Top MBA Study Material for 2025 that You Can’t Miss

Preparing for an MBA is a challenging journey, but it can be done successfully with the right dedication and study materials. The right study material can make a lot of difference in this journey. With so many books, study material and online notes available on the Internet, it can be difficult to choose the right one according to your preference. That’s why we have offered this student guide to help you find the top MBA study material for 2025.  It involves everything from must-read books to online resources that will help to study smart and stay ahead of the competition.

MBA Study Material for Entrance Exams 

MBA is one of the choicest career options for those who want to enter the management domain through higher education. Many Indian students move out of their homes to get an MBA degree from leading universities in India and abroad. However, various institutions across India and abroad conduct entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, GRE, etc. to select the greatest minds. Here is a list of topics that can help you in clearing these exams: 

1. CAT (Common Admission Test)

CAT, also known as the Common Admission Test, is an entrance exam at the national level, done for postgraduate management programs such as an MBA. Here are the details of the CAT exam given below:

Resource Type	Study Material
Books	How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT – Arun SharmaVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension – Nishit K. Sinha
Mock Tests	TIME, IMS, Career Launcher test series
Online Courses	Unacademy CAT Prep, 2IIM, Cracku

2. XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a national-level management test conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur, for admission to MBA and PGDM programs. Here are the details of the XAT exam given below:

Resource Type	Study Material
Books	Decision Making for XAT – Arihant ExpertsQuantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams – R.S. Aggarwal
Mock Tests	Oliveboard, Career Launcher
Online Courses	Handakafunda, MBAUniverse

3. MAT (Management Aptitude Test)

The MAT exam, or Management Aptitude Test, is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) for admission to MBA or other management programs. Here are the details of the MAT exam given below:

Resource Type	Study Material
Books	Mission MBA MAT Guide – BS SijwaliMAT Solved Papers – Disha Experts
Mock Tests	TestFunda, EduGorilla
Online Support	Practice sets on AIMA website

4. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

The GMAT or Graduate Management Admission Test is a standardised entrance exam taken for admission into graduate business programs, especially the MBA. Here are the details of the GMAT exam given below:

Resource Type	Study Material
Official Guide	The Official Guide for GMAT Review 2025 – GMAC
Books	Manhattan Prep SeriesKaplan GMAT Prep
Online Courses	GMAT Club, e-GMAT, Magoosh

5. SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)

The SNAP exam, known as the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test, is a national-level entrance exam which is conducted by Symbiosis International University for admission to its MBA and PGDM programs. Here are the details of the SNAP exam given below:

Resource Type	Study Material
Books	Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams – R.S. AggarwalLogical Reasoning – Arun Sharma
Mock Tests	Bulls Eye, Hitbullseye
Online Platforms	SNAP official mock tests

Also Read: Future Courses to Study Abroad After MBA

MBA Study Material for Different Courses 

When preparing for the examination for your specific specialisation, it is important that you invest in the right study material. Let us look at some of the MBA study materials for some of the specific branches of MBA, which will help you to learn from the right source.

MBA in Human Resources

Human Resources is one of the most preferred MBA specialisations pursued by MBA aspirants. This specialised degree focuses on developing expertise in managing and developing an organisation’s Manpower. These are some of the study materials that will be helpful when pursuing an MBA in HR: 

• The Myths and Realities of Teamwork
• Human Resource Management
• Psychologically Safe Workplaces- Utopia Revisited
• Managing Human Resources in the 21st Century
• Strategic Management of Human Capital
• Selection Process and Recruitment Plan Guide
• 21st-Century Corporate Learning and Development 
• Building Bridges Across Cultural Differences
• The Experts Teach: Training Skills
• Recruitment and Selection
• Talent Management: A Focus on Excellence
• Human Resources: A Practical Guide
• Employee Engagement and Performance Management 

MBA in Marketing

Marketing is a diverse field used in almost every kind of business across the globe. Whether you are signing up for an MBA in Digital Marketing or a Master’s in Marketing Management, you must know that the subjects involved in this specialisation cover all the domains of marketing. Let us look at some of the MBA study material for the marketing branch:

