1) Why inference and writer view feel brutal

These items hide answers in tone, scope, and logic rather than visible keywords. The writer rarely states the key sentence in the same form as the question. If you chase matching words, traps win. If you answer from outside knowledge, traps win again. Your goal is to read the writer’s stance and the commitment behind the words, not only the content. That is a different skill from locating a date or a definition.

Common reasons for misses:

• Ignoring small words that change strength: may, might, could, rarely, generally, only, at least.
• Confusing author’s view with a quoted person’s view.
• Treating an example as a rule.
• Stretching beyond what the line supports.
• Mixing True False Not Given logic with Yes No Not Given logic.

You can fix all five with one toolbox.

2) Two test mechanics you must respect

A. Inference questions ask what follows from the text even if not said in the same words. You must show a short chain from printed facts to the option. The chain uses scope, polarity, and necessary implications only.

B. Writer’s view or claim (Yes No Not Given) tests agreement with the writer, not with facts in the real world. The decision anchors on the author’s stance in the passage.

• Yes means the statement matches the writer’s view.
• No means it contradicts the writer’s view.
• Not Given means the writer does not take a view on that exact claim or the text lacks enough to decide.

Keep these apart from True False Not Given, which checks the truth of statements against factual lines in the text, not the writer’s opinion.

3) The IVA method for writer view and inference

A fast, repeatable three stage method:

I — Intent
What is the writer trying to achieve in this part. Warn, define, argue, qualify, propose, or question. Write one word in the margin.

V — Voice
Who is speaking. Author, quoted expert, group opinion, or historical voice. Mark the shifts and keep author separate from sources.

A — Assertion
What is the strongest claim the author makes. Is it absolute or hedged. Write a four to seven word paraphrase with a strength tag such as must, should, tends, sometimes, unlikely.

When a question asks about the writer’s view, compare the statement with your A line under the current V and I. When a question asks for an inference, test whether the statement is a necessary outcome of the printed lines or only a possible one. IELTS rewards necessary, not speculative.

4) LAMP for locating proof

Use LAMP to avoid scanning loops.

• Locate the paragraph that houses the core claim using names, contrast words, or section headers.
• Anchor the exact clause that drives the view. Circle 3 to 8 words.
• Map small words that adjust scope or polarity. Quantifiers, negatives, conditionals, and modals.
• Prove the option by rephrasing the anchor with its scope intact. If proof needs a leap that adds a new condition, reject.

Time budget: 60 to 90 seconds per item on first pass, then tag L for low confidence and return in the sweep.

5) The language of stance: a signal list you can trust

Hedges that reduce strength
may, might, could, tends to, generally, often, in many cases, suggests, appears, seems, on balance, likely, unlikely, possible, arguably

Boosters that raise strength
clearly, certainly, undoubtedly, always, never, inevitably, will, must, shows that

Quantifiers that set scope
all, most, many, some, a few, none, no, at least, at most, more than, less than

Negatives and contrast
not, no, never, however, although, whereas, but, yet, in spite of

Attribution verbs
claims, argues, maintains, reports, observes, concedes, warns, proposes, rejects

Attitude nouns
assumption, premise, limitation, caveat, implication, remedy, trade off

You will use these as switches. Hedges push you away from a firm Yes or No. Boosters pull you toward a firm Yes or No. Quantifiers and negatives decide scope and polarity. Attribution protects you from confusing the author with a quoted speaker.

6) Five inference types that show up most

1. Scope tightening
   The text says many urban parks improve air quality at street level. Inference that one specific park improves air quality is Not Given unless the park is included. The scope is many, not all.
2. Cause chain with necessary link
   If a paragraph states that higher speed causes higher braking distance and that the accident occurred at higher speed, you can infer higher braking distance. You cannot infer driver inattention.
3. Quantifier math
   Most equals more than half. Some equals at least one. None equals zero. When the text says few, think small minority. Do not inflate few into almost none.
4. Concession balancing
   If the author concedes a drawback but then says the policy should proceed because benefits outweigh costs, the writer’s view is supportive. An option that says the writer is opposed is wrong.
5. Analogy or principle extraction
   The passage gives a principle like users should pay for the costs they impose. An inference that road pricing fits the principle is valid if the text connects users with congestion costs.

7) Decision trees for Y N NG and for inference

Writer’s view Yes No Not Given

• Can I point to a clause where the author states or clearly implies this claim.
  • Yes and polarity matches → Yes.
  • Yes but polarity flips → No.
  • No author view, or only a quoted source holds it, or scope differs → Not Given.

