Cracking the Code: How to Master True/False/Not Given Questions

For many students, the most frustrating part of the IELTS Reading module is the True / False / Not Given (TFNG) section.

It is easy to find the "True" answers. But the difference between "False" and "Not Given" causes endless headaches. Students often overthink the text, use outside knowledge, or simply guess.

If you want to secure a Band 7+, you cannot rely on guessing. You need to understand the logic.

The Golden Rule: Meanings, Not Matches

First, stop looking for matching keywords. Keywords help you find the sentence, but they don't give you the answer. You must compare the meaning of the statement with the meaning of the text.

1. TRUE (or YES)

The statement agrees with the information in the passage. This doesn't mean the words are exactly the same; it means the facts are the same.

• Text: "The scientist conducted experiments on over 500 varieties of plants."
• Statement: "The researcher tested more than 500 types of vegetation."
• Answer: TRUE. (Scientist = Researcher; Experiments = Tested; Plants = Vegetation).

2. FALSE (or NO)

The statement contradicts the information in the passage. This is the critical part: The text must say the opposite or something that makes the statement impossible.

• Text: "The scientist conducted experiments on over 500 varieties of plants."
• Statement: "The researcher tested fewer than 400 types of vegetation."
• Answer: FALSE. (The text specifically says "over 500," which contradicts "fewer than 400").

Tip: Look for "distractor" words like all, must, never, only, always. If the text says "some people" and the statement says "all people," the answer is False.

3. NOT GIVEN

This is where 90% of mistakes happen. Not Given means the information is neither confirmed nor contradicted. The text simply does not tell us.

• Text: "The scientist conducted experiments on over 500 varieties of plants."
• Statement: "The scientist's experiments were successful."
• Answer: NOT GIVEN.

Why? We know he conducted the experiments. We know how many plants he used. But does the text say the experiments worked? No. Does it say they failed? No. We simply do not know the outcome.

The "Assumption Trap"

The biggest mistake students make with "Not Given" is assuming things based on common sense.

• Example: The text talks about a famous doctor. The question asks if he was rich.
• Student logic: "Doctors are usually rich, especially famous ones. So, True!"
• IELTS logic: Does the text explicitly mention his money or salary? No? Then it is Not Given.

Strategy: The "Prove It" Method

When you are unsure if an answer is False or Not Given, try to "prove" the statement is wrong.

1. Find the relevant sentence in the text.
2. Ask: "Does this sentence prove the statement is wrong?"
3. If YES (it proves it wrong) -> FALSE.
4. If NO (you can't prove it's wrong, but you can't prove it's right either) -> NOT GIVEN.

Summary Table

| Answer | What it means | | :--- | :--- | | TRUE | The text says this is correct (using synonyms). | | FALSE | The text says the opposite of this. | | NOT GIVEN | The information is missing or we simply don't know. |

Conclusion

Next time you practice reading, cover the answers. When you choose "Not Given," force yourself to say: "I am choosing this because the text does not mention X." When you choose "False," point to the specific word in the text that makes the statement wrong.

Mastering this logic takes practice, but once it "clicks," your Reading score will skyrocket.