Welcome to Mastering "Yes/No/Not Given"!
Hello there! If you have ever felt confused by the Yes/No/Not Given questions in the IELTS Reading test, you are not alone. Many students find these tricky because they aren't just looking for facts; they are looking for the writer’s opinion. In this chapter, we will break down exactly how to identify what the writer thinks, so you can stop guessing and start scoring higher.
Understanding this task is vital because it appears frequently in the General Training Reading paper. By the end of these notes, you will know how to spot the difference between what a writer claims and what they simply haven't mentioned at all.
What is the "Yes/No/Not Given" Task?
In this task, you are given a list of statements. You must decide if they match the opinions or claims of the writer. Here is how the marking works:
YES: The statement agrees with the claims of the writer.
NO: The statement contradicts (says the opposite of) the claims of the writer.
NOT GIVEN: It is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this because it isn't mentioned.
Important Marking Note: You must write the full word "YES", "NO", or "NOT GIVEN" on your answer sheet (though "Y", "N", or "NG" are usually accepted, writing the full word is safer). You get 1 mark for each correct answer. There are no half-marks, so precision is everything!
Did you know? These questions almost always follow the order of the text. This means once you find the answer to Question 1, the answer to Question 2 will be further down the page. This is a lifesaver for your pacing and timing!
Step 1: Understanding the Difference Between Fact and Opinion
Before we look at the text, we need to know what an opinion looks like. True/False/Not Given is about facts (dates, names, events). Yes/No/Not Given is about the writer's "voice."
Example of a Fact: "The company was founded in 1994."
Example of an Opinion: "The company's growth has been impressive." (The word "impressive" shows what the writer thinks).
Strategy Tip: Look for "opinion verbs" and adjectives in the statements, such as: believe, claim, suggest, feel, argue, or think.
Step 2: How to Identify "No" vs. "Not Given"
This is where most students lose marks. Let's use a simple analogy to make it clear.
The Text: "I think traditional offices are becoming less popular."
Statement A: The writer believes traditional offices are still very popular.
Answer: NO. (The statement says the opposite of the writer's opinion).
Statement B: The writer believes traditional offices are too expensive.
Answer: NOT GIVEN. (The writer might think they are expensive, but they didn't say that. They only talked about popularity).
Quick Rule: If the statement says "A is good" and the text says "A is bad," the answer is NO. If the statement says "A is good" and the text doesn't mention if A is good or bad, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
Step 3: Watch Out for "Qualifiers"
IELTS examiners love using "qualifiers"—small words that change the whole meaning of a sentence. If you ignore these, you will lose marks.
Common Qualifiers:
- All, Every, Only (These are very strong)
- Some, Many, Often, Occasionally (These are more moderate)
Weak Version (Ignoring qualifiers):
Statement: Most people prefer working from home.
Text: Some people prefer working from home.
Candidate thinks: "They both talk about working from home, so it's YES." (WRONG!)
Improved Version (Focusing on qualifiers):
Statement: Most people prefer working from home.
Text: Some people prefer working from home.
Candidate thinks: " 'Most' and 'Some' are different amounts. The writer didn't say most, only some. Therefore, the answer is NO." (CORRECT!)
Step 4: Step-by-Step Strategy for the Exam
Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; follow these steps every time:
- Read the statement first: Underline the "opinion" words (e.g., useful, difficult, unlikely).
- Identify the "Target": What specific thing is the writer giving an opinion on?
- Scan the text: Look for synonyms (words with the same meaning). The exam will rarely use the exact same words.
- Compare meanings: Does the writer's view match, contradict, or is it missing?
- Check for Modals: Look for words like must, can, might, or should. They often indicate the writer's level of certainty.
High-Value Vocabulary for Y/N/NG
To succeed, you should be familiar with these phrases that often appear in the text to signal an opinion:
- "It is often claimed that..."
- "In my view..."
- "The evidence suggests..."
- "It is highly likely that..."
- "There is little doubt that..."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using your own knowledge: Even if you know a statement is true in real life, if the writer doesn't say it, the answer is NOT GIVEN. The test only cares about what is on the paper.
2. Searching for exact words: If the statement says "The manager was unhappy," the text might say "The supervisor expressed dissatisfaction." Always look for synonyms!
3. Overthinking "Not Given": If you have spent 2 minutes looking for an answer and can't find it, it is probably NOT GIVEN. Don't waste time searching for a ghost!
Key Takeaway Summary
- YES/NO/NOT GIVEN measures your ability to identify the writer's opinions and claims.
- YES means the writer agrees; NO means the writer explicitly disagrees.
- NOT GIVEN means the writer does not express that specific opinion.
- Always look for synonyms and pay close attention to qualifiers like all, some, or often.
- The questions follow the order of the text—use this to manage your time!
Keep practicing! Identifying opinions is a skill that gets much easier the more you do it. You’ve got this!