IELTS Reading Technique

Master the Yes/No/Not Given Question Type

✅ What is a YES answer?

YES means the statement matches or agrees with the information given in the passage. The key information in the statement can be found in the text, even if expressed differently.

🎯 How to Apply the YES Technique:

  1. Identify the key words in the statement
  2. Scan the passage for those key words or synonyms
  3. Check if the information matches exactly
  4. Look for paraphrasing - same meaning, different words
  5. Confirm there's no contradiction

🔍 Why Choose YES:

  • The passage confirms the statement
  • Synonyms or paraphrases support the claim
  • The meaning is identical, even if words differ

Example: Identifying a YES Answer

Passage: "The Great Barrier Reef, stretching over 2,300 kilometers along Australia's northeast coast, is the world's largest coral reef system."
Statement: "The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of Australia."
YES

Analysis: The passage states it's "along Australia's northeast coast" which matches "off the coast of Australia" - same location, different wording.

Common YES Patterns:

  • Synonyms: "large" = "enormous", "fast" = "rapid"
  • Paraphrasing: "caused by" = "resulted from"
  • Numbers: Exact dates, figures, percentages match

❌ What is a NO answer?

NO means the statement contradicts or disagrees with the information in the passage. The text provides information that directly opposes what the statement claims.

🎯 How to Apply the NO Technique:

  1. Find the relevant section in the passage
  2. Look for opposite information
  3. Check for contradictory facts (dates, numbers, names)
  4. Identify opposing statements
  5. Ensure it's a direct contradiction, not missing information

🔍 Why Choose NO:

  • The passage states the opposite
  • Different facts (wrong dates, places, numbers)
  • The text directly refutes the claim

Example: Identifying a NO Answer

Passage: "Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia in the 11th century by a goat herder."
Statement: "Coffee was discovered in Yemen in the 11th century."
NO

Analysis: The passage clearly states "Ethiopia" while the statement claims "Yemen" - this is a direct contradiction of location.

Common NO Indicators:

  • Wrong facts: Different dates, places, people
  • Opposite meanings: "increased" vs "decreased"
  • Contradictory statements: "always" vs "never"

❓ What is a NOT GIVEN answer?

NOT GIVEN means the information in the statement is neither confirmed nor contradicted by the passage. The text simply doesn't mention this information at all.

🎯 How to Apply the NOT GIVEN Technique:

  1. Search thoroughly for the key information
  2. Check if any part of the statement is mentioned
  3. Don't use outside knowledge or assumptions
  4. Ensure it's truly absent, not just hard to find
  5. Remember: no information = NOT GIVEN

🔍 Why Choose NOT GIVEN:

  • The topic isn't mentioned in the passage
  • Some details are given but not the specific claim
  • The passage is silent on this particular point

Example: Identifying a NOT GIVEN Answer

Passage: "The Wright brothers made their first successful flight on December 17, 1903. The flight lasted 12 seconds."
Statement: "The Wright brothers studied engineering at university."
NOT GIVEN

Analysis: The passage talks about their flight but says nothing about their education or university studies.

NOT GIVEN Traps to Avoid:

  • Don't assume: Even if it seems logical
  • Don't guess: Base answers only on the text
  • Don't use general knowledge: Stick to passage information only

🎯 Practice Exercise

Test your Yes/No/Not Given technique with these examples!

Passage:

"Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity using photovoltaic cells. Modern solar panels can achieve efficiency rates of up to 22% in commercial applications."

Statement:

Solar panels can convert more than 20% of sunlight into electricity.

YES
NO
NOT GIVEN

Passage:

"The Amazon rainforest produces approximately 20% of the world's oxygen. It covers 5.5 million square kilometers across nine countries."

Statement:

The Amazon rainforest is the largest producer of oxygen in the world.

YES
NO
NOT GIVEN

Passage:

"The Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889 and stands 324 meters tall. It was originally built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair."

Statement:

The Eiffel Tower was built as a permanent monument to French engineering.

YES
NO
NOT GIVEN