What each answer means
You are given statements and asked whether each one matches the information in the passage.
| Answer | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| TRUE | the passage says the same thing, usually in different words |
| FALSE | the passage says the opposite, or something that cannot be true at the same time |
| NOT GIVEN | the passage says nothing either way, or only part of what the statement claims |
True / False / Not Given is about facts. Its cousin, Yes / No / Not Given, asks the same about the writer's opinions and claims, and works the same way.
A 4-step method
- Read the statement and mark its key idea, plus any word that limits it: all, only, always, never, most, some, first, proves.
- Find the part of the passage it refers to. The statements follow the order of the text, so the answer to question 3 is after the answer to question 2.
- Compare meaning, not words. The passage will paraphrase: accelerated for contributed to an increase. Matching words can even be a trap.
- Ask the deciding question: “Does the passage tell me this is wrong?” If yes, it's FALSE. If the passage simply doesn't say, it's NOT GIVEN.
Worked example
This passage and its questions come from our free Reading Mock 1. Try the six statements before reading the answers.
The Changing Workplace
1Work arrangements have changed repeatedly as communication technology and management practices have evolved. During much of the twentieth century, office work was closely tied to a central workplace and fixed schedules. Remote work existed in some forms, but it did not become common for information-based jobs until technologies such as high-speed internet, laptops and cloud software were widely available.
2The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this change. Many organisations that had previously expected employees to work on site were forced to allow home working. After restrictions ended, companies adopted different policies. Some required employees to return to offices for most or all of the week, while others introduced hybrid arrangements that combine office and remote work.
3Research on productivity has produced mixed conclusions. Some studies suggest that remote employees can be as productive as office-based staff, but the outcome depends on the type of job, the employee's home environment, available technology and management practices. The evidence does not support the claim that remote work automatically makes every employee more productive.
4Remote work can reduce commuting time and provide greater flexibility, but it can also create new difficulties. Some employees find it harder to separate professional and personal life when both occur in the same space. Younger employees have also reported concern about having fewer informal opportunities to learn from experienced colleagues.
- Remote working became common before high-speed internet was widely available.
- The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an increase in remote working.
- All companies required their employees to return to offices after pandemic restrictions ended.
- Research proves that employees are always more productive when working remotely.
- Remote employees may find it difficult to maintain boundaries between work and personal life.
- Older employees generally prefer office work to remote work.
Answers and why
| Answer | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FALSE | Paragraph 1 says it did not become common until high-speed internet and related technologies were widely available: the opposite of the statement. |
| 2 | TRUE | Paragraph 2: the pandemic “accelerated this change”. Contributed to an increase is a paraphrase of accelerated. |
| 3 | FALSE | Paragraph 2 says some did and others introduced hybrid arrangements. The word “all” makes it false. |
| 4 | FALSE | Paragraph 3 says the results are mixed and depend on several factors. “Proves” and “always” contradict it. |
| 5 | TRUE | Paragraph 4: some find it harder to separate professional and personal life. “May” matches “some”. |
| 6 | NOT GIVEN | Only younger employees' concerns are mentioned. Nothing is said about what older employees prefer, so the passage neither agrees nor disagrees. |
The traps that catch most people
1. Using what you know
Question 6 feels true to many readers: older people might prefer offices. But the passage never says so. Judge only what the text states.
2. Missing the limiting word
All (question 3), always and proves (question 4) turn a nearly-true statement into a false one. Circle these words first.
3. Choosing FALSE when the passage is silent
FALSE needs the passage to rule the statement out. If you can't point to the words that contradict it, the answer is almost always NOT GIVEN.
4. Matching words instead of meaning
A statement can reuse the passage's exact words and still be false. Check what is being said about those words.
Questions
What is the difference between FALSE and NOT GIVEN?+
FALSE means the passage contradicts the statement: it says something that makes the statement wrong. NOT GIVEN means the passage does not give that information, so you cannot say whether it is right or wrong.
Do True / False / Not Given questions follow the order of the passage?+
Yes. The answers appear in the same order as the questions, which helps you find each one and tells you roughly where to look next.
How long should I spend on each statement?+
About a minute on average. If you cannot find the relevant part of the passage within that time, choose your best answer and move on: every question is worth one mark, so time spent stuck on one costs marks elsewhere.
Is Yes / No / Not Given the same?+
It works the same way, but the statements are about the writer's opinions and claims rather than facts.