1
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT
Arun Sharma · McGraw Hill
Graded levels of difficulty mirroring CAT quant.
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ManagementNational Reviewed September 2026
Best Books & Mock Tests for CAT 2026
Common Admission Test · IIMs (rotating organising IIM)
Entrance exam for MBA/PGP admissions at the IIMs and over 1,000 other B-schools.
Best books for CAT — in the order to buy
Start at #1 and work down. The first books cover the full syllabus; later books add depth for scoring subjects.
2
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for the CAT
Arun Sharma · McGraw Hill
Set-based DILR practice at CAT difficulty.
Check priceAffiliate link · price on Amazon.in
3
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT
Arun Sharma, Meenakshi Upadhyay · McGraw Hill
RC passages and verbal question types in CAT style.
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4
Word Power Made Easy
Norman Lewis · Penguin
Builds vocabulary systematically — useful for CAT, GRE and bank exams.
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5
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
R.S. Aggarwal · S. Chand
Chapter-wise concepts and thousands of solved questions for arithmetic.
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Best mock tests & practice sets for CAT
Take a full mock every week in the early months and every alternate day in the last 30 days. Analyse every test — that is where marks improve.
Official
Official CAT notification, syllabus & papers
IIMs (rotating organising IIM)
Always confirm dates, eligibility and syllabus on the official website before applying.
Visit official siteCAT at a glance
Conducted by
IIMs (rotating organising IIM)
Level
National
Frequency
Annual (November)
Mode
Online (CBT)
Eligibility
Graduate with 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwBD).
Official website
https://iimcat.ac.inDates, vacancies, fees and age limits change every cycle — always confirm in the latest official notification.
Exam pattern
- 1CBT (VARC, DILR, QA)
- 2WAT/GD & Personal Interview (by institutes)
Syllabus — key subjects
Verbal Ability & Reading ComprehensionData Interpretation & Logical ReasoningQuantitative Ability
How to prepare for CAT
STEP 1
Month 1 — Foundation
Read the official syllabus and solve one previous CAT paper to see where you stand. Start book #1 and #2 from the list above.
STEP 2
Months 2–3 — Concepts
Finish one standard book per subject. Solve topic-wise practice sets the same day you finish a chapter.
STEP 3
Month 4 — Mock phase
Start full-length mocks weekly. Maintain an error log and revisit weak topics after every test.
STEP 4
Last 30 days — Revision
Mocks every alternate day, revise short notes and previous year questions. No new books.
CAT — frequently asked questions
Which is the best mock test for CAT 2026?
Start with IIMs (rotating organising IIM)'s previous year CAT papers, solved under real exam timing. Aim for at least 15–20 full mocks before the exam and analyse every test.
Which are the best books for CAT preparation?
The most recommended books for CAT are: How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma; How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Arun Sharma; How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma, Meenakshi Upadhyay; Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. Read one good book per subject multiple times instead of many books once.
What is CAT?
Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted by IIMs (rotating organising IIM). Entrance exam for MBA/PGP admissions at the IIMs and over 1,000 other B-schools.
What is the eligibility for CAT?
Graduate with 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwBD). Always verify the latest criteria in the official notification at https://iimcat.ac.in.
What is the CAT exam pattern?
CAT is conducted in the following stage(s): CBT (VARC, DILR, QA); WAT/GD & Personal Interview (by institutes). Mode: Online (CBT).
What is the CAT syllabus?
The main subjects/sections of CAT are: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability. Download the detailed syllabus from https://iimcat.ac.in.
How often is CAT conducted?
CAT is held once a year. Dates are announced by IIMs (rotating organising IIM) in the official notification.
How to crack CAT in the first attempt?
(1) Download the official syllabus and previous papers. (2) Build concepts from one standard book per subject. (3) Practise topic-wise sets daily. (4) Start full-length mock tests at least 3 months before the exam and analyse each one. (5) Revise weak areas and keep a short-notes register. (6) Take the last 15 days only for revision and mocks.
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