Best Book for CMAT 2026 Preparation: Check Section-wise Books recommended by experts
Common Management Admission Test 2026 ( CMAT )
CMAT books for preparation - To prepare for the CMAT exam, one needs useful books and study material that can help them achieve the desired result. Although the CMAT syllabus is similar to other MBA entrance exams, the type of questions are different. Thus, aspirants must make sure to study from the books that are specially recommended for CMAT exam.
When choosing the CMAT books and study material, make sure that they cover every topic included in the CMAT syllabus and have extensive range of practice questions and sample test series. Aspirants must choose only the best books for CMAT preparation 2026 having topic-wise explanations as well as sample questions of various difficulty levels for practice.
CMAT books are available in the market and can be purchased online as well as offline. So those preparing for CMAT 2026 exam, must get hold of the best books for CMAT. The Complete Reference Manual for CMAT by SK Sinha, S Satyanarayan and JS Rana is considered the best book for CMAT preparation. Apart from this book, you should also study from the CMAT books listed below.
- CMAT Books for Preparation: Syllabus to Cover
- Best Books for CMAT Preparation: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
- Best Books for CMAT Preparation: Logical Reasoning
- Best Books for CMAT Preparation: Language Comprehension
- Best Books for CMAT Preparation: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Best Books for CMAT Preparation: General Awareness
- Additional CMAT Study Material
- FAQs on CMAT Books and Preparation
CMAT Books for Preparation: Syllabus to Cover
Before checking the list of best books for CMAT exam preparation 2026, check out the section-wise exam syllabus. The CMAT syllabus includes Language Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques, Data Interpretation, General Awareness and nnovation and Entrepreneurship. Given below is the table indicating CMAT syllabus and important topics from which questions are asked.
| CMAT Syllabus | CMAT Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation |
Algebra, Time-Speed-Distance, Mensuration, Allegation & Mixtures, Geometry, Graph, Quadratic and Linear Equations, etc. |
| Logical Reasoning |
Analytical Reasoning, Linear Arrangements, Number Series, Matrix Arrangements, Venn Diagram, Blood Relationship Tests, etc. |
| Language Comprehension |
Reading Comprehension, Grammar, English Usage Errors, Parajumbles, etc. |
| General Awareness |
Economy, Business, World, Politics, Sports, Culture, Society |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
Optional paper having questions related to innovation, entrepreneurship and start up business |
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
Best Books for CMAT Preparation: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
CMAT Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation section is moderately difficult and the questions are mainly asked from Arithmetic. Check the table below for CMAT books for Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation preparation:
| CMAT Books |
Author Name/Publisher |
|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education) |
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT |
Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education) |
| Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission Into IIMs |
Sarvesh K Verma (Arihant) |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations |
Abhijit Guha (Mc Graw Hill Education) |
| NCERT Mathematics Books for Class 8, 9 and 10 |
NCERT |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
Dr RS Aggarwal |
| The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams |
Pearson |
Also Read: CMAT Preparation Tips: Cracking Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
| VARC Preparation Tips | DILR Preparation Tips | QA Preparation Tips |
Commonly asked questions
Best Books for CMAT Preparation: Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning questions of CMAT are easy to moderate. However, in this section practice is important for scoring well. Most of the questions are logic based so you need to know what to see and what to ignore. Check the table below for recommended CMAT books for Analytical and Logical Reasoning preparation:
| CMAT Books |
Author Name/Publisher |
|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT |
Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education) |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT |
Nishit K Sinha (Pearson) |
Also Read: CMAT Preparation Tips for Cracking Logical Reasoning
Commonly asked questions
Best Books for CMAT Preparation: Language Comprehension
Language Comprehenshion section of CMAT is similar to CAT but has less number of RC passages. The passages are of low difficulty level. There are more grammar and vocabulary based question. Check the table below for CMAT books for Language Comprehension preparation:
| CMAT Books |
Author Name/Publisher |
|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT |
Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education) |
| The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT |
Nishit K Sinha |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning |
Dr RS Aggarwal |
For strengthening English Grammar and Vocabulary, the candidates must refer to the following books:
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- Wren & Martin English Grammar
- Barron’s Pocket Guide to Vocabulary
- The Students’ Companion by Wilfred D Best
- Business English and Communication by John O E Clark
- A Communicative Grammar of English by Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik
Also Read: CMAT Preparation Tips for Cracking Language Comprehension
Commonly asked questions
Best Books for CMAT Preparation: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Given below are some of the books that will help you to prepare for CMAT Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This is an easy section and one can cover it with basic revision of business studies:
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship by Peter F. Drucker
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management by R Gopal
- Entrepreneurship - Robert D. Hisrich
- Manorama Year Book - Mammen Mathew
Also Read: CMAT Preparation tips for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Commonly asked questions
Best Books for CMAT Preparation: General Awareness
To prepare for General Awareness section of CMAT exam, candidates must refer to GK Year Books. Apart from that, candidates must also read newspapers and current affairs magazines regularly. This will give them the exposure to current affairs and business news. Some of the magazines and journals recommended for CMAT 2026 preparation are:
- Economic Times
- Business Today
- The Financial Times
- Hindu Business Line
- Financial Express
- Business World
Commonly asked questions
Additional CMAT Study Material
Apart from CMAT books, candidates should prepare for the exam through sample papers and mock test series. Given below are key benefits of practicing CMAT mock tests:
- Since CMAT is a speed-based test, candidates need to be capable of applying concepts and formulae to questions within a few seconds for solving them. This can be learnt only by solving sample papers and practicing CMAT mock test series.
