IELTS Reading: How to Master True/False/Not Given Questions

The Question Type Everyone Gets Wrong

If there's one IELTS Reading question type that causes the most confusion, it's True / False / Not Given (and its cousin, Yes / No / Not Given). The concept seems simple, but the line between "False" and "Not Given" trips up even advanced English speakers.

Here's the good news: once you understand the logic behind these questions, your accuracy will improve dramatically.

Understanding the Three Options

TRUE (or YES)

The statement agrees with the information in the passage. The passage says essentially the same thing, possibly using different words.

Passage: "The University of Melbourne was founded in 1853."

Statement: "The University of Melbourne was established in the mid-19th century."

Answer: TRUE — "founded" is paraphrased as "established", and 1853 is indeed the mid-19th century.

FALSE (or NO)

The statement contradicts the information in the passage. The passage says the opposite of what the statement claims.

Passage: "The experiment was conducted with 200 participants."

Statement: "Fewer than 100 people took part in the experiment."

Answer: FALSE — The passage says 200 participants, which directly contradicts "fewer than 100."

NOT GIVEN

The passage does not mention this information at all. There is nothing in the passage that confirms OR denies the statement.

Passage: "The University of Melbourne was founded in 1853 and is located in Victoria."

Statement: "The University of Melbourne is the oldest university in Australia."

Answer: NOT GIVEN — The passage tells us the founding year but never says whether it's the oldest. Don't use your own knowledge!

The Critical Difference: FALSE vs NOT GIVEN

This is where most mistakes happen. Use this simple test:

• Can you point to a specific sentence in the passage that says the opposite? → FALSE
• Is the topic mentioned but the specific claim is never addressed? → NOT GIVEN
• Is the topic completely absent from the passage? → NOT GIVEN

Golden rule: If you cannot find direct evidence in the passage, the answer is NOT GIVEN. Never use your general knowledge or assumptions.

Step-by-Step Strategy

Step 1: Read the Statement Carefully

Underline key words in the statement — especially nouns, numbers, dates, and any absolute words (always, never, all, only, most).

Warning: Absolute words like "always", "never", "all", and "only" are often signals that the answer might be FALSE or NOT GIVEN, because passages rarely make such strong claims.

Step 2: Locate the Relevant Section

Statements appear in the same order as information in the passage. After finding the answer to Statement 1, the answer to Statement 2 will be further on in the passage.

Scan for keywords from the statement or their synonyms/paraphrases in the passage.

Step 3: Compare Carefully

Read the relevant sentence(s) in the passage and compare them word-by-word with the statement:

• Same meaning, different words → TRUE
• Opposite or contradictory meaning → FALSE
• Information not addressed at all → NOT GIVEN

Step 4: Don't Overthink

If you've spent more than 90 seconds on one question, make your best choice and move on. You can always come back if time allows.

Practice Examples

Passage excerpt: "Solar energy production has grown by 40% in Europe over the past five years, making it the fastest-growing renewable energy source on the continent. However, solar still accounts for only 12% of Europe's total energy mix."

Statement 1: "Solar energy production in Europe has increased significantly in recent years."

Answer: TRUE — 40% growth over 5 years is "significant" growth in "recent years." Paraphrased but same meaning.

Statement 2: "Solar energy is now the primary source of energy in Europe."

Answer: FALSE — The passage says solar accounts for "only 12%," which means it is NOT the primary (main) source. The word "only" indicates it's a small share.

Statement 3: "Wind energy has grown faster than solar in Europe."

Answer: NOT GIVEN — The passage mentions solar is the "fastest-growing renewable" but says nothing specific about wind energy's growth rate. Don't assume.

Statement 4: "Solar energy accounts for less than 15% of Europe's total energy."

Answer: TRUE — 12% is indeed less than 15%. A mathematical comparison that matches the passage data.

Yes/No/Not Given vs True/False/Not Given

These are slightly different:

• True/False/Not Given: Tests whether facts in the passage match the statement
• Yes/No/Not Given: Tests whether the writer's views/opinions match the statement

The technique is the same, but for Yes/No/Not Given, you're looking at what the author thinks or believes, not just factual information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using your own knowledge — If the passage doesn't say it, the answer is NOT GIVEN, even if you know the fact is true
2. Confusing FALSE and NOT GIVEN — FALSE requires direct contradiction; NOT GIVEN means no information
3. Being tricked by similar words — The passage might mention the same topic but not address the specific claim
4. Spending too long on one question — 90 seconds maximum. Guess and move on
5. Ignoring paraphrases — "Increase" might become "rise", "growth", "surge" in the passage

Quick Summary

• TRUE: Statement agrees with the passage (may use different words)
• FALSE: Statement directly contradicts the passage
• NOT GIVEN: Passage doesn't address the specific claim at all
• Read statements carefully — watch for absolute words
• Answers appear in passage order — use this to locate information
• The key test: Can you point to a specific sentence that contradicts? If yes → FALSE. If no → NOT GIVEN
• Never use outside knowledge — only what the passage says