IELTS Reading Masterclass

Master True/False/Not Given Question Techniques

📚 What are True/False/Not Given Questions?

True/False/Not Given questions test your ability to identify whether statements match, contradict, or cannot be determined from factual information in the passage. This is one of the most challenging IELTS Reading question types.

🎯 The Three Answer Types:

🟢 TRUE

When to choose: The statement exactly matches or paraphrases information explicitly stated in the passage.

Key principle: Look for factual alignment between statement and text.

🔴 FALSE

When to choose: The statement directly contradicts information in the passage. The text says the opposite.

Key principle: There must be clear opposing information in the text.

🟡 NOT GIVEN

When to choose: The information cannot be determined from the passage - it's neither confirmed nor contradicted.

Key principle: The text is silent on this specific information.

⚠️ Why This is Challenging:

  • Students often confuse FALSE with NOT GIVEN
  • Requires precise understanding of what the text actually says vs. implies
  • Cannot use outside knowledge - only what's in the passage
  • Often involves paraphrasing and synonyms

🎯 How to Approach These Questions

Success requires a systematic approach. Follow this proven strategy to analyze each statement methodically.

📝 Step-by-Step Strategy:

  1. Read the statement carefully - Identify key words, numbers, names, and qualifying words (all, some, never, always)
  2. Locate the relevant section - Scan the passage for the topic or keywords from the statement
  3. Read around the keywords - Don't just focus on the exact words; read the surrounding sentences for context
  4. Compare word-by-word - Check if the statement matches, contradicts, or goes beyond what's stated
  5. Watch for paraphrasing - Look for synonyms and different ways of expressing the same idea
  6. Apply the decision tree - Can you prove it's true? Can you prove it's false? If neither, it's NOT GIVEN

🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Using outside knowledge - Base answers only on the passage
  • Making assumptions - Don't infer beyond what's explicitly stated
  • Rushing the analysis - Take time to compare carefully
  • Ignoring qualifying words - Words like "all," "some," "never" can change everything
  • Choosing FALSE when it's NOT GIVEN - FALSE requires clear contradiction

💡 Pro Tips for Success:

  • Look for synonyms and paraphrases, not just exact matches
  • Pay attention to numbers, dates, and specific details
  • If you can't find relevant information after thorough searching, consider NOT GIVEN
  • Practice identifying the difference between "not mentioned" vs. "contradicted"
  • Read the questions before the passage to know what to look for

🎯 Practice the Technique

Apply the strategy to these examples and test your understanding!

Question 1:

Passage: "The Great Wall of China, stretching over 21,000 kilometers, was built over several centuries by different Chinese dynasties. Construction began during the 7th century BC and continued until the 17th century AD."
Statement: "The Great Wall of China took more than 2,000 years to complete."
TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN

Question 2:

Passage: "Honeybees communicate through a waggle dance to share information about food sources. The angle of the dance indicates direction, while the duration shows the distance from the hive."
Statement: "Honeybees use the waggle dance to communicate about threats to the hive."
TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN

Question 3:

Passage: "Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells. The efficiency of modern solar panels ranges from 15% to 22%, depending on the technology used."
Statement: "Solar panels are becoming more affordable each year."
TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN