9 Best Quantitative Aptitude Books for CAT Preparation

For a student preparing for the CAT, organizing their syllabus and selecting the right books can be a tedious task. The right study material, needless to say can make or break the exam. So here in this article, we will talk about one of the most challenging sections of the exam, the Quantitative Aptitude.

We will look at the best books available in the market for you to make a judicial decision to help you concur your syllabus in no time.

So let us get started!

Quantitative Section In CAT Exam

Quantitative Ability is one of the crucial sections of the CAT exam and will have 22 questions out of the total 66 questions for you to answer. Acing this section will ensure you can influence your scores accordingly and can be a decisive factor for you.

The Quantitative Exam will test you on your math capabilities and has 14 MCQ questions and 8 non-MCQ questions for you. Each question will carry 3 marks, and -1 for each incorrect answer.

This section focuses on the topics of mathematics on a matriculation level and contains questions from the below sections.

Geometry
Number System
Algebra
Percentage
Ratios, Proportions and Variations
Profit & Loss
Probability
Time, Distance, and Speed
Average
Mensuration
Binomial Theorem
Permutations and Combinations
Square Root and Cube Root
Others

8 Best Quantitative Aptitude Books For CAT Preparation

Now that you know what is waiting for you at the exams, let us now understand the books that are going to be best suited for you, keeping the above syllabus in mind.

1. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

Author: Dr. R.S. Aggarwal
Latest Edition: 21 February 2017 (Revised Edition)
Publisher: S.Chand Publishing

Published in the year 1989 Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal has always been the student’s favorite for their CAT preparations. It has stood the test of time and never fails to provide the adequate aid required to crack an exam like CAT. The main features of this genius book are as follows.

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations has 5500 questions along with the answer key.
Each chapter begins with theories and formulas relevant to the topic for you to have a glance.
Deemed one of the most popular books for an exam like the CAT, it has previous year question papers too until 2016 and is of 966 pages.
It has a very lucid language and also has solved examples to aid you in your practice better.

It is divided into two sections namely Section-I: Arithmetical Ability and Section-II: Data Interpretation, you can check for further details and buy it here.

2. Fast Track Objective Arithmetic

Author: Rajesh Verma
Latest Edition: 1 January 2018 (4th Edition)
Publisher: Arihant Publications

Rajesh Verma is a household name when it comes to any kind of competitive exam in India. Fast Track Objective Arithmetic was first published in the year 2012 and since then it has been an asset for students applying for the CAT examination.

The content of the book is accurately comprehensive to the exam and can help you greatly. Some standalone features of this great publication are as follows.

It is divided into 7 major sections and covers topics like Arithemetic, Geometry, Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, and Mensuration.
The book is 982 pages long and offers important formulas along with multi-concept questions, formulae & short tricks.
The exercises in the book are categorized based on their difficulty level, divided into Base and Higher Skill Levels.

You can know more about the book and buy it here.

3. Quantitative Aptitude Quantum Cat

Author: Sarvesh K Verma
Latest Edition: Eleventh edition (13 August 2020)
Publisher: Arihant Publication

Regarded as the best book for CAT preparations by many students across the country, Quantitative Aptitude Quantum Cat by Sarvesh K Verma is a brilliant set of work. It divides the CAT quantitative aptitude syllabus into 21 chapters and deals with the contents with absolute precision. Let us quickly look at some of its features.

Quantitative Aptitude Quantum Cat has 400 fundamental concepts with more than 1000 examples and 5000 curated problems to solve as practise.
It has 2000 new MCQs compared to its previous version and aims to be a complete guide in your preparation journey.
This 1213-page book aims to give you conceptual clarity along with helping you practice the gained insight.

You can read more and buy this here.

4. Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Dinesh K. Sinha

Author: Dinesh K. Sinha
Latest Edition: 1 June 2015 (2nd Edition)
Publisher: Cengage Learning India Private Limited

Deemed one of the most important books in the CAT preparation journey, Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Dinesh K. Sinha is your one-stop solution for your Quantitative Aptitude needs. This 584-page book has specially designed questions that will help you understand the cat exam pattern with ease.

Let us quickly look at some of the points which make this book stand out.

