Reading: True/False/Not Given & Yes/No/Not Given

Real-world analogy

What is it?

True/False/Not Given (and its variant Yes/No/Not Given) is the most common and most feared IELTS Reading question type. It tests whether you can accurately determine if a statement agrees with the passage (TRUE/YES), contradicts it (FALSE/NO), or is simply not addressed (NOT GIVEN). The key skill is distinguishing between what the passage actually says and what you assume or infer.

Real-world relevance

This skill is essential in everyday life. When you read a news article and someone claims "the article said X", you naturally evaluate: did it really say that (TRUE), did it say the opposite (FALSE), or was that topic never actually mentioned (NOT GIVEN)? Fake news spreads partly because people are bad at this skill — they confuse what was stated with what they assumed.

Key points

• TRUE vs YES — TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN tests factual information — does the passage state this fact? YES/NO/NOT GIVEN tests the writer's opinion or claim — does the writer agree with this view? The logic is identical, but TRUE/FALSE is about facts and YES/NO is about opinions. Always check which version the question uses.
• The FALSE Trap — FALSE does not mean the topic is not mentioned. FALSE means the passage says the OPPOSITE of the statement. If the statement says "X increased" and the passage says "X decreased," that is FALSE. If the passage simply never mentions X at all, that is NOT GIVEN. This distinction catches most students.
• The NOT GIVEN Trap — NOT GIVEN is the answer when the passage does not provide enough information to confirm or deny the statement. Students often choose TRUE because the topic is mentioned, or FALSE because they think it sounds wrong. Remember: if you cannot point to a specific sentence that proves or disproves it, it is NOT GIVEN.
• Keyword Matching Strategy — Underline the key nouns, verbs, and adjectives in each statement. Scan the passage for these keywords or their synonyms. Once you find the relevant sentence, compare it word-by-word with the statement. Pay special attention to qualifiers like "all", "some", "always", "never", "often", and "sometimes".
• Beware of Qualifiers — Absolute words like "all", "every", "always", "never" in a statement make it more likely to be FALSE, because passages rarely make such absolute claims. If the passage says "most students" but the statement says "all students," that is FALSE. Qualifiers are the number one way IELTS traps you.
• Paraphrase Detection — IELTS almost never uses the same words in the question and passage. "Urban areas" becomes "cities," "financial difficulties" becomes "economic problems," "children" becomes "young people." You must recognise paraphrases to locate the right section. Build a habit of thinking in synonyms.
• Order Advantage — T/F/NG and Y/N/NG questions follow the order of the passage. Statement 1 relates to information near the beginning, statement 2 comes after that, and so on. Use this to narrow your search area. If you found the answer for statement 3 in paragraph C, then statement 4 will be in paragraph C or later.
• The Comparison Test — After locating the relevant sentence, perform a three-way comparison: (1) Does the passage say the same thing as the statement? TRUE/YES. (2) Does the passage say the opposite? FALSE/NO. (3) Does the passage not address this specific claim? NOT GIVEN. Force yourself to choose one of these three — do not overthink.
• Time Management — Spend no more than 1-1.5 minutes per T/F/NG statement. If you cannot find the answer within 90 seconds, mark it as NOT GIVEN and move on. You can return to it later. Spending too long on one statement steals time from easier questions worth the same marks.

Code example

PASSAGE:

The Rise of Remote Work

Remote work has grown dramatically since 2020. A Stanford
University study found that 42% of the American workforce
was working from home full-time by mid-2020, compared to
just 5% before the pandemic. Productivity data has been
mixed: a 2022 meta-analysis showed remote workers were
approximately 5% more productive in individual tasks but
slightly less effective in collaborative projects.

Companies have responded differently. Technology firms
like Twitter and Shopify announced permanent remote
options, while major banks such as Goldman Sachs called
employees back to the office. Most large companies have
settled on hybrid models, typically requiring 2-3 days
per week in the office.

Employee preferences vary by demographic. Workers over 45
generally prefer office environments for the social
interaction, according to a Gallup survey. Younger workers
tend to prioritise flexibility and are more comfortable
with digital communication tools.

STATEMENTS — Decide: TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN

1. "Less than 10% of Americans worked from home before
    the pandemic."
   Keywords: percentage + Americans + before pandemic
   Passage says: "just 5% before the pandemic"
   5% is less than 10% --> TRUE

2. "Remote workers are more productive than office workers
    in all types of tasks."
   Keywords: more productive + all types
   Passage says: "5% more productive in individual tasks
   but slightly less effective in collaborative projects"
   Not ALL types --> FALSE (watch the qualifier "all")

3. "Google has announced a permanent remote work policy."
   Keywords: Google + permanent remote
   Passage mentions: Twitter, Shopify, Goldman Sachs
   Google is never mentioned --> NOT GIVEN

4. "Most large companies now use a hybrid work model."
   Keywords: most large companies + hybrid
   Passage says: "Most large companies have settled on
   hybrid models"
   Direct match --> TRUE

5. "Workers under 30 are the most likely to prefer
    remote work."
   Keywords: under 30 + most likely
   Passage says: "Younger workers tend to prioritise
   flexibility" — but never specifies "under 30" or
   says they are "most likely"
   Age range is different, claim is stronger --> NOT GIVEN

Line-by-line walkthrough

1. 1. The passage has three paragraphs covering: growth statistics, company responses, and employee preferences by age.
2. 2. Statement 1: We find "5% before the pandemic" — since 5% is less than 10%, the statement is TRUE. The exact number differs but the claim holds.
3. 3. Statement 2: The qualifier "all types" is the trap. The passage distinguishes individual tasks (more productive) from collaborative projects (less effective). Since it is not ALL types, this is FALSE.
4. 4. Statement 3: Google is never mentioned anywhere in the passage. Even though other tech companies are discussed, we cannot assume anything about Google. This is NOT GIVEN.
5. 5. Statement 4: The passage directly states "Most large companies have settled on hybrid models" — this is a near-exact match, so TRUE.
6. 6. Statement 5: The passage says "younger workers" prefer flexibility, but never specifies "under 30" or claims they are "most likely." The statement makes a more specific and stronger claim than the passage supports, so this is NOT GIVEN.
7. 7. Notice how the statements follow the passage order: 1-2 relate to paragraph 1, statement 3-4 to paragraph 2, and statement 5 to paragraph 3.

Spot the bug

A student's answers for the passage above:

Statement: "42% of Americans worked remotely before 2020."
Student answer: TRUE
Reason: "The passage mentions 42% and before the pandemic."

Statement: "Banks prefer remote work over office work."
Student answer: NOT GIVEN
Reason: "The passage does not say banks prefer remote work."

Statement: "Hybrid models require employees to work from
home at least 2 days per week."
Student answer: TRUE
Reason: "The passage says 2-3 days."

Explain like I'm 5

Fun fact

Hands-on challenge

More resources

• IELTS Reading: True False Not Given (IELTS Liz)
• T/F/NG Tips and Strategy (British Council)
• Cambridge IELTS T/F/NG Practice (Cambridge)
• Common TFNG Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (IELTS.org)