diff --git a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/parquet/ParquetConverter.scala b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/parquet/ParquetConverter.scala
index 66c9c674fa657..9ac1484686e72 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/parquet/ParquetConverter.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/parquet/ParquetConverter.scala
@@ -50,12 +50,14 @@ object CatalystConverter {
           case _ => new CatalystArrayConverter(elementType, fieldIndex, parent)
         }
       }
-      case StructType(fields: Seq[StructField]) =>
-        new CatalystGroupConverter(fields, fieldIndex, parent)
-      case ctype: NativeType =>
+      case StructType(fields: Seq[StructField]) => {
+        new CatalystStructConverter(fields, fieldIndex, parent)
+      }
+      case ctype: NativeType => {
         // note: for some reason matching for StringType fails so use this ugly if instead
         if (ctype == StringType) new CatalystPrimitiveStringConverter(parent, fieldIndex)
         else new CatalystPrimitiveConverter(parent, fieldIndex)
+      }
       case _ => throw new RuntimeException(
         s"unable to convert datatype ${field.dataType.toString} in CatalystGroupConverter")
     }
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ trait CatalystConverter {
  * @param schema The corresponding Catalyst schema in the form of a list of attributes.
  */
 class CatalystGroupConverter(
-    private[parquet] val schema: Seq[FieldType],
+    protected[parquet] val schema: Seq[FieldType],
     protected[parquet] val index: Int,
     protected[parquet] val parent: CatalystConverter,
     protected[parquet] var current: ArrayBuffer[Any],
@@ -277,6 +279,23 @@ class CatalystArrayConverter(
   }
 }
 
+// this is for multi-element groups of primitive or complex types
+// that have repetition level optional or required (so struct fields)
+class CatalystStructConverter(
+    override protected[parquet] val schema: Seq[FieldType],
+    override protected[parquet] val index: Int,
+    override protected[parquet] val parent: CatalystConverter)
+  extends CatalystGroupConverter(schema, index, parent) {
+
+  override protected[parquet] def clearBuffer(): Unit = {}
+
+  // TODO: think about reusing the buffer
+  override def end(): Unit = {
+    assert(!isRootConverter)
+    parent.updateField(index, current)
+  }
+}
+
 // TODO: add MapConverter
 
 
diff --git a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/parquet/ParquetTestData.scala b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/parquet/ParquetTestData.scala
index 981c403ef9cf8..142c429240a55 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/parquet/ParquetTestData.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/parquet/ParquetTestData.scala
@@ -263,13 +263,19 @@ private[sql] object ParquetTestData {
     val booleanNumberPairs = r1.addGroup(3)
     booleanNumberPairs.add("value", 2.5)
     booleanNumberPairs.add("truth", false)
-    r1.addGroup(4).addGroup(0).addGroup(0).add(
+    val top_level = r1.addGroup(4)
+    val second_level_a = top_level.addGroup(0)
+    val second_level_b = top_level.addGroup(0)
+    val third_level_aa = second_level_a.addGroup(0)
+    val third_level_ab = second_level_a.addGroup(0)
+    val third_level_c = second_level_b.addGroup(0)
+    third_level_aa.add(
       CatalystConverter.ARRAY_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA_NAME,
       7)
-    r1.addGroup(4).addGroup(0).addGroup(0).add(
+    third_level_ab.add(
       CatalystConverter.ARRAY_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA_NAME,
       8)
-    r1.addGroup(4).addGroup(0).addGroup(0).add(
+    third_level_c.add(
       CatalystConverter.ARRAY_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA_NAME,
       9)