XAT 2026 Top Books and Resources for Each Section

2 minute read

Shreya Panagria

Update on Jul 31 2025, 07:01 PM IST

To prepare well for the XAT 2026 exam, it is important to use the right books for each section. For the Decision Making section, books that include real-life examples & previous years’ question papers help students learn how to make wise and ethical choices. In the Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning section, books that clearly explain English grammar, vocabulary, and reasoning skills, along with numerous practice questions, are highly useful. For the Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section, students should focus on books that cover basic math topics, such as arithmetic, algebra, and data analysis, with numerous solved problems to practice. Lastly, the General Knowledge section includes both static facts, like history and geography, and current events, such as politics and business news. Books that cover both these parts clearly and keep students updated are the best choice. Using these recommended books will make studying easier and help students perform well in theXAT 2026 Exam.

 

Table of Contents
  1. Best XAT Books 2026 for Decision Making
  2. Best XAT Books 2026 for Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning
  3. XAT Books 2026 for Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
  4. Best XAT 2026 Books for General Knowledge
  5. Wrapping-Up

 

Best XAT Books 2026 for Decision Making

The Decision Making section in the XAT exam is unique and requires a different approach compared to other MBA entrance exams. It tests a candidate’s ability to make logical and ethical decisions in business or daily life scenarios. To prepare well, it’s important to use books that offer real-life case studies, past year papers, and practice questions. Here are some recommended books that can help in building strong decision-making skills for XAT 2026.

XAT Decision-Making Books

Author of the XAT Book

Features of the XAT Preparation Books

Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers)

RK Jha

This XAT decision-making book has the following:

 

Has easily understandable Content, including solved papers of the last 15 years

 

Has Content been curated in a way that keeps the specific requirements of students in mind

Target XAT (Past papers and mock tests)

Disha Publications

This XAT decision-making book has the following:

 

This includes solved papers from the last 15 years.

 

Has Content curated by 30 experts working in this field

Analytical & Logical Reasoning

Arihant Publications

This XAT decision-making book has the following:

 

It has been divided into Verbal, Analytical, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Two difficulty levels 2000+ Previous Years’ Questions

Also Check: XAT 2026 Preparation Plan for Decision Making

 

Best XAT Books 2026 for Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

The Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning section of XAT assesses a student's understanding of English and their ability to think logically. This includes grammar, vocabulary, reading passages, and reasoning questions. To excel in this section, students should read and practice regularly. Some books straightforwardly explain grammar, while others provide numerous practice questions. Below is a list of the best books that can help students prepare for this section easily and transparently.

XAT Books for VA & LR

Author

Features of the XAT decision-making books​ for VA & LR

Word Power Made Easy

Norman Lewis

This XAT book for VA & LR has the following features:

 

Helps in improving your vocabulary and understanding of the English language through various tests and word exercises.

 

Has been curated with a student-friendly approach

A New Approach to Reasoning: Verbal & Non-Verbal (Arihant)

B S Sijwali

This XAT book for VA & LR has the following features:

 

Has Content that students can easily understand. Has enough no. of Practice Questions included

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Ajay Singh

This XAT book for VA & LR has the following features:

 

Guides Students from a basic to an advanced level in English.

 

Includes Mock Papers covering the latest syllabus

High School English Grammar & Composition

Wren & Martin

This XAT book for VA & LR has the following features:

 

Covers the entire syllabus of English Grammar

 

Includes Practice sessions at the end of each lesson for self-assessment

A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning

R.S. Aggarwal

This XAT book for VA & LR has the following features:

 

Includes Smarter and Shorter methods for solving questions

 

Full explanation of each solved example to help students understand concepts in depth

 

Fully solved papers for all competitive exams

Analytical Reasoning

MK Pandey

This XAT book for VA & LR has the following features:

 

Detailed Explanation of Concepts Focus on New Question Types Comprehensive Coverage of all major topics Detailed Explanation of Concepts Vast Array of Practice Questions

Also Check: XAT 2026 Preparation Plan for Verbal & Logical Ability

 

XAT Books 2026 for Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation

The Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section in the XAT exam checks how well a student understands maths and how they solve problems based on numbers, charts, and graphs. Topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis are very important. To do well, students must learn the basics and practice regularly. The books listed below clearly explain these topics and provide sufficient practice questions to help build strong problem-solving skills.

XAT Books for QA & DI

Author

Features of the XAT Preparation Books for QA & DI

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams

R.S. Aggarwal

This XAT book for QA & DI has the following features:

 

It is Ideal for all management and engineering competitive exams.

 

It has comprehensive coverage of all important topics in the XAT syllabus. Has Chapter-wise questions with detailed explanations.

Data Interpretation for the CAT

Nishit K. Sinha

This XAT book for QA & DI has the following features:

 

Focuses on strong concept building, helps with the application of problems includes the difficulty level of each topic to help students learn gradually

How to Prepare for Data Interpretation

Arun Sharma

This XAT book for QA & DI has the following features:

 

Covers all types of DI questions, Self-sufficient in itself for preparation

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

Abhijit Guha

This XAT book for QA & DI has the following features:

 

Covers a wide range of topics. Revised chapters as per the latest pattern Huge no. of solved examples, practice papers, and exam-level test papers

Also Check: XAT 2026 Preparation Plan for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

 

Best XAT 2026 Books for General Knowledge

The General Knowledge (GK) section in the XAT exam has two parts: Static GK and Dynamic GK.

  • Dynamic GK covers current events like business, politics, economics, and important happenings around the world.
  • Static GK focuses on facts that don’t change often, such as history, geography, famous personalities, laws, awards, and important books and authors.

To prepare well, students need books that cover both parts clearly and update them on current affairs regularly. The recommended books help explain these topics in an easy way and keep students ready for the exam.

XAT GK Books 2026

Author

Features of the XAT 2026 Books for GK

Objective General Knowledge (Lucent's)

Sanjiv Kumar

This XAT book for GK has the following:

 

Articulates all important events taking place

 

Has General knowledge points structured lucidly to make learning easier.

General Knowledge 2024

Manohar Pandey

This XAT book for GK has the following:

 

All current events are given in a compact way

 

Has been divided into sections, with a separate section for current events

 

It is Useful for all management and other government exams.

Manorama Year Book

Malayala Manorama Group

This XAT book for GK has the following:

 

Covers a wide range of topics

 

Has a dedicated section for Current Affairs

 

Updated Data and Statistics of the country

 

Content curated with a focus on the Civil Services Examination

 

Separate section for Global Happenings

 

Wrapping-Up

To prepare well for the XAT 2026 exam, choosing the right books for each section is very important. For decision-making, books with real-life examples and past papers help build strong skills. In Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, books that explain grammar and reasoning clearly, with many practice questions, are useful. For Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, books that cover basic math topics and offer plenty of practice help improve problem-solving. Finally, for General Knowledge, books that cover current events and important facts keep students updated. Using these books wisely can make exam preparation easier and more effective.

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