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