Mastering IELTS Reading: True/False/Not Given Questions

True/False/Not Given (TFNG) questions in IELTS Reading are one of the most misunderstood and confusing parts of the test. Many students lose marks here—not because of poor reading skills, but due to misinterpreting the task.

This blog will teach you exactly how to approach TFNG questions, avoid common traps, and build the confidence to get them right every time.

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✅ What Are True/False/Not Given Questions?

You’ll be presented with a series of statements. You must decide if each statement is:

• True – The statement clearly agrees with the information in the passage.
• False – The statement clearly contradicts the passage.
• Not Given – The passage says nothing about the statement (you can’t tell).

These are based on factual information (not the writer’s opinion). In contrast, Yes/No/Not Given deals with opinions or beliefs.

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❗ Why They're Difficult

• You overthink “Not Given” and second-guess yourself
• You assume background knowledge, not what the passage says
• You rush and miss subtle differences in meaning
• Words are paraphrased, so direct matches don’t always exist

💡 Remember: Your job is to match ideas, not just keywords.

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🧠 Proven Strategy to Solve TFNG Questions

Step 1: Read the Statement Carefully

Understand exactly what it claims—break it into smaller parts if needed.

Step 2: Scan the Passage for Keywords

Find the relevant sentence or section. Don’t read everything—skim for matches or paraphrases.

Step 3: Compare Meaning, Not Just Words

Check if the statement:

• Matches = TRUE
• Contradicts = FALSE
• Is neither confirmed nor contradicted = NOT GIVEN

Step 4: Be Strict With “Not Given”

If there’s no clear evidence for or against it, the answer is Not Given. Don’t assume!

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📘 Example Practice

Passage excerpt:
"Dr. Chen discovered the bacteria strain in 2011 and published her findings in a medical journal."

Statement 1: Dr. Chen found the bacteria strain in 2011.
✅ True — Clearly agrees with the passage.

Statement 2: Dr. Chen’s research was rejected by several journals.
❌ Not Given — The passage doesn't mention rejection or other journals.

Statement 3: The bacteria strain was first discovered in 2009.
❌ False — Contradicts the 2011 date in the passage.

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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming = False
  If it might be false but the passage doesn’t clearly say so, it’s Not Given, not False.

• Relying on Memory
  Don’t use outside knowledge. Base your answer strictly on the text.

• Looking for Exact Words
  IELTS loves paraphrasing. Look for synonyms or equivalent ideas, not just the same vocabulary.

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🔁 TFNG vs. YNFG: Know the Difference

Question Type	Based On	Answers
True/False/Not Given	Facts in the passage	True / False / Not Given
Yes/No/Not Given	Opinions or beliefs	Yes / No / Not Given

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📝 Practice Prompts

Try answering these based on a short passage:

"The museum was established in 1925 and houses over 2,000 pieces of ancient art."

• The museum contains more than 2,000 artifacts.
• The museum was founded in the early 1900s.
• The museum includes modern paintings.

Can you identify which is True, False, or Not Given?

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💬 Quick Tips Recap

• Focus on meaning, not matching words
• Don’t assume—stick to what’s stated
• Practice identifying what’s missing (Not Given)
• Be careful of partially true statements — they are usually False

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