source to study English grammar and usage. This book is recommended at school-level to build a strong foundation in spoken and written English.
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster	This book is of great help in developing word power & usage and improving pronunciation with simple exercises and self-tests.

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the sectional weightage of VARC in CAT?

Q: How many CAT mock tests to practice to score 99 percentile?

Q: How many RC questions does CAT have?

CAT Question Paper: Sectional Breakup

Before making a CAT 2025 preparation plan, you need know what is the composition of the test. This is also necessary for selecting the best books for CAT preparation. Keep a note of the following:

The CAT VARC section usually has 12-14 Reading Comprehension questions.
Rest of the questions are based on parajumbles, para completion, etc.
In the CAT DILR section, the division of questions is equal between DI and LR - 10 questions each. The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra.
In CAT Quantitative Aptitude, about 8-10 questions are asked from Arithmetic and 3-4 questions from Algebra. Rest of the questions are asked from Geometry, Modern Math, Trigonometry and Mensuration.

Check below the section wise composition of CAT question paper:

CAT 2025 Sections	Number of Questions	Allotted Time
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40 minutes
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI)	22	40 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	40 minutes
Total	68	120 minutes

CAT Percentile predictor prepared by Shiksha.com helps students to get their predicted CAT percentile on the basis of their expected exam score. So, predict your CAT score by clicking the link below:

CAT Percentile Predictor

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

Predict CAT Admission Calls

Commonly asked questions

Q: How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT by self-study?

Q: What is a good attempt in Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT?

Q: Is there any negative marking in quantitative aptitude section of CAT?

FAQs Related to CAT Books and Preparation

Check below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to CAT books and preparation:

Commonly asked questions

Q: What are the best books for CAT Quantitative Aptitude preparation?

Q: What are the best books for CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension preparation?

Q: What is the syllabus for CAT exam?

Explore subject-wise topics asked in CAT

Select your preferred subject

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Sets Triangle Statistics Probability Number System Permutations and Combinations Algebra Mensuration Binomial Theorem Straight Lines Relations and Functions Sequences and Series Conic Sections Introduction to Three Dimensional Geometry Types of Triangles Pythagoras Theorem Isosceles Triangle Equilateral Triangle Algebraic expressions Algebraic identities Linear Algebra Algebraic Equations Basic of Algebra Algebra questions Sets Triangle Statistics Probability Number System Permutations and Combinations Algebra Mensuration Binomial Theorem Straight Lines Relations and Functions Sequences and Series Conic Sections Introduction to Three Dimensional Geometry Types of Triangles Pythagoras Theorem Isosceles Triangle Equilateral Triangle Algebraic expressions Algebraic identities Linear Algebra Algebraic Equations Basic of Algebra Algebra questions Personal Interview (PI)Group Discussion (GD)Reading Comprehension Pronouns with Exercises Parajumbles with Exercises Prepositions with Exercises Subject-Verb Agreement Types of Clauses Examples of Articles Phrases Modifiers Parts of Speech Errors in Tenses Data Interpretation Logical Reasoning Venn Diagrams Percentages Number Systems Approximation & Conversion Techniques

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S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai

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Exams

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Total Fees

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Duration

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Full Time

Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSoM)

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CAT Books for 2025: Check Section-wise List recommended by Experts

Best Books for CAT Preparation 2025

How to Choose Best Books for CAT 2025 Preparation?

Commonly asked questions

Best books for CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Commonly asked questions

Best books for CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Commonly asked questions

Best books for CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Commonly asked questions

Recommended Readings for CAT RC Preparation

Commonly asked questions

CAT Question Paper: Sectional Breakup

Commonly asked questions

FAQs Related to CAT Books and Preparation

Commonly asked questions

Explore subject-wise topics asked in CAT

Student Forum

1640 Institutes accepting CAT

Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates

News & Updates