Best IELTS Preparation Books
The official Cambridge guide to IELTS
This IELTS practice book will help you prepare for both IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic modules. This book extensively covers all the four skills of the test (listening, reading, writing, speaking) in separate sections. This book also provides official IELTS practice tests with detailed answer keys that will give a clear explanation to help you improve your scores and have a better understanding. Along with this book, you will get a DVD that includes listening portions as MP3 audio tracks and speaking test videos.
New insight into IELTS
This book covers two modules: IELTS academic and IELTS general training. The book is further split into four parts of the IELTS Exam: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The book gives a detailed introduction to the test and contains test papers in each section along-with answer keys which is quite insightful. The book also comes with an audio CD to help you prepare for IELTS Exam 2018.
Barron’s superpack
Barron’s Superpack consists of three IELTS manual with MP3 CD, IELTS practice exams book with two audio CDs for listening section, IELTS strategies and tips booklet with MP3 CD and the essential words for the IELTS guide. These resources will help you improve your vocabulary.
Every section in the book is explained in detail. The techniques described will help you in understanding the subject better.
Barron’s writing for the IELTS
This book focuses on two sections: IELTS academic and IELTS general training. This book follows the criteria of IELTS writing test –
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Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) – You will learn how to create an essay using three-step model, i.e., plan, write and revise.
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Coherence and Cohesion – You will learn to organize your writing and Link ideas.
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Lexical Resource – You will develop your vocabulary and spelling.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy – You will learn about grammar rules and punctuation.
Target band 7
This book is Written by a former IELTS test-taker, Simone Braverman. This book is quite engaging and provides detailed explanation of all the four sections of the IELTS test: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking. It provides useful tips and tricks to improve your vocabulary and get a higher score in the IELTS exam.
Ace the IELTS
This book mainly focuses on IELTS general training. Ace the IELTS is the second book by Simone Braverman who is also the founder of IELTS-Blog.com. The book deals with all four aspects of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) in various sections. The listening recording has a transcript, and the answers are underlined in sentences. Ace the IELTS consists of a recording of a student taking the speaking test. This recording also comes with a transcript and an examiner’s commentary explaining the reasons for the candidates’ band score.
The Cambridge IELTS 12
It is a self-study pack that consists of latest Cambridge IELTS student’s book with answers and also comes with audio CD’s. Cambridge IELTS 12 provides students with an opportunity to understand IELTS and to practice examination techniques using test material which is interactive. You can choose an edition containing either four complete tests for Academic or General Training module. Each version includes a section of tape-scripts and answers, including models and samples for all the Writing tasks. It also contains a helpful introduction outlining the IELTS format and its scoring system used by Cambridge English Language Assessment.
IELTS practice tests plus 2
This book is suitable for self-study, language proficiency test preparation, and developing listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. It contains six full practice academic tests, with three audio CD’s featuring listening tests. It includes answers, transcripts, strategies, and additional reading and writing for general training.
Road to IELTS
The British Council offers this guide. It is an online course for both the modules: Academic and General Training. The book is available in three versions –
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Test drive version – It is free for download and tells you about IELTS test.
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Last minute version – It is accessible for free to those who register to give the IELTS test with the British Council.
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Full version – You will have to pay around INR 3,300 to get access to this version. It is self-explanatory and provides the online course with more than 300 interactive activities and nine practice tests. This full version also consists of tutorial videos highlighting do’s and don’ts by experts from the British Council. Practice zones with e-books to prepare you in all the four sections: listening, reading, writing and speaking and sample videos with tips to score highest in the exam are also available.
This guide provides a section that will help you compare yourself with other students worldwide and a profile section to remind you of your test date.
How to prepare for IELTS
This guide is by the British Council. This is suitable for home study and also can be used in class. This guide also comes in the form of a CD. The book and CD contains good number of practice test along with answer keys and transcript of recordings to improve in all the four skills.
Collins vocabulary for IELTS
This is a self-study course for learners of English who want to take the IELTS Academic test. The book improves your vocabulary in all four exam papers: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Each unit has practice tests similar to the actual IELTS exam. Each unit contains activities that will help you develop vocabulary knowledge. The book highlights essential vocabulary-related learning strategies and exam techniques.
Collins speaking for IELTS
Speaking for IELTS is divided into 12 units. Each unit focuses on a topic that you are going to get in the IELTS exam. Units 1 to 11 covers vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and exam techniques that prepare you for the IELTS Speaking test. Unit 12 provides a final practice for IELTS speaking test.
You will also find the answer key for all sections of the book and full audio scripts of all speaking practice tests at the back of the book. There are sample answers for all the IELTS Speaking test questions recorded on a CD.
IELTS high score vocabulary list
This book includes a list of words that will help improve your vocabulary. The book also contains synonyms and antonyms for easy understanding and helps you score higher in IELTS exam.
