🎯 Objective
To help learners master the critical reading skills and analytical techniques needed to accurately identify Yes, No, and Not Given responses in IELTS Reading tests, focusing on author opinions, claims, and viewpoints.
📝 Understanding Yes/No/Not Given Questions
These questions test your ability to identify the author's opinions, claims, and views. Unlike True/False/Not Given questions which focus on facts, these questions require you to understand what the author believes, argues, or claims.
| Response Type | Meaning | Key Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| YES | Statement agrees with the author's opinion/claim | Find evidence of author's agreement |
| NO | Statement contradicts the author's opinion/claim | Find evidence of author's disagreement |
| NOT GIVEN | Author's opinion/claim is not stated or unclear | No author opinion expressed |
📚 Complete Guide: Mastering Yes/No/Not Given Questions
Understanding Author's Voice vs. Factual Information
Critical Distinction: Yes/No/Not Given questions focus on the author's opinions, beliefs, claims, and viewpoints. Look for language that indicates what the author thinks, believes, argues, or suggests.
✅ YES
The author agrees with or supports the statement
Evidence: Author expresses agreement, support, or similar opinion
Strategy: Look for opinion markers and supportive language
Example: Statement: "Online learning is effective" / Passage: "I believe online education provides excellent opportunities"
❌ NO
The author disagrees with or opposes the statement
Evidence: Author expresses disagreement, criticism, or opposite view
Strategy: Find contradictory opinions or criticisms
Example: Statement: "Technology improves education" / Passage: "However, I argue that technology often distracts students"
❓ NOT GIVEN
The author's opinion is not expressed or is unclear
Evidence: No clear author opinion provided
Strategy: Cannot find author's viewpoint on the topic
Example: Statement: "Students prefer online classes" / Passage: "Online classes increased by 300%" (factual, no opinion)
🔍 Opinion Indicators
Look for: I believe, I think, I argue, it seems, apparently, clearly, obviously
Evaluative language: excellent, poor, effective, disappointing, successful
Modal verbs: should, must, ought to, might (indicating author's stance)
Reporting verbs: claims, argues, suggests, maintains, contends
Step-by-Step Analysis Process
Step 1: Identify Opinion Language (30 seconds)
- Scan for opinion markers and evaluative language
- Look for modal verbs indicating author's stance
- Find reporting verbs showing author's claims
- Distinguish between facts and opinions in the passage
Step 2: Locate Author's Viewpoint (45 seconds)
- Find the relevant section discussing the topic
- Identify what the author believes about the subject
- Look for tone and attitude indicators
- Pay attention to qualifying statements and hedging language
Step 3: Compare with Statement (15 seconds)
- YES: Does the author express agreement or support?
- NO: Does the author express disagreement or opposition?
- NOT GIVEN: Is the author's opinion unclear or absent?
- Focus on author's perspective, not just factual information
Common Traps and Solutions
✅ Effective Strategies:
- Focus on author's opinions, not just facts
- Look for evaluative and opinion language
- Pay attention to tone and attitude
- Consider the author's overall argument
- Distinguish between reporting others' views and author's own views
- Look for hedging language that shows uncertainty
❌ Common Mistakes:
- Confusing facts with opinions
- Assuming author agrees with reported views
- Ignoring qualifying language
- Missing subtle opinion indicators
- Confusing other people's opinions with author's
- Overthinking neutral factual statements
Key Opinion Markers to Watch:
Direct opinion: I believe, I think, in my view, personally
Evaluative adjectives: excellent, poor, effective, disappointing, remarkable
Certainty indicators: clearly, obviously, undoubtedly, certainly
Hedging language: seems, appears, suggests, might, possibly
Advanced Techniques
Distinguishing Author vs. Others:
Author's view: "I argue that climate change requires immediate action"
Others' view: "Critics argue that the measures are too expensive" (author reporting, not agreeing)
Key: Look for clear indicators of whose opinion is being expressed
Tone and Attitude Recognition:
Positive tone: "This remarkable development shows great promise"
Negative tone: "Unfortunately, this approach has serious limitations"
Neutral tone: "The study showed a 15% increase" (factual, no opinion)
📄 Reading Passage: The Future of Remote Work
The pandemic has fundamentally transformed how we think about work, and I believe this transformation represents one of the most significant shifts in employment practices since the Industrial Revolution. Remote work, once considered a luxury for a privileged few, has become a necessity that has proven surprisingly effective for many organizations.
