If you are preparing for the Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Examination (HSEE), then at some point of time you are bound to ask yourself these questions. Regardless of the competitive exam you're preparing for, you may find yourself buying every book in the bookstore. So, when you finally sit down to read those books, thoughts like "too many books, too little time" can make you feel discouraged!

If you're putting your future on the line with this exam, you can't afford to go through all of the books in the market, though it would be unwise. Every year, an estimated 5000 or more candidates appear for the HSEE exam. And only 58 students are given the opportunity to secure a seat. The level of competition is undoubtedly justified. When it comes to an exam as competitive as 5000 students competing for seats, every single mark matters. So, choosing the best books for the HSEE is one of the most important tasks.

Selecting Best Books For HSEE

When studying for the HSEE, Candidates should be aware of the following points before choosing books:

• Candidates must always choose recently published publications.
• Study material they are utilizing is reputable, covers the complete syllabus, explains topics in lucid language, and includes diagrams and pictures or examples to illustrate concepts.
• Candidates should prefer books that explain subjects in a detailed and easy-to-understand manner.
• Candidates are advised to select books published by well-known authors.
• When selecting books for the HSEE, the quality of the book's content should be prioritized.
• Candidates must always select books that provide a sufficient number of practice question papers.
• Before purchasing books, applicants should double-check to see if the information has been updated to reflect the most recent HSEE syllabus.

HSEE Exam Pattern & Syllabus

• The test will be in a multiple choice format and covers English proficiency, Mathematics/numerical ability, Logical reasoning, and General awareness.
• Exam is divided into two Parts and both sections are compulsory.
• Part I will be conducted in online mode and Part II will be essay writing where the student can give it in online mode. However, candidates wishing to write essays in offline mode (using pen and paper) will also be allowed to do so, upon request.
• The exam pattern will consist of Part I Three sections, English and Comprehension Skill, Analytical and Quantitative Ability, General Studies covering the areas of Indian Economy, Indian Society and Culture, World Affairs, and Environment and Ecology.
• Part II students will be asked to choose ONE topic from a given list and write an essay (approximately 300 words).

Aspirants can go through the sectional weightage to understand the importance of different sections:

HSEE Sections	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Percentage Weightage	Time Duration
English and Comprehension Skill	36 questions	36	25%
Analytical & Quantitative Ability	36 questions	36	25%
General Studies-Indian Economy	18 questions	18	12.5%
General Studies-Indian Society and Culture	18 questions	18	12.5%
General Studies-World Affairs	18 questions	18	12.5%
General Studies-Environmental and Ecology	18 questions	18	12.5%
Total	144 questions	144	150 minutes

The section-wise distribution of the syllabus mentioned below:

English proficiency

This section tests the candidate’s ability to understand and use standard English, and to appreciate literary language. Questions are related to the following areas:

• Reading skills: Candidates will be required to read the given passage(s) that aim(s) to test their comprehension skills and answer the comprehension questions. (Or This section tests candidates’ reading comprehension skills of a given passage.) 
• Grammar: This section tests the candidate’s knowledge of English grammar including sentence structure and usage, the use of tenses, verb patterns, articles, and active and passive constructions etc. 
• Vocabulary: This section is a test of vocabulary and the ability to understand meaning, structure and collocation of words

Analytical and Quantitative Ability

This section tests the candidate’s analytical skills and quantitative abilities. Questions are related to the following areas:

Integers/fractions	Simple /compound interest
Data interpretations (bar graphs, pie charts etc.)	Elementary Trigonometry
Time, distance and work	Profit and loss
Averages	Ratio proportion and variation
Highest Common Factor (HCF) and Lowest Common Multiple	Profit and loss
Algebra	Calendar
Linear equations	Analytical reasoning
Percentages	Discount
Age	Sums
Logical reasoning Brain-teasers and patterns

General Studies

A) Indian Economy:

This section is intended to test the understanding of some basic economic concepts and awareness of key issues pertaining to the Indian economy with a focus on the developments after independence. The concepts and issues covered are:

Understanding the Economy	Sectoral Development
Main Features of Indian Economy	Major Economic problems
Foreign Trade and International Economy	Money, Banking and Public Finance
Economic Growth and Development

B) Indian Society and Culture:

Structure of Indian Society	Social Change in India
Medieval and Modern Indian History	Indian Philosophy and Thinkers
Indian Traditions and Knowledge Systems

C) World Affairs:

Emergence of the US and USSR	emergence of UN system
the Cold War and nuclear race;	disintegration of Soviet Union
decline of Communism and rise of nationalism	Arab-Israel conflict
India and the World;	NAM and role of India
India-China and India- Pakistan relations	China and the World
conflict and wars	Democracy and Development
Challenges to democracy	North-South divide on issues of development
UN and its various developmental and peacekeeping operations	Nuclearisation and Non-proliferation
India in SAARC and ASEAN	International terrorism
fundamentalism and the War on Terror	Indo-US relations
New centers of power in Asia	Latin America and Africa
Hunger and Poverty	Human Rights
Environmental degradation and green politics	Issues of Race
Democracy and Development	Ethnicity and Gender
Deprived Classes and minority politics	Religion in the contemporary world
Culture and Civilization	Globalization and changing economic
cultural and political landscape	Mass media and cultural change
Emergence of various popular mass movements

D) Environment and Ecology:

Global Environmental Picture	Ecosystems
Pollution

Important Books For Preparation Of HSEE Exam

Hence, to make you worry a little less and study a little more, we have compiled a Section-wise booklist for HSEE that is recommended by toppers.

English proficiency

English proficiency assesses the candidates' reading abilities. The candidates' comprehension abilities are evaluated.

Book Name	Author	Link
Objective General English	R. S. Aggarwal	Click Here
High school english grammar and composition	wren & martin	Click Here
Word Power Made Easy	Norman Lewis	Click Here

Analytical and Quantitative Ability

Candidates will be required to assess, and examine Analytical and Quantitative Ability questions. This section assesses the applicants' basic mathematical calculations’. They will have to answer the questions based on their knowledge.

Book Name	Author	Link
Quantitative Aptitude	R. S. Aggarwal	Click Here
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic	Rajesh Verma	Click Here
Course books for 8th, 9th and 10th standard.	NCERT
A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning	RS Aggarwal	Click Here
501 Challenging Logical reasoning Practice Book	Learning Express	Click Here

General Studies

Candidates will be required to assess, examine, and complete arguments presented in general English. This section assesses the applicants' General awareness’. They will have to answer the questions based on their knowledge.

Book Name	Author	Link
History Of Modern India	Bipin Chandra	Click Here
Manorama Year Book	Mammen Mathew	Click Here
Objective General Studies	O P Varma	Click Here
Pratiyogita Darpan	Editorial Board : Pratiyogita Darpan	Click Here
The Economist
The Hindu