True/False/Not Given (T/F/NG) questions are the most consistently misunderstood question type in IELTS Academic Reading. Candidates frequently confuse 'False' and 'Not Given', costing valuable marks. This guide explains the precise logical distinctions between the three answers and provides a decision framework that eliminates ambiguity.
1The Three Logical Categories
TRUE means the statement agrees with the passage — the passage directly confirms it. FALSE means the statement contradicts the passage — the passage says the opposite. NOT GIVEN means there is no information in the passage to confirm or deny the statement — it is neither supported nor contradicted. The critical distinction is between FALSE and NOT GIVEN. FALSE requires a direct contradiction. NOT GIVEN means the topic may be mentioned in the passage but the specific claim in the statement is not addressed. This is the most common point of confusion.
2The Contradiction Test for FALSE
To identify FALSE with confidence, ask: 'Does the passage explicitly state the opposite of the statement?' If yes, it is FALSE. If the passage simply does not mention the specific fact in the statement, it is NOT GIVEN. Example: Statement: 'The study was conducted over a five-year period.' Passage: 'The researchers completed their study within three years.' — This is FALSE (directly contradicted: three years vs five years). Example: Statement: 'The lead researcher had published work on this topic previously.' Passage: discusses the study but never mentions prior publications. — This is NOT GIVEN (the passage is silent on prior publications — silence = NOT GIVEN).
3The Scope Test for NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN answers are typically about information that goes beyond what the passage addresses. Clues that an answer may be NOT GIVEN: the statement makes a claim about something adjacent to the passage topic but not directly discussed, or uses a comparative or speculative claim the passage does not make. Example: Statement: 'These findings have influenced medical practice globally.' Passage: describes the research findings but says nothing about their influence on medical practice. — NOT GIVEN: the passage discusses the findings but not their global influence on medical practice. The gap between what the passage says and what the statement claims is the key diagnostic.
4The Decision Flowchart
Use this decision tree: Step 1 — Find the relevant section of the passage. If you cannot find any text about the statement's topic, it is likely NOT GIVEN. Step 2 — Compare the statement to the relevant passage text. Do they agree? → TRUE. Does the passage say the opposite? → FALSE. Does the passage mention the topic but not address the specific claim? → NOT GIVEN. Key warning: do not use outside knowledge. The answer must be based entirely on what the passage says. If the statement seems obviously true based on your world knowledge but the passage does not confirm it — it is NOT GIVEN.
🎯 Key Takeaway
The T/F/NG distinction becomes reliable once you internalise the logical rules: TRUE requires direct agreement, FALSE requires direct contradiction, and NOT GIVEN means the passage is simply silent on that specific point. Practise 3 T/F/NG exercises, then review every NOT GIVEN answer specifically to verify the passage is genuinely silent, not subtly contradictory.