In my view, the traditional office-based model was already becoming outdated before 2020. The evidence clearly suggests that many employees are more productive when working from home, freed from the distractions and time-consuming commutes associated with office life. Research conducted by Stanford University indicates that remote workers show a 13% increase in productivity, though critics argue that this data doesn't account for long-term collaboration challenges.
However, I must acknowledge that remote work is not without its drawbacks. The lack of spontaneous interaction and the difficulty in building company culture remotely are serious concerns that organizations must address. Some experts contend that creativity suffers when teams don't work together physically, but I believe this challenge can be overcome with the right digital tools and management strategies.
What seems most promising to me is the hybrid model that many companies are now adopting. This approach allows employees to enjoy the benefits of both remote and office work, creating what I consider to be an optimal work environment. Companies like Google and Microsoft have invested heavily in this model, suggesting that major tech firms see it as the future of work.
Critics maintain that remote work will lead to a decline in innovation and team cohesion, but I remain optimistic about our ability to adapt. The younger generation of workers, who have grown up with digital technology, appears particularly well-suited to this new paradigm. While there will undoubtedly be challenges ahead, I am confident that the benefits of flexible work arrangements far outweigh the potential drawbacks.
Looking forward, I expect that companies which resist this trend will find themselves at a significant disadvantage in attracting top talent. The evidence from numerous surveys shows that employees now prioritize work-life balance over traditional perks, and remote work options have become a key factor in job decisions.
🧩 Practice Questions: Yes/No/Not Given
Read the statements below and decide whether they reflect the author's opinion as Yes, No, or Not Given according to the passage.
1. The author believes remote work represents a major change in employment practices.
2. According to the author, the traditional office model was becoming outdated before the pandemic.
3. The author thinks that creativity necessarily suffers in remote work environments.
4. In the author's opinion, hybrid work models represent the optimal work environment.
5. The author believes that companies investing in remote work technology will be more successful.
6. According to the author, younger workers are particularly well-suited to remote work.
7. The author thinks the benefits of flexible work arrangements outweigh the drawbacks.
8. The author believes companies that resist remote work trends will struggle to attract talent.
9. According to the author, building company culture remotely is impossible.
10. The author thinks that remote work will completely replace traditional office work.
11. The author believes that Stanford University's research methodology was flawed.
12. According to the author, employees now prioritize work-life balance over traditional job perks.
✅ Answer Key & Detailed Analysis
1. YES - "The author believes remote work represents a major change in employment practices."
Supporting Evidence: "I believe this transformation represents one of the most significant shifts in employment practices since the Industrial Revolution"
Analysis: The author clearly states their belief using "I believe" and describes it as "one of the most significant shifts."
2. YES - "According to the author, the traditional office model was becoming outdated before the pandemic."
Supporting Evidence: "In my view, the traditional office-based model was already becoming outdated before 2020"
Analysis: The author directly expresses this opinion using "In my view" and states it was "already becoming outdated before 2020."
3. NO - "The author thinks that creativity necessarily suffers in remote work environments."
Contradictory Evidence: "Some experts contend that creativity suffers when teams don't work together physically, but I believe this challenge can be overcome"
Analysis: The author mentions others' concerns but explicitly disagrees, stating they believe the challenge "can be overcome."
4. YES - "In the author's opinion, hybrid work models represent the optimal work environment."
Supporting Evidence: "creating what I consider to be an optimal work environment"
Analysis: The author explicitly states "I consider" hybrid models to be "optimal work environment."
5. NOT GIVEN - "The author believes that companies investing in remote work technology will be more successful."
Missing Information: While the author mentions companies have "invested heavily," there's no opinion about their future success
Analysis: The author reports investment as fact but doesn't express an opinion about resulting success.
6. YES - "According to the author, younger workers are particularly well-suited to remote work."
Supporting Evidence: "The younger generation of workers, who have grown up with digital technology, appears particularly well-suited to this new paradigm"
Analysis: The author expresses this view using "appears particularly well-suited."
7. YES - "The author thinks the benefits of flexible work arrangements outweigh the drawbacks."
Supporting Evidence: "I am confident that the benefits of flexible work arrangements far outweigh the potential drawbacks"
Analysis: The author clearly states their confidence that benefits "far outweigh" drawbacks.
8. YES - "The author believes companies that resist remote work trends will struggle to attract talent."
Supporting Evidence: "I expect that companies which resist this trend will find themselves at a significant disadvantage in attracting top talent"
Analysis: The author expresses this expectation using "I expect" and predicts a "significant disadvantage."
9. NOT GIVEN - "According to the author, building company culture remotely is impossible."
Missing Information: The author mentions it as a "serious concern" but doesn't say it's impossible
Analysis: While acknowledging difficulty, the author doesn't express an opinion that it's impossible.
