🔧 3-Step Strategy for IELTS Reading YES / NO / NOT GIVEN (Writer’s Opinion)
🔹 STEP 1 – Strip the Question & Locate the Right Place
Most students lose marks before they even compare meaning, because they’re looking in the wrong sentence.
1A. Strip the question
kill the noise and keep the core:
Remove fillers: most, often, generally, in many cases
Keep: main noun, main verb, key condition
Example question:
> The writer believes online courses are as effective as traditional classes for most learners.
Core idea:
> writer believes – online courses – as effective as – traditional classes – for most learners
Now we know we’re dealing with writer’s belief and the comparison: online vs traditional.
1B. Identify whose opinion
YES/NO/NG is about opinions / claims.
You care about:
“The writer believes…”
“The author suggests…”
“Some critics argue…”
“Many researchers claim…”
But the answer must reflect the statement in the question:
If question says “The writer believes…” you need the writer’s view, not “some people think”.
1C. Scan for the right part of the passage
scan for: Core nouns: online courses / traditional classes / learners
Opinion markers: believe, argue, claim, suggest, maintain, insist, be convinced, in the author’s view…
Once you find the likely sentence/area, stop scanning and move to the next step.
If you haven’t found anything clearly related: high chance of NOT GIVEN.
🔹 STEP 2 – Compare Ideas, Not Words
Now you have the right sentence or two.
You must ignore exact wording and compare meaning.
There are only three logical relationships:
✅ YES → passage agrees with the full idea in the question.
❌ NO → passage clearly disagrees (opposite meaning).
❓ NOT GIVEN → the passage does not fully answer that statement. Something is missing or not stated.
Very important rule for NOT GIVEN (hammer this in):
> If any essential part of the statement is missing, the answer is NOT GIVEN, not YES.
Example:
Passage: “The author believes online courses can work well for highly motivated students.”
Question: “The writer believes online courses are as effective as traditional classes for most learners.”
Same? No.
Opposite? Not clearly.
The “for most learners” part is missing.
👉 So: NOT GIVEN.
🔹 STEP 3 – Run the “3 Trap Checks” Before Choosing
Before you lock in YES / NO / NG, you should do 3 quick checks:
✅ Trap 1: Same Words, Different Logic
IELTS loves to repeat key words but change the relationship.
Same topic doesn’t mean same answer.
You must check what is being said about that topic.
“Online courses are popular” ≠ “online courses are as effective as traditional classes”.
If question adds a comparison / frequency / reason that the passage doesn’t touch, it’s likely NOT GIVEN.
✅ Trap 2: Who Thinks What?
In YES/NO/NG, the subject of the opinion is crucial.
If the question says “The writer believes…”
But the passage only says “Some people believe…” and we never see the writer’s stance → That is NOT GIVEN.
Similarly:
If critics believe “A”, and the writer explicitly rejects “A”, then a statement “The writer believes A” → NO.
✅ Trap 3: Extreme Words (always / never / all / only / most)
Questions often add strong words.
If the passage is softer / more cautious, the statement often becomes FALSE or NOT GIVEN.
Passage: “Online courses can be helpful in some situations.”
Question: “The writer believes online courses are always helpful.”
Passage = limited.
Question = extreme.
→ They disagree → NO.
Passage: “Some learners benefit from technology.”
Question: “The writer believes most learners benefit from technology.”
“Most” is never stated.
→ NOT GIVEN.
🧪 PRACTICE PASSAGE 1
Topic: Remote Work and Productivity
> Many managers assume that allowing employees to work from home will automatically reduce productivity. The writer, however, argues that this belief is outdated. According to recent research, remote workers often achieve higher output, provided they have clear goals and appropriate digital tools. The author concedes that not every role is suitable for remote work, but maintains that, in the right context, working from home can be more effective than the traditional office model.
Question 1
The writer believes working from home is usually less productive than working in an office.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer believes – WFH – less productive – than office
Find line:
> “remote workers often achieve higher output… more effective than the traditional office model”
Step 2 – Compare idea
Question: WFH less productive.
Passage: WFH often higher output, “more effective”.
Opposite view.
Step 3 – Trap check
Same subject: writer’s own view.
No extra condition distorting it.
→ Relationship is clearly opposite.
✅ Answer: NO
Question 2
The writer thinks remote work can be more effective if certain conditions are met.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer thinks – remote work – more effective – if conditions
Locate:
> “higher output, provided they have clear goals and appropriate digital tools… in the right context, working from home can be more effective”
Step 2 – Compare
Question: more effective if certain conditions.
Passage: more effective if goals + tools + right context.
Same view.
Step 3 – Trap checks
No exaggeration (question says “certain conditions”, passage lists them).
Same subject (writer).
