The short answer
Choose True when the passage supports the statement, False when it contradicts it, and Not Given when there is not enough information to decide. Use only the passage, even if you know something about the topic from elsewhere.
Check the whole claim, not a matching word
Break the statement into its subject, action and limits. Words such as every, only, first and more can change the meaning even when the nouns match the passage. Locate the relevant sentence, then read its immediate context before choosing an answer.
For False, you need evidence of a contradiction. An absent detail is not automatically false. For Not Given, the passage may mention the topic but omit the specific comparison, cause or time period in the statement.
Work through an original mini-passage
Passage: The town library introduced evening opening on Tuesdays in March. During the first month, 80 people used the evening service. Staff plan to review the schedule in June.
Build an evidence log
For each wrong answer, copy the shortest phrase that determines the result and explain the relationship in your own words. Label the error: overlooked limit, unsupported inference, missed synonym or wrong location. This reveals what to practise next.
Repeat the exercise by changing one word in a statement. Replace every with some, or older with younger, and consider what evidence would now be needed. The aim is to become sensitive to meaning rather than to memorise answer patterns. If a question asks Yes, No or Not Given about a writer's views, follow those labels instead of substituting True and False.
Before your next attempt
- I checked qualifiers as well as nouns.
- A False answer has a specific contradiction.
- I did not use outside knowledge to fill a gap.
Frequently asked questions
Does Not Given mean the topic is never mentioned?
No. The topic may appear while the precise information needed to judge the statement is missing.
Are False and Not Given interchangeable?
No. False requires contrary evidence; Not Given means the text does not establish either agreement or contradiction.
Sources and editorial notes
Official sources below support test-format and scoring facts. Exercises, examples and suggested routines are original IELTSRISE learning material, not official test questions or guaranteed score strategies.
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