Identifying "Can't Tell" Statements

"Can't Tell" is the most frequently misunderstood — and most frequently correct — answer in UCAT Verbal Reasoning. Many candidates select "Can't Tell" only as a last resort, when they feel confused or unsure. This is exactly backwards. "Can't Tell" is a precise, confident answer that means: "The passage does not contain sufficient information to determine whether this statement is true or false." This lesson develops your ability to recognise "Can't Tell" situations quickly and accurately.

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Why "Can't Tell" Is So Common

In a well-designed TFC question set, "Can't Tell" appears roughly as often as "True" and "False." Some sections have even more "Can't Tell" answers than either of the other two. There are good reasons for this:

1. Passages are short (200–400 words) and cannot cover every aspect of their topic
2. Statements are designed to go just beyond what the passage addresses
3. The test rewards precision — only candidates who refuse to over-infer consistently score well
4. "Can't Tell" tests the hardest skill — resisting the urge to fill in gaps with your own knowledge

If you find yourself rarely choosing "Can't Tell," you are almost certainly losing marks by over-inferring.

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The Five Categories of "Can't Tell"

Category 1: Topic Not Addressed

The statement is about something the passage does not discuss at all.

Passage: (about climate change policy in Europe) Statement: "The United States has invested more in renewable energy than any other country." Answer: Can't Tell. The passage does not mention the United States.

This is the easiest category to recognise. If you cannot find any related content in the passage, the answer is almost always Can't Tell.

Category 2: Related Topic, Insufficient Detail

The passage discusses a related topic but does not provide enough specific information to confirm or deny the statement.

Passage: "The hospital introduced a new electronic prescribing system in 2021. Staff reported that the system reduced prescribing errors." Statement: "The electronic prescribing system saved the hospital money." Answer: Can't Tell. The passage discusses error reduction, not cost savings. While reducing errors might plausibly save money, the passage does not state this.

This category is trickier because the passage feels relevant — it is about the same system. But "relevant" is not the same as "sufficient."

Category 3: Plausible But Unverifiable

The statement is very likely true given the passage, but the passage does not definitively confirm it.

Passage: "The new train line carried 2 million passengers in its first year of operation, exceeding projections by 40%." Statement: "The operators of the new train line were pleased with the passenger numbers." Answer: Can't Tell. It seems very likely that operators would be pleased with numbers exceeding projections by 40%. But the passage does not state this — operators might have had concerns about overcrowding, insufficient revenue per passenger, or infrastructure strain.

This is the hardest category. Your brain screams "obviously true!" but the passage simply does not say it. Resist the urge.

Category 4: Generalisation Beyond Scope

The passage provides information about a specific case; the statement generalises to a broader context.

Passage: "A study of 300 nurses in Scotland found that 72% experienced burnout." Statement: "Most healthcare workers in the UK experience burnout." Answer: Can't Tell. The passage is about nurses (not all healthcare workers), in Scotland (not the whole UK), in a specific sample of 300.

Category 5: Temporal Gap

The passage provides information about one time period; the statement refers to a different time period.

Passage: "In 2020, the company reported revenue of £50 million." Statement: "The company's revenue has grown since 2020." Answer: Can't Tell. The passage provides a 2020 figure but no information about subsequent years.

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How to Recognise "Can't Tell" Quickly

The Keyword Test

When you scan the passage for the statement's keywords and find:

• No matching content at all → Very likely Can't Tell (Category 1)
• Some matching content but not about the specific claim → Likely Can't Tell (Category 2)
• Matching content but with a gap (e.g., the statement adds causation, generalisation, or a time shift) → Check carefully for Category 3, 4, or 5

The "Where Does It Say That?" Test

After reading the statement, ask yourself: "Where in the passage does it say this?"

• If you can point to a specific sentence → Consider True or False
• If you cannot point to a specific sentence → Strongly consider Can't Tell

The "Could the Opposite Also Be True?" Test