True / False / Not Given: stop losing easy marks
IELTS specialists — MUIC & Chulalongkorn University alumni, IELTS Speaking Band 9, IDP-certified.
For True/False/Not Given, decide based only on what the passage states. Mark True if the statement agrees with the text, False if it contradicts the text, and Not Given if the text neither confirms nor denies it. The key trap is choosing False when the information is simply absent — that's Not Given.
The three-way decision
- True — the passage clearly states the same idea (often in different words).
- False — the passage states the opposite of the statement.
- Not Given — the passage doesn't say; you can't confirm or deny it.
The trap that costs marks
Most wrong answers are False that should be Not Given. If the passage is simply silent on a detail, it is Not Given — even if the statement 'feels' unlikely. Don't use outside knowledge or assumptions; use only the text.
A reliable method
- Underline the keywords in the statement (especially qualifiers like 'all', 'only', 'first').
- Find the matching part of the passage using paraphrase, not exact words.
- Ask: does the text say the same, the opposite, or nothing?
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between False and Not Given?
False means the text contradicts the statement. Not Given means the text doesn't mention it at all.
Do the answers come in order?
Yes — TFNG answers usually follow the order of the passage, which helps you locate them.
What about Yes/No/Not Given?
Same logic, but it tests the writer's opinions/claims rather than facts.
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