Part 1: What is Yes/No/Not Given Question Type in IELTS Academic Reading?
The Yes/No/Not Given question type in the IELTS Academic Reading section is designed to test your ability to identify a writer’s opinion or claim within a text. These questions are based on a factual understanding of statements, but the key distinction lies in whether the text expresses an opinion or belief, and whether that opinion matches the one stated in the question.
🔹 Important Note: This question type is different from True/False/Not Given questions.
Yes/No/Not Given = Focuses on the writer’s views or claims (used with opinion-based texts).
True/False/Not Given = Focuses on factual information (used with fact-based texts).
🔍 What You Need to Do:
You will be given a series of statements. For each one, you must decide:
| Your Answer | What it Means |
|---|---|
| YES | The statement agrees with the writer’s opinion. |
| NO | The statement contradicts the writer’s opinion. |
| NOT GIVEN | The writer’s opinion is not mentioned or is not clear in the text. |
📌 Example:
Statement:
“The author believes that technology will eventually replace all classroom teachers.”
Passage Excerpt:
“While technology can assist in delivering education, it is unlikely to fully replace the role of human teachers, who provide emotional support and adapt to individual learning needs.”
Answer: NO
🧠 Because the statement contradicts the writer’s view — the author says technology is unlikely to replace teachers.
🧠 Key Skills Needed:
Ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.
Ability to understand implied meaning, not just surface-level words.
Skill in paraphrasing and synonym recognition.
🚫 Common Mistakes:
Confusing NOT GIVEN with NO – Remember, NOT GIVEN means there’s no information at all, not even a hint.
Assuming something is true just because it’s generally known – only go by what is stated or implied in the passage.
Part 2: How to Approach Yes/No/Not Given Questions (Step-by-Step with Example)
Answering Yes/No/Not Given questions effectively requires a structured strategy. The key is to understand the writer’s opinion or claim and carefully compare it with the statements provided.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to answer these questions accurately, followed by a complete example with detailed explanation.
✅ Step-by-Step Approach
Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully
Make sure the question is Yes/No/Not Given (not True/False/Not Given). This type tests the author’s opinions or beliefs, not factual accuracy.
Step 2: Read the Statement Carefully
Focus on the exact meaning of the statement. Identify key elements like:
Subject
Verb/Action
Adjective/Opinion words (e.g., believes, argues, supports, doubts)
Step 3: Locate the Relevant Section in the Passage
Skim and scan the passage for keywords or synonyms from the statement. Don’t expect the exact words – the IELTS often paraphrases.
Step 4: Compare the Statement with the Author’s View
There are three possible outcomes:
| Outcome | What to Do |
|---|---|
| YES | If the author clearly expresses the same opinion as the statement. |
| NO | If the author expresses an opposite opinion. |
| NOT GIVEN | If the author’s opinion on the topic is not mentioned at all or not clear enough. |
Step 5: Eliminate Assumptions
Only use information from the passage. Do not use prior knowledge or assumptions, even if the statement seems generally true or false.
📝 Complete Example with Explanation
🔸 Passage Excerpt:
“Although online learning is growing in popularity, many educators argue that it lacks the social interaction and real-time feedback essential for comprehensive student development. These experts emphasize the irreplaceable role of in-person teaching, especially in early education.”
🔸 Statement 1:
“The writer believes that online learning offers better educational outcomes than face-to-face instruction.”
✅ Answer: NO
Explanation:
The statement says online learning is better.
The passage says educators argue that it lacks key elements like social interaction and real-time feedback, and emphasizes the value of in-person teaching.
Therefore, the writer’s view contradicts the statement → NO.
🔸 Statement 2:
“Some teachers think that face-to-face instruction cannot be replaced.”
✅ Answer: YES
Explanation:
The passage says: “experts emphasize the irreplaceable role of in-person teaching.”
This directly supports the statement → YES.
🔸 Statement 3:
“The author believes that government funding for online education is increasing rapidly.”
✅ Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation:
The passage mentions nothing about government funding.
There is no opinion about funding at all.
Therefore, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
🧠 Summary Tips:
YES = agrees with writer’s view
NO = contradicts writer’s view
NOT GIVEN = not mentioned at all
Always base your answer only on what is written in the passage, not on assumptions or general knowledge.
Part 3: IELTS Academic Reading Passage (Yes/No/Not Given)
Below is a full-length IELTS Academic Reading Passage 2-style text followed by a set of Yes/No/Not Given questions. The topic and language are consistent with real IELTS materials, focusing on academic tone and topic complexity.
📘 Reading Passage
Title: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Education
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly permeated the field of education, with some claiming it has the potential to revolutionize how students learn and how educators teach. AI-powered tools now offer personalized learning paths, adaptive assessments, and even virtual tutoring systems. Proponents argue that such technologies can help address learning gaps, especially in under-resourced schools.
However, others question the effectiveness and ethical implications of integrating AI into classrooms. Critics suggest that while AI may be efficient in grading or data analysis, it lacks the emotional intelligence and adaptability of human teachers. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the over-reliance on machine-generated decisions in shaping student futures.
Despite the controversies, AI continues to gain traction in educational policy and planning. Several countries have begun to implement AI-driven systems for educational administration, including scheduling, resource allocation, and performance tracking. Experts warn, however, that these systems must be carefully monitored to avoid unintended consequences.
The debate is ongoing, with both supporters and detractors recognizing that while AI will likely play a role in future education, its implementation must be guided by ethical considerations, educational values, and inclusiveness. As one educational researcher noted, “The question is not whether AI will be part of education, but how we ensure it serves all students equitably.”
📝 Questions 1–6
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer?
Write: YES, NO, or NOT GIVEN
AI is capable of completely replacing human teachers in the near future.
Some people believe AI helps reduce educational inequalities.
The writer thinks emotional intelligence is a weak point of AI.
There is unanimous agreement among experts on the role of AI in education.
The use of AI in education has already eliminated performance tracking issues.
The writer believes AI can enhance school administration processes.
Part 4: Step-by-Step Explanation of Each Answer
Here’s a detailed explanation for each of the Yes/No/Not Given questions from the reading passage “The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Education.” Each explanation shows how the answer is derived by comparing the statement with the writer’s opinion, not just the facts.
🔹 Question 1: AI is capable of completely replacing human teachers in the near future.
Answer: NO
Step-by-Step Explanation:
The passage says:
“Critics suggest that while AI may be efficient… it lacks the emotional intelligence and adaptability of human teachers.”
The writer presents concerns about AI’s limitations.
The passage does not support the idea of AI completely replacing teachers. In fact, it emphasizes human qualities AI lacks.
Therefore, this statement contradicts the writer’s view → NO
🔹 Question 2: Some people believe AI helps reduce educational inequalities.
Answer: YES
Step-by-Step Explanation:
The passage says:
“Proponents argue that such technologies can help address learning gaps, especially in under-resourced schools.”
This suggests some people believe AI reduces inequality by helping underprivileged students.
The writer reports this view without disagreeing with it → YES
🔹 Question 3: The writer thinks emotional intelligence is a weak point of AI.
Answer: YES
Step-by-Step Explanation:
The passage says:
“Critics suggest… it lacks the emotional intelligence and adaptability of human teachers.”
While the phrase is attributed to critics, the writer does not reject this and presents it as a valid concern.
Given the neutral to cautious tone throughout, the writer seems to acknowledge this as a limitation → YES
🔹 Question 4: There is unanimous agreement among experts on the role of AI in education.
Answer: NO
Step-by-Step Explanation:
The passage says:
“The debate is ongoing, with both supporters and detractors…”
This clearly shows there is disagreement among experts.
The statement says there is unanimous agreement, which contradicts the writer’s point → NO
🔹 Question 5: The use of AI in education has already eliminated performance tracking issues.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Step-by-Step Explanation:
The passage says:
“Several countries have begun to implement AI-driven systems for… performance tracking.”
However, it does not say whether these systems have eliminated any issues.
No information is provided about results or effectiveness regarding performance tracking.
Therefore, the answer is → NOT GIVEN
🔹 Question 6: The writer believes AI can enhance school administration processes.
Answer: YES
Step-by-Step Explanation:
The passage says:
“AI continues to gain traction in educational policy… for educational administration…”
This indicates the writer acknowledges that AI is used to improve tasks like scheduling and resource allocation.
Although experts warn about monitoring, the overall tone supports AI’s potential in administrative tasks → YES
✅ Summary Table of Answers
| Question | Answer | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NO | Contradicts writer’s view on AI replacing teachers |
| 2 | YES | Supported by proponents in the text |
| 3 | YES | Writer agrees AI lacks emotional intelligence |
| 4 | NO | Writer says debate is ongoing |
| 5 | NOT GIVEN | No info about eliminating performance tracking issues |
| 6 | YES | Writer supports AI for admin purposes |
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