Skip to main content
CAT VARCVerbal AbilityStrategy

CAT VARC Verbal Ability: Odd One Out and Para Summary

PrepTest Hub Team •Edited by BITS Pilani and IIM alumni •October 30, 2026

Key takeaways

  • Verbal ability questions are short, so they are worth attempting early in VARC.
  • For odd one out, find the shared topic of the group first, then the sentence that drifts.
  • For a summary, capture the main claim and skip examples and extreme words.
  • Many of these questions have typed answers with no negative marking, so always attempt them.

Besides reading passages, the VARC section includes shorter verbal ability questions: para-jumbles, odd sentence out and paragraph summary. They take less time to read than a passage, so they are efficient marks if you have a method. Our guide to para-jumbles covers that type in depth. This guide covers odd one out and summaries.

Odd sentence out: a four step method

  1. Read all the sentences once and write the topic of the group in a few words.
  2. Look for the sentence that changes the subject, the time, or the viewpoint without a link to the others.
  3. Check that the remaining sentences form a logical order. If they do, you have the right outlier.
  4. Be careful with a sentence that looks off-topic but acts as a bridge. Ask whether removing it breaks the flow.

The usual traps are a sentence with a similar keyword but a different idea, and a general statement that sounds like an introduction but does not match the rest.

Paragraph summary: what to do

  1. Underline the main claim. It is usually in the first or last sentence, or after words such as "however" or "therefore".
  2. Ignore examples, numbers and names unless the paragraph is built around them.
  3. Prefer the option that covers the whole paragraph, not one part of it.
  4. Reject options with extreme words (always, never, only) unless the passage uses them.
  5. Reject options that add an opinion the author did not express.

Time and marks

Aim for about 90 seconds per question. These items often have typed answers, which have no negative marking, so attempt every one you can. Our post on the exam day checklist explains the marking rules.

How to practise

  • Take 10 verbal ability questions a day, timed at 15 minutes.
  • For every wrong answer, write why the correct option is better, not only why yours was wrong.
  • Practise on our VARC practice tests, then review with the explanations.
  • Read editorials and long articles daily to build the sense of flow that these questions test.

This guide is a study aid. Question counts and formats can vary from year to year, so check the official CAT notice.

Ready to put this into practice?

Take a CAT Practice Test → Revise with CAT Flashcards →

Related guides

CAT Para Jumbles: A Five Step Method With a Worked Example A five step method for CAT para jumbles: find the opening sentence, spot mandatory pairs, check the order and decide quickly, with a worked example. CAT VARC Strategy: How to Read Passages Faster and Score More A practical VARC plan: how to read a passage for structure, handle each question type, manage 40 minutes and build reading speed in the months before CAT. CAT Percentile vs Score: How Percentile Works and What Counts as a Good One Your CAT score is not your rank. Learn how percentile is calculated, why scores are normalised across slots, how sectional percentiles matter and how to set a realistic target. CAT DILR Set Types and How to Practise Each One The common DILR set types, from tables and Venn diagrams to arrangements and scheduling, with a way to attack and practise each.