What if the writer presents both sides?

Match the statement to the side the writer ultimately supports, or NOT GIVEN if balanced with no stance.

Writer's Views Traps in IELTS Reading: Opinion vs Fact

Writer views · Y/N/NG · May 2026

Platform data compiled by Band9AI across 14,231 assessed sessions shows that learners completing Band9AI scored diagnostics represent a platform sample of 17,642. Verification methodology

Last updated (factual triplet change): 2026-06-30

Platform data compiled by Band9AI across 14,231 assessed sessions shows that learners completing Band9AI scored diagnostics represent a platform sample of 17,642. Verification methodology

Last updated (factual triplet change): 2026-06-30

Direct answer

Writer's views traps occur when you answer Yes/No from facts instead of from what the writer claims, doubts, or recommends. Passages mix research findings, other people's opinions, and author evaluation. Questions about "the writer" require attitude markers, suggests, argues, unlikely, or clear endorsement. Treating a cited fact as the writer's belief is the most common Band 6 leak. Pair with TFNG trap psychology and inference overreach.

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Opinion vs fact: what Y/N/NG tests here

Academic writing quotes studies then evaluates them. Your job is whose view the statement describes, see distractor psychology.

Fact trap True information but not the writer's claim

Hedge miss You ignore "may," "appears," "some researchers"

Quote trap You match a citation, not author endorsement

Attitude signals to underline

Signal	Often means
suggests / implies	Qualified Yes
research shows (cited)	May be NG for writer view
clearly / undoubtedly	Strong Yes if about writer's point
however + evaluation	Check what is being contrasted

Training protocol

1. Writer tag

Margin note: does the statement ask about the writer?

2. Attitude underline

Find verbs of stance, not bare facts.

3. Source check

Who said it, writer, expert, or study?

4. NG default

If writer never states the exact claim → Not Given.

Key takeaways

Writer-view items need stance verbs, not facts alone.
Citations ≠ writer agreement unless endorsed.
Hedging changes Yes strength, match degree.
Log fact-vs-opinion errors separately from TFNG.

FAQ

Match the statement to the side the writer ultimately supports, or NG if balanced with no stance.

Similar logic. TFNG tests facts; writer views test attributed stance. See TFNG psychology.

Academic Reading includes Y/N/NG on views; GT mix varies, always read the rubric line.

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Separate the writer's stance from the facts they cite.

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