Best Books for CAT 2024 Exam: Section-Wise Books for VARC, DILR & QA

Updated By Subhashri Roy on 29 Nov, 2023 15:52

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Best Books for CAT 2024

Candidates appearing in the CAT 2024 exam should be well aware of the CAT best books 2024 since success in this exam mainly depends on the study material one uses. CAT best books 2024 often include strategies, tips, and tricks to tackle different types of questions efficiently. These insights can help you approach the exam strategically and maximize your score. They clarify the conceptual complexities of the essential CAT topics. 

Candidates can successfully complete the exercises, sample questions, and mock exams provided following each topic in the CAT best books 2024. For a thorough understanding of each topic of the CAT 2024 syllabus, it is crucial for students to pick the right books. However, the market has innumerable amount of CAT books these days, all claiming to help candidates crack the exam with great percentiles. So, in a situation like that, how to make the right selection for CAT 2024 best books?

Well, we are going to help you select the right books for CAT 2024 preparation that will give you a complete understanding of CAT 2024 syllabus conceptually, theoretically, and practically. CAT best books 2024 are typically organized in a structured manner, allowing you to follow a logical progression in your preparation. Many CAT best books 2024 come with mock tests and previous years' question papers. Practicing these CAT 2024 mock tests gives you a real feel for the exam's pattern, time management, and helps identify areas where you need improvement. On this page, you can find the section-wise CAT best books 2024 that are recommended by MBA experts and CAT toppers. The best books for CAT 2024 include the ones by RS Aggarwal, Arun Sharma, and Nishit Sinha.

CAT (Common Admission Test) is one of the most popular management entrances in India whose score is accepted by 21 IIMs and over 1000 Management institutes in India. The level of competition to get accepted into top B-schools through CAT is quite high and that's why students need to leave no stone unturned while preparing for the exam. If you prepare for the exam from CAT best books 2024 like Arun Sharma CAT 2024 Books for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension mentioned here, you will easily get through CAT 2024.

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Section-Wise CAT Best Books for CAT Preparation 2024

The syllabus of the CAT exam can be divided into the following sections - Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. Candidates should prepare separately for the different sections of the syllabus. We have provided section-wise preparatory CAT Best Books 2024 for the preparation of the CAT exam 2024 in the table below:

CAT Best Books 2024 for Quantitative Aptitude

  • Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT
  • Sarvesh K Verma's Quantum CAT
  • Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
  • Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
  • NCERT Mathematics books for Class 8, 9 & 10
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri

CAT Best Books 2024 for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

  • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Arihant Publication
  • Mastering the Verbal Ability by Ajay Singh
  • Word Power Made Easy by NORMAN LEWIS
  • R.S. Aggarwal's A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
  • ‘How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT’- by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
  • High School English Grammar and Composition Book by Wren and Martin
  • Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay's How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT
  • The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning by Nishit Sinha
  • 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback by Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster

CAT Best Books 2024 for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

  • Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT
  • Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
  • Nishit K. Sinha's Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT
  • NCERT books
  • CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri

Also Read:

CAT 2024 Sample Papers

CAT 2024 Previous Year Question Papers

CAT Best Books 2024 for Quantitative Aptitude

QA can be a time-consuming section where your approach to the questions matters a lot for success. It is considered to be the toughest of all sections and a lot of practice is required to build up speed and accuracy in this section. Plus, you will find that each teacher/author has their own set of tips and tricks to solve questions but what matters is the method you are most compatible with. Given below are some of the best books you can use for CAT QA preparation.

Name of the Book

Author/Publisher

What Makes it Good

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT

Arun Sharma

One of the best and highly recommended books for preparing numerical sections. The difficulty-level wise division makes it easy to understand for a candidate at any level. Published by TMH, it is also quite reliable.

Quantum CAT

Sarvesh K Verma

This book features a wide variety of questions and maintains a level of difficulty as well. It explains multiple ways to solve a single question, which helps to understand difficult concepts.

Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT

Nishit K. Sinha

This book is published by Pearson Education and covers new updates and additions including equations, coordinate geometry, number system, etc.

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination

Abhijit Guha

Published by Tata McGraw-Hill, this book covers almost all topics required for CAT preparation.

Also Read:How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability (QA)

CAT Best Books 2024 for for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

DI & LR is a section where a candidate's logical and analytical abilities are tested. The section requires a proper understanding of concepts and an analytical approach toward any given question. Unlike QA, success in this section is not merely dependent on tips and tricks but it also requires immense practice and out-of-the-box thinking to make solving difficult questions easier. These are some of the CAT Best Books 2024 to prepare for the DILR section in the CAT exam 2024.

Name of the Book

Author

What Makes it Good

How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT

Arun Sharma

One of the top-recommended books for CAT preparation, it is a good all-around choice containing an ample number of problems, and teachers quick solving methods and are updated as per the latest syllabus.

Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation for the CAT

Nishit K. Sinha

Sinha's book has good coverage of the basics as well as advanced concepts used in DILR. His approach to teaching by using examples is preferred by many students.

A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning

R.S. Aggarwal

R S Aggarwal is one of the most well-known authors on this list. His book is known for its simplicity of language, which makes it easier to understand for a wider range of students. This is a good book for basics but cannot be recommended for advanced studies.

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT

Arun Sharma

A reasoning book written with CAT in mind, this book contains clear explanations of different topics followed by practice questions. Provides a step-by-step increment in difficulty level, which makes it easy to advance to a higher level of questions.

Also Read: How to Prepare for CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

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CAT Best Books 2024 for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

VARC is a section that focuses on how well a candidate is able to use and understand English. It requires proper knowledge of grammar, decent vocabulary, good reading speed, and the ability to find out important information from long passages. Candidates who are regular readers get an advantage in this section but it still can be cracked with the help of regular practice and a good book. Some of the CAT Best Books 2024 for the VARC section of the CAT exam are as follows.

Book

Author

What Makes it Good

A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning

R.S. Aggarwal

R S Aggarwal's take on Verbal Reasoning is again given in simple, easy-to-understand language with lots of questions to practice available in the book. The book has simple explanations and is the best choice for a beginner.

Word Power Made Easy

Normal Lewis

The go-to recommendation when it comes to improving Vocabulary, this is the most popular book on this list. It is not written particularly for the CAT exam but still provides an excellent resource to learn new words, which is very valuable for success in VARC.

The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning

Nishit Sinha

A good book that covers both VA and RC sections nicely.

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT

Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay

Apart from various tips and tricks to tackle different questions, this book also has the latest exam pattern so that the candidates can become familiar with the paper.

Also Read:How to Prepare for CAT VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

While these books have been recommended to tackle the CAT question paper, you must also try and stay updated with the latest national and international news by reading newspapers and magazines regularly, watching news channels, and listening to the radio. Keeping track of daily news will help you achieve success in further admission rounds of B-Schools, which may include GD, PI, and WAT.

How to Select CAT Best Books 2024?

Candidates should keep the pointers given below in mind while choosing CAT Best Books 2024 for exam preparation:

How to Select the Best Books for CAT

  • Always go for the books which have been published recently and are of the latest edition. The syllabus of the entrance keeps on getting changed and updated from time to time. Preparing from the books of the latest edition and publishing year will help the candidates to know about the updated version of the syllabus.

  • Select books that mainly focus on exam preparation strategy, sample papers, and previous years’ question papers. 

  • Go for books written by renowned authors and published by reputed publishing houses. It is to be noted that popularity and goodwill can only be gained if the content is good. Certain books are popular for a reason, they provide the candidates with authentic information which can turn out to be effective in the preparation process.

  • Refer to the books and study materials provided by the coaching institutes. These books explain difficult topics in simple ways. 

  • Always compare the content of a few books dealing with similar topics before choosing one for the purpose of preparation.