• Principles of Marketing
• Marketing Management, Global Edition
• A Framework for Marketing Management 
• Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism 
• Marketing Essentials
• Marketing 4.0
• Kotler on Marketing
• Strategic Brand Management
• Marketing Models
• Marketing 3.0
• Marketing Places
• The Marketing of Nations
• This is Marketing
• Essentials of Marketing Management

MBA in Finance

Many MBA aspirants take up the course because they want to build a career in Finance. While making this decision, candidates must know how an MBA is different from other short-term courses in Finance. Let us look at some of the study material for the MBA available for the finance branch:

• Financial Management
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Management, 11th edition
• Introduction to Financial Accounting, by Pearson
• Corporate Finance for Dummies
• Basic Financial Management, B.com (CBCS)
• The Fast Forward MBA in Finance
• Financial Reporting and Analysis
• Strategic Planning 
• Statistics for Management 
• International Business
• Business Communication Today

Also Read: Courses after MBA Finance

MBA in Operations Management

An MBA in operations management is a specialised postgraduate degree that focuses on helping individuals improve their knowledge and skills. These skills and expertise help individuals to manage the operation of the management. Here are some of the study materials mentioned which will help you in pursuing an MBA in operations management.

• Managerial Accounting
• New Product Introduction
• Facilities Management
• Operations Management
• Production and Operations Management 
• Operations and Supply Chain Management

MBA Study Material Online (Free)

There are many trusted online platforms that offer coaching to MBA aspirants along with study material. These resources include video lectures, practice questions, mock tests and a guide for free. Here are some of the useful sources that offer free MBA study material online.

Platform	What You Get	Best For
Unacademy (YouTube)	Free live classes, recorded sessions, and strategy tips	CAT, XAT
GMAT Club	Practice questions, study plans, forums	GMAT
Handa Ka Funda Blog	Free PDFs, articles, and tips	XAT, SNAP, General MBA prep
MBAUniverse	GK updates, current affairs, sample papers	CMAT, MAT, SNAP
Cracku	Free daily quizzes, mock tests, concept videos	CAT, XAT, SNAP
BYJU’S Exam Prep	Free practice sets, videos, and prep tips	CAT, MAT
Pagalguy Forums	Peer discussions, exam insights, shared resources	All MBA entrance exams

MBA Study Material for Self-Study 

Some students prepare for an MBA without any coaching. In such situations, they must take the help of the right resources to successfully crack exams such as CAT, XAT, GMAT and SNAP. Here is the list of MBA study materials that students can access for self-study.

1. Standard Books to Start With

Here are the books that help students prepare for the basic level of their MBA journey. 

Subject	Book Title	Author/Publisher
Quantitative Aptitude	How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude	Arun Sharma (TMH)
Logical Reasoning	A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning	R.S. Aggarwal
Data Interpretation	How to Prepare for Data Interpretation	Arun Sharma
Verbal Ability	Word Power Made Easy + Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	Norman Lewis + Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
General Knowledge	Manorama Yearbook / GK Today Website	–

2. Online Resources

Apart from the books, you can also access the online resources available for students. They are usually free and updated to help you in the best way possible.

• YouTube Channels: Unacademy, Handa Ka Funda, Rodha (for DILR)
• Websites: Cracku, TestFunda, MBAUniverse, Pagalguy
• Apps: Gradeup, Oliveboard, Hitbullseye (many offer free and paid versions)
  

3. Mock Tests & Sectional Tests

Practising mock tests help students to prepare for the exam format and is crucial for time management and accuracy. Here are the options that are available for you, in case you are looking to practise mock tests and sectional tests.

• Free Mocks: Available on Career Launcher, Cracku, and IMS
• Paid Mocks (Optional): Aim for at least 10–15 mocks before the exam

FAQs

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Hope you liked reading our blog about the MBA study material. For more information about study abroad, you can get in touch with Leverage Edu. Stay tuned with Leverage Live classes and realise your dream of studying abroad.