Picking the best IELTS exam books for preparation is essential for scoring well and paving the way for your education abroad. It may seem challenging, but cracking the examination successfully is not impossible, Opting for the right preparatory material is also vital as they help you understand the material covered in the examination paper. It is common to get confused between what one should get and what would suit the needs, as numerous options are available. Here is a list of IELTS preparation books that will help you get high scores.
IELTS Exam 2024: Overview
Section
Number of Questions
Duration
Marks Per Question
Listening
40
Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes of transfer time for the paper-based test)
1 mark for a correct answer.
Marks are converted into a 9-band scale.
Reading
40
60 minutes
1 mark for a correct answer.
Marks are converted into a 9-band scale.
Writing
2 tasks
60 minutes
A certified IELTS examiner will evaluate writing tests.
Speaking
3 parts
11-14 minutes
IELTS examiners will evaluate your test performance based on four key criteria:
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IELTS Study Material
To find IELTS study material, you can explore the following resources:
1) IELTS Free Preparation Resources:
The British Council offers a variety of free online IELTS practice tests and materials to help you prepare for the official test. You can access mock tests, exercises, tips for test day, and more on their website.
These platforms provide free practice tests, eBooks, courses, and live learning options. They also offer personalized online IELTS coaching with a band guarantee program.
IELTS Ready is another platform where you can find free access to six mock tests in all four IELTS sections, along with practice exercises and tips to improve your score.
2)IELTS Vocabulary
Various platforms give vocabulary lessons with practice exercises, word lists, and pronunciation tips. You can learn about word lists for common topics and how to pronounce words correctly in English.
There is a compilation of approximately 300+ vocabulary lists for IELTS on the British Council website. It includes synonyms for common English words and can be particularly helpful for the reading and writing sections.
IELTS Podcast provides a curated list of essential vocabulary words and phrases you need to know for the exam, covering a range of topics commonly found on the IELTS exam.
Better Words Online has a comprehensive collection of common vocabulary topics for IELTS that often appear in the exam in both Academic and General Training versions.
How to Choose the Best IELTS Exam Preparation Books?
Choosing the best books for IELTS preparation is tricky, but you can easily find the right books for yourself with the right approach. As an aspirant, you need to know about your strong and weak points. Once you become aware of the section that demands your time and attention, selecting the best IELTS preparation books that suit your needs becomes easy.
While selecting the book, connect with people who have previously attempted the IELTS exam and take their suggestions. You can also join online forums, ask for their suggestions, and search for books and reviews online. Most of the time, online forums help a lot.
You should consider your end objectives while making a choice for the IELTS preparation book. Some books have a general perspective, while others offer intensive academic training. The academic preparation books for IELTS usually have more detailed information than the books for IELTS general training.
List of Best IELTS Preparation Books
Some of the highly recommended best books for IELTS preparation include the following:
1. Barron’s IELTS Superpack
Barron’s IELTS Superpack fuses all vital IELTS materials into a package that will hugely benefit you to crack the examination, hence the super pack name. This extensive set of four books will include the following:
a) Barron’s IELTS – This contains two general and four academic module practice examinations, an extensive review of the subjects, and online audio track access.
b) IELTS Practice Exams with MP3 CD – This contains six academic module practice tests and six general training module practice examinations with access to online and CD-based audio material and answer-based explanations.
c) IELTS Strategies and Tips with MP3 CD – This will help you gather more expert tips and strategies for answering questions better, and you will also be getting a CD and online audio material.
The main features of the above mentioned books are as follows:
This IELTS study material is comprehensive.
The pack of two CDs supplementing the study material makes learning interesting. You can listen to it when you are not in the mood to read.
The Official Cambridge IELTS Guide covers general and academic studies/training. This starter’s IELTS book for preparation offers tips, insights, and guidance regarding the experiences of previous aspirants and listed explanations on achieving higher scores as well. You can boost your knowledge through eight official practice examinations and a step-wise guide towards every section. Eventually, you will get video and audio for all practice tests and listening exercises.
Things that are interesting within the book:
The book shares glimpses of the mistakes and experiences of IELTS aspirants during their exam preparation.
Includes pointers from competent people who have cleared the exam.
It enables candidates to prepare for the speaking and listening sections as it comes along with a DVD.
