True/False/Not Given is the question type most candidates find hardest — not because the reading is difficult, but because the logic is strict. True means the text explicitly confirms the statement. False means the text explicitly contradicts it. Not Given means the text says nothing about it either way.
Examples
Weak
AvoidTreating "Not Given" as "False" when the text simply doesn't mention something — a very common error that costs 2-3 marks per test.
Stronger
BetterApplying a three-step check: (1) locate the relevant part of the text, (2) compare the statement and text word-for-word, (3) ask "does the text contradict this, or just not mention it?"
The key distinction: False requires explicit contradiction. If the text mentions Topic A but says nothing about the claim in the question, the answer is Not Given, not False.
How It Works
The strict definitions
- True: the passage explicitly states or clearly implies this is correct.
- False: the passage explicitly states the opposite.
- Not Given: the passage does not address this claim at all.
The trap: a statement can be about the same topic as the passage but still be Not Given if the specific claim is never addressed.
Warning signs
- The question uses a word that appears in the text but in a different context → likely Not Given.
- The question adds a comparison the text never makes → likely Not Given.
- The question says "always" or "never" and the text says "often" or "rarely" → likely False.
Decision process
Quick rules
- Do not use your own knowledge — only what the text says.
- Not Given is not "I can't find it" — it means the text genuinely does not address it.
- When unsure between False and Not Given, ask: does the text say the opposite?
Common Mistakes
Marking Not Given as False
AvoidText says: "Bees pollinate 70% of crops." Statement: "Bees are the only pollinators of crops." Answer given: False.
BetterCorrect answer: Not Given. The text says bees pollinate 70% of crops but never says they are the only pollinators.
Fix: False requires an explicit contradiction. The text not mentioning other pollinators is not the same as saying bees are the only ones.
Using outside knowledge
AvoidText: silent on whether coffee was first cultivated in Ethiopia. Statement: "Coffee originated in Ethiopia." Answer given: True (because the candidate knows this).
BetterCorrect answer: Not Given — the text says nothing about coffee's origin.
Fix: IELTS True/False/Not Given is based entirely on the passage. External knowledge is a trap.
Practice Lab
Self-mark each task. Retry until every answer is correct.
Score: 0/3
1. Quick pick
Text says: "The city's population grew by 12% between 2000 and 2010." Statement: "The city's population declined after 2010." What is the answer?
2. Build it
Put the sentence in the correct order.
Tap a chunk to move it between the bank and answer area.
3. Sort it
Sort each item into the correct category.
Text says X; statement says X → True
Text says X is common; statement says X is rare → False
Text discusses topic Y; statement makes a claim about Y not in the text → Not Given
I know from general knowledge that this is true → True
Why It Matters
True/False/Not Given questions appear in every IELTS Academic and General reading test, usually 5-7 questions worth 5-7 marks. Candidates who confuse Not Given with False typically lose 2-3 marks per test on this question type alone. The logic is learnable and consistent — mastering it adds guaranteed marks.
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