Of all the question types in the IELTS Reading test, True/False/Not Given (TFNG) and Yes/No/Not Given (YNNG) cause the most anxiety among candidates. The distinction between 'False' and 'Not Given' is notoriously tricky and costs many students their desired Band 7 or 8. However, once you understand the strict logic IELTS uses, these questions become highly predictable.
In this technical guide, we will break down the absolute definitions of these terms and provide a step-by-step strategy to approach them.
1. The Core Definitions
Before applying any strategy, you must strictly adhere to the IELTS definitions. Do not rely on outside knowledge; base your answer only on what is explicitly written in the passage.
- TRUE (or YES): The statement agrees completely with the information in the passage. Synonyms and paraphrasing will be used, but the core meaning is identical.
- FALSE (or NO): The statement contradicts the information in the passage. The passage states the opposite or gives information that makes the statement impossible.
- NOT GIVEN: There is no information in the passage to either confirm or contradict the statement. It is impossible to say if it is true or false based only on the text.
2. The "Keyword Modification" Strategy
The most common mistake is finding a keyword from the statement in the text and immediately assuming the answer is TRUE. Examiners deliberately use matching keywords in FALSE and NOT GIVEN statements to trap you.
Instead, focus on the controlling words (modifying words). These are the words that change the absolute meaning of a sentence.
- Adverbs of frequency: always, sometimes, never, rarely, usually
- Quantifiers: all, some, many, few, most
- Probability: might, will, could, impossible, certain
Example:
Passage: "Many students find the reading test difficult."
Statement: "All students find the reading test difficult."
Answer: FALSE. "Many" contradicts "All".
3. Distinguishing FALSE from NOT GIVEN
This is the critical battleground. If you are stuck between FALSE and NOT GIVEN, use the "Opposite Test".
Can you find a sentence in the passage that explicitly states the opposite of the question statement? If yes, the answer is FALSE. If you cannot find the opposite, but you also cannot find confirmation, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
Example:
Passage: "The research team traveled to the Amazon in 1999."
Statement A: "The research team traveled to the Amazon in 1998." (Answer: FALSE - The text says 1999, which contradicts 1998).
Statement B: "The research team traveled to the Amazon by boat." (Answer: NOT GIVEN - They did travel to the Amazon, but the text tells us nothing about how they got there. Don't assume!).
4. The Sequential Nature of TFNG
A crucial technical advantage to remember is that True/False/Not Given questions almost always come in order in the text. If you find the answer to Question 1 in Paragraph A, and the answer to Question 3 in Paragraph C, then the information for Question 2 must lie somewhere in between.
If you have scanned the area between Question 1 and 3 and cannot find the keywords for Question 2, the answer is almost certainly NOT GIVEN.
Conclusion
Mastering TFNG questions requires strict discipline. Turn off your common sense and outside knowledge, heavily scrutinize controlling words, and remember that NOT GIVEN means the text simply refuses to comment on the specific claim being made. Practice this strategy, and your reading scores will rapidly improve.