IELTS Reading Yes No Not Given: Tips, Strategy & Practice

In this guide

1. 1What Are IELTS Reading Yes No Not Given Questions?
2. 2What Do Yes No Not Given Questions Look Like?
3. 3Step-by-Step Strategy for Yes No Not Given Questions
4. 4Worked Example: Answers Explained
5. 5Common Mistakes and Traps
6. 6How to Practise Yes No Not Given Questions
7. 7Key Takeaways

IELTS Reading Yes No Not Given questions are a specific and often challenging task that tests your ability to understand the writer's opinion, not just factual information. Unlike True/False/Not Given questions which deal with facts, these questions require you to identify whether statements agree with the writer's claims or views. This guide will give you a clear strategy, a worked example, and essential yes no not given tips to help you confidently tackle these writer's views questions IELTS Reading and understand the key differences in YNNG vs TFNG.

What Are IELTS Reading Yes No Not Given Questions?

Yes No Not Given questions are a variation of the True/False/Not Given format, but with a crucial difference: they focus on the writer's views or claims, not on factual information from the text. You will see these most often in Academic Reading passages, particularly in Passage 3, which is typically a more argumentative or discursive text. In General Training Reading, they can appear in Section 3, which also features a longer, more complex text of general interest.

Your task is to read a series of statements and decide:

• YES if the statement agrees with the writer's views or claims.
• NO if the statement contradicts the writer's views or claims.
• NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.

The key is to focus on opinion language. Look for hedging words (e.g., may, might, perhaps), evaluative adjectives (e.g., remarkable, flawed), and phrases that signal a personal stance (e.g., it is clear that, arguably, this suggests). The answers will follow the order of information in the passage, which helps you locate them efficiently.

What Do Yes No Not Given Questions Look Like?

In the test, the instructions will appear in bold, exactly like this:

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the reading passage?

In boxes 27–31 on your answer sheet, write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Here is a realistic example based on an original passage extract and questions:

The Changing Perception of Urban Green Spaces

A For much of the 20th century, city planners viewed parks and gardens largely as aesthetic amenities—pleasant additions to the urban landscape but not essential infrastructure. This perspective, however, has undergone a significant shift in recent decades. Research now consistently demonstrates that access to green spaces correlates strongly with measurable improvements in public health, from reduced cardiovascular disease to better mental well-being.

B Some economists have attempted to quantify this value, arguing that the long-term healthcare savings generated by well-maintained parks can offset their initial development and upkeep costs. While this economic argument is compelling, it arguably misses a more fundamental point: the intrinsic human need for contact with nature. It is clear that a purely financial lens cannot capture the full benefit of a community garden or a tree-lined street.

C Critics of extensive urban greening projects often point to the high cost of land in city centres. They suggest that the same funds could be used for more pressing needs, such as affordable housing or transport links. Yet this presents a false choice. Innovative design solutions, such as vertical gardens and rooftop parks, demonstrate that green space and high-density development are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, integrating nature into the built environment may be the defining design challenge of our century.

Questions 27–31

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the reading passage?

In boxes 27–31 on your answer sheet, write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

1. In the last century, city planners considered parks to be vital components of urban infrastructure.
2. The writer believes the economic case for green spaces is the strongest argument in their favour.
3. The writer agrees with critics that urban greening projects are too expensive to justify.
4. The writer suggests that high-density development and green spaces can coexist.
5. Government funding for urban parks has increased significantly in recent years.

Step-by-Step Strategy for Yes No Not Given Questions

Follow this numbered strategy to approach the questions systematically and manage your time effectively within the 20 minutes you should roughly allocate per reading section.

1. Read the instructions carefully. Confirm you are dealing with the writer's views (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN) and not facts (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN). A common error is mixing up the two. Circle or underline 'views' and 'writer' in the instructions to keep your focus clear.

2. Read the statements first, not the whole passage. Start by reading questions 27–31. Underline the key words in each statement—these are the ideas you will search for. Do not spend more than 30 seconds on this. For example, in statement 27, key words are "last century," "city planners," "parks," and "vital components."

3. Skim the passage for the writer's overall argument. Spend 2–3 minutes quickly reading the passage to understand the writer's main stance. Pay attention to the introduction and topic sentences. In our example, you would note that the writer thinks the perception of green spaces has changed (Paragraph A), that economic arguments are insufficient (Paragraph B), and that greening and density can be combined (Paragraph C).

