Exam Prep
IELTS Reading: True, False, Not Given Explained
By Emma Clarke · · 4 min read
Quick answer
True means the passage states it. False means the passage states the opposite. Not Given means the passage does not address it either way. The commonest error is choosing False when the passage is simply silent — if you cannot point to text contradicting the statement, the answer is Not Given.
The three categories, precisely
True: the passage says this, possibly in different words. False: the passage says something that contradicts this. Not Given: the passage neither confirms nor contradicts it.
The distinction that matters is between False and Not Given. False requires contradiction in the text. Absence of information is Not Given, however strongly you suspect the statement is untrue.
The rule that resolves most cases
Ask yourself: can I point to the specific words that contradict this statement? If yes, it is False. If you are relying on inference, general knowledge or a feeling, it is Not Given.
Candidates lose marks by reasoning 'the passage implies this must be wrong'. The test does not reward that inference — it rewards locating explicit contradiction.
Beware your own knowledge
Answer only from the passage. If you know from outside reading that a statement is false but the passage does not address it, the answer is Not Given.
This is genuinely difficult for well-informed candidates, who are used to being rewarded for knowing things. Here it actively costs marks.
Watch qualifying words
Words like all, always, never, only, most and some change meaning decisively. A passage saying 'some researchers argue' does not support a statement saying 'all researchers agree' — that is False, not True.
Underline these words in both the statement and the relevant passage sentence before deciding.
Work in order and locate first
The answers generally follow the order of the passage, so each one narrows where the next will be. Use that to avoid rereading the whole text for every question.
Find the relevant sentence before judging. Deciding from memory of the passage is where most avoidable errors happen.
Do not leave blanks
There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so every question should have something written. If you genuinely cannot decide, Not Given is often the safest guess, since it is the category candidates most often wrongly avoid.
Guessing consistently is a small but real source of marks across a full paper.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between False and Not Given?+
False means the passage explicitly contradicts the statement. Not Given means the passage does not address it. If you cannot point to contradicting words, the answer is Not Given.
Can I use my own knowledge?+
No. Answer only from the passage. Outside knowledge is one of the main reasons well-read candidates lose marks on this question type.
Do the answers come in passage order?+
Generally yes for this question type, which helps you locate each answer efficiently. Some other IELTS question types do not follow that order.
What's the difference between Yes/No/Not Given and True/False/Not Given?+
True/False/Not Given deals with factual information; Yes/No/Not Given deals with the writer's claims or opinions. The reasoning method is the same.
Should I guess if I'm unsure?+
Always — there is no penalty for wrong answers. Not Given is often the sensible guess, because candidates systematically under-choose it.
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