True/False/Not Given: Complete Strategy Guide
True/False/Not Given (TFNG) is the most common and most missed question type in IELTS Reading, appearing in nearly every test. This guide helps you clearly distinguish True, False, and Not Given answers.
What Do They Mean?
| Answer | Meaning | Key Signal |
|---|---|---|
| TRUE | Information matches completely | Clear confirmation, synonyms |
| FALSE | Information contradicts | Negation, conflict |
| NOT GIVEN | Information is not mentioned | Cannot be confirmed or denied |
The Golden Rule: Only Use the Passage
The most common mistake is using personal knowledge. Even if you know the statement is factually correct, if the passage doesn’t say it, the answer is Not Given.
5-Step Strategy
- Read the question first: Underline key words (names, numbers, technical terms)
- Locate in the passage: Scan for keywords or synonyms
- Compare meaning: Don’t compare words — compare MEANING
- Eliminate: Found and matches → True. Contradicts → False. Not found → Not Given
- Verify: Only mark Not Given after reading the entire relevant section
False vs Not Given: The Hardest Distinction
- FALSE: The passage says the OPPOSITE. E.g., question says “increased” but passage says “decreased”
- NOT GIVEN: The passage says NOTHING about this information
10 Common Synonym Pairs in TFNG
| Question Word | Passage Synonyms |
|---|---|
| declined | fell, decreased, dropped |
| increased | rose, grew, climbed, surged |
| important | significant, crucial, vital |
| difficult | challenging, demanding, arduous |
| popular | widespread, common, prevalent |
| banned | prohibited, forbidden, outlawed |
Conclusion
TFNG is manageable if you follow the rule: only use the passage, compare meaning not words, and carefully distinguish False from Not Given. Practice 5-10 TFNG questions daily with detailed error analysis.
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