In inference questions (CR/RC), is a 'restatement' invalid?

True. But I've seen a question (non-GMAC) which included both a paraphrased choice and a choice that was a real "inference". The latter was slightly weak (i.e., not 100% convincing), so I went for the former. It turned out to be the wrong choice - the book says that since the former is already stated in the stimulus, it isn't an "inference". The latter is the correct choice.

Hence my confusion

Maybe you can post that question? If you go by the Powerscore strategy for approaching a must be true or a main point/inference question, it should pass the fact test, i.e. "Is this directly derived from what is being said? Is it reinforced by the stimulus?" and if it does, it's a good candidate for being an answer. A restatement would mean that it's definitely validated by the stimulus and hence in most cases, it would be true. Unless you were misinterpreting. GMAC likes to trick you sometimes by giving you an answer that maybe true, or an answer that's true but not the main point. In that case, your answer might vary. My best advice is to post the question and we can see where the discussion leads.

I think you (rishabhsingla) are confusing b/w weakening, strengthening and inference questions. On weakening or strengthening questions if in the ans choices same (100 percent) info is given then those choices are wrong as they don't add any value to weaken or strengthen the ques. But this is not true on inference/must be true ques.

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I also have seen such ques but IMO those were weakening and strengthening type ques. okay! if you are getting these type of explanation in some books on must be true ques dump those books.

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Guess you're right, kissthegmat. Gotto not pay much attention to such books...

dont mix iimcat and gmat strategies. For Gmat be close to the official material as pattern is repetitive.
In IIMCAT I know students study madly to cover each n every question they see.

Be smart in Gmat !!