Hi, I’m Hiroshi Tanaka, and in this lesson, I’ll guide you through True / False / Not Given questions in the IELTS General Training Reading test.
This is one of the most challenging question types for many candidates — not because of vocabulary, but because of logic. You must decide whether each statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the text. Once you understand the reasoning, accuracy improves dramatically
You’ll see statements followed by three possible answers:
Example:
“Visitors must buy a ticket before entering the gallery.”
Statement: Visitors can enter the gallery without a ticket.
✅ Answer: FALSE — directly opposite of the text
1️⃣ Read the First Question Only
Start one at a time. Focus on the first statement, not all at once. Each answer appears in order in the passage.
2️⃣ Identify Key Words
Underline unique nouns, verbs, and quantifiers. Example:
“All employees must complete training annually.”
Keywords: all, employees, training, annually.
3️⃣ Scan for Matching Ideas
Look for similar phrases or synonyms in the passage:
Stop when you find a match in meaning.
4️⃣ Read Carefully Around That Sentence
Don’t decide immediately. Read one sentence before and after — the context determines whether it’s True, False, or Not Given.
5️⃣ Decide Logically
Question Type | Condition | Example |
TRUE | Same meaning as passage | “All employees must…” ↔ “Every worker is required to…” |
FALSE | Opposite meaning | “Some employees” instead of “All employees” |
NOT GIVEN | Partial or missing detail | Passage says “Training is available,” not frequency |
Text:
“The library offers free internet access for all registered members.”
Statement:
All visitors can use the internet for free.
✅ Answer: FALSE — only registered members, not all visitors.
Word | Effect on Logic | Example |
All / Every | Makes statement universal | Easily contradicted by “some” |
Only | Limits meaning | If text says “also,” answer becomes FALSE |
Usually / Often | Suggests frequency | If not mentioned, → NOT GIVEN |
May / Might | Shows possibility, not certainty | If text gives fact, → FALSE |
These small words often decide the correct answer.
Mistake | Why It Happens | Fix |
Guessing based on logic | Using personal knowledge | Only use text evidence |
Confusing NOT GIVEN with FALSE | Misinterpreting silence as contradiction | “No information” = NOT GIVEN |
Reading too fast | Missing contrast words | Watch for however, but, although |
Ignoring quantifiers | Skipping some / all / few | Read every word carefully |
Technique | Description | Benefit |
Evidence marking | Highlight text supporting TRUE/FALSE | Visual proof |
Keyword scanning | Find paraphrased phrases quickly | Saves time |
Qualifier tracking | Watch for “only,” “mainly,” “most” | Clarifies logic |
Reverse reading | Check statement against passage in reverse | Confirms logical consistency |
Text:
“The company provides parking only for senior employees.”
Statement:
All employees have access to parking.
✅ Answer: FALSE — contradicts “only for senior employees.”
Statement:
The company charges for parking.
✅ Answer: NOT GIVEN — price not mentioned.
Spend 1 minute per question maximum. If you cannot decide after two readings, choose NOT GIVEN and move on — it’s better than losing time.
Band 8–9 readers never use background knowledge. They look for evidence, verify every claim, and identify whether information is fully present, contradicted, or absent. Logical reading, not memory, earns high accuracy.
True / False / Not Given questions assess your ability to judge factual accuracy logically. Focus on context, qualifiers, and textual evidence — not assumptions.
Next, continue with Matching Headings to learn how to identify main ideas in short workplace or everyday texts.
Or revisit the IELTS Reading Skills & Exam Strategy page for your full foundation.
For authentic materials, use the British Council IELTS Reading Practice Tests resource.
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