IELTS True / False / Not Given: the difference explained

In IELTS Reading True/False/Not Given, you decide whether a statement agrees with the passage (True), contradicts it (False), or is neither confirmed nor contradicted (Not Given). The crucial rule: base your answer only on what the passage actually says, never on your own knowledge or what seems likely.

The three answers

  • •True: the passage states the same idea, even if worded differently.
  • •False: the passage states the opposite, or something that cannot both be true with the statement.
  • •Not Given: the passage neither confirms nor denies it — there is simply no information either way.

How to decide

Find the part of the passage the statement refers to (questions follow the passage order). Compare meaning carefully.

The hardest choice is False versus Not Given. Ask: does the passage actively contradict this? If yes, False. If the passage is simply silent, Not Given.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between False and Not Given?

False means the passage contradicts the statement. Not Given means the passage says nothing that confirms or contradicts it — the information is absent.

Can I use my own knowledge to answer?

No. Even if a statement is true in the real world, if the passage does not support it the answer is Not Given.

Are True/False/Not Given answers in order?

Yes, they follow the order of information in the passage, so once you locate one you can search forward for the next.

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