IELTS / TOEFL: How to Solve IELTS Reading - Yes-No Not Given - Writer's Claims

How to Solve: IELTS Reading – Yes/No/Not Given (Writer’s Claims)

Introduction Mastering this task can gain you 2-3 bands in IELTS Reading, as it requires you to critically evaluate the writer's claims and demonstrate your ability to identify and analyze information.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST You should already have:

1. The ability to paraphrase and identify the main idea of a text.
2. Knowledge of essay structure and how to organize your thoughts.
3. Familiarity with IELTS Reading question types and formats.

CORE CONTENT

Anatomy of the task

• The question will ask you to evaluate the writer's claims and decide whether they are supported by the text (Yes), not supported (No), or there is not enough information to say (Not Given).
• The question will typically be in the form of a statement, such as "The writer suggests that..." or "The text implies that...".
• Common traps include:
  • Assuming the writer's opinion is the same as the text's opinion.
  • Failing to read the text carefully and making assumptions.

Step-by-step strategy

1. Read the question carefully: Understand what the question is asking and what the writer is claiming.
2. Read the text carefully: Identify the relevant information that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
3. Paraphrase the writer's claim: Put the writer's claim into your own words to ensure you understand it.
4. Identify the relevant information: Find the specific information in the text that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
5. Make a decision: Based on the information you have found, decide whether the writer's claim is supported (Yes), not supported (No), or there is not enough information to say (Not Given).

Solved example

Question: The writer suggests that the new policy will lead to an increase in employment rates.

Text: "The new policy aims to provide more job training programs for young people. However, it is unclear whether this will lead to an increase in employment rates."

Model answer: The writer suggests that the new policy will lead to an increase in employment rates. However, the text does not provide enough information to support this claim. (Not Given)

Common Mistakes

1. Mistake: Assuming the writer's opinion is the same as the text's opinion.
   • Why it happens: Students may not read the text carefully and assume the writer's opinion is the same as the text's.
   • How to fix it: Read the text carefully and identify the relevant information that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
2. Mistake: Failing to read the text carefully and making assumptions.
   • Why it happens: Students may not take the time to read the text carefully and may make assumptions based on their prior knowledge.
   • How to fix it: Read the text carefully and identify the relevant information that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
3. Mistake: Not paraphrasing the writer's claim.
   • Why it happens: Students may not take the time to paraphrase the writer's claim and may not understand it.
   • How to fix it: Paraphrase the writer's claim to ensure you understand it.
4. Mistake: Not identifying the relevant information.
   • Why it happens: Students may not take the time to identify the relevant information that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
   • How to fix it: Read the text carefully and identify the specific information that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
5. Mistake: Not making a decision.
   • Why it happens: Students may not take the time to make a decision based on the information they have found.
   • How to fix it: Make a decision based on the information you have found.

CRAM SHEET

1. Read the question carefully and understand what the writer is claiming. ⚠️
2. Read the text carefully and identify the relevant information that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
3. Paraphrase the writer's claim to ensure you understand it.
4. Identify the specific information in the text that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
5. Make a decision based on the information you have found.
6. Don't assume the writer's opinion is the same as the text's opinion.
7. Take the time to read the text carefully and identify the relevant information.
8. Use your own words to paraphrase the writer's claim.
9. Focus on the specific information in the text that supports or contradicts the writer's claim.
10. Make a decision based on the information you have found, rather than making assumptions.