True / False / Not Given is the question type that IELTS candidates find hardest, because two of the answers can seem right. The key is understanding exactly what each answer means.
What the three answers mean
| Answer | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| True | The passage gives the same information as the statement. |
| False | The passage contradicts the statement: it says the opposite, or something that makes the statement impossible. |
| Not Given | The passage doesn't give enough information to say whether the statement is true or false. |
Yes / No / Not Given works the same way, but asks about the writer's opinions or claims rather than facts.
The rule that matters most: use only the passage, never your own knowledge. A statement can be true in real life and still be Not Given.
Worked example
Passage: "The museum opened in 1998 and now attracts around 400,000 visitors a year, most of them from overseas. Entry was free until 2015, when a small charge was introduced to fund new exhibitions."
| Statement | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most visitors to the museum are international. | True | "most of them from overseas" means the same thing. |
| The museum has always been free to enter. | False | The passage says a charge was introduced in 2015. |
| Visitor numbers fell after the entry charge was introduced. | Not Given | The passage doesn't say how numbers changed after 2015. |
A 4-step method
- Underline the key words in the statement, especially words that limit meaning: all, most, some, only, always, never, increased, first.
- Find the part of the passage that talks about the same idea. Questions follow the order of the passage.
- Compare carefully. Ask: does the passage say the same thing, say the opposite, or say nothing about this?
- Decide between True and False first. Choose Not Given only when you can't find evidence either way.
Traps to watch for
- Same words, different meaning. The statement may repeat words from the passage but change one detail, such as some to all.
- Partly true statements. Every part of the statement must match. If one part is not mentioned, the answer is usually Not Given.
- Spending too long. You have 60 minutes for 40 questions. If you're stuck for more than a minute, make your best choice and move on.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between False and Not Given?
False means the passage contradicts the statement. Not Given means the passage doesn't give enough information to decide either way.
What is the difference between True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given?
They work the same way. True/False/Not Given checks facts in the passage; Yes/No/Not Given checks the writer's views or claims.
Do True/False/Not Given answers follow the order of the passage?
Yes. The statements usually follow the order of the information in the passage, which helps you find each answer.
Can I use my own knowledge in True/False/Not Given?
No. Use only the information in the passage. If the passage doesn't say it, the answer is Not Given, even if it's true in real life.