- TRUE means the passage says the same thing, usually in different words.
- FALSE means the passage says the opposite.
- NOT GIVEN means the passage doesn't tell you, so you can't decide.
- Compare meaning, not matching words, and never use your own knowledge.
True, False, Not Given is one of the most common question types in IELTS Reading, in both Academic and General Training. It is also the one students find hardest. The words look simple, but the difference between False and Not Given trips up even strong readers.
The good news: it is a skill you can learn. This guide gives you a simple 4-step method, a worked example and the mistakes to avoid.
What True, False and Not Given mean
You will read a list of statements. For each one, decide how it matches the information in the passage.
| Answer | It means | Ask yourself |
|---|---|---|
| TRUE | The passage gives the same information | Does the passage say this? |
| FALSE | The passage gives the opposite information | Does the passage say this is wrong? |
| NOT GIVEN | The passage gives no information about it | Can I find the answer in the passage at all? |
You may also see Yes, No, Not Given. It works in exactly the same way, but it tests the writer's opinions or claims rather than facts. Always write the words the instructions use: an answer of “YES” to a True/False question is marked wrong.
The 4-step strategy
Use the same four steps for every statement. After a little practice they take less than a minute.
- 1Read the statement and underline the key words
Look for names, numbers and dates, which are easy to find in the passage. Also circle any small words that control the meaning, such as all, some, only, always, usually, never and most.
- 2Find the matching part of the passage
The answers follow the order of the passage, so start looking just after the previous answer. Scan for your key words or for words with the same meaning (synonyms).
- 3Compare the meaning, not the words
The statement is almost always a paraphrase: the same idea in different words. Read the whole sentence in the passage, and the one before and after it, and check every part of the statement.
- 4Decide
Same meaning: TRUE. Opposite meaning: FALSE. The passage doesn't say, or you can't be sure: NOT GIVEN.
Worked example
Read this short passage, then decide on each statement before you open the answer.
Community gardens have become a familiar sight in Westford. When the city council opened the first public garden in 2012, only 40 residents applied for a plot. Today there are 14 gardens and a waiting list of more than 600 people. Most plots are used to grow vegetables, although some gardeners prefer flowers or herbs. The council originally hoped the gardens would cut household food bills, but a survey in 2022 found that the main benefit reported by gardeners was meeting their neighbours. Plans for a fifteenth garden were approved last year.
This passage was written for this guide; it is not from a real test.
1. Fewer than 50 people applied for a plot in Westford's first community garden.Show answerHide
The passage says only 40 residents applied. The statement uses different words (“fewer than 50”), but the meaning is the same. This is a typical paraphrase.
2. Most gardeners said that saving money on food was the biggest benefit.Show answerHide
The council hoped the gardens would cut food bills, but the survey found the main benefit was meeting their neighbours. The passage contradicts the statement, so it is False. Notice the trap: “food bills” appears in the passage, but with a different meaning.
3. People who grow vegetables spend more time in their gardens than people who grow flowers.Show answerHide
The passage mentions vegetables and flowers, but says nothing about how much time anyone spends gardening. There is no information to agree or disagree with.
4. The fifteenth garden is already open.Show answerHide
This one needs two sentences. Plans for a fifteenth garden were approved, but the passage also says today there are 14 gardens. If the fifteenth were open there would be 15, so the statement is False.
False or Not Given? The test that settles it
When you can't decide between these two, ask one question:
| Passage says | Statement | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| The museum opens every day except Monday. | The museum is open on Mondays. | FALSE |
| The museum opens every day except Monday. | The museum is busiest on Saturdays. | NOT GIVEN |
6 common mistakes
- Matching words instead of meaning. The same word in the passage and the statement does not make it True. Check what the sentence actually says.
- Using your own knowledge. If the passage doesn't say it, the answer is Not Given, however obvious it seems.
- Ignoring small words. “Some” is not “all”, “often” is not “always” and “may” is not “will”. One word can turn True into False.
- Spending too long on one statement. If you have checked the right part of the passage twice and still can't find the information, the answer is probably Not Given. Choose it and move on.
- Writing the wrong words. Don't write Yes or No for a True/False question, or the other way round.
- Forgetting the order. The answers follow the passage. If question 4 seems to come before question 3, check again.
How to practise
You get better at True, False, Not Given by doing many questions and studying your mistakes. After each practice set:
- Check every wrong answer and find the exact sentence in the passage that gives the right one.
- Note which of the four steps went wrong. Most errors come from step 3, comparing the meaning.
- Practise under time pressure, because the real test gives you about a minute and a half per question.
When you finish a practice test, the free IELTS Reading score calculator turns your number of correct answers into a band score.
Practise True, False, Not Given in full IELTS Reading tests
Work through full Reading tests in the real exam format, marked instantly with a band score.
- A free Reading test to start with
- Timer, question navigator and flags, as on test day
- Every answer checked against the key, with a band score
