The XAT RC Reading List and the top recommended books are a must for anyone aiming to score high in the test. About 26 questions are asked in the VA and LR section, out of which you can expect 12 to 15 questions on RC passages and poems. The excerpts are based on social issues, economics, literature, philosophy, current affairs, etc. Hence, to understand and infer responses from the passages, strong RC skills are essential.
Here is where you can refer to our curated and well-researched XAT RC books and reading list can come to your rescue. Following this will expose you to varied writing styles, tone, themes, new words, and more. Further, it will also provide more questions for practice and help you revise essential grammar rules.
When selecting XAT books, focus on editions that are based on the latest XAT syllabus and have been written by credible authors. The language must be easy to comprehend and must contain sufficient practice exercises.
Also Read: XAT 2026 VALR Good Score
List of Best Books for XAT RC
Here is a list of the best books for XAT RC, important for XAT preparation .
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for XAT by Gautam Puri | High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren & Martin |
|---|---|
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis | Objective General English by Dr R.S. Aggarwal & Vikas Aggarwal |
Descriptive General English by SP Bakshi and Richa Sharma | A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal and Non-Verbal by BS Sijwali |
A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Agarwal | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Arihant |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension For CAT, XAT, SNAP, IIFT, IRMA, MAT, NMAT by Nishit K. Sinha | 20 Year-wise XAT Previous Year Solved Papers (2005 - 2024) with 5 Mock Tests by Disha Experts |
Also Read: How Many Questions to Attempt in XAT 2026 to Score 97 Percentile?
Additional Reading List and Recommended Books for XAT RC
We have included a few fiction/ non-fiction works here to help you strengthen your comprehension and vocabulary, which are necessary skills for XAT RC questions. As CAT also has a segment named Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, you can also follow books used for CAT preparation for a deeper understanding.
1984 by George Orwell | The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga |
|---|---|
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell | India Unbound by Gurcharan Das |
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks | The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene |
Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill | Business Legends by Gita Piramal |
36 Topic-wise CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Previous Year Solved Papers by Shipra Agarwal and Deepak Agarwal | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh |
Also Read: Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT 2026 Scores
How to Select Books for XAT Reading Comprehension
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Here are some major pointers to keep in mind while selecting books for XAT Reading Comprehension:
Check the year of publication to ensure the book is updated | Validate if the content is aligned latest syllabus and XAT exam pattern . |
|---|---|
The language should be easy to grasp. | The content must cover all core areas of Reading Comprehension. |
Must have sample questions for practice. | Prefer resources authored by subject matter experts or established publishers |
Opt for books that provide practical strategies and tips for XAT VA and LR component. | - |
To summarise, to excel in XAT RC, you need to pick the right study materials. Always go with books from credible publishers which have updated content. Give preference to titles that have explanations in simple language. Additionally, review if these have end-of-chapter exercises or sample questions to reinforce your learning.
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FAQs
Some recommended books for the XAT RC section include Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for XAT by Gautam Puri, Descriptive General English by SP Bakshi and Richa Sharma, Objective General English by Dr R S Aggarwal and Vikas Aggarwal, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Nishit K. Sinha, etc.
Yes, grammar books are helpful for XAT RC preparation. Some important titles include Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis and High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren & Martin.
Yes, fiction and non-fiction books can be helpful in XAT RC. These will boost your reading speed, vocabulary, and writing style, especially.
Yes, you should consider the year of publication for XAT RC books. You must ensure that the guide is of a recent version.
Yes, for effective preparation, it is recommended that you buy XAT books based on the latest syllabus.
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