Hi, I’m Hiroshi Tanaka, and in my experience as an IELTS Reading examiner, True / False / Not Given (TFNG) questions cause the most confusion among otherwise strong candidates.
This question type tests not memory but logic and evidence — you must decide whether a statement matches, contradicts, or is not supported by the passage.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to approach TFNG questions systematically, avoid common traps, and understand what “Not Given” really means.
You’re given a list of statements about the passage. For each one, decide whether it is:
Option | Meaning |
TRUE | The statement agrees with the information in the passage. |
FALSE | The statement contradicts the passage. |
NOT GIVEN | The passage does not say this — there is no clear information to decide. |
TFNG questions measure your ability to interpret facts and detect logical accuracy — key skills for academic reading.
1️⃣ Read the Statement Carefully
Analyse it word by word. Ask: Who? What? When? How many? Look for any qualifiers (always, never, most, some). These words often change the truth value.
2️⃣ Underline Key Concepts
Find the core ideas — names, dates, causes, results. Ignore extra information for now.
3️⃣ Scan the Passage for Keywords or Synonyms
IELTS paraphrases heavily:
“Children prefer outdoor games” ↔ “Young people are more interested in playing outside.”
Look for similar phrasing, not exact matches.
4️⃣ Compare Meaning, Not Words
Read the relevant sentence carefully and ask: Does it say the same, the opposite, or nothing about this statement?
5️⃣ Decide Logically
| If the text clearly agrees → | ✅ TRUE |
| If it clearly disagrees → | ❌ FALSE |
| If it doesn’t mention it → | ⚪ NOT GIVEN |
Never guess between TRUE and FALSE if there is no evidence — choose NOT GIVEN.
Statement: The experiment proved that plants grow faster in complete darkness.
Text Excerpt: > “The researchers observed that plants in low light conditions grew more slowly than those exposed to sunlight.”
✅ Answer: FALSE
The statement says grow faster in darkness — the text says grow more slowly in low light. Direct contradiction.
Many students choose FALSE when the correct answer is NOT GIVEN.
The key difference: FALSE means the text disagrees; NOT GIVEN means the text is silent.
Example:
Statement: “The research was funded by the government.”
Passage: No mention of funding at all.
✅ Answer: NOT GIVEN
Always base your answer on what you read, not what you know from outside knowledge.
Trap | Description | Fix |
Keyword copy trap | Exact word repeated but meaning changed | Check context carefully |
Over-generalisation | “Some” becomes “all” | Look for quantifiers |
Background knowledge | Using real-world facts to judge truth | Stick to the text only |
Negatives | Ignoring “not”, “never”, “no longer” | Underline negatives |
Assumption errors | Inferring beyond given data | If no clear evidence → NOT GIVEN |
Text: > “Scientists found no evidence that coffee causes sleep problems in most adults.”
Statement | Answer | Reason |
Coffee always causes sleep issues | ❌ FALSE | Opposite meaning |
Coffee may affect some people | ⚪ NOT GIVEN | Text says “most adults,” not some |
Researchers found no link | ✅ TRUE | Matches the text |
Technique | Benefit |
Mark location keywords | Saves search time when questions follow order |
Watch for contrast markers (“however,” “in contrast”) | Helps detect FALSE cases |
Eliminate extreme words (“always,” “never”) | Usually indicate a trap |
Trust logic over emotion | Use proof, not belief |
Spend 1 minute per question maximum. If you can’t find evidence after two scans, mark it “?” and move on. Come back after finishing the section.
The True / False / Not Given question type is a test of logic, not guesswork. Stay strictly evidence-based, analyse grammar and meaning, and remember — if the passage doesn’t clearly agree or disagree, the answer is Not Given.
Next, continue with Yes / No / Not Given to learn how to evaluate author opinions and attitudes.
Or return to the IELTS Reading Skills & Exam Strategy page to review core skills.
For official examples, visit the British Council IELTS Practice Reading section.
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