IELTS ACADEMIC READING
IELTS Reading True / False / Not Given: how to answer, with practice questions
True / False / Not Given asks whether each statement agrees with the facts in the passage. Most lost marks come from confusing False with Not Given. Here is a method, the traps to avoid and one question to try.
Decide whether each statement agrees with the information in the passage (True), contradicts it (False), or is not covered (Not Given). Not Given is the trap: if the passage simply does not say, the answer is Not Given, even when the statement sounds likely.
109 practice questions of this type in the full bank.
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How to answer
- Read the statement first and underline the key idea and any limiting words such as all, only, always, first or most.
- Find the part of the passage that discusses the same idea. The statements follow the order of the passage.
- Compare meaning, not words: the passage will usually paraphrase the statement.
- Choose TRUE if the passage says the same thing, FALSE if it says the opposite, and NOT GIVEN if it says nothing either way.
Common mistakes
- Choosing FALSE when the passage simply does not mention the point. FALSE needs a clear contradiction.
- Using your own knowledge. Only what the passage says counts, even if the statement is true in real life.
- Missing one word that changes the claim, such as usually versus always, or some versus most.
One practice question with the answer
Read the passage, decide your answer, then open the explanation. Each question is from the examplat bank, written in the same format as the test.
Read the passage
The Glassmakers of Vellin The village of Vellin has a glassmaking tradition that dates back at least four hundred years. Its early glassmakers were attracted to the area by its forests, which supplied wood to fuel the furnaces, and by a nearby river, which was used to transport finished goods to the coast. By the nineteenth century, most of the surrounding forest had been cut down, and the workshops began burning coal brought in by canal. Today, only two workshops remain, both run by families who have worked with glass for generations. They no longer produce everyday items such as bottles and windows, which are made far more cheaply in large factories, but specialise in decorative pieces sold to collectors and tourists. Each piece is blown and shaped by hand, and a large bowl may take a full day to complete. A small museum in the village displays examples of Vellin glass from different periods, together with tools used by the early glassmakers.
Does the following statement agree with the information given in the passage? Choose TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN. Glass is made by heating sand to a very high temperature.
- TRUE
- FALSE
- NOT GIVEN
Show the answer and explanation
NOT GIVEN. The passage mentions furnaces and fuel but never says what glass is made from or how hot the furnace must be.
- Not correct. This may be true in real life, but the passage does not say it, and in IELTS only the passage counts.
- Not correct. FALSE needs something in the passage that contradicts the statement, but sand and heating temperatures are never discussed at all.
- Correct. Sand and temperature are not mentioned, so the statement cannot be checked against the passage.
Tip: Never use your own knowledge. A statement that is true in the real world is still NOT GIVEN if the passage does not say it.
That's the free sample. The rest of the questions are available with a paid plan.
That's the free sample. The rest is available with a plan.
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What is the difference between False and Not Given?
False means the passage states the opposite of the statement. Not Given means the passage gives no information that lets you decide either way.
Do True / False / Not Given questions follow the order of the passage?
Yes. The statements usually appear in the same order as the information in the passage, which helps you locate each answer.
IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. examplat is an unofficial question bank written by Sakakikaen Co., Ltd. and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Back to IELTS Reading practice.