Overview
In the IELTS Reading Yes / No / Not Given task, you will read a few statements that are based on opinions or beliefs found in the passage. Your job is to decide if each statement:
- Yes – agrees with what the writer thinks or believes
- No – disagrees with the writer’s opinion, or
- Not Given – the writer doesn’t clearly say anything about it.
✅Key Characteristics :
- This task is based on identifying the writer’s opinions or beliefs, not just facts.
- Each question is a statement, and you must decide whether the writer agrees, disagrees, or gives no opinion.
- You must choose one of the following answers:
- Yes – if the writer clearly agrees with the statement.
- No – if the writer clearly disagrees with the statement.
- Not Given – if the writer’s opinion is not mentioned or is unclear.
- The statements are usually presented in the same order as the passage.
- The words in the statement may be different from the passage, so focus on meaning, not just matching words.
- This task tests your ability to:
- Understand the author’s viewpoint
- Recognize agreement, disagreement, or absence of opinion
- You must only use information from the passage—not your own knowledge or assumptions.
- Always read the statement carefully, locate the related part of the text, and analyze the writer’s tone and opinion.
- If the writer’s opinion is not clear or not given, choose Not Given.
⭐️ Important Tips:
- Confirm you’re working on a Yes / No / Not Given task (not True / False), as the approach is slightly different.
- Words like always, never, all, none often lead to False or No answers unless strongly supported by the text.
- Write YES, NO, or NOT GIVEN exactly as instructed. Do not use abbreviations.
- Be Careful with ‘Not Given’ – If part of the statement is mentioned, but the writer’s opinion is not clear, the answer is Not Given.
- Aim to spend about 1 to 1.5 minutes per question to manage your time effectively.
- If unsure, choose your best possible answer and move on to avoid wasting time.