Inference

• Is the statement forced by the text without adding new assumptions.
  • Forced and within scope → Inferable.
  • Possible but not forced → usually Not Given or the wrong option in multiple choice.
  • Opposite of the forced outcome → Cannot be inferred and often a trap.

8) Micro skills you must drill

A. Attribution tracking
Draw a small bracket when a new voice speaks. Write A for author, Q for quoted, H for historical record. This prevents you from crediting a source’s view to the writer.

B. Hedge strength meter
Underline hedges once, boosters twice. If a question statement uses always or never but the text uses tends to, that is a likely No or Not Given.

C. Polarity and scope tags
Circle all, most, many, some, few, none. Box not and never. Misreading polarity is the fastest way to drop marks.

D. Example versus rule
Mark EX for examples. If the question asks about what the writer believes about the phenomenon in general, do not select an answer that only restates an example.

E. Necessary versus sufficient
If the text says A is necessary for B, you cannot infer that A causes B or that A alone guarantees B. Many wrong options claim sufficiency when the text gives only necessity.

9) Drills that sharpen writer view judgement

Drill 1: Hedge swap
Take five sentences from any article. Replace may or tends with must and see how the meaning changes. Then predict whether a Yes or No would change for a sample statement.

Drill 2: Quote fence
Copy a paragraph that uses one expert quote. Draw a vertical line where the quote starts and ends. Write the author’s stance before and after. Your decision must land on the author’s side of the fence.

Drill 3: Scope surgery
Write a sentence with most, then rewrite with many, then some, then all. For each, create one statement that is Yes and one that becomes No.

Drill 4: Concession balance
Find a paragraph with however or although. Split the two halves. Decide which half the author emphasizes. That half usually wins the writer view.

Drill 5: LAMP sprints
Give yourself 75 seconds. Locate, Anchor, Map, Prove for two hard items. Do not over annotate. You are training quick locks, not art.

10) Worked mini passages with high difficulty items

Each passage is short. Read, answer, then check rationale.

Passage 1

Urban delivery firms have trialled cargo bikes that bypass traffic and park on pavements without blocking lanes. The bikes carry less than vans and the pilot required extra staff to swap batteries. Even so, the company reports faster average drop times inside the ring road and intends to expand the fleet next spring.

Q1 The writer believes cargo bikes are a net improvement for city deliveries.
Q2 It can be inferred that the company will abandon vans inside the ring road.

Answers
Q1 Yes. The author concedes limits then ends with faster times and an intention to expand, which signals approval.
Q2 Not Given. Expansion of bikes does not equal abandoning vans. The text says faster drop times, not full replacement.

Passage 2

Historical archives show that many coastal towns raised sea walls after the 1953 flood. Diaries describe frustration when waves still overtopped barriers during spring tides. Engineers now model storm surges with better data. Despite cost concerns, most councils accept that higher walls will be required within two decades.

Q1 The writer claims that present modeling removes uncertainty about future surges.
Q2 It can be inferred that councils will approve new walls even if costs rise further.

Answers
Q1 No. The text says better data, not no uncertainty.
Q2 Not Given. Acceptance that higher walls will be required is not the same as approval under any cost. Costs are a live concern.

Passage 3

When developers publish only positive trial results, readers misjudge a drug’s effectiveness. A registry that records every trial before it starts limits this bias. Journals that refuse to consider unregistered work reduce the incentive to hide negative outcomes.

Q1 The writer supports mandatory pre-registration of trials.
Q2 It can be inferred that unregistered trials are always unreliable.

Answers
Q1 Yes. The registry is presented as a remedy, journals refusing unregistered work are framed as positive pressure.
Q2 No or Not Given depending on interpretation. Always unreliable overreaches. The passage calls pre-registration a limiter of bias, not a universal verdict on quality. Best classification for IELTS writer view style is No because always conflicts with the qualified stance.

Passage 4

Wildlife tourism brings money to parks but can push animals to alter routines. In one reserve, feeding times were changed to avoid visitors. The managers set a cap on daily entries, yet sunset queues have grown again. The report concludes that income targets keep eroding earlier protections.

Q1 The writer believes managers should remove entry caps to increase revenue.
Q2 It can be inferred that current financial goals undermine conservation decisions.

