True, False, Not Given: A Reliable Method for IELTS Reading
Stop losing marks on True/False/Not Given. A step-by-step method with original examples showing the difference between False and Not Given.
True/False/Not Given (and its cousin Yes/No/Not Given) is the question type candidates fear most. The good news is that it follows strict logic. Once you apply that logic consistently, it becomes one of the most predictable parts of the test.
The three answers, defined precisely
- TRUE – the statement agrees with the information in the passage.
- FALSE – the passage says the opposite; it contradicts the statement.
- NOT GIVEN – the passage does not say whether the statement is true or false.
Yes/No/Not Given works in exactly the same way, but it is about the writer's opinions or claims rather than facts.
The key question is never "Is this true in real life?" It is: "Does the passage confirm it, contradict it, or say nothing?"
A worked example
Read this short original passage:
The Hollow Valley wind farm opened in 2019 with forty turbines. Local residents initially opposed the project, fearing noise and damage to tourism. However, visitor numbers to the valley rose by 12% in the following two years, partly because the turbines themselves became an attraction. The operating company now plans to add a further ten turbines, although planning permission has not yet been granted.
| Statement | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The wind farm began operating in 2019. | TRUE | "opened in 2019" means began operating. |
| Residents supported the project from the start. | FALSE | "initially opposed" contradicts "supported from the start". |
| Tourism fell after the turbines were built. | FALSE | Visitor numbers rose. |
| The turbines are noisier than expected. | NOT GIVEN | Residents feared noise; actual noise levels are never described. |
| The company will build ten more turbines. | NOT GIVEN | It plans to, but permission has not been granted. "Will" is not confirmed. |
| The turbines contributed to the increase in visitors. | TRUE | "partly because the turbines… became an attraction". |
A five-step method
- Read the statement and underline the keywords, especially names, numbers and dates, which are easy to scan for.
- Find the matching part of the passage. Questions follow the order of the text, so the answer to question 5 is after the answer to question 4.
- Read that part carefully, the sentence before and after included.
- Compare meaning, not words. Watch for qualifiers: all/some, always/often, only, never, most, initially, plans to.
- Decide:
- Same meaning → TRUE.
- Opposite meaning → FALSE.
- Cannot decide from the text → NOT GIVEN.
The False vs Not Given trap
This is where most marks are lost. Ask yourself: "Can I point to words in the passage that make this statement impossible?"
- If yes, the answer is FALSE.
- If you are only thinking "this probably isn't true" or "the passage doesn't mention it", the answer is NOT GIVEN.
Small words change everything:
- Passage: "Most participants improved." Statement: "All participants improved." → FALSE (some did not).
- Passage: "Participants improved." Statement: "Participants improved because of the diet." → NOT GIVEN (no cause is stated).
Don't use outside knowledge
If a passage about coffee does not mention that coffee contains caffeine, the statement "Coffee contains caffeine" is NOT GIVEN, even though you know it is true. Only the text counts.
Time-saving tips
- Spend no more than about 90 seconds on any single statement. If you are stuck, guess and move on, because there is no penalty.
- If you cannot find the information at all after a careful search between the previous and next answers, it is very often NOT GIVEN.
- Write the answers exactly as instructed: T/F/NG are usually accepted, but writing "Yes" in a True/False question is marked wrong.
FAQ
What is the difference between False and Not Given?
False means the passage says the opposite of the statement. Not Given means the passage does not say whether the statement is true or false. If you cannot point to words that contradict the statement, the answer is Not Given.
Can I write T, F and NG instead of the full words?
Abbreviations are usually accepted, but writing the wrong set of words, such as Yes instead of True, is marked wrong. Follow the instructions exactly.
Practise the method now in our Reading practice tests, which include original True/False/Not Given questions with explanations.