Learning Outcomes
After studying this article, you will be able to recognize and answer Factual Information and Negative Factual Information question types on the TOEFL Reading section. You will understand how to identify directly stated facts, spot the “EXCEPT” or “NOT” trigger in negative questions, and apply reading and elimination strategies to maximize accuracy when presented with detail questions and distractors.
TOEFL iBT Syllabus
For TOEFL, you are required to understand and answer Factual and Negative Factual Information questions in Reading passages. For revision, focus on these syllabus points:
- Identify when a reading question tests your understanding of directly stated facts or details.
- Recognize negative questions that include signal words such as “NOT” or “EXCEPT”.
- Scan for explicit information rather than making inferences.
- Eliminate distractors—incorrect answers that contradict the text, are not mentioned, or distort information.
- Distinguish factual detail questions from inference or main idea question types.
Test Your Knowledge
Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.
- What signal word is always present in a Negative Factual Information question?
- True or False: For factual questions, you should always look for information that is explicitly stated in the passage.
- If a question contains “NOT” or “EXCEPT,” what should your process be before selecting an answer?
- What is a common characteristic of an incorrect answer choice in a Negative Factual Information question?
Introduction
In the TOEFL Reading section, Factual and Negative Factual Information questions require you to focus on details stated directly in the passage. Factual questions check your ability to find and recognize key facts, definitions, reasons, and descriptions. Negative Factual Information questions, marked by words like “NOT” or “EXCEPT,” test your understanding by asking you to identify information that is either untrue or not mentioned in the text. Both types are standard on every TOEFL Reading section and demand speed, attention to detail, and the ability to avoid traps.
Key Term: Factual Information Question
A TOEFL Reading question that asks you to select a statement that is directly and clearly stated in the passage.Key Term: Negative Factual Information Question
A question type on TOEFL Reading that requires identifying an answer choice that is NOT true or NOT stated in the relevant part of the passage.Key Term: Distractor
An incorrect multiple-choice answer, often written to seem plausible but actually does not match or is contradicted by the passage.
Factual Information Questions
Factual Information questions ask for details that are plainly stated. They often use phrases like “According to the passage,” “Based on paragraph 2,” or “Which of the following is true about X?” You must retrieve information—not interpret, infer, or guess. The correct answer is in the passage, usually using the same or closely paraphrased wording.
When you see a Factual Information question:
- Note the paragraph reference, if provided.
- Scan that part of the text for the key word(s).
- Read the sentence (and a sentence before and after, if needed) to confirm.
- Match the stated fact to the answer choices.
- Beware of subtle paraphrasing in answers—choose the one that exactly expresses what the passage confirms.
Worked Example 1.1
A reading passage says:
“The Great Plains were subject to harsh dust storms. In 1932, severe drought struck, leading to the migration of many farming families to other regions in the United States.”
Question: According to the passage, what happened in 1932?
Answer:
Severe drought affected the Great Plains, prompting many families to move away.
The answer must directly state the event described for 1932 and refer to details matched exactly in the passage—not infer or introduce new information.
Negative Factual Information Questions
Negative factual questions use “NOT” or “EXCEPT” (always capitalized) in the question stem. You must find the one statement that is NOT true or not mentioned, while three other choices match the passage. The correct answer will either directly contradict the passage or, more commonly, state information that is never discussed.
Process:
- Circle or underline “NOT” or “EXCEPT” before reading the answer choices.
- Check each answer choice against the passage.
- If the choice is confirmed as true, eliminate it.
- If it contradicts the passage or is absent (not mentioned), keep it as a possible answer.
- The last remaining answer is your selection.
Key Term: “NOT” / “EXCEPT” Trigger
Bolded capitalized words in TOEFL Reading questions that signal a negative factual question type.
Worked Example 1.2
Suppose the passage says:
“Honey bees communicate through a system of dances. These dances share information about food source direction and distance. Bees do not rely on scent alone to locate nectar.”
Question: According to paragraph 2, all of the following are true about bees EXCEPT:
a) They communicate using dances.
b) Their dances include information about food source distance.
c) They rely only on scent to find food.
d) They share food source direction using dances.
Answer:
c) They rely only on scent to find food.
This choice contradicts the passage (“do not rely on scent alone”). All other options are confirmed by the text.
Exam Warning
Negative factual questions trick many students into choosing a statement that is true, forgetting the question asks for the full or partial exception. Double-check the instruction and eliminate only the answers you can match directly to the text.
Revision Tip
For negative factual questions, it can help to make a quick table or list matching each answer choice to text references. Any choice you can’t find should be considered for the correct answer.
Common Features and Traps
Both factual and negative factual questions rely on careful reading. Pay attention to:
- The precise wording of answer choices—be sensitive to paraphrasing.
- The scope (is the fact applied to all cases, some cases, or only in a special circumstance?).
- Distractors that are stated as fact but are not in the text, or that misstate or exaggerate a detail.
- For negative questions, confusing an answer that matches the text for the correct one—instead, keep it as a distractor.
Worked Example 1.3
Passage excerpt:
“The company was founded in 1991, initially focusing on electronics. In 2005, it expanded to chemical production. Its headquarters remain in Boston.”
Question: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
a) The company is based in Boston.
b) The company began in 1991.
c) It expanded to chemicals in 2005.
d) The company expanded to plastics in 2010.
Answer:
d) The company expanded to plastics in 2010.
Only choices a), b), and c) are supported by the text. Choice d) is never mentioned, making it correct for a negative factual question.
Summary
- Factual Information questions: ask about details or facts plainly stated in the passage.
- Negative Factual Information questions: ask you to identify which statement is NOT supported or is not present in the passage, using “NOT” or “EXCEPT.”
- For both, match each answer choice carefully to the text and use process of elimination for negative questions.
Key Point Checklist
This article has covered the following key knowledge points:
- Recognize Factual Information and Negative Factual Information questions in TOEFL Reading.
- Factual questions require retrieving directly stated facts, not inference.
- Negative factual questions always use “NOT” or “EXCEPT”; select the choice not supported by the text.
- For negative questions, systematically check each answer against the passage and eliminate all that are mentioned.
- Distractors may restate, exaggerate, distort, or simply not appear in the passage, so compare carefully.
- Efficient scanning, attention to keywords, and deliberate elimination are essential for accuracy on these question types.
Key Terms and Concepts
- Factual Information Question
- Negative Factual Information Question
- Distractor
- “NOT” / “EXCEPT” Trigger