TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN? A 3-step method that actually works
The question type candidates fear most becomes simple once you stop using your own knowledge. Here is the exact method our teachers use.
Tanvir Ahmed 2 November 2026 2 min read
Ask any IELTS candidate which Reading question type they dread, and most will say TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN. The good news: it is the most predictable question type once you follow a method.
Step 1: Find the right place in the passage
Pick the most specific keyword in the statement, usually a name, number, date or unusual noun, and scan for it. Answers come in passage order, so question 4 will be after question 3.
Step 2: Read the sentence before and after
Do not decide based on one sentence. Qualifiers like some, most, only and never often appear just before or after the key sentence.
Step 3: Ask one question
"Does the passage agree, contradict, or say nothing?"
TRUE: the passage says the same thing in different words.
FALSE: the passage says the opposite.
NOT GIVEN: the passage does not tell you either way.
Example. Passage: "Hotels, banks and even government buildings now keep hives on their roofs." Statement: "Most hives in London are kept by large companies." The passage lists some places but never says most. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
The biggest mistake
Using what you know about the world. If the passage does not say it, it is NOT GIVEN: even if you know it is true.
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Put this into practice
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