1
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT
Arun Sharma · McGraw Hill
Graded levels of difficulty mirroring CAT quant.
Check priceAffiliate link · price on Amazon.in
ManagementNational Reviewed September 2026
Best Books & Mock Tests for CMAT 2026
Common Management Admission Test · National Testing Agency (NTA)
National MBA/PGDM entrance accepted by AICTE-approved institutes.
Best books for CMAT — 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 CMAT
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 CMAT notification, syllabus & papers
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Always confirm dates, eligibility and syllabus on the official website before applying.
Visit official siteCMAT at a glance
Conducted by
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Level
National
Frequency
Annual
Mode
Online (CBT)
Eligibility
Graduate (final-year students can apply).
Official website
https://cmat.nta.nic.inDates, vacancies, fees and age limits change every cycle — always confirm in the latest official notification.
Exam pattern
- 1CBT
Syllabus — key subjects
Quantitative Techniques & DILogical ReasoningLanguage ComprehensionGeneral AwarenessInnovation & Entrepreneurship
How to prepare for CMAT
STEP 1
Month 1 — Foundation
Read the official syllabus and solve one previous CMAT 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.
CMAT — frequently asked questions
Which is the best mock test for CMAT 2026?
Start with National Testing Agency (NTA)'s previous year CMAT 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 CMAT preparation?
The most recommended books for CMAT 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 CMAT?
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). National MBA/PGDM entrance accepted by AICTE-approved institutes.
What is the eligibility for CMAT?
Graduate (final-year students can apply). Always verify the latest criteria in the official notification at https://cmat.nta.nic.in.
What is the CMAT exam pattern?
CMAT is conducted in the following stage(s): CBT. Mode: Online (CBT).
What is the CMAT syllabus?
The main subjects/sections of CMAT are: Quantitative Techniques & DI, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Download the detailed syllabus from https://cmat.nta.nic.in.
How often is CMAT conducted?
CMAT is held once a year. Dates are announced by National Testing Agency (NTA) in the official notification.
How to crack CMAT 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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