IELTS Band 6 Plan Week 2: Reading and True/False/Not Given

This week's sessions

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Day 1 · 📖 Reading · about 20 minTrue / False / Not Given: the rulesRead this week's lesson, then the True/False/Not Given guide, and try every example before you check the answer.
Day 2 · 📖 Reading · about 20 minTrue / False / Not Given practiceComplete the practice set below. For each answer, find the exact sentence in the passage that proves it.
Day 3 · 📖 Reading · about 25 minReading practice test 1Do one passage in 20 minutes using the skim-then-scan routine. Note how long each question took.
Day 4 · 📖 Reading · about 25 minReading practice test 2Do the passage in 20 minutes. If a question takes longer than 90 seconds, guess and move on.
Day 5 · 🔤 Vocabulary · about 20 minDaily practiceDo today's 10 daily questions, then reread the reading passages from this week and underline 10 useful words.

This week's lesson: finding answers fast, and True / False / Not Given

At band 6, you need about 23 correct answers out of 40 in Academic Reading. Most people don't run out of English; they run out of time. The secret is to stop reading every word and start searching for the answer.

Skim first, then scan

Skim (2–3 minutes): read the title, the first sentence of each paragraph and the last paragraph. Now you know what each paragraph is about.
Scan (for each question): pick a word from the question that's easy to find, such as a name, a number, a date or a capital letter. Move your eyes quickly down the passage until you find it, then read the sentences around it carefully.

Question: In what year did the first public library open in the city? Scan for a year (four numbers). You don't need to read the paragraphs about buildings or books.

Answers usually come in order

For most question types (True/False/Not Given, sentence completion, multiple choice), the answers follow the order of the passage. If you've found the answer to question 3, the answer to question 4 comes after it.

True, False or Not Given?

This question type worries many learners, but it follows simple rules:

True: the passage says the same thing, usually in different words.
False: the passage says the opposite.
Not Given: the passage doesn't say whether it's true or not.

Passage: The bridge was opened in 1932 and is used by around 150,000 vehicles every day. 1. The bridge opened in the 1930s. → True (1932 is in the 1930s) 2. The bridge opened in the 1920s. → False (it says 1932) 3. The bridge was expensive to build. → Not Given (cost isn't mentioned)

Don't use what you know

Answer only from the passage. Even if you know a fact is true in real life, if the passage doesn't say it, the answer is Not Given.

Watch the small words

Words like all, some, only, never, always, most change the meaning:

Passage: Most visitors arrive by train. Statement: All visitors arrive by train. → False, because most isn't all.

Try it

Passage: Some of the museum's paintings are now displayed online. 1. All of the paintings can be seen online. → False (some isn't all) 2. The museum plans to put more paintings online. → Not Given (no future plans are mentioned) 3. A number of the paintings can be viewed on the internet. → True (a number of = some; on the internet = online)

A routine for each passage (20 minutes)

Skim the passage (3 minutes).
Read the first question and underline the key words.
Scan, find the place, read carefully, answer.
If you can't find an answer in 90 seconds, guess, mark it and move on.

Common traps at this level

Spending 10 minutes on one question. Move on and come back.
Matching words instead of meaning. The passage uses synonyms: cheap may appear as low-cost, children as young people.
Leaving answers blank. There's no penalty for a wrong answer, so always guess.

Practice for this week

True / False / Not Given practice

Loading questions…

Weekly check: Academic Reading full test 1

Three passages in 60 minutes; aim for about 23 out of 40.

Start the weekly check

When you finish, come back to your plan home: your dashboard updates with the new score.

Answers, explanations and transcripts

Finish the test first, then open each section to check your answers. Every answer has an explanation.

True / False / Not Given practice

Passage text

The return of the night market

A Night markets have a long history in many parts of Asia, where they began as places for farmers and traders to sell goods after the heat of the day had passed. Over the last twenty years, they have also become popular in cities in Australia, Europe and North America.

B In one Australian city, a weekly night market opened in a car park in 2009 with just fifteen stalls. Today it has more than two hundred, and on a summer evening it attracts around 12,000 visitors. Most of the stalls sell food, but there are also clothes, jewellery and handmade gifts.

C Local councils often support night markets because they bring people into areas that would otherwise be empty after shops close. Several studies have found that nearby restaurants and bars also see an increase in customers on market nights.

D However, not everyone is in favour. Some residents complain about noise and traffic, and a few local shop owners say the markets take customers away from them. In response, some councils now limit the number of market nights each year.

E For many stallholders, a night market is a low-cost way to start a business. Renting a stall usually costs far less than renting a shop, and new owners can test their products before making a larger investment. Some of the most successful food stalls have gone on to open permanent restaurants.

Answer key (9 answers)

#	Question	Answer	Why
1	Night markets first started in Australia.	False	Paragraph A: they began in Asia and became popular in Australia later. The passage contradicts the statement.
2	The Australian night market described in the passage now has over two hundred stalls.	True	Paragraph B: 'Today it has more than two hundred.' Over = more than.
3	Every stall at the market sells food.	False	Paragraph B: 'Most of the stalls sell food, but there are also clothes...' Most isn't every.
4	The market is busier in summer than in winter.	Not Given	The passage gives a summer visitor number, but it says nothing about winter, so we can't compare.
5	Restaurants near night markets may get more customers on market nights.	True	Paragraph C: 'nearby restaurants and bars also see an increase in customers'.
6	All local shop owners are against night markets.	False	Paragraph D: 'a few local shop owners' complain. A few isn't all.
7	Renting a market stall is usually cheaper than renting a shop.	True	Paragraph E: 'usually costs far less than renting a shop'.
8	To reduce complaints, some councils limit the number of ___	market nights	Paragraph D: 'limit the number of market nights each year'. Paragraph E: 'have gone on to open permanent restaurants'.
9	each year. Some successful food stalls later open ___	permanent restaurants	Paragraph D: 'limit the number of market nights each year'. Paragraph E: 'have gone on to open permanent restaurants'.

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