IELTS Reading strategies: True, False, Not Given

Summary

In this video, Emma provides a detailed guide on tackling the challenging 'True, False, Not Given' questions in the IELTS academic reading section. She explains how to identify 'true' statements by matching facts from the passage, marks 'false' when facts contradict, and clarifies when information is 'not given' in the passage. Emma also emphasizes the importance of scanning keywords, understanding synonyms, and being cautious of tricky words like 'always' or 'some.' Her advice aims to help test-takers improve their accuracy and confidence in handling this type of question.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understand the 'True, False, Not Given' question type in the IELTS academic reading section.
• 😀 The question involves reading a passage and determining if statements are true, false, or not given based on the information in the passage.
• 😀 Only write 'True' if the fact is directly supported by the passage using exact words or synonyms.
• 😀 Be cautious with words like 'always,' 'some,' 'never,' 'often,' and 'usually,' as they can change the meaning and lead to trick questions.
• 😀 'False' means the fact is the opposite of what is stated in the passage, so look for contradictions between the statement and the passage.
• 😀 'Not Given' is used when the fact is neither explicitly stated nor contradicted in the passage.
• 😀 Synonyms are important: for example, 'increase' and 'rise' mean the same thing and should be treated as equivalent.
• 😀 Avoid overthinking 'Not Given' questions—if the information isn't directly mentioned, it’s likely 'Not Given.'
• 😀 Focus on scanning key words in the statement and finding their synonyms in the passage to quickly locate relevant information.
• 😀 Don't rely on prior knowledge—if something is not in the passage, your answer must be 'Not Given,' no matter what you know about the topic.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this video?

The video focuses on explaining the 'True, False, Not Given' question type in the IELTS Academic reading section, providing strategies to help students perform better in this part of the test.

How do you determine if a statement is 'True' in the IELTS reading?

A statement is considered 'True' if it matches the information presented in the reading passage. You should only write 'True' if the fact is explicitly stated or supported by the passage, using either the exact wording or synonyms.

What role do synonyms play in answering 'True, False, Not Given' questions?

Synonyms are important because they allow you to match the facts in the passage to the statements, even if the exact words are not used. For example, 'increase' and 'rise' can be treated as synonyms when checking if a statement is 'True'.

What should you do if a statement contains words like 'always', 'never', or 'usually'?

Be cautious with these words as they can trick you. For example, if a statement says 'always' but the passage only mentions 'some' or 'usually', the statement could be false even if it seems similar to the passage.

When should you mark a statement as 'False'?

You should mark a statement as 'False' if it contradicts the information in the reading passage. For instance, if the passage states 'the first personal computer was invented in the 1970s' but the statement says 'it was invented in 1990', this would be false.

What is the key difference between 'False' and 'Not Given' questions?

The key difference is that 'False' means the statement directly contradicts the passage, while 'Not Given' means there is no information in the passage to confirm or deny the statement. 'Not Given' occurs when the passage doesn’t address the statement at all.

How do you approach a question marked as 'Not Given'?

If the passage doesn’t mention the statement or provide enough context to confirm or deny it, you should mark it as 'Not Given'. This happens even if you have outside knowledge about the topic that might make the statement true or false.

What should you do if you're unsure about a statement's answer during the exam?

If you're unsure, it’s best to mark your best guess and move on to avoid wasting time. You can always return to it later if you have extra time.

Why is it not a good idea to read the passage first before answering the 'True, False, Not Given' questions?

It’s more efficient to first look at the statements and underline the key words. This allows you to quickly scan the passage for relevant information without having to read the entire text at once.

What are some tips for managing time during the 'True, False, Not Given' section?

It’s important to spend just a little time on each question. If you're stuck, mark a guess, and don’t spend too much time searching for an answer. This way, you can avoid wasting time on a single question and keep up with the rest of the test.