🎯 True/False/Not Given Strategy
What: These questions test your ability to identify whether information agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
Why challenging: Many students confuse "False" with "Not Given" or bring outside knowledge instead of focusing on the passage.
🔧 How to Apply the Technique:
Read the statement carefully
Identify the key concepts and claims in the statement before looking at the passage.
Locate the relevant section
Scan for keywords from the statement in the passage. The information usually appears in order.
Compare precisely
Match the statement against what the passage actually says, not what you think it means.
Apply the decision rules
TRUE: Statement matches passage meaning
FALSE: Statement contradicts passage
NOT GIVEN: No information about this specific claim
✅ DO
- Focus only on passage information
- Look for synonyms and paraphrasing
- Pay attention to qualifiers (all, some, never)
- Check if numbers/dates match exactly
❌ DON'T
- Use your general knowledge
- Assume partial matches are TRUE
- Spend too long on one question
- Change answers unless you're certain
Example Strategy Application:
Passage: "Studies show that moderate exercise can improve mental health in adults."
Statement: "Exercise improves mental health in all age groups."
Analysis:
• Passage says: "moderate exercise" + "adults"
• Statement says: "exercise" + "all age groups"
• Passage doesn't mention children or elderly
Answer: NOT GIVEN (no information about other age groups)
⚠️ Common Trap
Don't choose FALSE just because the statement is broader than the passage. FALSE means the passage contradicts the statement, not that it provides limited information.
🧩 Matching Headings Strategy
What: Match headings to paragraphs based on the main idea or purpose of each paragraph.
Why challenging: Students often focus on keywords rather than the overall theme, or get distracted by detailed examples.
🔧 How to Apply the Technique:
Read all headings first
Understand what each heading means and note similar-sounding options.
Identify paragraph structure
Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph to grasp the main idea quickly.
Focus on purpose, not details
Ask: "What is this paragraph trying to do?" (explain, compare, argue, describe, etc.)
Use elimination strategy
Match obvious ones first, then work with remaining options for difficult paragraphs.
✅ DO
- Look for the main theme/purpose
- Check if examples support the heading
- Consider paragraph transitions
- Cross out used headings
❌ DON'T
- Match based on single keywords
- Choose headings about minor details
- Rush through paragraph reading
- Second-guess obvious matches
Example Strategy Application:
Paragraph: "The introduction of smartphones has revolutionized communication. However, this technology has also created new problems. Many people now experience anxiety when separated from their devices, leading to a condition psychologists call 'nomophobia' – the fear of being without a mobile phone."
Heading options:
- A. The benefits of mobile technology
- B. Negative psychological effects of smartphones
- C. The future of communication devices
Analysis:
• First sentence mentions revolution (positive)
• "However" signals contrast
• Main focus: problems, anxiety, nomophobia (negative effects)
Answer: B (paragraph's main purpose is explaining negative effects)
💡 Pro Tip
Look for signal words like "however," "furthermore," "in contrast" that indicate the paragraph's direction and main focus.
📝 Multiple Choice Strategy
What: Choose the correct answer from 3-4 options based on specific information in the passage.
Why challenging: Wrong answers often contain information from the passage but answer different questions, or use subtle word changes that alter meaning.
🔧 How to Apply the Technique:
Understand what the question asks
Read the question stem carefully - is it asking for a reason, result, main idea, or specific detail?
Predict the answer
Before looking at options, find the relevant information in the passage and predict what the answer should be.
Eliminate wrong options
Cross out answers that are clearly wrong, then choose between remaining options.
Verify your choice
Reread the passage section to confirm your chosen answer directly matches the information given.
🎯 Types of Wrong Answers to Watch For:
- Too extreme: Uses words like "all," "never," "only" when passage is more moderate
- Opposite meaning: Says the reverse of what the passage states
- Not mentioned: Sounds logical but isn't in the passage
- Wrong detail: Correct information but answers a different question
- Mixed up: Combines information from different parts incorrectly
Example Strategy Application:
Passage: "Research indicates that bilingual children often outperform monolingual children in problem-solving tasks. This advantage appears to stem from their experience managing two language systems, which enhances cognitive flexibility."
Question: According to the passage, why do bilingual children excel at problem-solving?
Options:
- A. They have larger vocabularies than other children
- B. Managing two languages improves their mental flexibility
- C. They receive better education in schools
- D. Bilingual children are naturally more intelligent
Analysis:
• Question asks for reason (why)
• Passage says advantage "stems from" managing two language systems
• This "enhances cognitive flexibility"
Eliminate: A (not mentioned), C (not mentioned), D (too extreme)
Answer: B (directly matches "managing two language systems" = "cognitive flexibility")
⚠️ Time Management Tip
Spend more time understanding the question than reading all options. A clear understanding of what's being asked will help you identify the correct answer faster.
🎯 Strategy Practice
Apply the techniques you've learned to these challenging scenarios!
Question 1: True/False/Not Given Strategy
Passage: "Some studies suggest that drinking green tea may help reduce the risk of heart disease in adults over 40."
Statement: "Green tea prevents heart disease."
What's the best approach?
Question 2: Matching Headings Strategy
Paragraph: "Solar panels were once expensive and inefficient. Recent technological advances have dramatically reduced costs while improving energy output. As a result, many countries are now investing heavily in solar energy infrastructure."
Best heading approach:
Question 3: Multiple Choice Strategy
Question: "Why do teenagers need more sleep than adults?"
Passage: "Teenagers require more sleep because their brains are still developing, particularly the areas responsible for decision-making."
Which wrong answer type should you watch for?