10. NOT GIVEN - "The author thinks that remote work will completely replace traditional office work."
Missing Information: The author supports hybrid models, not complete replacement
Analysis: The author advocates for hybrid models combining remote and office work, not complete replacement.
11. NOT GIVEN - "The author believes that Stanford University's research methodology was flawed."
Missing Information: The author reports the research and mentions critics' views but doesn't express personal opinion about methodology
Analysis: The author presents the research factually and reports critics' concerns without expressing their own view on methodology.
12. NOT GIVEN - "According to the author, employees now prioritize work-life balance over traditional job perks."
Missing Information: The author reports survey evidence but doesn't express their personal opinion
Analysis: The author states "The evidence from numerous surveys shows" - this is reporting facts, not expressing personal opinion.
🏆 Complete Analysis Guide and Strategies
🔍 Opinion Marker Analysis Techniques:
Question 1 Analysis:
Opinion marker: "I believe" - direct author opinion
Decision process: Clear author statement → YES
Question 3 Analysis:
Contrast structure: "Some experts contend... but I believe"
Decision process: Author disagrees with experts → NO
Question 5 Analysis:
Missing opinion: Reports investment as fact, no opinion on success
Decision process: No author opinion expressed → NOT GIVEN
⚠️ Common Trap Analysis:
Trap 1: Facts vs. Opinions
• Statement: "Companies are investing in hybrid models"
• Trap thinking: "The passage mentions investment, so it's YES"
• Correct approach: Check if author expresses opinion about investment, not just reports it
Trap 2: Others' Views vs. Author's Views
• "Critics argue that..." vs "I believe that..."
• Trap: Assuming author agrees with reported views
• Solution: Look for author's explicit stance on others' opinions
📊 Decision Tree for Yes/No/Not Given:
Step 1: Can I find the author's opinion on this topic?
→ NO: Answer is NOT GIVEN
→ YES: Continue to Step 2
Step 2: Does the author's opinion support the statement?
→ YES: Answer is YES
→ NO: Continue to Step 3
Step 3: Does the author's opinion contradict the statement?
→ YES: Answer is NO
→ UNCLEAR: Answer is NOT GIVEN
🎯 Advanced Strategies for Each Type:
For YES answers:
- Look for direct opinion statements (I believe, I think, I argue)
- Find evaluative language showing author's positive stance
- Check for supporting arguments and reasoning
For NO answers:
- Find explicit disagreement or contradiction
- Look for negative evaluative language
- Identify where author challenges or refutes claims
For NOT GIVEN answers:
- Distinguish between factual reporting and opinion expression
- Avoid inferring opinions not explicitly stated
- Check if topic is mentioned but author's view is unclear
📝 Essential Opinion Language for Yes/No/Not Given:
Direct opinion markers:
• I believe/think/argue/contend/maintain
• In my view/opinion • Personally • It seems to me
Evaluative language:
• Positive: excellent, effective, successful, promising, optimal
• Negative: poor, disappointing, inadequate, problematic
Certainty/uncertainty markers:
• Certain: clearly, obviously, undoubtedly, certainly
• Uncertain: seems, appears, suggests, possibly, probably
⏰ Time Management for Yes/No/Not Given Questions:
Recommended timing per question: 90 seconds
• 20 seconds: Locate topic in passage
• 40 seconds: Identify author's opinion markers
• 20 seconds: Compare with statement
• 10 seconds: Make final decision
Quick decision tips:
• If you can't find clear opinion markers, choose NOT GIVEN
• When author reports others' views without comment, likely NOT GIVEN
• Look for "but," "however," "although" to find author's true stance
🔄 Practice Exercises for Improvement:
Daily practice routine:
- Read opinion articles and identify author's stance on various topics
- Practice distinguishing facts from opinions in news articles
- Create your own Yes/No/Not Given questions from opinion pieces
- Focus on identifying hedging and qualifying language
Common topics to practice:
• Editorial articles and opinion pieces
• Book and movie reviews
• Academic articles with author commentary
• Blog posts expressing personal views
• Letters to editors
📈 Scoring Tips:
Accuracy targets for 12 questions:
• Band 6.0: 7-8 correct out of 12
• Band 7.0: 9-10 correct out of 12
• Band 8.0: 11-12 correct out of 12
Improvement strategies:
• Focus on distinguishing author's voice from others'
• Practice with texts that have clear opinion markers
• Build vocabulary of evaluative and opinion language
• Analyze mistakes to understand opinion vs. fact confusion