Para summary questions give you a short paragraph of three to five sentences and ask you to choose the option that best summarises it. They appear in every CAT paper and are among the most reliably solvable question types once you understand what the question is actually testing.
Para summary does not test your ability to remember details. It tests your ability to identify the central argument of a short passage and distinguish it from supporting details, examples and qualifications. The correct answer captures the main point without being too broad or too narrow.
In most para summary paragraphs, the central argument is either stated in the first sentence and then supported, or built through the paragraph and stated in the last sentence. Identify which structure you are reading. Then look for the answer option that captures this conclusion rather than one of the supporting details.
Wrong options in para summary follow predictable patterns. The first is the detail trap, where an option correctly describes one sentence but misses the main point. The second is the extreme option, where language like "always", "never" or "all" appears but the paragraph is more qualified. The third is the out-of-scope option, which introduces an idea the paragraph does not address. The fourth is the partial summary, which captures part of the argument but omits a key element.
After reading the paragraph, write the central argument in one sentence before looking at the options. Then find the option closest to what you wrote. This prevents the options from distorting your reading of the paragraph, which is the most common way aspirants go wrong on para summary.
GRADFLIX essays give you daily practice identifying central arguments across philosophy, science, economics, history and culture in CAT passage style.
Read and PractiseRead the paragraph and identify whether the central argument is in the first or last sentence. Write the argument in one line before looking at the options. Eliminate options using the detail trap, extreme language, out-of-scope and partial summary patterns.
Para summary questions give you a short paragraph and ask you to choose the option that best summarises its central argument. They test your ability to distinguish the main point from supporting details.
CAT VARC typically has two to three para summary questions per paper. They are usually in the MCQ format with negative marking.
Para summary questions give you a short standalone paragraph. Main idea questions in RC ask about the central argument of a longer passage with multiple paragraphs. The skill is similar but RC main idea questions require tracking an argument across more text.