Yes/No/Not Given (Y/N/NG) questions look almost identical to True/False/Not Given questions, but they test something fundamentally different. While T/F/NG questions ask whether statements agree with facts in the text, Y/N/NG questions ask whether statements agree with the writer's opinions or claims. Understanding this distinction is essential — the same analytical error that causes candidates to confuse 'False' and 'Not Given' in T/F/NG can cause equally costly errors in Y/N/NG.
1The Key Distinction: Facts vs Opinions
T/F/NG questions relate to factual claims in the passage — dates, figures, descriptions of events or processes. Y/N/NG questions relate to the writer's opinions, attitudes, views, and interpretations. YES means the statement agrees with the writer's view as expressed in the passage. NO means the statement contradicts the writer's view. NOT GIVEN means the writer does not express a view on the specific matter in the statement. Clue: Y/N/NG passages are typically opinion-based texts — academic arguments, editorial pieces, critical analyses — where the writer's position matters. T/F/NG passages tend to be more factual or descriptive.
2Identifying the Writer's View
Writers express opinions through language markers: explicit ('I argue that', 'it is clear that', 'it would be a mistake to') and implicit (word choice that signals attitude — 'unfortunately', 'merely', 'so-called', 'alarmingly'). To find the writer's view, look for: (1) explicit first-person statements of opinion, (2) evaluative adjectives (significant, problematic, excessive, valuable), (3) modal verbs indicating recommendation ('should', 'must', 'ought to'), (4) rhetorical structures ('some would argue… however, the evidence suggests'). When a statement in the question describes an opinion, find whether the writer directly endorses, contradicts, or simply does not address it.
3The NOT GIVEN Trap in Y/N/NG
The most common Y/N/NG error: choosing YES or NO when the answer is NOT GIVEN because the writer mentions a topic but does not express a view on the specific aspect the question addresses. Example: Writer discusses the benefits of renewable energy. Statement: 'The writer believes renewable energy will completely replace fossil fuels within 50 years.' If the writer has praised renewable energy but never made a prediction about timeline or completeness of replacement — this is NOT GIVEN. The writer's enthusiasm for renewables does not constitute an opinion on this specific claim. NOT GIVEN is about the writer's silence on the specific question asked.
4Y/N/NG vs T/F/NG Practice Strategy
When you encounter question instructions, read them carefully: 'According to the passage, is the following TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN' = factual T/F/NG. 'Do the following statements agree with the views/claims of the writer?' = opinion-based Y/N/NG. In practice, treat them as different tasks from the start. For Y/N/NG, actively look for author stance markers before evaluating each statement. Annotate the passage as you skim: mark paragraphs with + (writer positive/for), – (writer negative/against), or ? (neutral/descriptive). These annotations speed up question answering significantly.
🎯 Key Takeaway
Y/N/NG is subtler than T/F/NG because it requires you to interpret the writer's position rather than verify facts. The same logical discipline applies — but the focus shifts from factual agreement to authorial stance. Practise with opinion-based passages and explicitly look for the writer's evaluative language in each paragraph.