XAT Books 2026 for Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Ability, QA & DI and GK
Xavier Aptitude Test 2027 ( XAT )
XAT 2027 registration
15 Jul '26 - 6 Dec '26
XAT 2027 preparation requires more than solving mock test series. At the core of it is refering the right XAT books for syllabus coverage. Aspirants must refer to the books that cover each and every topic of XAT extensively. They should also have practice tests and sample questions of a wide variety. In this article, we have shared the list of best books for XAT 2027 for Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. These books are recommended by experts and will help you in preparing for the XAT 2027 exam holistically.
- Best Books for XAT Decision Making
- Best Books for XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
- Best Books for XAT Verbal & Logical Ability
- Best Books for XAT General Awareness
- XAT Syllabus and Pattern 2027
- XAT Mock Tests by Shiksha for Preparation
- FAQs on XAT Books
Best Books for XAT Decision Making
Decision Making is like Logical Reasoning but it has questions based on business situation. The best way to prepare for Decision Making section of XAT 2027 is by practicing previous years' XAT question papers. You can also refer to different types of questions compiled and created by subject matter experts for preparation of Decision Making section. Some publications also provide books on Decision Making. Given below is the table with best 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 |
However, the best study material for XAT Decision Making are the previous years' question papers. It provides all the Decision Making questions asked in the past. Solving actual questions help a lotin gaining insights and confidence.
Commonly asked questions
One will need 3-4 hours of preparation if they are planning to complete XAT syllabus in 6 months.
Since Decision Making section is unique to XAT, study material for the same in not readily available. Thus the best source of preparation material for Decision Making section is XAT previous years’ question papers. This section has passages related to business situations. Candidates have to select the closest solution to the given situation from the list of four options. You have to make an informed decision regarding the decision which has be in favour of the larger good. This section essentially tests your ability to take objective decisions regarding various business situations and activities. Candidates can practice Decision Making questions from XAT question papers of previous years to know the types and difficulty level. In a way, this section is similar to Reading Comprehension and requires same skills as that.
Yes, solving XAT question paper is of immense help in exam preparation as one can get an idea of the exam pattern, difficulty level of the questions, and learn time management. The XAT question papers of previous years also give you an idea of what type of questions (Reading Comprehension passages and poem) are asked in XAT. In fact, preparation of Decision Making section is totally dependent on XAT question papers. XAT question papers of previous years also act as practice test providing you with the opportunity to master speed and time management.
Candidates must solve previous years’ XAT questions paper of at least last five years, so that they are aware of the latest type of questions especially poem, RC passages and Decision Making passages.
Best Books for XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
Quantitative Ability (QA) and Data Interpretation (DI) section of XAT has Mathematical problems. For this section, rigorous preparation is required as one needs to have conceptual clarity and ample practice. Best books for XAT Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation preparation are listed below:
| XAT Preparation Books |
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 |
For practice, candidates must refer previous years' XAT question papers and sectional mock tests. In Quants speed and accuracy is prime requirement. If handled well, 100 percentile is also possible in this section.
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
Important topics from XAT quantitative aptitude section include Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Averages), Geometry & Mensuration, Algebra (Equations, Progressions), Number Systems, and Modern Math (Probability, P&C).
Sections in the XAT exam, including Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation remain consistent. However, the exam pattern, question count, and structure may change annually.
The best study materials to prepare for XAT exam include a mix of books, previous years' papers, and mock test. Some books focused at XAT preparation are tabulated below:
| Best Books | Author |
|---|---|
| Jabbing the XAT | RK Jha |
| Analytical & Logical Reasoning | Arihant Publications |
| Target XAT | Disha Publications |
Best Books for XAT Verbal & Logical Ability
Since the type of Verbal Ability questions of XAT are similar to other MBA entrance exams, aspirants can refer to common books for MBA preparation. Candidates must note that XAT has a poem too, so they must refer to XAT specific sample questions additionally. Given below is the table indicating best books for XAT Verbal Ability preparation 2027:
| XAT Books for Verbal Ability |
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 |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
Nishit K Sinha |
An important source of XAT Verbal Ability preparation is books and novels. Aspirants must read fiction and non-fiction novels from various genres so that they can read and understand RC passages quickly. They must also, familiarise themselves with poetry as in XAT, one RC passage is in the form of poem. Start reading early on. English comprehension can be cracked only with long term preparation.