How to Study from CAT Best Books 2024

The following strategies will help you get the greatest benefit out of the CAT best books 2024 while you prepare for the CAT exam:

  • Understand the CAT exam pattern, marking scheme, and syllabus, know what topics to focus on, and devote time to each section accordingly.
  • Develop a study plan or schedule that covers all sections and subjects, and allocates time for practice, revision, and mock tests.
  • Start with the fundamental concepts in each topic. The concepts and explanations offered in the books should be carefully read. Make sure you comprehend the underlying ideas and principles. Return to the explanations if necessary to make sure you understand anything if you are not sure.
  • Start answering practice questions from the books after you've gained a firm understanding of the ideas. Start with easy and straightforward questions and progress to more difficult ones over time. Improve your problem-solving abilities by concentrating on answering a variety of questions.
  • Since the CAT test has a time constraint, practise answering questions rapidly. Improve your speed and accuracy by simulating exam circumstances using a stopwatch or timer.
  • Evaluate your answers after solving each set of questions to find any mistakes you may have made. Recognize your errors and take lessons from them in order to avoid repeating them in the future.
  • Go through the theories and formulae you have studied on a regular basis. To help you comprehend and remember more, conduct targeted practise sessions.
  • Keep a notebook or digital document where you can write down significant shortcuts, formulae, and methods for studying. During revision, you can quickly refer to these notes.

Want to know more about CAT

FAQs about CAT Books

Which are the best books for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section of CAT?

Some of the best books to prepare for the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section of the CAT exam 2023 are as follows:

  • A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by R.S. Agarwal
  • How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT book by Arun Sharma
  • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT book  by Arun Sharma
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha
  • Data Interpretation by Nishit Sinha

Which are the best books for the Verbal Ability section of CAT?

Some of the best books to prepare for the Verbal Ability section of the CAT exam 2023 are as follows:

  • 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
  • Any books/novels from different genres

Are NCERT books enough for CAT preparation?

NCERT books alone may not be sufficient for CAT preparation. While they provide a strong foundation, CAT requires additional study materials, mock tests, and practice with CAT previous year papers to cover the entire syllabus and develop problem-solving skills necessary for the exam.

Which books are best for the Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT?

Some of the best books to prepare for the Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT exam 2023 are as follows:

  • NCERT Mathematics books (6-10) 
  • 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 Verma
  • Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha

What are some of the best books to prepare for CAT through self-study?

Some of the best books for self-study CAT preparation are "How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude" by Arun Sharma, "How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension" by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay, and "How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning" by Arun Sharma.

Should I select separate books for all the sections of CAT 2024?

Honestly, it is a personal choice. There is no set rule that one has to buy separate books for different sections of the CAT exam 2024. Candidates can refer to as many books and study materials as they want to prepare for CAT 2024 exam. They can either buy different books for different sections or can buy books from which they can practice all the sections. The choice is theirs.

Is studying from books enough for CAT preparation?

Studying from books alone may not be sufficient for CAT preparation. It's essential to complement book study with mock tests, online resources, CAT previous year papers, and coaching (if required). Practical application and exposure to various question formats enhance overall readiness for the CAT exam.

Where can I buy CAT best books?

You can buy the best CAT preparation books from various sources, including online platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and leading bookstores. Look for popular CAT preparation guides from renowned authors and coaching institutes to ensure comprehensive coverage of the exam syllabus. Online retailers offer a wide selection, convenient delivery options, and customer reviews to help you make informed choices.

What are the CAT best books for the Quantitative Aptitude section?

The CAT best books for the Quantitative Aptitude section are:

  • Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT
  • Sarvesh K Verma's Quantum CAT
  • Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
  • NCERT Mathematics books for Class 8, 9 & 10

How to prepare for the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section?

In order to prepare for the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section, candidates must strengthen their basics, improve their weak points, practise chapter by chapter, practise mock exams, understand the formulae, and enhance mental calculations and shortcut methods and tricks.

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