✅ Answer: YES
Question 3
The writer believes most companies will eventually remove traditional offices entirely.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer believes – most companies – will remove offices completely
Look for: “most companies”, “close offices”, “future without offices”.
Nothing. The passage only compares effectiveness; it never predicts removing offices.
Step 2 – Compare
We don’t have any statement about “most companies” or “removing offices entirely”.
Step 3 – Trap checks
Topic is similar (remote work), but no line about eliminating offices.
Question adds a future prediction and “most companies” – both missing.
✅ Answer: NOT GIVEN
“NOT GIVEN” truly looks like: same topic, but missing critical parts.
🧪 PRACTICE PASSAGE 2
Topic: Children & Screen Time
> While some parents insist that any amount of screen time is harmful, the writer takes a more nuanced position. She accepts that excessive use of digital devices can interfere with sleep and concentration. Nevertheless, she argues that, when monitored carefully, educational apps and programmes can support a child’s learning and even improve certain cognitive skills. The author refuses to describe screens as either entirely “good” or entirely “bad”, and instead emphasises balance and supervision.
Question 1
The writer believes all screen time is dangerous for children.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer believes – all screen time – dangerous
Locate:
> “some parents insist any amount… harmful, the writer takes a more nuanced position”
“refuses to describe screens as either entirely ‘good’ or entirely ‘bad’”
Step 2 – Compare
Question says all screen time dangerous.
Passage: writer rejects extreme view, emphasises balance.
Opposite.
Step 3 – Traps
Notice: “some parents insist…” is not writer.
Writer’s view clearly contradicts “all screen time is dangerous”.
✅ Answer: NO
Question 2
According to the writer, educational apps can have some benefits if parents control their use.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer says – educational apps – can benefit – if monitored
Locate:
> “when monitored carefully, educational apps and programmes can support a child’s learning and even improve certain cognitive skills.”
Step 2 – Compare
“can support learning, improve skills” ↔ “can have some benefits”
“when monitored carefully” ↔ “if parents control their use”
Same.
Step 3 – Trap check
Nothing extreme added. Question is even softer (“some benefits”).
✅ Answer: YES
Question 3
The writer believes most parents supervise their children’s screen time effectively.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer believes – most parents – supervise effectively
Scan passage: There is zero mention of what “most parents” actually do, only their beliefs and the writer’s recommendation.
Step 2 – Compare
Nothing about “most parents” + nothing about “effectively”.
Step 3 – Trap checks
Question adds “most” (frequency) and “effectively” (quality of supervision) – both missing.
→ This is classic NOT GIVEN.
✅ Answer: NOT GIVEN
🧪 PRACTICE PASSAGE 3
Topic: Public Transport vs Private Cars
Mini Passage 3
> Environmental campaigners frequently argue that governments should make driving private cars more expensive in order to reduce pollution. The writer accepts that car use contributes significantly to environmental damage, but rejects the idea of simply increasing fuel taxes. In his view, such measures unfairly punish people who have no realistic alternative to driving, such as those living in rural areas. Instead, he believes that substantial investment in reliable, affordable public transport would be a more effective and equitable solution.
Question 1
The writer agrees with campaigners that higher fuel taxes are the best way to cut pollution from cars.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer agrees – higher fuel taxes – best way – cut car pollution
Locate:
> “campaigners argue… make driving more expensive”
“writer… rejects the idea of simply increasing fuel taxes… believes investment in public transport would be more effective”
Step 2 – Compare
Question: writer agrees fuel taxes are best.
Passage: writer rejects fuel taxes as the solution, and prefers investment in transport.
Opposite.
Step 3 – Trap checks
Note: “campaigners argue” ≠ writer.
Writer’s view is explicitly against that idea.
✅ Answer: NO
Question 2
The writer believes improving public transport is a fairer solution than raising fuel taxes.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer believes – improving public transport – fairer than – fuel taxes
Locate:
> “substantial investment in reliable, affordable public transport would be a more effective and equitable solution.”
“Equitable” = fairer.
Step 2 – Compare
“more effective and equitable” ↔ “fairer solution”
Being compared directly to fuel taxes.
Same.
Step 3 – Trap checks
No exaggeration; question is faithful to the passage.
✅ Answer: YES
Question 3
The writer thinks most people in cities have no choice but to drive to work.
(YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Step 1 – Strip & locate
Core:
> writer thinks – most city people – no choice – must drive
Passage:
> “people who have no realistic alternative… such as those living in rural areas.”
He mentions rural people, not “most in cities”.
Step 2 – Compare
Question talks about most people in cities.
Passage talks about people in rural areas with no alternative.
Nothing about “most city people”.
Step 3 – Trap checks
Same general topic (driving), but wrong group and no number/most.
→ This is NOT GIVEN, not NO (he never states the opposite; he simply doesn’t discuss “most city people”).
✅ Answer: NOT GIVEN
