IELTS Reading · Ch 02

True / False / Not Given

The writer's claim rule · opposite vs. unmentioned

Topic & Why It Matters

True / False / Not Given questions ask you to decide whether a statement agrees with factual information in the passage. They are common in IELTS Reading because they test careful comparison: you must separate what the passage clearly says from what sounds reasonable but is not actually stated.

Test-takers usually lose marks in TFNG for one of two reasons: they treat NOT GIVEN as a weak form of FALSE, or they bring outside knowledge into the decision. The examiner is not asking what is true in the world; the examiner is asking whether the passage gives enough evidence for the exact statement.

Knowledge Points

What the question type tests
True / False / Not Given (TFNG) tests whether you can compare a statement with factual information in the passage. TRUE means the passage confirms the whole statement. FALSE means the passage contradicts the statement. NOT GIVEN means the passage does not provide enough information to decide.
The writer's claim rule
You are judging the claim made by the passage, not your own knowledge. Even if a statement is factually true in the real world, it must be marked NOT GIVEN if the passage does not state or clearly support it.
FALSE is not the same as NOT GIVEN
FALSE requires an opposite or incompatible meaning in the passage. NOT GIVEN means the relevant topic may appear, but one required detail is missing. If you cannot point to the contradiction, do not choose FALSE.
Every word in the statement matters
TFNG statements often turn on small words: all, some, only, mainly, first, always, never, more than, before, after. One changed qualifier can make a statement false even when most of it matches the passage.
Questions usually follow passage order
TFNG items normally move in the same order as the passage. After locating the evidence for one item, continue scanning from that point for the next item unless the question contains a clear paragraph reference.
Paraphrase still controls the answer
The statement rarely repeats the passage wording exactly. Expect synonym changes, noun-to-verb changes, active-to-passive changes, and compressed phrasing. Your job is to compare meaning, not surface vocabulary.

Step-by-Step Strategy

1
Read the statement and mark its absolute claims
Underline names, numbers, dates, and strong qualifiers such as all, only, never, before, and mainly. These words are often where TRUE becomes FALSE.
2
Scan for the topic, not the full sentence
Use the most searchable keyword in the statement to locate the relevant passage window. If the keyword is paraphrased, scan for a synonym or related example.
3
Read the whole answer window
Read the sentence containing the keyword plus the sentence before and after it. TFNG answers often depend on contrast or limitation introduced nearby.
4
Ask the three-way test
Can I prove the statement from the passage? Choose TRUE. Can I prove the opposite from the passage? Choose FALSE. Is one required detail missing? Choose NOT GIVEN.
5
Check the qualifier before finalising
Compare the statement's scope with the passage's scope. Words like some, many, most, only, and first often determine the answer.
6
Do not over-infer
IELTS does not reward reasonable background knowledge in TFNG. If the passage says a museum expanded its online archive, that does not prove visitor numbers increased unless the passage says so.

Common Pitfalls

MistakeCorrective Rule
Choosing FALSE because you cannot find supportNo support means NOT GIVEN. FALSE requires a clear contradiction in the passage.
Ignoring small qualifiersCheck absolute and limiting words carefully. 'Some residents objected' does not prove 'most residents objected'.
Using outside knowledgeTreat the passage as the only evidence source. Real-world truth is irrelevant unless the text states it.
Matching keywords instead of meaningA statement can share several words with the passage and still be FALSE. Compare the claim, not the vocabulary.
Reading too narrow a windowRead at least one sentence before and after the keyword. The answer may be controlled by a contrast marker nearby.

Vocabulary & Signpost Bank

Expression / Stem LanguageWhat It Means for Your Strategy
all / every / always / neverAbsolute scope. One exception in the passage can make the statement FALSE.
some / several / many / mostQuantity scope. Do not upgrade a weak claim into a stronger one.
only / solely / exclusivelyRestriction. The passage must rule out all other causes, purposes, or groups.
before / after / during / sinceTime order. Check the sequence exactly; reversed chronology often signals FALSE.
however / although / whereasContrast. The answer may come after the contrast marker, not before it.
suggests / indicates / is likely toHedged evidence. Do not convert cautious language into certainty.
is caused by / leads to / results fromCause-effect claim. The passage must state the direction of causation.
the same as / different from / more thanComparison claim. Check both items being compared, not just one side.

Practice Passage & Questions

Read the passage, then answer the eight True / False / Not Given questions. Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the passage, FALSE if it contradicts the passage, or NOT GIVEN if there is not enough information.

The Changing Role of Public Libraries~382 words
A

Public libraries in many cities have changed substantially over the last twenty years. Once defined mainly by printed books and quiet reading rooms, they now offer services such as language classes, job-search workshops, digital media labs, and public internet access. This shift has been partly driven by changes in how people find information, but it has also reflected a wider understanding of libraries as civic spaces where residents can learn skills and meet others.

B

The move toward digital services has not meant that printed collections are disappearing. In a 2022 survey of urban library systems, most libraries reported stable or slightly rising borrowing figures for children's books, even while adult fiction loans declined. Library managers explained that families often use picture books and early readers alongside online resources, rather than replacing one format with another. Several systems have also expanded their print collections in languages commonly spoken by local immigrant communities.

C

Funding remains a serious constraint. Although library visits increased in many neighbourhoods after extended opening hours were introduced, the additional staffing costs made the policy difficult to maintain. Some branches reduced specialist workshops during budget reviews, while others relied on volunteers to support basic computer sessions. Researchers warn that volunteer-led services can be valuable, but they cannot fully substitute for trained staff when visitors need detailed help with legal forms, employment applications, or accessibility technology.

D

Another challenge is measuring success. Traditional indicators, such as the number of books borrowed, capture only part of a modern library's role. A teenager who uses a library computer to submit a college application may not borrow a book, but the visit may still have significant educational value. For this reason, several city councils have begun collecting broader data, including programme attendance, Wi-Fi use, study-room bookings, and community feedback.

E

Despite these changes, librarians argue that the central purpose of the institution has remained consistent: providing free access to knowledge. What has changed is the form that access takes. A library may now lend tablets, teach coding, host health-information sessions, or provide a warm public space during winter, but these activities are extensions of the same public mission rather than departures from it.

Questions 1–8. Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

1.Modern public libraries provide services beyond lending printed books.
2.The main reason libraries changed was that city governments ordered them to become civic spaces.
3.Adult fiction loans rose in most urban library systems in the 2022 survey.
4.Families may combine printed children's books with online resources.
5.All library systems expanded print collections for immigrant communities.
6.Extended opening hours increased visits in every neighbourhood.
7.Volunteer-led services are always more effective than trained staff for computer sessions.
8.Some city councils now measure library success using data other than book borrowing.

Self-Check

Answer these from memory. If you cannot answer all three, re-read the relevant section.

  1. What is the difference between FALSE and NOT GIVEN in TFNG questions?
  2. Which small qualifier words should you check before choosing an answer?
  3. Why is outside knowledge dangerous in True / False / Not Given questions?
Answers:
  1. (1) FALSE means the passage contradicts the statement. NOT GIVEN means the passage does not give enough information to prove or disprove one required part of the statement.
  2. (2) Check all, every, always, never, only, some, many, most, before, after, more than, less than, and cause-effect words such as leads to or results from.
  3. (3) The task asks whether the statement agrees with the passage. A claim may be true in real life but still NOT GIVEN if the passage does not state or clearly support it.