Answers
Q1 No. The conclusion criticises income targets for eroding protections.
Q2 Yes. Income targets are linked to erosion of protections, which implies financial goals pull against conservation.

Passage 5

A study on remote work tracked teams for eighteen months. Output rose where staff could choose office days, but declined where attendance rules changed monthly. Managers who published stable expectations saw fewer resignations.

Q1 The writer claims flexible but stable policies help performance.
Q2 It can be inferred that frequent policy changes increased resignations.

Answers
Q1 Yes. Output rose with chosen days and stability correlates with fewer resignations.
Q2 Yes. The passage links monthly changes with declines and notes stability reduces resignations, so frequent changes go with higher resignations.

Passage 6

The museum’s free day draws long lines. Moving it from Sunday to Tuesday cut queues but reduced family attendance. A mix of half price evenings and timed slots may offer more access without overwhelming staff.

Q1 The writer supports ending free entry.
Q2 It can be inferred that the museum values both access and manageable operations.

Answers
Q1 No. The writer proposes a mix to balance access and load, not an end to free access.
Q2 Yes. The sentence about access without overwhelming staff shows both goals.

Passage 7

Nutrition labels list grams that few shoppers convert to daily needs. A front label score condenses risk into one letter. Critics warn it can hide sugar spikes, yet trials show the score steers baskets toward lower sodium and fat.

Q1 The writer views the letter score as useful despite flaws.
Q2 It can be inferred that the writer trusts shoppers to compute grams accurately.

Answers
Q1 Yes. Trials show steering effect and the overall tone is supportive with a caveat.
Q2 No. The first line suggests shoppers struggle to convert grams.

Passage 8

Data centers cluster near rivers for cooling, then bid up local power at peak times. Residents see higher bills but also more fibre jobs. Regulators consider a tariff that charges heavy users more during strain while funding efficiency upgrades for small firms.

Q1 The writer supports a tariff that varies by time and user size.
Q2 It can be inferred that the current situation has unequal effects on residents and firms.

Answers
Q1 Yes. The description frames the tariff as a response that funds help for small firms.
Q2 Yes. Residents face higher bills while fibre jobs help some. Effects differ.

Passage 9

Language apps attract learners with streaks and badges. The games keep people tapping nightly, yet few complete advanced units. Teachers report better grammar when apps supplement rather than replace class.

Q1 The writer thinks gamification alone is insufficient for advanced mastery.
Q2 It can be inferred that combining app work with class improves outcomes.

Answers
Q1 Yes. Few complete advanced units and teachers praise supplement use.
Q2 Yes. The teacher report supports this inference.

Passage 10

The city promised that the new tram would reduce downtown congestion. In its first year, traffic volumes barely changed. Surveys show many riders previously used buses. The transport office now plans to shorten bus headways that connect to the tram.

Q1 The writer implies modal shift came mostly from buses rather than cars.
Q2 It can be inferred that better bus connections may increase tram impact on cars.

Answers
Q1 Yes. Riders were former bus users and road traffic barely changed.
Q2 Yes. Shorter headways may pull car users into a smoother network, which is a reasonable next step implied by the plan.

11) Error taxonomy with surgical fixes

1. Attribution slip: you credited a quoted expert’s view to the writer.
   Fix: bracket the quote, tag V for voice at each shift.
2. Scope inflation: you turned many into most or all.
   Fix: circle every quantifier and rewrite the statement with the exact scope.
3. Polarity flip: you missed a not, never, or although.
   Fix: box negatives and contrast marks. Read the second clause twice.
4. Example trap: you chose a heading or option that fits only the example.
   Fix: write EX in the margin. Ask if the question targets the general rule.
5. Hedge blindness: you read may as will.
   Fix: underline hedges. If the question uses always while the text uses tends to, suspect No or Not Given.
6. Outside knowledge creep: you answered from what you know, not what you read.
   Fix: demand a printed anchor for every choice. If none exists, choose Not Given.
7. Time drift: you stayed too long, then guessed the last items.
   Fix: tag L after 90 seconds and move. Sweep back only if you can add a fresh proof line.

12) Timing and confidence system

Use three tags across the paper:

• H high confidence: you have an anchor clause.
• M medium: you have a likely line but scope is tricky.
• L low: you lack a clear anchor within 90 seconds.

Final sweep order: L first, then M. Change an H answer only if you find a stronger anchor that flips polarity or scope.

