IELTS Reading — True / False / Not Given Strategy
The most misunderstood question type in IELTS Reading. Learn the exact difference between False and Not Given.
📖 Lesson
IELTS Reading — True / False / Not Given
This question type confuses more candidates than any other. The reason: False and Not Given feel the same, but they are completely different.
The Golden Rule
| Answer | What it means |
|---|---|
| TRUE | The statement agrees with what the text says |
| FALSE | The statement contradicts (says the opposite of) what the text says |
| NOT GIVEN | The text says nothing about this topic |
The Most Common Mistake
Candidates write FALSE when the answer is NOT GIVEN.
Text: "The city of Pompeii was buried in 79 AD."
Statement: "Pompeii was the largest city in ancient Rome."
Answer: NOT GIVEN — the text does not mention the city's size.Text: "The city of Pompeii was buried in 79 AD."
Statement: "Pompeii was destroyed in 100 AD."
Answer: FALSE — the text gives 79 AD, which contradicts 100 AD.
Step-by-Step Method
- Read the statement carefully — underline the key claim
- Find the relevant section in the text — scan for the same keyword
- Ask: does the text say the OPPOSITE?
- Yes → FALSE
- No direct contradiction, topic not mentioned → NOT GIVEN
- Text agrees → TRUE
Practice Exercise
Text extract:
"Electric vehicles accounted for 12% of all new car sales in Europe in 2022. Government subsidies played a key role in driving adoption, particularly in Norway, where over 80% of new cars sold were electric."
- Electric vehicles made up more than 10% of European new car sales in 2022. → TRUE (12% > 10%)
- Without government subsidies, EV sales would have been lower. → NOT GIVEN (implied but not stated)
- Norway had the lowest petrol car sales in Europe in 2022. → NOT GIVEN (no comparison made)
- Electric vehicles accounted for fewer than 5% of new car sales in Europe in 2022. → FALSE (contradicts 12%)
Key Tips
- The statements always follow the same order as the text.
- If you cannot find the topic in the text at all → NOT GIVEN.
- If the text says one thing and the statement says another → FALSE.
- Be careful with partial truth: if part of the statement is wrong → FALSE.
- The statements follow the order of the text — use this to find answers quickly.
- Only use information IN the text — your own knowledge is irrelevant.
- If you cannot find the topic in the passage → NOT GIVEN.
- If the text says the opposite of the statement → FALSE.
- Do not overthink: if the text simply does not mention it, choose NOT GIVEN.
- Underline the key claim in each statement before scanning the text.