Books are the best source for any Entrance exam or competition Exam preparation. They not only clear the basic fundamentals but also enhance Knowledge. Preparing for a highly competitive and tough MBA Entrance exam like CAT, best reference books should be there for better results. You can find lots of books in the market but to choose the best books for CAT 2020 and other MBA entrance exam preparation, is the key to success.
Candidates should consult the best books for CAT 2020 different sections. With the help of best books for CAT 2020 preparation, candidates will be able to cover the complete syllabus and learn the tricks to solve the question with speed and accuracy.
Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most popular and important exam for MBA aspirants seeking admissions in Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top MBA colleges in India. This year IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2020 Examination which will be held on 29 November 2020.
The CAT Examination pattern is divided into 3 major sections – Quantitative Ability (QA) questions, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) questions and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions (DILR). These sections have different weightage in CAT Examination question paper, which slightly changes every year although most of the question pattern remains the same.
To make the way for the Best B-School, we suggest to refer the correct books for the preparation. Read this article to know in detail about the weightage, pattern of the question paper in a section-wise format and also the important books for the CAT 2020 preparation which are recommended by toppers, faculties and experts.
Best Books for CAT 2020 Section Wise Preparation
1. Quantitative Ability (QA)
This section consists around 34 questions of 102 marks. This section covers topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratios and Proportion etc.
The recommended books for the same are :
| Books | Author | Publisher |
| How to Prepare For Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma | Mc Graw Hill Education |
| Quantitative Aptitude | R.S. Aggarwal | S Chand |
| Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Nishit Sinha | Pearson |
| Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT 2020 | Sarvesh K Verma | Arihant |
For brushing the basic concepts, NCERT of 10th is recommended. The book by Arun Sharma is one of the top choice books for QA preparation, which also contains the past test papers of IIFT, SNAP, XAT etc MBA Entrance Exams.
The book by Nishit Sinha, ‘Quantitative Aptitude for CAT’ has a huge number of questions with varying difficulty levels from easy to advanced level. With an easy approach and short techniques and fast tips, Quantum by Sarvesh K Verma is popular among CAT aspirants.
2. Data Interpretation And Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR section consists of around 32 questions. Data Interpretation basically checks the candidate’s interpretation ability from the given data. This section contains questions related to Tables & its variants, Bar Chart, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Miscellaneous data types– Spider, Triangle, Scatter Diagram.
Logical Reasoning requires more problem-solving abilities, which can be obtained by practicing the maximum number of questions in a minimum amount of time. This section is to conceptualizing or brainstorming.
Out of 32 questions from DILR Section, 16 are logical reasoning ones in which around 12 questions will be MCQs and rest 4 the non-MCQ type. The major topics of this section are Blood Relations, Series, Proposition, Direction Sense, Coding-Decoding, Assumptions, Puzzles, Clocks and Calendars, Statements, Data Arrangement, Family Tree, Venn Diagram etc.
The best books for the Data Interpretation are –
| Books | Author | Publisher |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT | Nishit Sinha | Pearson |
| How to Prepare Data Interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma | Mc Graw Hill Education |
| Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests For Admission into IIMs | Sarvesh K Verma | Paperback |
Data interpretation and logical reasoning by Nishit Sinha is considered best among all, relatively cheap, covered all the basic concepts required, excluded all the unnecessary tricky concepts or questions. This book will be the best pick for CAT aspirants.
The best books for Logical Reasoning –
| Books | Author | Publisher |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT | Nishit Sinha | Pearson |
| How to Prepare Logical Reasoning for CAT | Arun Sharma | Mc Graw Hill Education |
| Trishna’s Verbal Ability And Logical Reasoning For The CAT And Other MBA Examinations | T.I.M.E. Publisher | Pearson |
Again, the best authors here are Nishit Sinha (Pearson Publications) and Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education) both giving the basic and easy approach with clarity in various topics.
3. Verbal Ability And Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Around 34 questions of 102 marks are from VARC Section. This section specifically tests the candidate’s knowledge about the English language, grammar and vocabulary. The reading comprehension part has about 24 questions and the rest 10 belong to verbal ability part.
The major topics covered in this section are Fill in the blanks, Verbal Reasoning, Sentence completion, Grammar, Syllogisms, Jumbled paragraphs, Para Completion and inference, Contextual usage. The best-recommended books for the Verbal Ability And Reading Comprehensionare
| Books | Author | Publisher |
| How to Prepare for VARC for CAT |
Arun Sharma Meenakshi Upadhyay |
Mc Graw Hill Education |
| VARC for the CAT | Nishit Sinha | Pearson |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis | Penguin (ed. 2018) |
The book by Arun Sharma is the most recommended book, as the book is divided into 4 parts Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, Verbal Reasoning and CAT Papers (Real and Sample). Based on the tips on previous papers you will find this book easy.
‘Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT’ by Nishit Sinha who himself is the CAT topper is considered one of the best books because of the CAT online tests CDs attached, 2000 solved questions, last 7-year question papers, and many more.
The book by Norman Levis focuses on methods to improve vocabulary, pronunciations, and reading speed. Recommended by CAT toppers, this book is famous among CAT aspirants but this book is way more for CAT Examination, the former two will be good.
READ MORE:CMAT Preparation Tips, Books And Exam Pattern
These are some of the books which are frequently suggested by experts and toppers as the best books to prepare CAT 2020. If you are preparing for CAT then you can refer online test series, youtube tutorials, coaching centers material (if enrolled in any) along with these books. There are mock tests and question banks available too.
All the best CAT Aspirants!
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