How to Answer IELTS Reading True/False/Not Given (Method, Worked Example and Practice)

Quick answer: True/False/Not Given tests whether a statement matches, contradicts, or simply isn't mentioned in the passage. True means the passage confirms it. False means the passage says the opposite. Not Given means the passage doesn't say either way, even if it sounds true or false based on general knowledge. Confusing False with Not Given is the single biggest reason candidates lose marks on this question type. Below is a 5-step method, a full worked example with 6 questions and answer explanations, and a practice passage to try yourself.

True/False/Not Given (and its General Training twin, Yes/No/Not Given) is widely considered the most misunderstood question type in the entire IELTS Reading paper. It isn't testing your reading speed. It's testing whether you can tell the difference between "the passage disagrees with this" and "the passage never brings this up at all," and most lost marks come from mixing those two up.

What True/False/Not Given actually tests

The examiner is checking one specific skill: can you locate the exact section of the passage a statement relates to, and judge it purely on what's written there, not on what you already know or what seems logical.

The trap: False vs Not Given

Here's the distinction that decides most of your score on this question type. False requires the passage to actively contradict the statement. Not Given means the topic is never addressed, so there is nothing to contradict or confirm.

A simple test: if you can point to a specific sentence that says the opposite of the statement, it's False. If you're relying on "well, the passage doesn't mention that, so it's probably not true," stop, because that reasoning is exactly how Not Given answers get marked wrong as False. Not being mentioned is not the same as being denied.

The 5-step method

1. Read the statement first and underline the key idea, watching closely for absolute words like "all," "never," "only" or "always," which often signal a False answer since passages rarely make absolute claims.
2. Identify likely paraphrases. The passage will almost never use the same words as the question. Think of 2 or 3 synonyms for the key idea before you go looking for it.
3. Locate the exact section of the passage that deals with this idea, using your paraphrases and names, dates or numbers as anchors.
4. Compare word by word. Does the passage confirm it (True), contradict it (False), or is the specific detail in the statement simply absent (Not Given)?
5. Don't use outside knowledge. Even if a statement is factually true in the real world, if the passage doesn't say it, the answer is Not Given, not True.

Worked example: passage and 6 questions

Unlike dogs, which were selectively bred by humans for specific tasks such as hunting and guarding, cats are believed to have domesticated themselves. Archaeological evidence suggests that the relationship between humans and cats began around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, when humans first began storing surplus grain. This stored grain attracted rodents, and wildcats that preyed on these rodents were, in turn, drawn closer to human settlements. Over time, the cats that were most tolerant of human presence had access to a more reliable food source, giving them an evolutionary advantage over their more timid counterparts.

Unlike most domesticated animals, cats retain many of the physical and behavioural traits of their wild ancestors, and they are still capable of surviving without human assistance in a way that most domestic dog breeds are not. Genetic studies have shown that the domestic cat is more closely related to the African wildcat than to any other wild species, and interbreeding between domestic cats and wildcats is still occasionally observed today in parts of Europe and Africa.

For each statement, decide True, False or Not Given.

1. Cats were deliberately bred by humans for a specific purpose.
2. The relationship between humans and cats began in the Fertile Crescent.
3. Wildcats were originally attracted to human settlements by the presence of other cats.
4. Domestic cats are more closely related to the African wildcat than to any other wild species.
5. Most domestic dog breeds could survive without human help as easily as cats can.
6. Scientists agree on exactly when cats were first domesticated.

Answers and explanations

1. False. The passage says the opposite: "unlike dogs, which were selectively bred... cats are believed to have domesticated themselves." This directly contradicts the statement.

2. True. Stated directly: "the relationship between humans and cats began... in the Fertile Crescent."

3. Not Given. The passage says wildcats were attracted by rodents drawn to stored grain, not by other cats. The statement introduces an idea (attraction to other cats) the passage never addresses.

