Most students prefer true-false questions because they think that these types of questions are easy, and they have a 50 % chance to choose the correct answer. But in reality, true-false questions can be tricky. So, do not underestimate.

These strategies are not a magical formula for success and do not substitute them with adequate preparation. However, the following strategies can help you think logically and critically about true-false questions and enhance your ability to answer true-false questions correctly.

1.Each and every part of a statement must be true.

For a statement to be true, every part of the statement must be true. If any part of a statement is false, then the correct option is false.

Example: Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity, and they are in a solid-state at room temperature.

ANSWER: This statement is false because the second part of the statement is false. Mercury is liquids at room temperature.  So always make sure the whole statement is correct.

2.Pay attention to qualifiers.

Qualifiers are words like “sometimes, often, seldom, occasionally, really, etc.” that are more likely to reflect a true statement because they allow exceptions and possibilities to make a question true.

Example: Some children with a mental disorder may not be recognized or diagnosed.

Answer: Correct statements because the qualifiers “some” limit the extent of this statement.

 3. Beware of absolutes

Absolutes are words like “never, always, every, none, all, completely, etc.” Statement using absolutes do not allow for exceptions. If a statement is accurate, 100% of the time, it should be marked true.

Example: Birds are animals that have wings. So, all birds can fly.

Answer: False statements, due to the word all. Some birds cannot fly even though they have wings, such as ostrich, Penguin.

Example: A person who is experiencing anxiety always needs to take medication.

Answer: it is a false statement. Some people have anxiety but don’t need medication.

4. Be careful with negatives.

Negative words such as “no, not, cannot, do not” narrows down the scope of the statement. If a true-false statement contains a negative word, drop the negative word and read what remains. Without the negative, determine whether the statement is true or false. If the sentence is true, then the correct answer would be false.

Example: The United States is not in the South Pole.

Answer: This statement true (The United States is in the North Pole)

 

5. Double negatives make positive.

Two negative words in a statement indicate a positive, Just as in algebra multiplying two negative numbers equals a positive number.  Simply cross out the negatives to turn the statement into a positive one.

 

Example:  It doesn’t mean you can’t go.

                  The pilot can not find no place to land.

6. Don’t let longer statements confuse you.

Long sentences usually contain groups of words and phrases organized by punctuations.

Since we learn in the first strategy, if any part of the statement is false, then the entire statement will be false. The longer the true-false statement, the greater the chance that statement is false.

 

Example: Examples of eukaryotic cell organelles are ribosomes, which make proteins; the endoplasmic reticulum, which sorts and packages the proteins; and mitochondria, which process and package proteins.

 

Answer: This statement is false because mitochondria produce the energy molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Golgi apparatus is responsible for processing and packaging proteins.

7. Try guessing strategy

If you are taking a true-false test and you can not figure out the answer, choose true. Because consistent with experience, approximately  56% of the true-false test is “true.”

I am not advising guessing strategy as a test-taking strategy. The best strategy is to prepare well.

IELTS READING STRATEGIES

The strategy for true, false, not given

In the passage, “True, false, not given,” questions are all about real information.

  • The true answer means that the statement in your question agrees with the information in the passage.
  • If the answer is false, the statement in the question contradicts (opposite) the information in the passage.
  • When the answer, not given, there is no information provided in the passage.

The strategy for yes, no, not given

Yes, no, not given questions are all about writer opinion. What the writer thinks, what the writer is trying to tell you about his opinion.

  • The true answer means that the statement in your question agrees with the claims of the writer.
  • If the answer is no, the statement in your question contradicts the claims of the writer.
  • If the answer, not given, it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.

Techniques for true, false, not given, and yes, no, not giving exactly the same.

Note: Do not try to match keywords, and you must match the meaning.

Example

Passage: The majority of people who graduated from University found it challenging to get a job.

Question: After finishing their tertiary education, all people had difficulties finding employment.

Answer: There are lots of matching words between passage and question, but you need to be more careful. It is not all about matching keywords, but it is all about whole statements to have the same meaning. So, the correct option is false because the majority of people and all people have a different meaning.

Look for common traps.

One of the common traps is comparisons like all, some, majority. If you see a comparative sentence in your question, make sure you also find a comparison in the passage.

Answers come in order.

Each question follows the order of information in the passage. So, always start with the first question. Find question number one, and question number 2 will follow that. The reading parts very difficult in IELTS due to the time limit. This strategy helps you to save time.

 

References

  1. http://www.qetutoring.com/Home_files/Academic%20Advice%20-%20Exam%20Writing%20Strategies.pdf
  2. https://quapawtribe.com/DocumentCenter/View/240/Test-Taking-Strategies?bidId=
  3. http://manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/learning/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Important-words-in-essay-questions.pdf
  4. https://umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning/media/Verbs_Used_in_Essay_Questions_NEW.pdf
  5. https://www.educationcorner.com/taking-essay-tests.html
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP_axfR9NKM
  7. https://www.educationcorner.com/true-false-tests.html
  8. https://www.usu.edu/asp/assistance/pdf/test_strats_obj_tests.pdf
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYl9PX7Ua_Q&t=86s
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncUNgstfXcI