IELTS Reading: True, False or Not Given?
The difference between False and Not Given, with a method you can use on every question.
True / False / Not Given questions cost many candidates easy marks. Usually it isn't the reading that's the problem. It's knowing what each answer really means.
What the three answers mean
Rule
True: the text says the same thing as the statement.False: the text says the opposite. It contradicts the statement.
Not Given: the text doesn't say whether the statement is true or not.
The hard part is the difference between False and Not Given. False needs the text to contradict the statement. If the text simply doesn't mention it, the answer is Not Given, even if the statement seems unlikely.
A worked example
The city's bike-sharing scheme was launched in 2021. It now records over 20,000 trips a day, and traffic in the centre has fallen noticeably.
| Statement | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The scheme started in 2021. | True | The text says it was launched in 2021. |
| Fewer than 10,000 trips are made each day. | False | The text says over 20,000, which contradicts it. |
| The scheme is popular with tourists. | Not Given | Tourists aren't mentioned at all. |
A method for every question
- Underline the key words in the statement, especially words like all, only, always and never.
- Find the part of the text about the same topic. The questions follow the order of the text.
- Ask: does the text say the same, say the opposite, or say nothing about this?
- Don't use your own knowledge. Only the text counts.
Don't say
It doesn't say that, so it's False.
Say
It doesn't say that, so it's Not Given.
Quick check
3 questions · nothing is savedThe text doesn't mention the topic at all. What's the answer?
The text says 'over 20,000 trips'. Statement: 'Around 5,000 trips are made daily.'
Statement: 'Traffic in the centre has dropped.'
You can practise this format on your own reading in Rock Egg: add any article to your Documents and generate True / False / Not Given questions from it.
Practise with your own reading
Rock Egg turns articles you choose into quizzes at your level, with daily vocabulary and dictation. Find out where you are with a Level Check.
Keep reading
IELTS Writing Task 2: linking words beyond 'firstly, secondly'
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Used to, be used to, get used to: three phrases, three meanings
They look almost the same, but one is about the past, one is about what feels normal, and one is about change.