Commonly asked questions
In XAT, Reading Comprehension passages are usually taken from Philosophy, Psychology, History, Art, research articles. Sometime, the XAT RC section also has poems. These areas are chosen to test the candidates, who are largely Science, Commerce and Engineering graduates, on their ability to come out of their comfort zone and adapt to unfamiliar situations. Out of 26 questions, about 14-16 questions are based on RC passages or a poem. Candidates must target solving about 10 questions accurately to score well. XAT has negative marking so do not mark an option as your answer if you are not 100 percent sure of it.
Yes six months are enough to prepare for XAT if you plan it well. You will need about 8 hours every day for it. Use first four months to cover exam syllabus and last two months for practice.
XAT VARC is moderately tough and requires adequate practice. This section has about 27 questions and some are based on RC passages including a poem. To be able to understand and attempt RC questions, good control on English comprehension is required. Verbal Ability, Grammar and Vocabulary questions can be handled by gaining conceptual clarity and solving sample questions.
Best Books for XAT General Awareness
General Awareness section of XAT exam is the easiest section and can be prepared in one month. If you keep an eye on the current affairs on regular basis, you’ll not need any secondary reference to prepare for it. The General Awareness section of XAT also contains static GK questions. To prepare for static GK, get hold of popular GK yearbooks such as Manorama Year Book and Competition Success Review Year Book.
For preparation of XAT 2027, keep up with current affairs by subscribing to the following newspaper and journals:
- Economic Times
- Financial Express
- Hindu Business Line
- Wall Street Journal
- The Financial Times
- Business Today
- Business World
Commonly asked questions
XAT syllabus is considered extensive and challenging. It is often viewed as more comprehensive than other management exams. Sections like Decision Making and an Essay is also included in the XAT exam syllabus.
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
Completing XAT syllabus requires 3 to 6 months, with 6-8 months for thorough preparation, including mock test analysis and practise using previous year XAT question papers.
XAT Syllabus and Pattern 2027
XAT 2027 syllabus
XAT 2027 syllabus includes the following topics. Candidates preparing for the exam must ensure that the XAT books they refer discusses these topics in detail.
| XAT Syllabus |
Details |
|---|---|
| VALR |
RC passages, poems, para jumble, para summary, odd sentence, fill in the blanks, grammar and vocabulary, idioms, antonym-synonym |
| Decision Making |
Passage based questions on business and ethical scenarios |
| Quantitative Technique & Data Interpretation |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Number System, Data Interpretation, Tables, Charts, Graphs |
| General Knowledge |
Static GK and current affairs from business, economy, technology, science, sports, history, geography, inventions, awards, books, personalities, art, literature |
XAT Pattern 2027
- XAT is a 180-minute test. The question paper has 2 parts
- Part 1 includes DM, VALR and QT-DI (170 minutes)
- Parr 2 includes GK (10 minutes)
- Questions are in MCQ format
- Four answer options are given for each questions
- Total marks is 95
- Correct answer carries 1 mark
- Incorrect answer carries -0.25 marks
- If a candidate skips 8 consecutive questions, 0.10 marks will be deductes
Also Read:
XAT Mock Tests by Shiksha for Preparation
Apart from the books, XAT aspirants must dedicate a considerable time to solving sample papers and mock test. In fact, preparation of subjects such as Reasoning, Decision Making and Data Interpretation is solely dependent upon practice. Since there are no formulas to be memorised or theorems to be understood, all you need to do it practice a variety of questions so that you can gauge patterns and hidden meanings that are critical for solving logic based questions accurately. Try below Shiksha's XAT mock test free:
| XAT_Mock_Test_1 | XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
| XAT_Mock_Test_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
Download: Previous Years XAT Question Papers: Free PDF
XAT Preparation 2026: Tips and Tricks
Read the articles listed below for tips, trick, planning and strategy for XAT exam preparation:
| XAT Exam Preparation Articles | |
|---|---|
| XAT Preparation: All About Decision Making – Tips and Tricks |
|
| Is XAT tougher than CAT? | |
Commonly asked questions
XAT exam was held for 3 hours and 30 minutes. However, with the revision of exam pattern, it was held for 3 hours in 2025. There is sectional time-limit in the test. 170 minutes are allotted to Part 1 comprising Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability. Part 2 has General Knowledge section to be solved in 10 minutes. No bio-break is allowed during the exam. Candidates have to finish the test in the given time limit only. The test screen will move from part 1 to part 2 the moment 170 minutes get over and once the 10 minutes of part 2 will be over, the test window will be locked. Candidates must keep saving their entries after every attempt as there is no provision in XAT to go back and review your answers once the time limit for that part is over.
