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IELTS / Guides / Reading · True / False / Not Given
IELTS Reading · Guide

True / False / Not Given in IELTS Reading: how it works and how to get it right

You read a list of statements and decide whether the passage agrees (True), contradicts (False) or says nothing definite about them (Not Given). It tests exact understanding of facts in the text, not general understanding of the topic. The difficulty is that one small word, such as 'almost', 'most' or 'because', can change the answer.

About Reading practice

Format

  • Usually found in Passage 1 or 2, as a set of about 5 to 8 statements.
  • The statements follow the order of the passage, so the answer to the next statement lies after the answer to the one you are on.
  • Three answers only: TRUE if the passage agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, NOT GIVEN if the information is absent. On computer you select the answer rather than typing it.
  • It tests facts and information in the text. Its twin, Yes / No / Not Given, tests the writer's opinions and is used when the passage is argumentative.
  • One mark per statement. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every one.

Strategy

  1. Underline the claim in each statement: names and numbers help you find it, but the words that decide the answer are the small ones such as 'all', 'only', 'first', 'more than', 'because' and 'by 2020'.
  2. Locate the sentence in the passage by scanning for the unusual nouns, working in order. The previous answer tells you where to start and the next one tells you where to stop.
  3. Read the sentence with the one before and after it, then put what it says into your own words. 'Adoption was slow at first' is not the same claim as 'Most farmers adopted at once'.
  4. Apply the opposite test: imagine the opposite of the statement. If the passage is compatible with both the statement and its opposite, the answer is NOT GIVEN. If the passage rules the statement out, it is FALSE.
  5. Check every detail in the statement against the passage. If a detail has been changed (a date, a number, 'increased' instead of 'fell') the answer is FALSE; if a detail is simply not mentioned (the cost, the cause, the reason) the answer is NOT GIVEN.
  6. Ignore what you know about the topic. A statement that is true in real life but not in the passage is NOT GIVEN, and one that sounds absurd but is stated in the passage is TRUE.
  7. If you cannot find any trace of the statement after scanning the stretch between the neighbouring answers, it is probably NOT GIVEN. Before settling, check for a paraphrase using a synonym in that stretch.

Common traps

  • Using outside knowledge. You know cholera spreads through water, but if the passage says doctors blamed foul air, a statement about doctors blaming water is FALSE.
  • Treating 'attempt' or 'aim' as failure. 'The chemicals were an attempt to keep the smell out' says nothing about whether it worked, so 'The chemicals failed' is NOT GIVEN.
  • Ignoring strength words. A passage saying 'most' or 'often' makes a statement with 'all' or 'always' FALSE, and 'sometimes' against 'usually' is also FALSE.
  • Accepting a cause that is not stated. Both events are in the passage, but unless the passage links them, a statement with 'because' or 'as a result' is NOT GIVEN.
  • Choosing True because the statement shares many words with the passage. Question writers know this; a True statement is usually a heavy paraphrase.

Practise it inside a real Reading section

Practice on PrepFreely is always a complete section, so you meet this question type in the same place and proportion as on test day. Random sections never repeat until you've done them all. Every answer is explained.

Practise Reading Take the Reading course

FAQ

What is the difference between False and Not Given?

False means the passage says something that cannot be true at the same time as the statement. Not Given means the passage does not give enough information to decide either way.

How many Not Given answers should I expect?

There is no fixed number and you should not count. Each statement is judged on its own, and a set can contain any mix of the three answers.

Do the statements follow the order of the passage?

Yes. That helps you locate each one and means you can read the passage once, in order, answering as you go.

Can I use my own knowledge?

No. Only what the passage says counts, even when you are sure that it is wrong.

How long should I spend on each statement?

About a minute or a little less. If a statement is still unclear after that, choose your best answer, flag it and return if time allows.

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