IELTS Yes No Not Given
Yes No Not Given can feel frustrating because the statements often sound close to the passage. The real challenge is not just locating the topic. It is deciding whether the writer actually agrees, disagrees, or never gives that opinion clearly at all.
How should you solve IELTS Yes No Not Given questions?
Focus on the writer's opinion or claim, not just the topic. A strong Yes No Not Given strategy is to find the relevant part of the passage, decide whether the writer agrees, disagrees, or never gives that view, and avoid adding your own inference.
Quick Facts
- Core skill:Writer-view judgement
- Most common trap:Confusing No with Not Given
- Best review habit:Prove the writer's view from the text
This task becomes easier when you judge the writer's position step by step
Many candidates treat this like a general reading question. It is more precise than that, because the answer depends on the writer's expressed viewpoint.
Step 1
Remember that the task is about the writer's view
Yes / No / Not Given asks about opinion or claim, not just factual detail.
Step 2
Match the statement to the writer's meaning
You need to decide whether the writer agrees, disagrees, or simply does not comment on that exact idea.
Step 3
Separate contradiction from absence
No means the writer says the opposite. Not Given means the writer does not clearly say it either way.
Step 4
Avoid adding your own logic
Choose only from what the writer actually says, not what seems likely or reasonable.
Most wrong answers come from a few repeat trap patterns
Related but not stated
A statement may sound plausible from the topic, but if the writer never gives that opinion, the answer is Not Given.
Reworded contradiction
The writer may disagree indirectly, so the language changes but the meaning still becomes No.
Fact versus opinion confusion
This task focuses on what the writer thinks or claims, not only on neutral information in the passage.
Inference trap
If you have to guess the writer's view beyond the text, the answer is often Not Given.
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Passage-based practice makes the Yes / No / Not Given logic much clearer
The drill below gives you short passages and writer-view statements so you can practise the real judgement this question type requires.
Judge the writer's view
This question type tests whether a statement matches the writer's opinion, contradicts it, or is simply not mentioned.
Passage
The Role of Urban Parks
The writer argues that urban parks should be seen as essential public infrastructure rather than decorative extras. In the writer's view, they improve physical health, support social interaction, and even help cities manage heat more effectively.
However, the article also suggests that simply creating more green areas is not enough. Without regular maintenance and safe access, many parks fail to deliver their full benefits.
The writer is critical of city authorities that treat park spending as optional during budget cuts, and believes this short-term approach creates larger social costs later.
Statement 1
The writer believes urban parks are less important than transport systems.
Statement 2
The writer thinks poor maintenance can reduce the value of parks.
Statement 3
The writer says city parks are used more often by older residents than by children.
Tip: Yes and No are about the writer's opinion. Not Given means the opinion is absent.
Review is where this Reading question type improves fastest
Underline the exact phrase that proves Yes or No when it exists.
If you cannot point to a line, ask whether the answer is actually Not Given.
Check whether you answered from the writer's opinion or from your own logic.
Compare this task with True / False / Not Given so you do not mix opinion and fact questions.
Need stronger Reading accuracy on opinion-based questions?
If Yes No Not Given still feels slippery, the next step is targeted practice that improves writer-view judgement and timing together.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes No Not Given focuses on the writer's opinions or claims, while True False Not Given focuses more on factual information in the passage.
It means the writer does not clearly express that opinion or claim in the passage, so you cannot safely choose Yes or No.
A common mistake is choosing No when the passage does not actually contradict the statement. If the writer never gives the view, the answer is Not Given.
Find the relevant part of the passage, check the writer's exact viewpoint, and decide whether it matches, contradicts, or is absent from the statement.
Related Tools & Resources
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Explore ToolIELTS Mock Test
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