True, False, Not Given (TFNG) and Yes, No, Not Given (YNNG) are the most confusing—and most feared—questions in IELTS Reading. Students often lose 3-4 marks here by guessing. This guide reveals the exact logic and strategy to eliminate guessing and confidently identify the correct answer every time.
The Golden Rule
The single most important rule for TFNG questions: You must base your answer ONLY on the text. Do not use your own knowledge, common sense, or assumptions. Even if you know the statement is factually true in real life, if the text doesn't say it, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
Defining the 3 Options: The Core Logic
TRUE / YES
The statement agrees with the information in the text.
Key: The meaning is exactly the same, even if the words are paraphrased or use synonyms.
Example: Text says "Sales increased." Statement says "Sales rose." → TRUE (synonyms)
FALSE / NO
The statement contradicts the information in the text.
Key: The text says the opposite or something mutually exclusive. There's a clear conflict.
Example: Text says "Most people prefer tea." Statement says "Most people prefer coffee." → FALSE (contradiction)
NOT GIVEN
There is no information about this in the text.
Key: It could be true or false, but the text doesn't say. Or, the statement combines two separate ideas from the text that aren't actually linked.
Example: Text says "60% prefer coffee." Statement says "Tea is more popular than juice." → NOT GIVEN (juice isn't mentioned)
The Critical Trap: "Not Given" vs "False"
This is where 80% of mistakes happen. Let's break it down with clear examples:
Example 1: Missing Information
Text: "The survey found that 60% of people prefer coffee over tea."
Statement: "Tea is more popular than juice."
Answer: NOT GIVEN.
Why? The text talks about coffee vs tea. Juice is never mentioned. The statement might be true in real life, but the text gives us no information about juice, so we can't confirm or deny it.
Example 2: Direct Contradiction
Text: "The survey found that 60% of people prefer coffee over tea."
Statement: "Most people prefer tea to coffee."
Answer: FALSE.
Why? The text says 60% prefer coffee, meaning only 40% prefer tea. The statement says "most" (meaning majority/more than 50%) prefer tea. This directly contradicts the text.
Example 3: Unlinked Information
Text: "John is a doctor. He lives in Paris."
Statement: "John works at a hospital in Paris."
Answer: NOT GIVEN.
Why? Yes, he's a doctor and lives in Paris, but the text never says WHERE he works. Maybe he works at a hospital, maybe a clinic, maybe he's retired. We can't assume.
Watch Out for "Controlling Words"
Small words can change the entire meaning. Pay special attention to:
- All, every, always, never: Extreme/absolute words
- Some, many, often, usually: Qualified words
- Only, must, solely: Restrictive words
- Probably, might, could: Speculative words
Example: Text says "Many students passed." Statement says "All students passed." → FALSE (exaggeration)
5-Step Strategy for TFNG Questions
- Read the statement first. Underline keywords (names, dates, nouns, controlling words like "all" or "never").
- Scan the text to find the location of those keywords. Use your finger or mouse to guide your eyes.
- Read carefully around the keywords. Look for synonyms and paraphrases. Don't just match words—match meaning.
- Ask yourself 3 questions:
- Does the text say the same thing? → TRUE
- Does the text say the opposite? → FALSE
- Does the text not mention this at all? → NOT GIVEN
- If you can't find it after 90 seconds, mark NOT GIVEN and move on. Don't waste time.
Common Mistakes That Cost Marks
- Using outside knowledge: You know the statement is true in reality, so you mark TRUE—even though the text doesn't say it. This is wrong!
- Assuming "Not Given" means "probably false": Not Given is neutral. It's not a weak "False"—it's genuinely unknown.
- Spending too long on one question: If you can't find the answer in 2 minutes, guess NOT GIVEN (it's statistically more common) and move on.
Frequently Asked Questions
False means the text contradicts the statement (says the opposite). Not Given means the text doesn't mention it at all—it could be true or false, but there's no information.
Master TFNG with Practice
Try a full Reading Passage with True/False/Not Given questions. Get instant feedback on your logic and strategy.
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