IELTS General Training Reading Task Types 2 & 3

What are Task Types 2 and 3?

In the General Training Reading module you will meet three different task types. Task Type2 Identifying Information asks you to decide whether a statement agrees with the information in the passage. Task Type3 Identifying Writers Views/Claims requires you to judge whether a sentence reflects the writers opinion, claim or attitude.

Why are they important?

• Both are scored as multiplechoice questions, so a single wrong answer can affect your overall band.
• They test scanning (finding the right part quickly) and critical reading (understanding nuance).
• Mastering them helps you avoid common traps such as negative statements and paraphrasing tricks.

Task Type2 Identifying Information (Yes/No/Not Given)

For each statement you must choose:

• YES the statement matches information in the text.
• NO the statement contradicts the information.
• NOT GIVEN the text does not say enough to decide.

Typical wording

Statements are often short, using keywords taken directly from the passage or close paraphrases. They may contain:

• Negatives (e.g., not, never, hardly).
• Quantifiers (most, few, several).
• Temporal references (before 1995, later).

Strategies

1. Read the statement first. Spot the content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) that will guide your search.
2. Scan the passage for synonyms. The exact wording rarely repeats; look for the same meaning.
3. Check for qualifiers. Words such as only, sometimes, generally can change a YES into a NO.
4. Decide quickly. If you find a clear match YES; a clear opposite NO; otherwise NOT GIVEN.

Common pitfalls

• Assuming not mentioned means NO. The passage may simply omit the detail.
• Missing a double negative (e.g., did not fail to) which actually means a positive.
• Confusing most with all. The writer may give a statistic that does not cover the whole group.

Example

Task Type3 Identifying Writers Views/Claims (True/False/Not Given)

Here you judge whether the sentence reflects the authors own attitude, belief or claim.

Answer options

• TRUE the writers view is expressed in the passage.
• FALSE the writers view is opposite to what the passage says.
• NOT GIVEN the writer does not express a clear view on the topic.

How it differs from Task2

Task3 focuses on *the writers perspective*, not on factual information. The statement may be true in real life, but unless the author states it, the answer is NOT GIVEN.

Strategies

1. Identify opinion markers. Phrases such as it is clear that, the author believes, in my view, certainly, unfortunately.
2. Distinguish facts from commentary. A sentence that merely reports data is not an opinion.
3. Look for hedging language. Words like might, possibly, suggests signal a tentative claim.
4. Match the whole idea. Even if a word is paraphrased, the overall stance must be the same.

Common pitfalls

• Treating a factual statement as the writers view.
• Assuming the writers personal feeling when the passage is neutral.
• Missing subtle negatives (rarely, hardly ever).

Example

Practice Tips

• Do a timed practice set of 1012 questions each for Task2 and Task3.
• After finishing, review every NOT GIVEN ask yourself whether the writer actually says it.
• Make a list of common opinionexpressing verbs (argue, claim, suggest, insist) and factexpressing verbs (report, state, indicate).
• Train your eye to spot negation words quickly; they are often the key to NO or FALSE.

Quick Reference Table

Final Thought

Success in Tasks2 and3 comes from a blend of quick scanning skills and careful attention to language nuance. Incorporate these strategies into every practice session, and you will see a steady rise in your Reading score.