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Reading section is arguably the most confusing module of the IELTS test,
especially the True, False and Not Given questions. After observing IELTS patterns for
long time, I have came to conclusion that some of the students who get the concept of
Reading module get excellent scores all the time as compared to the students who do not
grasp the underlying techniques.
Believe it or not they are using these techniques subconsciously and that explains how
some students cannot clear IETLS Reading Module that easily. We have dedicated a
whole book on Reading Module of IELTS focusing on True, False and Not given
Questions. Please take some time to go to our Products Section of this website for more
information.
Getting familiar with the format and style of the examination should be the first task of
any student who aspires to take IETLS. You can contact with your friends or someone
who has recently given the test to know what kind of questions are being asked in IELTS
examination. The information you should know involves this question.
What are your weaknesses that could be the problem? It’s best if you start with the
problematic module first followed by other modules in descending order of difficulty.
Find which module is the most difficult one for you.
It doesn’t matter what you do, do it in English. I recommend getting active. Listen to
English radio channels (ABC, BBC). (No English song channels please). You can watch
English movies, but that is not as good as listening to radio. For you to master IELTS,
practice is needed but there is another thing which is needed that is getting the concept
right.
NOT GIVEN
Example:
Children are particularly at risk as the thick hollow stems and broad fan-like leaves lend
themselves to a variety of games.
(Note: If you think its TRUE for a moment, do not even think about it; most of the
students get it wrong. Most of the times these kind of Paraphrase questions will be asked
in IELTS to trap students. Remember when you see this type it is Not Given guys!)
If the question contains “should, must, swear, pledge, resolve, etc…” this kind of strong
words
NOT GIVEN
Examples:
In question,
(Note: there is nothing in IELTS world which is sure. When you read the articles in the
IELTS test you will find that 80 % of the time they use uncertain words that are: may,
might, seems to, can, could, etc).
If the number in the question is over the given range of numbers in the article
FALSE
Example:
In article,
The Indian revolution started from 1942 to 1947, and India finally got independence in
1947.
In the question,
The Indian revolution started from 1942 to 1947, and India finally got independence in
1948.
IELTS Reading Tip - 4
If the number in the article is over the given range of numbers in the question
NOT GIVEN
Example:
In the article,
In his recent published book, Flora Britannica (1998), Richard Mabey devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.
In the question,
Example:
In the article,
The Indian revolution started in 1942, and India finally got independence in 1947.
In the question,
The Indian revolution started from 1942 to 1947, and India finally got independence in
1947.
(Note: In the article it is just one chapter in the Britannica but in question it is the whole
book, so the article is just focusing on a one chapter and the question is mentioning the
whole Britannica).
(Note: in second example, you can see that, article is just giving a number, while the
question mentions the range of numbers).
If in article and question there is only a single number which is mentioned, locate the
information first and then just find the number from the article.
TRUE
Example:
In the article,
Flora Britannica (1998) was published by Richard Mabey and the writer devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.
In the question,
Flora Britannica was published by Richard Mabey in 1998 and writer devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.
FALSE
Example:
In the article,
Flora Britannica (1998) was published by Richard Mabey and the writer devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.
In the question,
Flora Britannica was published by Richard Mabey in 1997 and writer devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.
NOT GIVEN
Example:
In the question,
Of the three pieces of Hesse’s work described, the first is the writer’s favorite.
In the article,
The article did not mention anything about “writer’s favorite work” anywhere.
IELTS Reading Tip - 8
If there are A and B two set of information in the article, but the question only mention A
OR B,
FALSE
Example:
In the article,
Deforestation and fumes from vehicles may lead to environmental imbalance and can
cause disaster.
In the question,
Deforestation or fumes from vehicles may lead to environmental imbalance and can
cause disaster. (Pay attention to this point, it’s very tricky)
Example:
In the article,
Weeds can be removed by hand and without the use of herbicides, in order to encourage
bio-diversity.
In the question,
Weeds can be removed by hand or without the use of herbicides, in order to encourage
bio-diversity
If in the article A appears with a restricted terms, but the question only mention A
without that term,
FALSE
Example:
In the article,
Weeds can be removed by hand and without the use of herbicides only when bio-
diversity is needed.
In the question,
(Note: Question did not mentioned the restricted term “only when bio-diversity is
needed”)
In the article, the sentence is A + some conditions that is (unless or if or provided or but
or for or except… etc statement) than or that of B, but in the question only A no
subordinate clause B,
FALSE
Example:
In the article,
In the question,
In the article using possibility words “odd, opportunity, chances, many believe, possible,
likely, probable, seems, appear to, one theory is…. etc”
But question changes to certain words “convinced, fact, definitely, invariably, absolutely,
universally, accepted, well-documented, unanimously, perceived, acknowledged, all of
theories…..etc”
FALSE
Example:
In the article,
Many believe that percentages of people who are involved in accidents are found to be
under the influence of alcohol.
In the question,
Percentages of people who are involved in accidents are found to be under the influence
of alcohol had been well documented.
FALSE
Example:
In the article,
In the question,
Example:
In the article,
The main town in the region called Southhampton, somehow is the hub of UK ports.
In the question,
The main town in the region called Southhampton, is a typical hub of UK ports.
NOT GIVEN
Example
In the article,
There may be little room for further development in residential accommodation of the
Waterside. In the question,
In the question,
There are some possibilities in the articles (not necessarily) But question just give one of
those possibilities or situation (A, B and C leads to pollution in article----- pollution
caused by A in question)
NOT GIVEN
Example
In the article,
In the question,
(Note: In article three companies; Google, yahoo and MSN are mentioned but in
question, only yahoo is mentioned)
All the circumstances in the article appear in the question But the extent, emotion and
scope are different
NOT GIVEN
Example
In the article,
In the question,
Example
In the article,
In the question,
{Note: Extent means, the strength in the words, the emotions used in the words, or the
range used in the information. Also, note that second case shows the example of emotion.
You can clearly observe the difference between reasonable (it’s not very good)and
exceptional(it is brilliant)}
NOT GIVEN
The question is a conclusion, but cant be made by the given information in the article
NOT GIVEN
Example:
In the article,
The main town in the region called Southhampton is not the hub of UK ports.
In the question,
The main town in the region called Southhampton is (not) the hub of UK ports.
TRUE
Example:
In the article,
The main town in the region called Southhampton is the hub of UK ports.
In the question,
The main town in the region called Southhampton is (not) the hub of UK ports.
NOT GIVEN
“Lead to, cause, pose, contribute to, result in, affect, influence, effect, impact, bring
about, incur, create, trigger, because, in that, so, therefore, consequently, since, hence,
thus”.
“But, however, yet, in fact, on the contrary, whereas, on the other hand, conversely,
although, while, albeit, nevertheless, despite, inspite of, even if”
(Note: Always read the sentence which follows your sentence in which you are looking
for answers. If in next sentence you see, However or Yet, these kind of words, then it
means that the answer you thought for sentence is opposite)