Updated on 16 October 2026: rewritten as a course-wise book list for current AMU admission tests. First published on 1 April 2018.
Students preparing for Aligarh Muslim University admission tests often ask which books to use for their course. This page lists standard books course by course. For the general method (syllabus first, NCERT, past papers and a study plan), read our main guide, Best Books for AMU Entrance Test Preparation.
Before you buy any book
- Check which test your course uses. AMU holds its own admission tests for some courses and admits through CUET (UG) for others. The list changes from year to year, so check the Guide to Admissions on amucontrollerexams.com. Our AMU admission 2026-27 guide explains the split.
- Read the official syllabus. Mark every section and topic before you choose books.
- Buy the latest editions. Older editions may miss current affairs and changed patterns.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Humanities) and Diploma in Engineering
These tests are based on the Class 10 syllabus.
Also readAMU Last Year Entrance Papers | Previous Year Question Paper PDF
- Subjects: NCERT Class 9 and 10 textbooks for Science, Mathematics and Social Science.
- Mathematics practice: R.D. Sharma, Mathematics for Class 10.
- English: Wren and Martin, High School English Grammar and Composition.
- General awareness: Lucent’s General Knowledge.
BA LLB
- Legal aptitude: A.P. Bhardwaj, Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning.
- English: Wren and Martin for grammar, and Norman Lewis, Word Power Made Easy, for vocabulary.
- Reasoning: R.S. Aggarwal, A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- General knowledge and current affairs: Lucent’s General Knowledge, the latest Manorama Yearbook and a daily newspaper.
MBA
- Quantitative aptitude: Arun Sharma, How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT.
- Verbal ability: Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay, How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT.
- Reasoning and data interpretation: Arun Sharma, How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT.
- Business awareness: a business newspaper and a monthly current affairs magazine.
Postgraduate tests (MA, MSc, MCom, MSW)
- Subject knowledge: your undergraduate textbooks and the standard reference books for your subject, matched against the AMU syllabus for that course.
- General sections: Lucent’s General Knowledge and R.S. Aggarwal’s reasoning book, if the test has these sections.
Courses admitted through CUET (UG)
For these courses, the domain papers follow the Class 12 syllabus, so NCERT Class 12 textbooks are the base. Use CUET practice papers, not AMU papers.
Use past papers with your books
Books build knowledge, but past papers show the pattern and level of the test. See our guide to AMU previous year question papers.
Frequently asked questions
Are NCERT books enough for AMU entrance tests?
NCERT books cover most subject questions. Add a general knowledge book, an English grammar book and past papers for the other sections.
Is coaching needed for AMU entrance tests?
Many students clear AMU tests through self-study with the right books and regular practice on past papers. Coaching is a personal choice.
Where can I check the AMU syllabus?
The syllabus and the Guide to Admissions are published on amucontrollerexams.com, the website of AMU’s Controller of Examinations.
Note: The Aligarian has no tie-up with any publisher. Book titles are standard choices used by students; always check the latest syllabus before buying.