- CAT mock tests are a replica of the actual exam. Practicing the CMAT mock test helps the candidate in not only developing speed of solving the question within a certain time limit, but also helps them in developing the skill of solving the questions with maximum accuracy.
- Practising CAT mock tests is also necessary to develop the skill of choosing the right questions in the exam. Candidates can judge their strong and weak areas by solving CMAT mock tests. They can assess which topics of the CMAT syllabus are easy to handle in the exam and which are not. This knowledge will help them in choosing only those questions which they can solve accurately, there by reducing the risk of negative marking.
- CMAT is an online test. The technology may slow down first timers. If a candidate does not have a prior experience of a Computer-Based Test, they may end up wasting time in understanding the exam flow. But if they practice online CMAT mock tests beforehand they will be able to navigate through the actual exam easily.
| Free VARC Questions with Answers for Practice | Free DILR Questions with Answers for Practice | Free Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers for Practice |
CMAT Mock Test by Shiksha
| CMAT_Mock_Test_1 | CMAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
| CMAT_Mock_Test_2 | CMAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
Read More:
Commonly asked questions
FAQs on CMAT Books and Preparation
Commonly asked questions
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CMAT Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
CMAT is one of the top accepted exams for admission to MBA-offering universities, including AURO University. As per official sources, the CMAT exam has already been conducted for the 2025 session. The exam was conducted on Jan 25, 2025 by the National Testing Agency. The exam for the 2026 session i
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
The admissions into MBA courses at Marwadi University have been concluded in the year 2025. Hence, candidates can no longer apply for admissions into the MBA course at Marwadi University in the year 2025. The CMAT exam for the year 2025 has also been concluded for this year. Candidates must now wait
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, candidates do not have to mandatorily appear for the CMAT entrance exam for MBA in Business Analytics at Marwadi University. Candidates can apply for MBA admissions through any of the national level entrance exam such as CAT, XAT, ATMA and more. However, during admissions into the MBA in Busines
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, it is possible to get an MBA seat at CET Trivandrum with a valid CMAT score. The institute accepts CAT, CMAT, and KMAT scores for MBA admissions. Thus, students who did not appear for CMAT or did not score well can apply via KMAT or CAT scores. Students are selected for the programme after eval
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, CMAT scores are not compulsory for admissions to the MBA course at Sabarmati University. Because the university accepts CMAT/ CAT or any other entrance exam accepted by the counselling body. Thus, applicants with CMAT scores can get admission to the MBA course. However, it is not compulsory. App
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, getting admission into SGSITS MBA courses is not possible without taking CUET. For admission to its MBA courses, the institute only accepts valid CMAT scores. Other than this, it is also essential that students aspiring to enrol into the programme meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
CMAT is one of the top accepted exams for admission to MBA-offering colleges in Indore, including SGSITS. As per official sources, the CMAT exam has already been conducted for the 2025 session. The exam was conducted on Jan 25, 2025 by the National Testing Agency. The exam for the 2026 session is e
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
GK is memory based, so all that you need to do is memorise important events and occurrences. So, candidates may not need a lot of time to prepare for CMAT GK. They can devote one or two months for it. On daily basis, they can read Year Books for one hour to memorise events. Apart from that they can
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
CMAT RC passages are easy. Candidates need not worry about RCs in CMAT because they are short and pretty much straight forward. Questions are fact based and generally require candidates to identify the main argument/theme/idea of the passage. Sometimes, there are a few vocabulary and idiom based que
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Yes, it is necessary to attempt GK section in CMAT as unlike other MBA entrance exams, scores of GK are included in percentile calculation in CMAT. Total number of GK questions in 20 and attempting 8-10 questions correctly, can get the candidate desired sectional cut off in CMAT. So, while preparing
A
Contributor-Level 6
4.5
NMAT 2025 Registration Window 1 Aug '25 - 10 Oct '25
What is the CMAT exam date for admission to AURO University MBA course?