Popular IELTS Preparation Books and Resources: Review

Every year about 4M students, workers and other immigrants take the IELTS test to study, work or live abroad. The number keeps rising as the world develops, and so does the number of study materials available in the market.

The simplest way to get the perfect score on the IELTS or other English proficiency tests is to prefer quality study material. While getting to coaching classes is recommended, many choose to self-study to manage their time. Having a large number of books sitting on your desk doesn’t ace your test. Having the time to go through and understand each, sure. But who has the time? Most students applying for IELTS are either still completing their previous course or are working. Even if you don’t, reading several books could possibly not tell you anything different than the selected ones. And which are those? Let’s find out!

In this blog, we will review and discuss the best IELTS books and study material for Indian students aspiring to study abroad.

Books by the OGs

Students and skilled workers both can refer to The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS to prepare for the test. With previous test-takers’ experiences, the book provides clear explanations on how to answer questions in order to achieve high scores. It is a step-by-step guide coupled with audio and video for all listening exercises. The book also extends some sound advice and tips for students to prepare for their exams. Furthermore, it has about 8 practice tests to support their growth. At the same time, another good book, Cambridge IELTS has only 4 practice tests but builds a valuable learning experience. Official IELTS Practice Materials provide a genuine insight into how each section of the IELTS test is assessed. It includes practice tests with answers, tapescripts, typical examiner feedback, and so much more. IELTS also has some resources on their official website.

Also read: IELTS Band Scores: What They Mean, How to Calculate & more

Books for Writing Section

Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 2 is an excellent e-book to improve English Grammar. Individuals looking to improve English Grammar can use the knowledge in this book for varied purposes other than IELTS. Sadly, the physical version of this book is yet to be made available. This book ensures to improve your Writing section scores, specifically in Task 2. Students can practice complex structures and innovative prompts to maximise their efficiency in Essay Writing. Not only that, the book has different aspects of Grammar uniquely explained for beginners. Another golden resource for this section is Ideas for IELTS Essay Topics. The PDF covers over 150 topics for Task 2 for students to understand, practice and inspire.

Also read: IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay: Topics, Tips and More

Only for Academic

IELTS has multiple purposes. While that is a boon, it is also a curse. Studying appearing in the test needs to prepare as per their goals. Books which cater to all types of immigrants can be rather confusing to self-studying students. While more is usually good, studying out-of-syllabus topics could simply be a waste of time that can be better utilised elsewhere. The IELTS Trainer has 5 practice tests focused solely on the IELTS Academic syllabus and pattern. Similarly, Cambridge IELTS 10 and Cambridge IELTS 14 include some authentic IELTS past papers coupled with extra Reading and Writing modules. Students with a basic foundation of the language can also refer to Step Up to IELTS Personal Study Book to maximize their band scores.

Also read: IELTS Reading: Lessons, Information and Tips

Other Resources

The IELTS Tutor Kit has a 40-minute CD and booklet designed to help students prepare for the test. It provides useful tips and suggestions for self-studying students. Its unique content can easily replace 100 hours of learning. The Cambridge IELTS Course Workbook explains the tasks involved in the test. Students can use this workshop to set clear expectations towards the test with its comprehensive practice material. Not only that, the workbook has impressive vocabulary-building exercises and some recorded material to improve scores in the Reading and Speaking Sections. Barron’s IELTS Superpack, too, has highly detailed about 6 module practice papers with subject review, audio track and essential words. While it is suitable for both academic and general training exam takers, students will find distinct learning options.

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