IELTS Reading: Fact vs Opinion for True/False/Not Given

True/False/Not Given (T/F/NG) and Yes/No/Not Given (Y/N/NG) questions test your ability to distinguish between facts (objective, verifiable information) and opinions (subjective beliefs or judgments). The key difference between these question types: T/F/NG asks if statements match factual information in the passage, while Y/N/NG asks if statements match the writer's views or claims.

KEY DEFINITIONS:

TRUE/YES: The statement directly matches information in the text or can be logically inferred from it without contradiction.

FALSE/NO: The statement directly contradicts information in the text.

NOT GIVEN: The information is neither confirmed nor contradicted—the passage simply doesn't address this specific point.

Facts are objective statements that can be proven or disproven (e.g., "The experiment was conducted in 2019"). Opinions contain subjective language like believe, suggest, argue, claim, contend or value judgments using words like important, essential, better, worse.

Critical Rule: Never use outside knowledge! Your answer must be based solely on passage information.

The Paraphrase Principle: Cambridge IELTS rarely uses identical wording. Correct answers typically involve synonyms and rephrased concepts. For example, "devastating impact" in a question might appear as "catastrophic consequences" in the text. Recognizing these linguistic transformations is essential for accuracy.

Think of T/F/NG questions as a courtroom trial. You're the judge determining if evidence (the passage) supports, contradicts, or simply doesn't address the claim (the statement). You cannot rely on common sense or personal knowledge—only admissible evidence from the text.

REAL-WORLD ANALOGY:

Imagine reading a restaurant review: "The pasta was overcooked and bland. However, the service was excellent."

• TRUE/YES: "The reviewer criticized the pasta." ✓ (directly stated)
• FALSE/NO: "The reviewer praised the food quality." ✓ (contradicts the criticism)
• NOT GIVEN: "The restaurant uses organic ingredients." ✓ (not mentioned)

FACT vs OPINION in Context:

Passage excerpt: "Scientists argue that climate change poses significant risks. Data from 2020 shows temperatures increased by 1.2°C since 1880."

• "Scientists believe climate change is dangerous" = OPINION (uses 'argue'—a claim/view)
• "Temperatures rose by 1.2°C between 1880 and 2020" = FACT (verifiable data)

For Y/N/NG questions, you're tracking the writer's perspective. If the passage states "researchers suggest," you're identifying whether the question matches that specific viewpoint.

Practical Application: When reading newspapers, practice distinguishing editorials (opinions) from news reports (facts). This trains your brain to spot subjective language markers like should, must, arguably, unfortunately—words that signal opinion rather than objective fact.