In this tutorial, ex-examiner Robert answers true-false not given questions in the IELTS Reading test.

We look at: 

The best approach to answer True/False/Not Given questions

A step-by-step guide to answering True/False/Not Given questions

Sample answers to two True/False/Not Given Questions

How the True/False/Not Given Questions may trick you into answering incorrectly

The best approach to answer True/False/Not Given Questions

Now, the best approach is to read the True/False/Not Given statements, make the meaning clear to yourself, pick out the keywords, then scan the text to find the relevant part and start to match that with the statement.

Sample True/False/Not Given question #1

The Emirates Mars Mission

The international scientific community was taken aback when, in 2014, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced it would send a mission to Mars by December 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the country’s founding. After all, the nation had no space agency and no planetary scientists, and had only recently sent its first satellite into orbit. Six years on and UAE’s fully assembled Mars orbiter has undergone tests at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai and will be launched sometime in July this year.  

The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) is unique in that it will mark the first interplanetary venture of any Arab nation.  Upon reaching the red planet in February 2021, the orbiter, known as Hope, or Amal in Arabic, will produce the first global map of the Martian atmosphere. And, somewhat unusually for a space mission, unrestricted access to its data will be freely available.  

Goals other than space exploration underlie this incredible achievement, however. The small, oil-rich Gulf state hopes the Mars project can accelerate its transformation into a knowledge economy—by encouraging research, degree programmes in basic sciences and inspiring youth. The Mars mission is a mega-project designed to cause “a big shift in the mindset”, according to Omran Sharaf, the mission’s project manager. 

Right, so this is what I understood after a quick read: UAE Mars mission. Unique in Arab world. Map Mars atmosphere. Plans to change “mindset” as a result of achievement. 

TRUE               if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE              if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN    if there is no information on this

1   Scientists were surprised when the UAE launched its first satellite.

2   Anyone will be able to learn more about the planet Mars.

3   Young graduates will soon join the space exploration project.

 

Sample answer to True/False/Not Given question #1

Statement 1. Scientists were surprised when the UAE launched its first satellite.

What are the keywords? 

Nouns: scientists, UAE, satellite. Verbs: surprised, launched. 

Let’s match that with the text. 

It begins with “The international scientific community was taken aback”.  Good so far. Obviously “scientists” corresponds to “international scientific community” and “was taken aback” means was VERY surprised. Could statement 1 be true, then?

But wait. This “great surprise” refers to the fact that the UAE “announced it would send a mission to Mars by December 2021”, not to the launching itself and the launching? Read on. At the end of paragraph 1: “and will be launched sometime in July this year”. So, in this report, the orbiter is yet to be launched and therefore the statement is FALSE. 

Statement 2. Anyone will be able to learn more about the planet Mars.

Keywords? Anyone which means absolutely no limits on future possibilities to learn about Mars. 

Checking that with the text, we see at the end of paragraph 2, “And,