The book has sample test questions designed to be attempted on Android and the web for you to have a first-hand experience.
It focuses on not only the questions but has detailed full length answers to the test.

The book also has sectional demarcations to have you a better understanding and you can check about it here.

5. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT

Author: Arun Sharma
Latest Edition: 1st July 2024 (11th Edition)
Publisher: McGraw Hill Education

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT is currently trending on Amazon (2024) as a bestseller in the CAT category and has multiple reasons for it being so. This 872-page book is a must-have for all CAT aspirants and helps you to ace your quantitative aptitude with ease. Let us look at the below points to understand how.

The most notable feature of this book is ‘The CAT Experience’ which contains mock tests with detailed explanations, and solved CAT 2022 and 2023 papers (QA section).
The chapters in this book have been graded as per difficulty level of Difficulty 1-3 which enables you to assess your progress easily.
It also covers the TITA ( Type in The Answer) questions that have been asked since 2015.

The book keeps on updating itself as per the changing dynamic of the exam, and you can buy and learn more about it here.

6. Quantitative Aptitude for CAT

Author: Nishit K. Sinha
Latest Edition: 25 April, 2020 (5e Edition)
Publisher: Pearson Education

Quantitative Aptitude for CAT By Nishit K. Sinha is a must-have in your CAT preparation journey. This 984-page book is a complete guide in itself and can give your preparation level the edge it needs. Let us look at its details with the below points.

The book discusses mathematical topics in detail and also offers you sample questions to test yourself with its ‘Test Your Learning” feature.
It follows a pattern of systematic progression and deals with simpler topics first and then progresses to complex ones.
Not only it have strategic explanations but has the CAT paper solved till 2019.

You can look at the book and buy it here.

7. The Pearson Guide To Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations

Author: Dinesh Khattar
Latest Edition: 1 January, 2013 (2nd Edition)
Publisher: Pearson, Second Edition

Another important book that you can consider for your CAT quantitative aptitude preparation journey is The Pearson Guide To Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations. It is an ‎872-page book written adhering to the competitive exam pattern and focuses more on the correct approach towards a mathematical problem than only on the solution.

Here are some simple points below to help you understand why the aspirants love this book.

The most important thing about this book is it has 4000 multiple-choice questions designed for multiple difficulty levels.
It also helps you with quick tricks and valuable shortcut methods to save time.
This book has varied levels of examples for you to have a deeper understanding of the equation at hand.

You can buy this book here.

8. Quantitative Aptitude for CAT, XAT & other MBA Entrance Exams

Author: Deepak Agarwal
Latest Edition: 15 January 2021 (5th Edition)
Publisher: Disha Publication

If you are looking for a book to start your preparation with Quantitative Aptitude for CAT, XAT & other MBA Entrance Exams is the one for you. This book will help you with the desired kick-start that you need to launch your preparations. This 860-page book has the following advantages for its readers.

The book has 6 Units divided into 23 chapters with questions, and the difficulty progresses uniformly.
Not only that, but the book has Theory with Illustrations, which are categorized into 4 levels of Exercises: Foundation; Standard; Expert; and Test Yourself.
The chapters also include previous year’s questions so that you can assess your learning accordingly.

You can buy this book here.

Conclusion

I understand that deciding on a book is the most important step of the preparation journey, regardless of the exam.

Hence, it is critical to settle down with a book that aligns with your preparation strategy. Once you have gotten hold of the preparation process and the questions, you can surely look for different options and assess your progress accordingly.

But it is of utmost importance not to be spoiled for choice, and I hope this article will give you that much-needed clarity.

Happy Reading!

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many attempts can I give in the CAT exam?

You can have multiple attempts to crack the CAT exam.

2. Is CAT exam tougher than SBI PO?

Yes, the CAT exam is comparatively more challenging than the SBI PO exam. But, it all depends on your preparation and understanding as a student to establish the difficulty level of an exam.

3. How long is needed to prepare for the CAT exam?

Time is a subjective factor when it comes to CAT preparations. Some students can ace the exam with just 7 to 8 months of rigorous preparation, whilst some take a year.

4. How long is the CAT exam score valid?

The score that you secure in your CAT exam is valid for one year.

8 Best Quantitative Aptitude Books for CAT Preparation