In XAT, Reading Comprehension passages are usually taken from Philosophy, Psychology, History, Art, research articles. Sometime, the XAT RC section also has poems. These areas are chosen to test the candidates, who are largely Science, Commerce and Engineering graduates, on their ability to come out of their comfort zone and adapt to unfamiliar situations. Out of 26 questions, about 14-16 questions are based on RC passages or a poem. Candidates must target solving about 10 questions accurately to score well. XAT has negative marking so do not mark an option as your answer if you are not 100 percent sure of it.
Yes, solving XAT question paper is of immense help in exam preparation as one can get an idea of the exam pattern, difficulty level of the questions, and learn time management. The XAT question papers of previous years also give you an idea of what type of questions (Reading Comprehension passages and poem) are asked in XAT. In fact, preparation of Decision Making section is totally dependent on XAT question papers. XAT question papers of previous years also act as practice test providing you with the opportunity to master speed and time management.
Candidates must solve previous years’ XAT questions paper of at least last five years, so that they are aware of the latest type of questions especially poem, RC passages and Decision Making passages.
FAQs on XAT Books
find important FAQs related to XAT books below:
XAT syllabus includes all important topics related to Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.
A candidate should practice at least 35 to 40 XAT mock tests during preparation. They should attempt mocks of various varieties and difficulty levels.
In the last two weeks before XAT exam, they must practice at least five mock tests and analyse performance. It is most likely that by the end of exam preparation, candidates will be scoring 98 plus percentile in mocks. If that happens, they will score well in exam too.
Yes, XAT is slightly tougher for candidates with non-Engineering background as the Quantitative Aptitude section is of higher difficulty level. However, they can crack it if they work on the fundamentals of Math and practice questions of all difficulty levels. It will take time but they will be able to crack XAT's quant section if they dedicate extra hours to it. Aspirants can find XAT study material online in various online study groups. Students’ groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. share study material with each other. One can also download MBA exam preparation apps to get relevant and useful study material.
The good part about XAT is that, it has different cut offs for candidates belonging to different academic backgrounds. As part of its commitment to academic diversity, the institute has lower cut offs for candidates from non-engineering background than candidates from engineering background.
XAT exam duration is 180 minutes in a single slot. Part 1 of XAT exam is conducted for 170 minutes, while Part 2 is held in last 10 minutes.
One must start preparing for XAT around six to eight months in advance. This timeline allows sufficient time to cover syllabus and practice using mock tests before the exam.
Major topics under XAT and CAT syllabus are similar. Common sections include Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability. While the sections are same the syllabus is not identical. XAT also includes unique sections, namely Decision Making and General Knowledge.
Some of the important topics for XAT preparation include:
- Decision Making: Managerial/ethical dilemmas
- Quantitative Ability: Arithmetic, geometry, and algebra
- Verbal Ability: Reading comprehension, often with poetic passages.
The XAT Decision Making section consists of approximately 21-22 case-based questions designed to evaluate the ability to analyse complex, real-life, and professional scenarios.
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
Scholarships for MBA course at VIT Bhopal University are given to top scorers in national exams. Students with a 95 percentile or above in CAT, XAT, or GMAT get a 100% fee waiver. If your score is 90 percentile or above, you get a 50% tuition waiver. This provides massive financial relief to meritor
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Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
Candidates who want to apply for Sharda University, Greater Noida MBA course must secure a CAT/ XAT percentile of 65% to skip SUAT. For MAT applicants, this score stands at 75% for MBA admissions at Sharda, Greater Noida.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
To get a seat at IFMR Chennai, students have to first appear for any one of the entrance exams accepted by the institute for the MBA/PGDM course admission. CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, Andhra Pradesh ICET, IPAMT and SAT India are the entrance exams accepted by this institute for admission to the management
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
To get a seat in the FLAME University of the MBA/PGDM course, you have to appear for any one of the accepted exams, like CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc. After clearing the exam, you have to get shortlisted for further admission round, which involves PI or GD.
For more information, click here.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates who will be shortlisted for MBA PI on the basis of XAT score, will receive the notification by XLRI in their registered email.
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Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
The XLRI waitlist movement is usually high for Delhi campus between 350 to 600 spots. For Jamshedpur the movement is low between 100 to 180 for BM and 130 to 230 for HRM.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, XAT essay writing round can be considered tough, given that you have to present your point with clarity, examples and convincing arguments - all in limited word count. You need to have a lot of practice in writing short, clear and logically structured essays.
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Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
XAT cut offs for all colleges are not fixed by XLRI. Every score accepting college fixed XAT cut offs individually and independently.
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Contributor-Level 7
1172 Institutes accepting XAT
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