Block timing for a full test:

• Passage 1: 17 minutes total with 1 to 2 minutes reserve inside the block.
• Within a passage: spend 60 to 90 seconds per inference or writer view item on first pass.

13) Four templates you can reuse

A. Writer view template

1. Who is speaking here.
2. What is the writer’s purpose in this paragraph.
3. What strength do they claim.
4. Does the statement match the strength and polarity.
   Decision: Yes, No, or Not Given.

B. Inference template

1. What are the explicit facts.
2. What must be true if those facts hold.
3. Does the option claim only the necessary part or does it add a new assumption.
   Decision: Inferable or not.

C. Concession balance template

1. What is conceded.
2. What is the main claim after the concession.
3. Which side the writer emphasizes at the end.
   Decision: Choose the option that reflects the final stance.

D. Quantifier truth table

• All implies most, many, some, at least one.
• Most implies many and some, but not all.
• Many implies some, but not most.
• Some implies at least one.
  Use the table to reject options that leap too far.

14) Two week training plan

Day 1
Learn the IVA and LAMP frameworks. Do Drill 1 and Drill 2. Answer Passage 1 to 3. Log misses by label.

Day 2
Drill 3 scope surgery. Do Passage 4 to 6. Run a timed block of six writer view items at 60 seconds each.

Day 3
Drill 4 concession balance. Do Passage 7 to 10. Review every hedge and booster in your notes.

Day 4
Full mini set: 12 items mixed. Record accuracy, average time, and number of Not Given decisions.

Day 5
Find a newspaper commentary. Tag hedges and boosters for ten minutes. Write a one line assertion per paragraph.

Day 6
Re run the 12 item mixed set with 10 percent less time. Keep accuracy above 75 percent.

Day 7
Light review. Copy the signal list and quantifier table from memory.

Day 8
New 12 item set focused on Yes No Not Given. Force IVA on each item before choosing.

Day 9
New 12 item set focused on inference. Apply LAMP and the necessary versus sufficient filter.

Day 10
Combine both types in a 20 item run. Target 80 percent with drift count under two.

Day 11
Autopsy day. For your top two error labels, write a rule and one example that shows the fix.

Day 12
Full practice passage. Keep block time honest. Use H M L tags and sweep order.

Day 13
Speed stretch. Answer 15 hard items at 75 seconds each. Do not drop proof quality.

Day 14
Mock exam. Record section score, writer view accuracy, inference accuracy, average time per item, and count of Not Given. Keep what worked in a routine card.

Targets by Day 14

• Writer view accuracy 80 percent or higher
• Inference accuracy 75 percent or higher
• Average time per hard item 70 to 85 seconds
• Drift count 2 or fewer per passage
• Not Given choices supported by an honest missing anchor

15) Exam day routine card

• Read title.
• For each hard item, run IVA in 15 seconds: Intent, Voice, Assertion.
• Use LAMP to lock a clause and check scope and polarity.
• Tag hedges once, boosters twice.
• Decide in 90 seconds. Tag L if unsure and move.
• Final sweep: L items only, change only with a new proof line.

Keep this on your desk during practice so it becomes automatic.

16) Quick glossary

• Assertion: the core claim the author makes, including its strength.
• Attribution: who holds a view, author or source.
• Booster: a word that increases commitment, like certainly or must.
• Hedge: a word that softens commitment, like may or tends to.
• Inference: a necessary conclusion drawn from the text.
• Polarity: positive or negative stance created by words like not, never, although.
• Scope: how wide a claim is, controlled by quantifiers.
• Concession: an admitted drawback before a stronger final claim.
• Anchor: the exact phrase that proves your choice.
• Drift: losing the next item because attention stayed on the previous one.

17) Final reminders that protect marks

• Proof beats vibe. If you cannot underline a clause that supports your choice, it is Not Given or the wrong option.
• The writer’s view is the writer’s, not the expert’s. Follow the narrative voice.
• Hedges matter. A single may often moves a statement from Yes to Not Given.
• Concessions are not neutrality. If the author concedes one point but ends with a recommendation, the stance is supportive.
• When torn between two options, choose the one with the tighter scope that matches your anchor.

Inference and writer view are not mysteries. They are about reading the strength, owner, and limits of claims. Use IVA to capture stance, use LAMP to prove it, and keep your signal list visible. Practice with timers and honest autopsies. If you maintain proof discipline, these high difficulty items turn from fear to points you can bank.