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XAT Books for Preparation 2024: Best Books For DM, VA, Quant, GK, How to Choose, Other Study Resources

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Sachin Gupta

Associate Content Manager | Updated On - Sep 16, 2024

XAT Books are an essential part of XAT exam preparation. Choosing the right books for XAT preparation is the most crucial step while devising a preparation strategy for the exam.

  • XAT Books are important for candidates to learn complex concepts, short tricks and solve questions of different types and difficulty levels. Check XAT Previous Year Question Papers
  • Candidates are advised to select only those XAT books for preparation that have been fully updated as per the latest exam pattern and syllabus. Check XAT 2024 Exam Pattern
  • XAT Preparation Books are similar to those of other MBA exams such as NMAT, CAT, SNAP. Candidates should follow XAT Books by renowned authors like Arun Sharma, N K Sinha, Norman Lewis, etc. to prepare well for XAT 2024 exam. Check XAT 2024 Syllabus
  • XAT 2024 is going to be conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on Jan 7, 2024, for admission to various MBA/ PGDM courses. As per the previous year’s trend, about 90000 candidates are expected to register for XAT 2024 from all over India.
  • ​Apart from referring to Books for XAT preparation, candidates may also consider XAT Online Coaching for comprehensive preparation for XAT 2024. Also Check XAT Cutoff

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How to Choose XAT books for Prep.

How to Choose XAT Books for Preparation?

Choosing the right resources is the key to ensuring the best preparation for XAT exam. XAT aspirants are advised to keep the following suggestions in mind before spending any money on XAT books or learning materials:

  • Always go for the latest edition of XAT Books as they will be up to date according to the latest exam pattern and syllabus
  • Choose the books authored by the most recommended and renowned authors like Arun Sharma for Quant, Norman Lewis for English, R K Jha for XAT Mock Tests, and Sample Papers.
  • Choose XAT Books that target a particular section. In case you already have the study material for each section from coaching classes or other resources, you can choose a comprehensive guide for XAT preparation.
  • Candidates should select XAT Books with the latest year of publication as it indicates the revised and updated version of the book.
  • If your coaching center has provided you with study materials, use them along with the books.
  • It is extremely important to refer to study material and books for XAT 2023 that consist of previous year papers and sample papers to better prepare for the exam.

Check: XAT Preparation Tips & Study Plan


XAT Exam Pattern 2024

XAT Exam Pattern has been revised by XLRI Jamshedpur. Last year, the essay writing section was reintroduced. The updated exam pattern for XAT 2024 is given below. 

Part Section Name Number of Questions Time Limit
Part 1 Verbal and Logical Ability 26 165 minutes
Decision Making 21
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation 28
Part 2 General Knowledge 25 25 minutes
 
Essay Writing 1 (It will be evaluated after the candidates is shortlisted for the PI round)
Total - 101 190 minutes

Also Check XAT Previous Year Exam Analysis

XAT Books for DM

XAT Books for Decision Making

The best way to prepare for XAT DM is to solve XAT previous year question papers. Key features of this section are:

  • Negative marking of 25% for each wrong answer. 1 mark is awarded for all correct responses. 
  • Answering 15 - 16 questions out of 21 correctly is generally considered a good attempt as the cut off is usually around 7-8 marks. 
  • Questions are in the form of caselets followed by 2-3 MCQs. 
  • As per the analysis of previous year's exams, the difficulty level of this section is easy-moderate. 

XAT books for Decision Making preparation 2024 along with the important features are listed below:

Book Name  Author Name  Features Included
Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers) RK Jha
  • Content presented in a way that can be easily understandable 
  • Includes solved papers of last 15 years
  • Content curated in a way that keeps the specific requirement of students in mind
Target XAT (Past papers and mock tests) Disha Publications
  • Includes solved papers of last 15 years and mock tests
  • To the point and student-friendly. 
  • Content curated by 30 experts working in this field
Target XAT Simplified Disha Experts
  • Contains detailed solutions to XAT Previous Year Papers till date
  • Includes Solved Question Papers of the past 15 years
XAT Solved Papers Gautam Puri Solved previous year XAT question papers with detailed explanation