3. Cambridge IELTS 14 Academic Student’s Book with Answers with Audio
As a part of the Cambridge IELTS Academic Series, the IELTS 14 Academic Student’s Book with Answers with Audio: Authentic Practice Tests is known for its legitimacy and offers four examination papers (authentic) courtesy of Cambridge Assessment English. This is just like the real test, and along with four complete examinations for academic aspirants, there is an introduction available for all the modules and scoring methods, along with an extensive answer section. This is similar to other books for preparation; students will get access to downloadable audio materials for listening.
Things that are interesting within the book:
You will be able to get oriented to all the test modules.
You will get an insight into the scoring system, getting an idea of what the exam would be like.
4. Official IELTS Practice Materials
Official partners write official IELTS Practice Materials of the IELTS examination and this explains how every section of the test is examined while providing invaluable tips on studying. Students will receive practice examinations covering general and academic training portions, tapescripts, answer sheets, examiners' feedback, and much more. This book will also benefit teachers in helping aspirants prepare better for the IELTS examination.
Things that are interesting within the book:
Receiving feedback from the examiners takes the perspiration a notch higher.
This book for the IELTS exam helps students prepare for IELTS and is also a teacher guide.
This is not technically a book, although Road to IELTS is a highly interactive online program from the British Council for tutorial videos, mock papers, and interactive exercises. It is available in three versions:
You can download five IELTS practice exam papers to get an overview of the test.
The Last Minute version will be free for people registering for IELTS via the British Council, including nine videos with tutorials and advice. About 100 interactive activities and two practice tests for each of the four skills are included here.
The full version has everything needed for IELTS test preparation, and for approximately $50, a fully online course is available with 300+ activities and nine practice examinations. There are expert tutorial videos, and evaluation is done based on practice test marks.
Things that are interesting within the book:
It has made the preparation for all four sections of IELTS easier with about 100 interactive activities & video tutorials.
Though it is an online course, the IELTS preparation materials offer a classroom-type experience.
IELTS Trainer offers six full practice tests while helping you build up towards greater success in the examinations. It is one of the best books for preparation since it offers ample guidance. It has CDs for listening tests and sample examinations for other portions. It has numerous answers and test paper guidance.
Things that are interesting within the book:
Thorough answers and tips on how to answer are given.
Briefs you about the commonly made mistakes by candidates taking the IELTS test.
Good samples on the writing, speaking, and listening tasks.
Equips you with techniques on how to answer different types of questions as it has step-by-step guidance.
7. Mometrix IELTS Book for General Training and Academic
This is one of the best IELTS books for those looking for quality video tutorials, practice test examinations along with other strategies and tips. It has four areas covered for the IELTS examination along with video tutorials for mastery over tougher topics and is comparatively affordable.
Things that are interesting within the book:
There are step-by-step video tutorials that can help students master even complex topics.
Well-explained answer keys along with practice papers.
A thorough review of all the IELTS test sections - Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.
This is an IELTS reading book to develop the vocabulary of the students before the examination. It is ideal for both IELTS Academic and General. It has a wide vocabulary range for improving scores. It aims at the intermediate level and is best suited for beginners focusing only on vocabulary.
Things that are interesting within the book:
Helps students ace the IELTS exam by improving their vocabulary.
9. Focus on IELTS Foundation: Foundation Coursebook
This book offers a solid foundation in the skills and language capabilities that you should master for scoring higher. It has numerous interesting materials and texts, a vital language bank, DIY learning projects and strategies, and a listening CD to enable better preparation. It may be used for added English language practice sessions outside of the IELTS exam as well.
Things that are interesting within the book:
ACD is provided along with the study material.
This book can be used to enhance students’ language requirements outside of IELTS.
10. Simon Braveman’s Target Band 7
If you are after scoring great marks, then this book for the IELTS exam is the best for you. It is written by professionals who have already taken the exam and fared well. The study material contains straight-to-the-point strategies for IELTS preparation that are easily implementable and executable and seeks to provide solutions to overcome the hurdles that you might face while studying for the test.
Things that are interesting within the book:
This book guides students on how to use their time efficiently and effectively.
Students will get the solutions to the problems that IELTS candidates generally face during the examination.
It is imperative to understand the test format to prepare for the IELTS test to score a higher band. Once you know the type of questions you’ll have to answer, you will know what to expect in each section and how to answer them.
There are four sections in the IELTS test, i.e., Reading, Speaking, Writing, and Listening, with a fixed time limit for each section. Here are a few ways you can prepare for the IELTS test to ace it-
Mock tests: Mock tests are the best way to prepare for the IELTS. You can perfect your time management and understand your strengths and weaknesses with practice tests.
