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Decide whether a statement matches the writer's opinion or claim.
Like TFNG but for opinions and claims. Decide whether each statement matches the WRITER'S view: YES, NO or NOT GIVEN.
Critics argue that pouring conservation funds into a single charismatic bird like the kakapo is hard to justify when many less famous species are quietly disappearing. I would respond that the kakapo's recovery has, in fact, generated techniques — predator-free islands, supplementary feeding, genetic management — that are now applied across multiple endangered species. The 'icon vs. ecosystem' framing is, in my view, false.
Statement: 'Spending heavily on the kakapo has not produced wider conservation benefits.'
Yes/No/Not Given works like True/False/Not Given but applies to the writer's claims, opinions, or beliefs rather than factual information. Write YES if the statement matches the writer's view, NO if it contradicts the writer's view, and NOT GIVEN if the writer expresses no clear view on it. This format is most common with opinion-based or argumentative passages. Read the statement, underline the keyword(s) and any opinion words ('should', 'ought to', 'beneficial', 'harmful').
Scan the passage in order, since questions follow passage sequence, and locate where the writer addresses the topic. Look for stance markers: modal verbs ('must', 'should'), evaluative adjectives ('crucial', 'misleading'), and reporting verbs that indicate the writer's own position versus a reported view ('it is argued' may be the writer; 'critics claim' is not). Be careful to distinguish the writer's voice from views the writer is merely reporting or rejecting. NOT GIVEN means the writer does not express a clear stance on that exact claim; do not pick NO unless the writer actively disagrees.
Watch for hedging: 'may', 'could', 'in some cases' weakens claims and can change a YES to NOT GIVEN if the statement is too absolute. Avoid using personal opinion or background knowledge. Spend around 50-70 seconds per question. Write 'YES', 'NO', or 'NOT GIVEN' in full as required by the rubric; using TRUE/FALSE for this question type is marked wrong.
Always answer; there is no penalty for guessing.
Each correct answer is worth 1 mark, with no partial credit and no penalty for wrong answers. Spelling matters: write 'YES', 'NO', or 'NOT GIVEN' as instructed; abbreviations and using the wrong label set (e.g., TRUE/FALSE) are marked incorrect. These marks count toward the 40-question Academic Reading total. The official band conversion gives roughly Band 7 at 30/40, Band 6.5 at 27/40, Band 6 at 23/40, and Band 5 at around 15/40.
Tactical content is original synthesis based on these public IELTS prep resources.