IELTS Reading: False vs. Not Given, Explained With Examples

If you keep changing an IELTS Reading answer from False to Not Given and back again, I would start by checking what you are trying to prove. Are you comparing the statement with the passage, or deciding whether the statement sounds reasonable?

The difference is straightforward: False means the passage contradicts the statement. Not Given means the passage does not provide enough information to establish whether the statement is true or false. True means the statement agrees with the passage.

The difficulty comes when a passage mentions the same topic but does not establish the particular claim in the question. I will show you how to separate those two things, using examples you can work through before your next practice session.

False vs. Not Given: compare the exact claim

Suppose a passage says:

The university introduced a free bus service for its students in 2024.

Now compare that sentence with these statements.

1. Students do not have to pay to use the bus service.

True. The word “free” establishes that students do not have to pay. The wording has changed, but the meaning agrees with the passage. You do not need to find an identical sentence.

2. The university introduced the service in 2023.

False. The passage gives 2024 as the introduction date. That directly contradicts 2023. I can identify the evidence that makes the statement incorrect.

3. The university introduced the service because students had difficulty finding parking.

Not Given. We know what the university introduced, who the service was for, and when it began. We do not know why it was introduced. Parking difficulties might be a reasonable explanation, but the passage has not supplied that explanation.

This third statement is where the distinction becomes useful. The passage certainly mentions the bus service. What it does not establish is the reason for introducing it. A topic being present does not mean every claim about that topic has been answered.

How I would work through the question

Before searching the passage, identify the part of the statement you need to check. In the examples above, those parts were payment, the introduction date, and the reason for introducing the service. If you search only for “university” and “bus,” you may find the right sentence and still miss what the question is asking.

1. Read the complete statement. Identify who or what it concerns and what is being claimed. Notice any date, quantity, comparison, condition, or reason that changes its meaning.
2. Find the relevant information. Names and distinctive terms can help you locate it. Then read the sentence and the surrounding explanation carefully.
3. Compare the meanings. Does the passage support the claim? Does it contradict it? Or is a necessary detail missing?
4. Choose the label supported by that comparison. For False, you should be able to explain the contradiction. For Not Given, you should be able to identify what the passage leaves unresolved.

I find that this gives your review a purpose as well. Instead of remembering that question three was Not Given, you understand that the missing information was the reason. That is something you can recognize again in a different passage.

Why familiar words can lead to the wrong answer

Keywords help you locate information. They do not settle the answer by themselves. A statement can contain the same people, place, and activity as the passage while adding a detail the passage never gives.

Consider this sentence:

The college provides a limited number of scholarships each year.

Now consider the statement: “The college provides ten scholarships each year.” The topic matches, and “limited number” tells us there is a restriction. It does not tell us the number is ten. The answer is Not Given.

If the passage instead said that the college provided six scholarships each year, the statement about ten would be False. We would have a specific number that contradicts it.

The useful question is therefore not simply, “Did I find these words?” It is, “Did I find the information that establishes this claim?”

Three mistakes I would check in your practice

Treating an unsuccessful search as Not Given

Sometimes the information is present in different words. “Without charge” can express the same meaning as “free,” while “commenced” can express “began.” Before deciding that information is missing, check whether you have overlooked a paraphrase.

Using your own knowledge to complete the passage

You might know that free transport can reduce parking demand. That knowledge does not establish the university's reason in the example. Keep your answer tied to what the passage actually tells you. This is also part of the official IELTS Reading guidance.

Assuming a stronger claim is automatically False

Suppose a passage says that some students use a study room. A question says that all students use it. The word “some” alone does not establish what every student does. I would look for information about the remaining students before deciding whether the stronger claim is contradicted or simply unestablished. Words such as “all,” “only,” and “always” deserve attention, but they are not automatic answer signals.

Try this short True, False, Not Given exercise

Read the passage, then decide whether each statement agrees with the information.

A city library began running evening workshops in September 2025. The workshops take place every Tuesday and Thursday and last 90 minutes. Registered library members can attend without charge. Nonmembers pay a small fee.

1. The library began the evening workshops in September 2024.
2. The workshops take place twice a week.
3. The fee for nonmembers is more than ₱100.
4. The workshops are most popular with young adults.
5. Each workshop lasts one and a half hours.
6. Registered library members must pay to attend.

Answers and explanations

1. False. The passage gives September 2025, which contradicts September 2024.
2. True. Every Tuesday and Thursday means twice a week.
3. Not Given. A fee is mentioned, but its amount is not provided. “Small” does not establish whether it exceeds ₱100.
4. Not Given. The passage does not compare the workshops' popularity among different age groups.
5. True. Ninety minutes is one and a half hours.
6. False. Members can attend without charge, which contradicts the requirement to pay.

If you got an answer wrong, return to the particular detail you needed. Did you miss the date? Did you overlook a paraphrase? Did you supply an amount or an age group from your own assumptions? Your next practice session will be more useful if you know which of those happened.

Use the explanation to improve your next attempt

When you review a Reading exercise, I recommend writing a short explanation beside each answer you missed. For a False answer, note the conflicting information. For a Not Given answer, note the missing detail. You will begin to see whether you struggle with locating information, understanding the sentence, or separating evidence from an assumption.

This is the kind of purposeful preparation I want you to build with the Lexis Success Package. Use your readiness check and study plan to identify what needs attention, learn the approach through the masterclasses, and work on it in Practice Studio before assessing your progress in a full mock exam. You have a clear next step instead of another unexplained score.

If you have been practicing repeatedly without seeing progress, I also explain how to make your IELTS, PTE, or MET preparation more useful. Understanding why an answer is correct is what makes the practice worth repeating.

Questions about False and Not Given

What is the main difference between False and Not Given in IELTS Reading?

I use contradiction as the deciding point. False requires evidence that conflicts with the statement. Not Given means the passage leaves the statement unresolved because necessary information is missing.

Can the topic be mentioned and the answer still be Not Given?

Yes. In my bus example, the service is mentioned, but its purpose is not. I check the specific claim rather than treating a topic match as a complete answer.

Does different wording make a statement False?

No. I compare meaning. “Free” and “without charge” can communicate the same information even though they use different words.

Is Yes, No, Not Given the same question type?

I apply a similar comparison of evidence, but the task concerns the writer's views or claims rather than factual information. Follow the labels in your instructions: use Yes, No, or Not Given when those are requested.

Should I keep searching until I find every word in the statement?

I would search for the relevant information and read it for meaning. Looking for an exact word match can make you miss a paraphrase. Once you have checked the relevant section and its context, decide whether the complete claim is supported, contradicted, or left unresolved.