XAT Books for VARC

XAT Books for Verbal & Logical Ability 

Book Name  Author Name  Features
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Ajay Singh
  • Designed to guide students from a basic to advanced level in English.
  • An ample number of mock papers covering the latest syllabus.
  • Designed to help aspirants of management entrances such as CAT, MAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP.
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning R.S. Aggarwal
  • Fully solved papers of all competitive exams with verbal reasoning.
  • Guides aspirants through methods that are smarter and shorter.
  • Full explanation for each solved example provided. 
A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal & Non-Verbal (Arihant) B S Sijwali
  • Useful for XAT, CAT, and other management exams. 
  • Content is present in a way that can be easily understood by students. 
  • Enough practice questions included. 
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Arun Sharma
  • Reading comprehension sections are given according to the level of difficulty. 
  • Includes the latest solved paper from XAT with solutions. 
Word Power Made Easy  Norman Lewis
  • Highly beneficial to students preparing for XAT, CAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL.
  • An essential book for beginners with limited knowledge of the English language
  • Content is structured in a coherent way to improve vocabulary. 
High School English Grammar & Composition Wren & Martin
  • Covers every possible chapter on English grammar for all competitive exams. 
  • Trusted by students from all boards and exams for an advanced lesson in grammar. 
  • Practice sessions at the end of each lesson included for self-assessment
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Also Read: XAT Verbal Ability Pattern & Syllabus


XAT Books for QA/DI

XAT Books for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation

XAT QADI comprises 28 MCQs. Key features of this section are:

  • QA and DI are considered to be the most difficult section in XAT. 
  • Questions from geometry, numbers, arithmetic, and algebra account for 50% of the quant questions in the paper. 3-4 DI sets having 3 questions each are asked.
  • Attempting 15-18 questions is considered a good attempt to clear the sectional cut offs
  • Candidates will have about 150 seconds for each question. 

XAT Books for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation Preparation with features and author name are given below:

Name of XAT Book  Author Name Features
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations RS Aggarwal
  • Ideal for all management and engineering competitive exams
  • Comprehensive coverage of all important topics of XAT syllabus
  • Chapter-wise questions with detailed explanations.
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic (Arihant) Rajesh Verma
  • Content is written in a way that students with an intermediate level of understanding will also find it easy. 
  • Covers the complete XAT Syllabus.
  • Contains tips. Tricks, and all possible types of arithmetics problems. 
Quantum CAT Sarvesh K Verma
  • Covers the complete XAT syllabus
  • Contains questions based on basic numeracy as well as complex concepts
  • Includes previous year solved papers for practice
How to Prepare for QA for CAT Arun Sharma
  • Covers entire syllabus and provides detailed explanation to questions
  • Practice papers and mock tests included
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation Arun Sharma
  • Authored by the trainee of thousands of CAT aspirants.
  • Consists of several parts designed to help students prepare fully without external guidance. 
  • Helps students familiarize themselves with all types of DI questions
Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations Abhijit Guha
  • Equipped with an understanding covering a wide range of topics.
  • All chapters are revised according to the latest pattern.
  • Thousands of solved examples, practice papers, exam level test papers.
Data Interpretation for the CAT Nishit K Sinha
  • Written in a way to help strong and relevant concept building that helps with the application of problems. 
  • Fully solved and worked out sample questions for advanced practice. 
  • Includes difficulty level of each topic to help students learn gradually.
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Check XAT Quantitative Aptitude Pattern & Syllabus


XAT Books for GK

XAT Books for General Knowledge

XAT General Knowledge and Essay sections form part 2 of XAT 2024 exam. Key features of XAT GK section include:

  • The difficulty level of XAT GK is expected to be moderate. 25 questions will be asked from this section. 
  • For each given question, candidates will have 5 options to choose from. 
  • The time limit for XAT General Knowledge and essay will be 25 mins. For part 1 of XAT 2024 exam candidates will have the option of switching between the sections in the given time. 
  • For every correct response, 1 mark will be awarded. GK is the only section in XAT paper with no negative marking. 

XAT Books for General Knowledge Preparation with author and ISBN:

Book Name  Author Name  Features
Objective General Knowledge (Lucent’s) Sanjiv Kumar 
  • Articulates all important events taking place
  • General knowledge points are structured in a lucid manner to make learning easier.
General knowledge (Lucent’s) Dr. Binay Karna, R. P. Suman, Manvendra Mukul, Renu Sinha, Sanjeev Kumar 
  • Recommended by thousands of students.
  • Follows the latest pattern for all competitive exams.
  • Covers each topic thoroughly
General Knowledge 2021 Manohar Pandey
  • All current events are given in a compact way
  • Divided according to sections with a separate section for current events
  • Useful for all management and other government exams. 
 XAT 2020 books   XAT books 

More resources for XAT General Knowledge Preparation

Apart from the books mentioned above, candidates must make use of other resources for the best coverage of the entire General Knowledge syllabus. These are:

  1. Economic Times
  2. Competition Success Review
  3. The Financial Times
  4. Business World
  5. Manorama Yearbook
  6. Business Line 
  7. Business Today
  8. The Hindu
  9. Hindu Business Line
  10. Current Affairs Yearly by Arihant
  11. Financial Express
  12. Wall Street Journal

Check XAT GK Pattern & Syllabus


XAT Previous Year Solved Papers

XAT Books for Previous Year Solved Papers

Generic books covering XAT solved papers of previous years are a good way to target the entire paper. Solving papers for any exam can be highly beneficial as it helps aspirants to be completely stress-free and gain confidence.

