True / False / Not Given (and its sibling Yes / No / Not Given) is where the average IELTS Reading score drops by half a band. The trap is that Not Givendoesn’t mean “I think it’s false” — it means the passage simply doesn’t address the claim. Most students confuse these and lose marks they could have kept.
The three traps
Trap 1 — “The passage doesn’t feel like that”
Students who don’t find a literal match assume False. But “feels like the passage disagrees” isn’t enough. Either the passage explicitly contradicts the statement (False), or it doesn’t address it (Not Given).
Passage says…
Solar power has become the cheapest form of electricity in many regions, particularly in sunny climates with stable policy frameworks.
Statement to mark
Statement:“Solar power is now cheaper than coal in every country.”
Answer:Not Given. The passage said “many regions”, not “every country”. It didn’t contradict the claim either.
Trap 2 — Real-world knowledge polluting the answer
You may know that water boils at 100°C — but if the passage doesn’t say so, and the statement says “water boils at 100°C”, the answer is Not Given. The IELTS Reading test scores you on what the passage says, not what is true.
Trap 3 — Synonym swaps that change meaning
A Band 7+ reader catches when a synonym almost matches but shifts the claim slightly. Significant ≠ vast. Several ≠ many. Could ≠ did.
Passage: "The legislation could result in a small drop in emissions, although results so far are mixed." / Statement: "The legislation has reduced emissions."
Wrong-confidence False would be tempting (the passage says results are mixed), but the statement says ‘has reduced’ vs the passage's ‘could result’ — different modal claims. Answer: Not Given.
True, False or Not Given?
- 1
Passage: “The Mediterranean diet, characterised by olive oil, fish and vegetables, has been linked to a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease in long-term studies.”
Statement: “The Mediterranean diet prevents cardiovascular disease.”Pick one. You'll see why straight away.
- 2
Passage: “Although early adopters reported gains, a comprehensive 2019 review found no measurable benefit across the broader population.”
Statement: “The intervention works for everyone.”Pick one. You'll see why straight away.
- 3
Passage: “The author argues that working hours have shrunk since the 1980s, particularly in northern Europe.”
Statement: “Working hours in southern Europe have increased since the 1980s.”Pick one. You'll see why straight away.