4. True. Stated directly in the final paragraph.

5. False. The passage says cats can survive without human assistance "in a way that most domestic dog breeds are not," which means most dog breeds cannot do this as easily. The statement claims the opposite.

6. Not Given. The passage says the domestication is "believed" to have happened around 10,000 years ago, but never states whether scientists agree or disagree on the exact timing. Don't confuse an approximate figure with a debate the text never mentions.

Mistakes that cost marks on this question type

• Marking something False when it should be Not Given, because it "feels unlikely" rather than being directly contradicted
• Marking something True because it matches real-world knowledge, not because the passage actually says it
• Missing the answer because the passage uses a paraphrase or synonym instead of the exact word from the question
• Spending too long on one question instead of moving on and returning later, since these questions carry equal marks regardless of difficulty
• Answering questions out of order relative to the passage. In most Reading passages, True/False/Not Given questions follow the same order as the information in the text, so working through them in sequence saves time

Practice questions

Public libraries as we recognise them today, funded by government and free to use, did not become widespread until the 19th century. Before this, access to books was largely restricted to the wealthy, since books were expensive to produce and libraries were often attached to private institutions, universities or religious organisations. The Public Libraries Act of 1850, passed in Britain, allowed local authorities to establish libraries funded by local taxation, and is often cited as a turning point in making reading accessible to the general public. Similar movements followed in the United States, partly driven by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who funded the construction of more than 2,500 libraries worldwide between 1883 and 1929. Despite this expansion, early public libraries were not universally welcomed, and some critics at the time argued that free access to books would discourage people from working. Today, public libraries in many countries offer far more than books alone, including internet access, community events and digital lending services.

Decide True, False or Not Given for each statement, then check your reasoning against the Band 9 explanations below. Try answering first before you read them, since that's the only way this actually builds the skill.

1. Before the 19th century, only wealthy people had regular access to books.
2. The Public Libraries Act of 1850 was passed in the United States.
3. Andrew Carnegie personally selected every book placed in the libraries he funded.
4. Some people at the time believed free libraries could have a negative effect on the workforce.
5. Modern public libraries typically offer services beyond lending physical books.

Band 9 answers and explanations

1. True. The passage says access to books "was largely restricted to the wealthy" before the 19th century. "Largely restricted to" matches "only wealthy people had regular access" closely enough to confirm the statement.

2. False. The passage says the Act "was passed in Britain," not the United States. This is a direct contradiction, not just a missing detail, so it's False rather than Not Given.

3. Not Given. The passage says Carnegie "funded the construction" of libraries, but never mentions him selecting books. Funding a building and choosing its contents are two different claims, and the passage only supports the first one.

4. True. The passage states that "critics at the time argued that free access to books would discourage people from working," which directly confirms the statement.

5. True. The passage states that libraries today "offer far more than books alone, including internet access, community events and digital lending services."

Frequently asked questions

What's the real difference between False and Not Given?
False means the passage states the opposite of what the question claims. Not Given means the passage never addresses the specific idea in the question at all. If you can't point to a sentence that contradicts the statement, it's very unlikely to be False.

Is True/False/Not Given used in General Training Reading too?
The equivalent in General Training is usually labelled Yes/No/Not Given for opinion-based passages, but the same logic applies: Yes/No is used for facts and opinions the writer states, and Not Given is used when the text doesn't address the point.

Should I use my own knowledge to help decide the answer?
No. IELTS Reading questions are answered based only on what's in the passage in front of you. A statement can be true in real life and still be the correct answer of Not Given, because the passage itself never mentions it.

Do these questions follow the order of the passage?
In almost all cases, yes. Working through True/False/Not Given questions in the order they're presented usually means you're also moving through the passage in order, which saves valuable time.

How many True/False/Not Given questions are there in the exam?
This varies by test, since IELTS uses several different question type combinations across the 3 Reading passages. The method above applies regardless of how many appear on your specific paper. Our Reading Multiple Choice guide covers another of the common combinations in full.

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