Yes/No/Not Given: whose opinion is it?
Tell the writer's own view from the opinion of someone they quote.
2 min read · Updated 9/8/2026
The key idea
In a Yes/No/Not Given task you check whether a statement agrees with the writer's position or claim. A view appearing in the text does not mean that the writer supports it.
Some researchers argue… expresses other people's position. However, this view overlooks… may show the writer's objection to that position.
If the question asks about the writer, don't choose an option without answering the question “who is speaking?”.
See an example
Passage: Some residents believe the park is a waste of money. However, this view ignores the valuable shared space it provides for the community.
Statement: The writer believes the park has no value.
No. The first sentence is the residents' view; in the second sentence the writer defends the usefulness of the park.
Now you try
Passage: The proposal is promising, but it has not yet been tested in a large city. Its long-term cost is also unknown.
- The writer thinks the proposal has potential.
- The writer says the proposal has already been tested in a large city.
Choose Yes, No or Not Given and write the reason.
A personal draft. It is not saved when you leave or automatically graded.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
- Yes — promising shows that it has potential.
- No — has not yet been tested in a large city says the opposite of the claim that it has “already been tested”.
The writer accepts the potential, and also points to the side that has not yet been checked. One positive word does not mean unconditional agreement about the whole proposal.
Should I stop at a word I don't know?
Official sources for this topic
IELTS · Reading