4. Locate the relevant section for the first statement. Use the key words from statement 27 to scan the passage. Because answers come in order, start from the beginning. "Last century" and "city planners" lead you to Paragraph A. Read that section in detail.

5. Compare the statement to the writer's view, not the facts. In Paragraph A, the writer states that planners "viewed parks... as aesthetic amenities... but not essential infrastructure." Statement 27 says they were considered "vital components." This directly contradicts the writer's description of the planners' view. The answer is therefore NO.

6. Repeat for the next statement, moving forward through the passage. For statement 28, "economic case" leads you to Paragraph B. The writer says the economic argument "is compelling" but "arguably misses a more fundamental point." The statement claims it is the "strongest argument." The writer clearly disagrees, so the answer is NO.

7. Be disciplined with NOT GIVEN. If you cannot find any view from the writer on the exact point in the statement, the answer is NOT GIVEN. For statement 31, you might find "government funding" mentioned nowhere in the passage. The writer discusses the value and design of green spaces but never states whether government funding has increased. You must answer NOT GIVEN.

8. Manage your time. If you are stuck on a question after 60–90 seconds, make your best guess and move on. You can circle the question number and return to it if you have time at the end. Remember, there is no penalty for wrong answers, so never leave a blank on the answer sheet.

Worked Example: Answers Explained

Let's go through each answer for the sample passage and questions, quoting the exact evidence and explaining the paraphrase.

Question 27: In the last century, city planners considered parks to be vital components of urban infrastructure.

• Answer: NO
• Evidence from Paragraph A: "For much of the 20th century, city planners viewed parks and gardens largely as aesthetic amenities—pleasant additions to the urban landscape but not essential infrastructure."
• Explanation: The statement says parks were "vital components." The writer's description of the planners' view is that they were "not essential infrastructure." This is a direct contradiction. The paraphrase is between "vital components" and "essential infrastructure." A tempting wrong answer might be NOT GIVEN if you only see the word "infrastructure" and miss the negative "not."

Question 28: The writer believes the economic case for green spaces is the strongest argument in their favour.

• Answer: NO
• Evidence from Paragraph B: "While this economic argument is compelling, it arguably misses a more fundamental point: the intrinsic human need for contact with nature."
• Explanation: The writer acknowledges the economic argument is "compelling" (which might tempt you to answer YES) but then immediately dismisses it as not the most fundamental point. The writer's view is that another argument (intrinsic human need) is more important. Therefore, the statement that it is the "strongest argument" contradicts the writer's view.

Question 29: The writer agrees with critics that urban greening projects are too expensive to justify.

• Answer: NO
• Evidence from Paragraph C: "Yet this presents a false choice. Innovative design solutions... demonstrate that green space and high-density development are not mutually exclusive."
• Explanation: The critics' view is stated first: high costs mean funds could be used for other needs. The writer's response is introduced with "Yet," signalling a disagreement. The writer calls the critics' position a "false choice," meaning they do not agree with it. The statement says the writer agrees, which is a contradiction.

Question 30: The writer suggests that high-density development and green spaces can coexist.

• Answer: YES
• Evidence from Paragraph C: "...green space and high-density development are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, integrating nature into the built environment may be the defining design challenge of our century."
• Explanation: The phrase "not mutually exclusive" is a direct paraphrase of "can coexist." The writer's use of "Indeed" to introduce a further related point reinforces that this is their view. The statement agrees with the writer's claim.

Question 31: Government funding for urban parks has increased significantly in recent years.

• Answer: NOT GIVEN
• Explanation: The passage discusses the changing perception of parks, their economic and intrinsic value, and design solutions. There is no mention of government funding, its increase or decrease, or any specific timeframe for such funding. The writer simply does not express a view on this matter. This is a classic NOT GIVEN scenario where the topic is superficially related (urban parks) but the specific claim is absent.

