Writer's Views Traps in IELTS Reading: Opinion vs Fact
Writer views · Y/N/NG · May 2026
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.
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.
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
Separate the writer's stance from the facts they cite.
Get IELTS Reality Check →