Top Study Materials for Preparing for the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) at Home

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a critical step for many students aspiring to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). This article discusses the best books and study materials for preparing for CMAT without stepping foot in a classroom. We will also compare these materials to those used for the GMAT, aimed at helping you tailor your study plan to achieve your desired score.

Essential GMAT Books

For a structured approach to studying, the GMAC (makers of the GMAT) provides essential books that are highly recommended:

GMAT Official Guide 2020. This book is the gold standard for comprehensive practice questions and in-depth explanations. It is a must-have for any student aiming to understand the structure and types of questions in the GMAT. You can also practice these questions online. Quant/Verbal Guide from GMAC. If your Quant or Verbal basics are weak, this guide will help you build a solid foundation. Similarly, the GMAT Quantitative Review and Verbal Review from the Princeton Review are also highly useful. Manhattan Prep. They offer topic-wise books that can be particularly helpful if you are looking to focus on specific areas of the test.

Advanced Materials for High Scores

For those aiming for higher scores, particularly in the 700 range, several specialized books are recommended:

Aristotle Grail for Sentence Correction and Critical Reasoning. This guide is highly recommended by many students who have achieved high scores on the GMAT. GMAT Advanced Quant Questions by Wiley. This book is excellent for advanced quantitative practice.

Additional Books for CMAT Prep

Besides the GMAT books, there are several other books tailored for CMAT that are highly recommended:

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Agarwal. This book is well-known for its comprehensive coverage of quantitative aptitude. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma. Arun Sharma, known for his CAT preparation books, has also compiled a useful guide for CMAT. General Knowledge 2020 by Manohar Pandey. This book is particularly beneficial for the General Knowledge section of CMAT. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay. While primarily designed for CAT, these books are also highly useful for CMAT. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha. Another valuable resource for improving verbal and reading comprehension skills. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. This book is great for expanding your vocabulary, a key aspect of the verbal section of CMAT. A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by R. S. Aggarwal. Another excellent guide for improving logical reasoning skills. How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma. This book provides a comprehensive strategy for tackling the logical reasoning section of CMAT.

Focus on CMAT-Specific Resources

If you are specifically preparing for CMAT and not other MBA entrance exams, you can use books like:

Quantitative Aptitude: Arun Sharma. This book is extensively used for CMAT preparation and is highly recommended. Logical Reasoning: Arihant for CMAT is decent for CMAT. You can use this book to focus on the logical reasoning section. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VA/RC): Try reading daily and attempt RC100 or RC99. Daily practice will help improve your VA and RC skills, which are crucial for CMAT. General Knowledge: Daily current affairs reading is beneficial for this section. This will ensure high accuracy and coverage of current events.

Practice, Practice, Practice

No matter which books you choose, consistent practice is key to excelling in CMAT. Taking mock tests and sectional tests will help you get accustomed to the exam format and identify areas for improvement. Remember, the questions in CMAT are not as tough as those in other exams, so focusing on basic to intermediate level practice will be sufficient.

Give it your best shot and all the best in your CMAT preparation!