  • During the final months of the exam, try to solve at least 3 papers each week. 
  • Do not take more than the given time (3 hours) on a given paper.
  • While solving a paper, pretend like you are actually giving the exam.
  • Do not be upset if you cannot solve a problem. Look at the answer, try to understand the logic behind it and apply the same for similar problems.

XAT Books for Solved Previous Year Papers/Mock tests

Book Name  Author Name Features
Target XAT Disha Experts (publisher)
  • Provides a detailed solution for all XAT papers
  • Contains additional 5 mock tests in latest pattern for advanced preparation for XAT
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) - Solved Papers Paperback Gautam Puri Contains detailed explanation of all questions
 XAT gk books XAT gk books    

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Other Useful Resources for XAT 2024 Preparation

For any management competitive exam, it is always recommended that aspirants refer to more than one source for preparation. What are some common types of study materials or resources that are available for XAT 2023 candidates? 

  • Monthly or weekly magazines
  • Books covering entire sections
  • Online learning programs
  • Newspapers (online and offline)
  • YouTube videos for a particular topic
  • Mock test papers (online and offline)
  • Previous year solved papers

Online Coaching Centers for XAT Preparation 

Given below are the top online coaching centers for XAT 2024 preparation:

Top Online Coaching Institutes for XAT Preparation
Career Launcher T.I.M.E 4 Education
IMS India Gradeup
MBAguru Unacademy
hitbullseye Catking
BYJUs TestFunda

Must Read: XAT 2023 Top Coaching Institutes (City-wise)

Frequently Asked Questions

XAT Books FAQs

Question: What are some good books for XAT VALR?

Ans. Some good books for XAT VALR are:

  • A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Arun Sharma
  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
  • High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren & Martin

Question: Which are the most recommended books for XAT Quant and Data Interpretation?

Ans. The most recommended books for XAT Quant and Data Interpretation are:

  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R S Aggarwal
  • How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
  • Quantum CAT by Sarvesh K Verma
  • How to prepare for Data Interpretation by Arun Sharma
  • Data Interpretation for the CAT by N K Sinha. 

Question: What are some good books to prepare for XAT general knowledge?

Ans. Some good books for XAT general knowledge preparation are:

  • Objective General Knowledge (Lucent’s)
  • General Knowledge by Arihant Experts
  • Manorama Year Book by Mammen Mathew
  • Newspapers and Magazines for Current Affairs

Question: What are some good books for XAT decision-making?

Ans. The most efficient way of preparing for XAT DM section is practicing as many questions as possible. Refer to the previous year paper links given in the article above to download free pdfs. Some other good books for XAT decision-making preparation are Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers) and Target XAT (Past papers and mock tests).

Question: Where can I get XAT mock tests and study material for free?

Ans. The official XAT Mock test is released by XLRI a week before the exam date. Candidates can access other sample papers, previous year papers, and practice tests on the collegedunia website. Check XAT Practice Papers

Question: What magazines or newspapers can I read to score well in XAT general knowledge?

Ans. You can read Economic Times, The Financial Times, Business World, Manorama Yearbook, Business Line, Business Today, The Hindu, Hindu Business Line, Current Affairs Yearly by Arihant, Financial Express, and Wall Street Journal to improve to prepare for XAT GK section. 

Question: What are the best coaching centers for XAT?

Ans. Some of the best coaching centers for XAT preparation that offer online and offline courses include T.I.M.E, Career Launcher, IMS India, Unacademy, BYJUs, hitbullseye, etc. Check complete list of city-wise XAT Top Coaching Institutes.

Question: Is it possible to crack XAT 2024 exam through self study from XAT Books?

Ans. Yes, it is possible to crack XAT 2024 exam through self-study if you follow these 4 steps:

  • Solve previous years’ XAT question papers.
  • For each section, refer to 1-2 good books for XAT Preparation
  • Prepare a daily & weekly timetable and follow it without fail.
  • Practice as many sample papers as possible.

Question: What is the difficulty level of questions in XAT exam?

Ans. The overall difficulty level of XAT exam is moderate to high. It is one of the most difficult MBA exams in the country. Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretaion and GK sections are comparatively more difficult than the Verbal & Logical Ability & Decision Making sections.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

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