Last reviewed 30 Sept 2026 · 6 min read
What the question asks
In a para jumble you get four to six sentences (labelled A, B, C, D, E ...) in scrambled order and must arrange them into a logical, coherent paragraph. Options give possible sequences (for example BADC, DABC). Some formats fix the first and last sentences (S1 and S6) and ask for the middle order.
A good paragraph has an opening, a development, and a conclusion, and the sentences are linked by meaning, pronouns and connectors.
Method
- Read all the sentences once to understand the topic.
- Find the opening sentence: it introduces the topic, is self-contained, and does not begin with a pronoun (he, she, it, they, this, these) without a referent, or a connector (but, however, so, therefore).
- Find mandatory pairs (two sentences that must be together) using clues (below).
- Find the closing sentence: a conclusion, a result, a summary or an idea that "closes" the topic.
- Arrange the pairs and test the whole sequence by reading it aloud.
- Eliminate options that separate a mandatory pair or begin with the wrong sentence.
Clues that link sentences
1. Pronouns and references
A pronoun needs a noun before it. A sentence with he/she/it/they/this/that/these comes after the sentence that names the person or thing.
A. Ramanujan was born in 1887 in Erode. B. He showed a remarkable talent for mathematics early in life. → A → B.
2. Articles: a/an → the
The first mention of a thing uses a/an; later mentions use the.
A. A committee was formed to study the problem. B. The committee submitted its report in June. → A → B.
3. Connectors and transitions
| Connector | Position |
|---|---|
| however, but, yet, on the other hand | contrasts with the previous sentence; never first |
| therefore, thus, hence, so, as a result | result of what came before |
| moreover, also, in addition, furthermore | adds to a previous idea |
| for example, for instance | follows a general statement |
| first, second, finally, then, next, afterwards | shows sequence |
| in conclusion, in short, overall | closes the paragraph |
| meanwhile, at the same time | parallel event |
4. Chronological order
Arrange events in time order: born → educated → began a career → achieved something → died. Years and dates help.
5. General to specific (or specific to general)
Most paragraphs begin with a general idea or statement and then move to details, examples, causes and effects.
6. Cause and effect / problem and solution
Problem → cause → effect → solution is a very common order.
7. Question and answer
A question sentence is followed by its answer.
8. Keywords and repeated ideas
A word or idea in the end of one sentence is often picked up at the beginning of the next.
9. Demonstratives that sum up the previous idea
This situation, this trend, such a step, these measures refer back to the previous sentence.