IELTS Reading: True, False or Not Given Explained With Worked Examples

True, False or Not Given questions test whether a statement matches the information in a passage. The difficulty is often deciding whether the text contradicts a statement or simply does not provide enough evidence. Your answer must come from the passage, not outside knowledge.

Separate the three decisions

Choose True when the statement agrees with the passage. Choose False when the passage gives information that contradicts it. Choose Not Given when the relevant information is insufficient to decide. A statement can sound plausible and still be Not Given. For related guidance, read IELTS Reading: Matching Headings Without Getting Distracted by Keywords.

Read the complete claim, including limits and comparisons. Words such as “all”, “only”, “more” and “first” can change the answer. Matching one keyword is not enough if the relationship or degree differs.

Work through an original example

Passage: “The library extended its weekday opening hours in September. Weekend hours remained unchanged.” Statement one: “The library began opening for longer on weekdays in September.” This agrees with the passage, so the answer is True. For related guidance, read How to Build an IELTS Mistake Tracker That Improves Your Practice.

Statement two: “The library extended its weekend hours in September.” This conflicts with the explicit statement that weekend hours did not change, so it is False. Statement three: “The change increased the number of library visitors.” The passage says nothing about visitor numbers, so it is Not Given.

Avoid treating missing information as contradiction

Suppose a passage says that some staff completed training. A statement saying that the training was popular cannot be judged merely from attendance. People may attend without enjoying a course. Unless the passage addresses popularity, the evidence is missing.

Likewise, do not use what normally happens in real life to fill a gap. A library opening longer may attract visitors, but the example does not establish that result. Keep the distinction between a reasonable inference and information the task actually supplies.

Use an evidence-checking method

Locate the relevant part of the passage, then compare the statement’s meaning with that section. Identify the subject, action and any limitation. Ask whether the passage supports the whole claim, opposes it or leaves an essential part unresolved.

If you choose False, try to state the contradiction precisely. If you choose Not Given, identify what information would be needed. This makes review more useful than simply recording that your answer was wrong.

Practise with short passages first

Create a small table with the statement, evidence and reason for the answer. Work slowly until the distinction becomes clear, then introduce realistic timing. Do not spend unlimited time on one difficult item during a full practice test; move on according to your timing plan and return if possible.

Put it into practice

When reviewing a Not Given answer, state the missing piece of evidence explicitly. When reviewing False, identify the contradiction. This contrast makes the distinction easier to apply independently.

Back to all articles