Stop Guessing in IELTS Reading! Learn How to Solve Yes/No/Not Given Questions Correctly

Stop Guessing in IELTS Reading! Learn How to Solve Yes/No/Not Given Questions Correctly

Among all IELTS Reading question types, the “Yes / No / Not Given” set is one of the most confusing for test-takers. Even strong English users often struggle to decide whether an answer is “No” or “Not Given.”

This confusion happens because the task doesn’t only test vocabulary—it tests your ability to understand opinions, facts, and logic within a passage. Whether you’re taking IELTS Academic in Australia or IELTS General Training (GT) in Canada, mastering this question type can dramatically improve your reading band score.

Let’s break down what these questions mean, how to approach them systematically, and how to avoid common traps—with real examples and step-by-step solutions.

🧩 What Are “Yes / No / Not Given” Questions?

In this question type, you’re asked to determine whether a statement agrees with the writer’s opinion or claim (for Academic passages) or with the information given in the text (for GT passages).

You’ll see something like this in your test:

Do the following statements agree with the views/claims of the writer?
Write:
YES – if the statement agrees with the writer’s view
NO – if the statement contradicts the writer’s view
NOT GIVEN – if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

🧠 Difference Between Yes/No/Not Given and True/False/Not Given

Question Type	Used For	Based On	Example
Yes/No/Not Given	Opinions, beliefs, or theories	Writer’s viewpoint	“The researcher believes that…”
True/False/Not Given	Facts or data	Objective information	“The research was conducted in 1990.”

So, remember:

• YES/NO/NOT GIVEN = writer’s opinion
• TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN = factual information

🌍 Academic vs General Training Context

📘 IELTS Academic Reading (Australia)

These questions usually appear in research-based articles, focusing on the author’s argument or stance.
Example: “The scientist supports the use of renewable energy as the only sustainable option.”

📗 IELTS General Training Reading (Canada)

Here, they test opinions in everyday contexts like letters, reports, or reviews.
Example: “The writer believes customers should always keep a receipt.”

For both, the core skill is identifying whether a statement matches the author’s exact opinion or not.

👉 For complete practice, use these:

• IELTS Academic Reading Book (Australia) — includes 20 Academic Reading tests and all strategies for Yes/No/Not Given.
• IELTS General Training Reading Book (Canada) — includes 20 GT Reading tests with detailed solutions and vocabulary notes.

🧭 Step-by-Step Strategy to Solve Yes/No/Not Given Questions

Step 1: Read the Statements Carefully

Start with the question list. Underline keywords—especially nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

Example statement: “The researcher believes climate change can be completely reversed.”
Keywords: researcher, believes, climate change, completely reversed.

Pay attention to strong words like completely, always, never, only—these are often traps.

Step 2: Identify Synonyms and Paraphrases

The passage won’t repeat the same wording.
Example:

• “believes” → “argues,” “suggests,” “claims”
• “completely reversed” → “entirely undone,” “fully corrected”

Train your eye to recognize paraphrasing—IELTS rewards comprehension, not memory.

Step 3: Locate the Relevant Paragraph

Use skimming and scanning to find where the topic appears. Usually, statements follow a logical order, so the answer for statement 2 will be found after statement 1’s location.

Step 4: Match Meaning, Not Words

Don’t assume the answer is “Yes” just because the same words appear.
Focus on whether the idea matches, contradicts, or isn’t mentioned.

Situation	Answer
Statement agrees with the passage	YES
Statement contradicts the passage	NO
Passage does not mention or imply the statement	NOT GIVEN

Step 5: Watch Out for Qualifiers and Negatives

Words like some, most, all, rarely, not, never change meaning entirely.
If the statement says “All scientists agree…” but the passage says “Some scientists agree…” → the answer is NO because it contradicts.

Step 6: Confirm Before Moving On

If you’re unsure, choose “Not Given” rather than guessing between “Yes” and “No.” IELTS doesn’t penalize for incorrect answers, but random guesses can lower your consistency.

💬 Solved Example (Academic Reading)

Passage Extract

Recent studies indicate that coral bleaching events are increasing globally. Dr. Lee argues that while mitigation is possible, the complete reversal of coral bleaching is unlikely due to long-term ocean temperature changes.

Statements

1. Dr. Lee believes coral bleaching can be completely reversed.
2. Coral bleaching events have become more frequent around the world.
3. Dr. Lee thinks temperature change is not a factor in coral bleaching.

Answers

1 → NO
2 → YES
3 → NO

Explanation

• Statement 1: Contradicts. The passage says “complete reversal is unlikely.”
• Statement 2: Matches “increasing globally.”
• Statement 3: Contradicts because Dr. Lee does link bleaching to temperature changes.

💡 Solved Example (General Training Reading)

Passage Extract

The manager believes that employees should not be penalized for arriving late if public transport delays are beyond their control. However, staff must inform their supervisor immediately in such cases.

Statements

1. The manager supports penalizing late employees.
2. Employees must contact their supervisor if transport issues delay them.
3. The manager insists on employees using personal vehicles to avoid delays.

Answers

1 → NO
2 → YES
3 → NOT GIVEN

Explanation

• Statement 1: Contradicts. The manager says employees should not be penalized.
• Statement 2: Matches. It’s clearly stated.
• Statement 3: Not mentioned at all—so NOT GIVEN.

⚠️ Common Traps and How to Avoid Them

❌ Trap 1: Similar Words ≠ Same Meaning

Don’t assume “Yes” just because words repeat.

Statement: The policy is effective.
Passage: The policy is ineffective.
→ Same word, opposite meaning → NO.

❌ Trap 2: Misreading “Not Given”

If you can’t find any information related to the statement, or the text gives partial but not complete details—choose Not Given, not “No.”

❌ Trap 3: Ignoring Modifiers

Statement: The author believes all governments must act.
Passage: The author says some governments have acted.
→ “All” vs “Some” = NO (contradiction).

📈 Tips for Scoring Band 8+

✅ Tip 1: Always paraphrase each statement in your own words before searching.
✅ Tip 2: Focus on the writer’s tone—supportive, doubtful, or neutral.
✅ Tip 3: Never spend more than 90 seconds on one question.
✅ Tip 4: Practice with both Academic and GT passages to train for variety.
✅ Tip 5: Build topic vocabulary: science, business, health, technology, environment.

The more you read, the easier it becomes to recognize paraphrasing patterns.

📚 Practice Resources to Perfect “Yes / No / Not Given” Skills

To truly master this question type, you need consistent exposure to real IELTS-style passages and expert explanations.

For Academic Candidates 

👉 IELTS Academic Reading Book

• 20 latest Academic Reading tests
• Detailed walkthroughs for every question type (including Yes/No/Not Given)
• Vocabulary lists and time-management strategies
• Ideal for students aiming Band 7.5–9

For General Training Candidates 

👉 IELTS General Training Reading Book

• 20 updated GT Reading tests
• Authentic Canadian-context passages
• Explanation of each question logic
• Focus on real-life topics and practical vocabulary

✨ Final Thoughts

“Yes / No / Not Given” questions may seem intimidating at first, but once you understand the logic of agreement and contradiction, they become manageable.

Remember:

• YES → The writer’s view agrees.
• NO → The writer’s view contradicts.
• NOT GIVEN → The passage doesn’t mention or imply it.

Consistency and smart practice make the real difference. Use structured, exam-tested materials like:
📘 IELTS Academic Reading Book (Australia)
📗 IELTS General Training Reading Book (Canada)

With these resources and strategies, you’ll no longer fear Yes/No/Not Given questions—you’ll master them and move one step closer to your dream IELTS band score.