NinetynineCAT verbal ability question types
CAT verbal ability has 4 question types: para jumbles (81), para summary (48), odd sentence out (30), sentence placement (27), counted over 186 questions from 2017 to 2025. CAT 2025 had 8 verbal ability questions per slot, alongside reading comprehension.
Key facts
- Para Jumbles are the most common CAT verbal ability question, with 81 since 2017.
- Para Summary questions first appeared in CAT 2020 (in the papers since 2017), and CAT has asked 48 since.
- Odd Sentence Out questions first appeared in CAT 2020 (in the papers since 2017), and CAT has asked 30 since.
- Sentence Placement questions first appeared in CAT 2022 (in the papers since 2017), and CAT has asked 27 since.
- Verbal ability is 29% of CAT VARC questions since 2017; the rest is reading comprehension.
How many of each verbal ability type does CAT ask?
| Year | Para Jumbles | Para Summary | Odd Sentence Out | Sentence Placement | Per slot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2018 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2019 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| 2021 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| 2024 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| 2025 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
Are verbal ability questions MCQ or TITA?
59% of verbal ability questions since 2017 were TITA, almost all of them para jumbles, where you type the order of the sentences (for example 2413). Summaries, odd sentence out and sentence placement are usually MCQs.
How do I get better at para jumbles and summaries?
Para jumbles: find the opening sentence (one that introduces, not one that refers back), then link pairs through pronouns, connectors and time order. Summaries: state the paragraph's main claim in your own words before reading the options, and reject options that add a detail or exaggerate. Practise on the real ones: all 81 para jumbles, all 48 para summary, all 30 odd sentence out, all 27 sentence placement.
Method: counted from all 24 CAT papers 2017–2025 (1,830 questions), each tagged with one topic. How the data is built.
Frequently asked questions
How many para jumbles come in CAT?
2 per slot in CAT 2025; 81 in all since 2017.
Is there negative marking for para jumbles?
Not for TITA para jumbles, where you type the order; TITA questions carry no negative marks. MCQ verbal questions do.