Common Mistakes and Traps

Avoid these frequent errors that catch out many candidates:

• Confusing YNNG with TFNG: This is the most fundamental mistake. Always check the instructions. If the question asks about the writer's views, you must answer YES/NO/NOT GIVEN. If it asks about facts or information in the passage, you answer TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN. Writing 'True' for a 'Yes' question will be marked incorrect.
• Answering based on your own knowledge: Your opinion on urban green spaces is irrelevant. You must only judge whether the statement matches the writer's expressed view, even if you personally disagree with the writer or know external facts that contradict them.
• Inferring too much: A statement is only YES or NO if the writer's view is clearly stated or strongly implied through opinion language. If you have to make a logical leap or assume a view, the answer is likely NOT GIVEN. For example, if the writer says something is "important," you cannot infer they think it is "the most important."
• Being tricked by matching keywords: A statement may use the exact same words as the passage but express a different relationship or view. In Question 28, the word "compelling" appears in the passage, which might lead a test-taker to answer YES, but the writer's overall view is the opposite. Always read the full sentence and surrounding context for opinion markers like "while," "yet," or "however."
• Spending too long on one question: If you cannot find the writer's view after a thorough search of the relevant paragraph, it is probably NOT GIVEN. Mark your best guess and move on. You can review it if you have time at the end. Remember, every question is worth one mark, and a guess is better than a blank.

How to Practise Yes No Not Given Questions

Effective practice involves more than just completing tests. Use these concrete exercises to sharpen your skills:

• Opinion Language Highlighting: Take a discursive article from a quality newspaper or journal. With a highlighter, mark every word or phrase that signals opinion (e.g., should, arguably, unfortunately, a flawed view, it is undeniable that). This trains you to quickly spot the writer's stance.
• YNNG vs TFNG Transformation: Find a True/False/Not Given practice exercise. After completing it, rewrite the statements to be about the writer's views, changing the focus from fact to opinion where possible. This builds your awareness of the distinction between the two question types. For more on this, see our guide on IELTS Reading True / False / Not Given questions.
• Evidence Pairing: For any practice test, do not just write the answer. Force yourself to underline the exact sentence in the passage that justifies your YES or NO answer. For NOT GIVEN, write a short note explaining why no view is present. This eliminates guesswork and builds accuracy.
• Timed Paragraph Scanning: Take a single paragraph and a list of three YNNG statements. Give yourself just 2 minutes to find the answers. This simulates the time pressure of the real test and improves your scanning speed.

For structured, guided practice with instant feedback, you can work through dedicated IELTS Reading lessons that target this and other question types.

Key Takeaways

• Yes No Not Given questions test your understanding of the writer's views, not factual information; always check the instruction line to distinguish them from True/False/Not Given.
• Base your answer solely on opinion language in the passage, such as hedging, evaluative words, and phrases like 'it is clear that' or 'arguably'.
• Answers follow the order of the passage, so use this to locate information efficiently and avoid re-reading the whole text.
• A statement is only YES if it directly agrees with the writer's view; it is NO if it contradicts it. If the writer expresses no clear view on the specific point, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
• Never leave a blank on the answer sheet; there is no penalty for wrong answers, and a logical guess is always better than no answer.
• Practise actively by highlighting opinion language, transforming TFNG questions, and always justifying your answers with evidence from the text.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Yes No Not Given and True False Not Given in IELTS Reading?

The core difference is the focus. True/False/Not Given questions ask you to decide if a statement matches the factual information in the passage. Yes/No/Not Given questions ask you to decide if a statement matches the writer's views or claims. You must look for opinion language, not just facts, and always check the instructions to see which type you are answering.

Where do Yes No Not Given questions usually appear in the IELTS Reading test?

They most often appear in Academic Reading Passage 3, which is typically a discursive or argumentative text. In the General Training module, they can appear in Section 3, which also features a longer, more complex text of general interest. They are less common in the earlier, more factual passages.

How can I identify the writer's views for Yes No Not Given questions?

Look for language that expresses opinion, such as hedging (may, might, perhaps), evaluative adjectives (remarkable, flawed), adverbs (unfortunately, clearly), and phrases that signal a personal stance (it is clear that, arguably, this suggests). Contrast this with language that simply reports facts or other people's views.

What should I do if I cannot find the answer for a Yes No Not Given question?

If you have scanned the relevant section of the passage and cannot find any clear view from the writer on the specific point in the statement, the answer is likely NOT GIVEN. Do not spend more than 90 seconds on one question. Make your best guess, mark it for review, and move on. You can return if you have time at the end.

Are the answers for Yes No Not Given questions in order in the passage?

Yes, the answers for this question type almost always follow the order of information in the passage. This means the evidence for question 1 will appear before the evidence for question 2, and so on. This is a key strategy for locating the relevant sections quickly without re-reading the whole text.