Practice at regular intervals: You can practice speaking and reading skills with someone with a good grasp of English.
Connect with previous year's IELTS candidates: You can connect with the students who have earlier appeared for the test and scored a higher band. You can take tips and tricks from them, which can be extremely helpful.
IELTS is a universally accepted English language proficiency test that is designed for aspirants who wish to study, work or migrate to English-speaking countries. However, if equipped with the right preparation tools, cracking the IELTS examination is not that daunting. Students falling short of time to prepare for IELTS can resort to online courses. Some of their benefits are as follows:
Consolidated test tips and study strategies from experts.
Model answers and feedback from examiners
Mock tests of your preferred module
Will prepare you for the computer-based IELTS test through tutorial videos on how to take each section of the exam.
Besides, opting for a Study Abroad program from upGrad Abroad reduces your worries about preparing for IELTS. You get an inbuilt IELTS preparation guide to help you perform well in the test.
Here are few more Samples Reading Answers for IELTS
The Official Cambridge Guide To IELTS Student's Book With Answers With DVD ROM
How to Improve English Speaking: How to Become a Confident and Fluent English Speaker by
Speaking From The Past Exams
The Ultimate Guide to IELTS Speaking
Reading
IELTS Reading for Academic 2021
Makkar IELTS English For Exams IELTS Academic Readings Vol. 1 For Exam Practice
MAKKAR IELTS Academic Readings Practice Workbook Combo Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
Collins Reading for IELTS by Els Van Geyte (Ebook)
Improve Your IELTS Reading Skills pdf by Sam McCarter & Norman Whitby
IELTS Reading Recent Actual Tests Volume 4, 3,2,1
Writing
Barrons Writing For The IELTS
The Official Cambridge Guide To Ielts Student's Book With Answers With Dvd Rom
The Ultimate Guide To IELTS Writing
Listening
IELTS Listening Practice Tests - IELTS Self-study Exam Preparation Book: For IELTS for Academic Purposes and General Training Modules
Listening for IELTS (With Answers and Audio): IELTS 5-6+ (B1+) (Collins English for IELTS) Aish, Fiona and Tomlinson, Jo
Achiever IELTS 9 Bands IELTS Listening Practice Tests Kit (15 IELTS Listening Practice Tests with Transcripts including 5 High-Quality Moserbaer CD's with Answer Keys) Voice Content & Reading Format as per IDP & British Council
Frequently Asked Questions about IELTS Preparation Books
Which book is best for IELTS preparation?
Different books work for different people. The choice for books depends upon your strengths and weaknesses. You must read the book syllabus and reviews and then opt for one accordingly.
Is Cambridge book enough for IELTS?
Whether the Cambridge book is enough for IELTS or not depends upon your own preparation. Every year a book is released in the Cambridge book series. Ensure to get your hands on the recent one.
Are IELTS books available online?
All the IELTS books are available on various e-commercial sites.
Shall the IELTS books be preferred over online materials for preparation?
You can prefer both the books and online materials to prepare for the IELTS exam. You can prefer one over the other depending upon your convenience and comfort.
Do IELTS books include practice paper?
Some IELTS practice books contain practice papers such as the Cambridge book, the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS, IELTS Trainer, Barron’s IELTS, and more.
How much time is required to complete the IELTS preparation book?
The time required to complete the IELTS preparation book depends upon your preparation. It might take three to six weeks to prepare for the IELTS exam.
How to start preparing for the IELTS?
There are various ways you can prepare for the IELTS. The first step in any preparation is to get a hold of the syllabus and then look for resources for preparation. You can start with practice papers, mock tests, online study materials, and more. Perseverance and dedication are the main qualities you need to prepare for the exam effectively. Start prepping 3-6 weeks before the exam date.
Here are few of the trending IELTS Reading Answers:
Sunita Kadian, co-founder and Academic Head at Yuno Learning is an expert in IELTS and English communication. With a background in competitive exam preparation (IELTS, GMAT, CAT, TOEFL), interview prep, and corporate soft skills training, she has adapted these programs for the Yuno platform.
Her dedication and commitment earned high praise from students, especially for her public speaking and advanced speaking English courses. Sunita's mastery of language nuances and articulation makes her a favorite among IELTS students.
She holds a Postgraduate degree in English Literature, a B.Ed., and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations.
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