IELTS Reading True, False, Not Given: An Evidence-Checking Practice Guide
Quick answer: In IELTS Reading True, False, Not Given questions, compare the complete statement with the passage. True means it agrees, False means it contradicts the passage, and Not Given means the passage does not establish agreement or contradiction. Missing information is not automatically false. This focused evidence-checking guide includes an original exercise for students studying independently or exploring IELTS classes in Zirakpur. It is a learning activity, not a recalled test or a band prediction. Use evidence, not general knowledge The official IELTS Academic Reading format distinguishes False from Not Given and warns against using outside knowledge. Something can sound likely in real life without being established by this particular text. Reduce each statement to its main claim: who did what, when, how many or why? Then locate the relevant passage and compare all important details. A shared keyword helps you find the location; it does not by itself prove the statement. Original short passage In September, a college library extended its weekday closing time from six to eight in the evening. Its opening time remained unchanged. A survey of students had requested more evening study space. Weekend hours were not altered. The library also bought twelve new desk lamps for the upstairs reading area. The college and events in this passage are fictional. Use only the information provided when answering the following statements. 1. The library now closes later on weekdays. True. The text describes a change from six to eight in the evening. The statement expresses the same change without repeating the exact wording. 2. The library changed its weekend opening hours. False. The passage explicitly says weekend hours were not altered. There is evidence for the opposite of the claim. 3. The new desk lamps cost more than the old ones. Not Given. The text gives the number of new lamps but no comparison of their prices. You cannot decide this claim from the purchase alone. 4. The library began opening earlier in September. False. The opening time remained unchanged. Do not confuse a later closing time with an earlier opening time. Check the small words that change the claim Words such as all, some, only, before and because can change the meaning of an otherwise familiar sentence. A passage about some students does not necessarily establish a claim about all students. Likewise, an event happening after another event does not automatically prove that one caused the other. For example, the passage says a survey requested more evening study space. It does not say every student supported the change. Do not assume universal agreement simply because a survey is mentioned. A practical review checklist Underline the statement’s complete claim, including limits or comparisons. Locate the relevant sentence and read nearby context. For True, explain how the meanings match. For False, point to the contradictory detail. For Not Given, identify the information needed to decide the claim that the passage does not provide. Keep an error log with the statement, your answer, the relevant passage and one-sentence reasoning. If you repeatedly choose False for missing details, practise price, reason and comparison statements where information is absent. Frequently asked questions Does Not Given mean the topic is never mentioned? No. The topic may appear, but the exact claim may still lack enough information. The lamp example mentions a purchase without establishing a price comparison. Can I answer using what I already know? No. Base your answer on the passage rather than your knowledge or assumptions. Are Yes, No, Not Given labels interchangeable? Follow the labels in your task. IELTS uses a separate question type for a writer’s views or claims; do not substitute answer labels from another question. Plan your next IELTS practice step If locating evidence or separating False from Not Given is difficult, ask Blissway about current IELTS class availability. Share your current level, target band and intended test date. Explore the Academic vs General Training guide or contact the team. Ask about IELTS classes on WhatsApp Call +91 99993 36414
