Lakhs of students prepare for different entrance exams and government entrance tests. The exam pattern is almost the same in the National and State entrance exams. Reasoning books are extremely versatile and will help you prepare for dozens of entrance exams and government job recruitment tests. The reasoning (logical and analytical) section is a major component in nearly all competitive exams in India.
Major Exam Categories Where Reasoning Is Important
- Banking Exams: IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, RRB exams, etc.
- SSC Exams: SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, SSC JE, SSC Stenographer, etc.
- Railway Exams: RRB NTPC, RRB Group D, RRB JE
- State-level PSC and other government jobs: UPPSC, MPPSC, BPSC, MPSC, etc.
- Defence Recruitments: CDS, AFCAT, NDA, CAPF, State Police SI/Constable exams
- Civil Services Preliminary Exams: UPSC CSAT (Prelims)
- Teaching Exams: CTET, TETs, KVS, NVS
- Insurance Recruitments: LIC AAO, NIACL, UIICL, etc.
- Law and Management Entrances: CLAT, AILET, AP LAWCET, DU LLB, CAT, MAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT
- MBA and BBA Entrances: CAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP, SET, IPMAT
- Other Entrances: Hotel Management, B.Ed, etc.
Why Reasoning Books Are So Useful
- The same reasoning topics (Verbal/Non-verbal, Analytical, Data Interpretation, Puzzles, Series, Coding-Decoding, Syllogisms, Blood Relations, etc.) appear in a majority of exams, making standard books (e.g., R.S. Aggarwal, Nishit K. Sinha) widely relevant.
- By practicing from one standard reasoning book, you are building the skills needed for a wide range of exams, both for admission (like law, MBA, BBA, and many entrance tests) and government jobs (bank, SSC, railways, police, defense, PSCs, etc.).
Conclusion
Mastering reasoning from one or two standard books enables you to attempt the reasoning section in over 20 major government job recruitments and most entrance tests across India. This strategic preparation saves time and greatly increases your selection opportunities.
Many reasoning topics are common across both admission/entrance tests (like law, MBA, BBA, etc.) and government job exams (SSC, banking, railways, defence, state PSC). Practicing these will help you in almost all major competitive exams in India.
Common Reasoning Topics
- Analogy
- Classification/Odd One Out
- Series (Number/Letter/Symbol Series)
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Directions & Distance
- Order & Ranking
- Syllogism
- Seating Arrangement (Linear and Circular)
- Puzzles (Arrangement, Floor-based, Scheduling)
- Statement and Conclusions/Arguments/Assumptions
- Cause & Effect
- Input-Output
- Inequality (Direct and Coded)
- Alphanumeric and Symbol Series
- Venn Diagrams & Set Theory
- Data Sufficiency
- Decision Making
- Logical Deductions
These topics are the foundation of logical/analytical reasoning sections found in almost all admission tests (CLAT, CAT, MAT, AP LAWCET, etc.) and government recruitment exams (SSC CGL, Bank PO/Clerk, Railways, State PSCs, Police, etc.).
Focusing your preparation on these core reasoning topics ensures you are ready for both streams of exams with a single study strategy
Best Reasoning Books
| Title | Author(s) | Features/Recommended For |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal | Covers all basic and advanced reasoning topics; ideal for beginners and regular practice |
| Analytical Reasoning | M.K. Pandey | Strengthens analytical/logical concepts; good for CAT, CSAT, law exams |
| How to Crack Test of Reasoning | Arihant Experts | Includes shortcut techniques, large variety of questions for practice |
| A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal & Non-Verbal | B.S. Sijwali & Indu Sijwali | Useful for bank, SSC, railways, and other recruits |
| Shortcuts in Reasoning (All types: Verbal, Non-Verbal, etc.) | Disha Experts | Focuses on quick problem-solving and exam tricks |
| Logical Reasoning | Arun Sharma | Advanced reasoning for MBA, CAT, XAT, and high-level entrance exams |
| Test of Reasoning | Edgar Thorpe | Good mix of puzzles, statement-analysis, and innovation |
Important Tips
- Start with R.S. Aggarwal for basic coverage and regular practice; move to MK Pandey or Sijwali for tougher questions.
- Use Arihant or Disha for mastering fast techniques and reviewing all exam formats.
- For law or MBA entrances, Arun Sharma and MK Pandey are especially useful for tougher logical questions.
All of these books are widely accepted, frequently updated, and support preparation for both admission tests (CLAT, CAT, MAT, AP LAWCET, etc.) and government recruitment exams (SSC, banking, PSC, railways, defence, etc.).
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