Verbal Reasoning has 44 questions and roughly 30 seconds per question, so you cannot afford to agonise. True/False/Can't Tell questions become quick once you apply three strict rules.
The three rules
- True: the passage states it, or it follows directly from what is stated.
- False: the passage states the opposite, or something that cannot be true at the same time.
- Can't Tell: the passage does not give enough information. This includes statements that are probably true in real life.
Traps to watch
- Strength words: "most", "all", "some", "usually". If the passage says "many", the statement "most" is Can't Tell, not True.
- Outside knowledge: if you know it is true but the passage does not say it, the answer is Can't Tell.
- Opinions: "The author believes X" is different from "X is true".
A fast reading method
- Read the statement first and pick out one or two key words.
- Scan the passage for those words (or synonyms).
- Read the sentence before and after the match, then decide.
💡 If you cannot find the key idea in about 20 seconds, it is often Can't Tell — but flag it and check if time allows.