IELTS Reading True/False/Not Given: A Decision Tree That Always Works
Quick answer: Treat every TFNG question with this decision tree: (1) is the topic mentioned in the passage? If no → Not Given. (2) does the passage say the same thing as the statement? → True. (3) does the passage say the OPPOSITE of the statement? → False. Anything else → Not Given.
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Why TFNG is the most-failed Reading question type
TFNG (True/False/Not Given) appears in almost every IELTS Reading test, usually as a block of 5–8 statements. It is the question type that most candidates score worst on, with a typical band-7 candidate getting only 60% of TFNG items right.
The reason is conceptual confusion between False and Not Given. False means the passage explicitly contradicts the statement. Not Given means the passage does not address the statement at all (or addresses only part of it).
Once you internalise this distinction, TFNG becomes one of the easier question types because you do not have to choose between four lookalike options as in MCQ.
The 3-step decision tree
Step 1: locate the topic noun in the passage. If you cannot find any sentence about that topic, the answer is Not Given. Do not infer.
Step 2: if you find the topic, read the relevant 2–3 sentences. Re-state in your own words what the passage says about the topic.
Step 3: compare your re-statement to the question statement. Same meaning = True. Opposite meaning = False. Different scope (more, less, partial) = Not Given.
- If the statement contains 'always', 'all', 'never', 'only', 'must' — and the passage says 'usually', 'most', 'sometimes', 'often' — the answer is False or Not Given, depending on whether the passage explicitly contradicts.
- If the statement contains a comparison ('X is more Y than Z') and the passage discusses only one of the two items, the answer is Not Given.
Write T, F, or NG in pencil immediately. Don't second-guess. The decision tree is designed to give you a clean answer in 60 seconds.
Examples of False vs Not Given
Statement: "The mechanism was invented in Greece." Passage: "Although discovered in Greek waters, the mechanism's place of manufacture is uncertain." → False (the passage contradicts the implication of being made in Greece).
Statement: "The mechanism was invented in Greece." Passage: "The device contained 30 bronze gears and tracked the lunar cycle." → Not Given (the passage doesn't address invention location at all).
Statement: "Researchers have published over 100 papers on the mechanism." Passage: "Despite intense scholarly interest, the mechanism remains poorly understood." → Not Given (the passage doesn't quantify publications).
Yes/No/Not Given variant — same logic, different topic
Yes/No/Not Given (YNNG) appears when the passage expresses opinions or arguments. The same decision tree applies, but you compare against what the WRITER claims, not against external facts.
Statement: "The author believes the mechanism was a luxury item." Apply the tree: is the author's view stated? If yes, does it agree (Yes), disagree (No), or sidestep (Not Given)?
Be careful with reported views. If the passage says "some scholars argue X" without endorsing it, an X-based statement attributed to the author is Not Given.
Common decision-tree errors
Error 1: relying on background knowledge. "Coral bleaching is caused by warming" may be true in real life, but if the passage discusses ocean acidification only, the answer is Not Given.
Error 2: inferring beyond the passage. "The discovery led to many publications" — if the passage doesn't say so, it's Not Given even if it seems likely.
Error 3: paraphrase paranoia. Just because the wording differs doesn't mean it's not True. Paraphrase recognition is the actual skill being tested.
Practice and tracking
Drill 5 Cambridge TFNG sets (~40 questions). After each, log every error as one of: contradicted vs missing, partial-overlap, paraphrase miss, scope error.
Most candidates have one dominant error pattern. Identifying it lets you fix the underlying habit in 1–2 weeks.
Target accuracy: 85% (i.e., 7 of 8 in a typical block) before sitting the test. Below that you'll lose 2–3 marks per Reading test on TFNG alone.
Practice this with WitPrep
Reading about IELTS only gets you so far — band gains come from rubric-graded practice. Open the IELTS Reading drills to drill this exact skill with band-by-band feedback. If you have not yet baselined your level, start with the free IELTS diagnostic (free, ~10 min).
Related WitPrep reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between False and Not Given?
False means the passage directly contradicts the statement. Not Given means the passage neither confirms nor contradicts it.
Are TFNG and YNNG marked the same way?
Yes — one mark per item, no negative marking.
Can a TFNG block contain only Trues?
Statistically no. IELTS deliberately distributes T, F, NG across each block. If your answers are all the same letter, recheck.
Should I write 'T' and 'F' or 'TRUE' and 'FALSE'?
Both are accepted. Be consistent. On computer-delivered IELTS, the dropdown forces full words.
How much time should I spend per TFNG item?
60 seconds is the target. Anything longer and you're over-thinking.
Are TFNG questions in the same order as the passage?
Usually yes. The block follows passage order, which means after answering question 3 you should be searching ahead, not behind, in the passage.
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