Best IELTS Preparation Books
There are plenty of books available for help with IELTS preparation but don't have to purchase all of them. A good book should include practice material, explanations, sample questions and tests that are similar to the actual test.
These are some of the best IELTS exam preparation books for the students to prepare.
The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS
This resource to IELTS is among the most helpful books for IELTS test preparation for students who wish to have only one book to prepare for the test.
It can be used by Academic and General Training candidates and is for all four IELTS sections.
Key features include:
- Includes Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
- Contains practise questions and sample tests
- Provides basic test-taking hints and techniques
- Helps students to understand the format of the IELTS test.
- Useful for students who want an all-in-one study book
This book is a good starting point if you are new to IELTS. It can help you in learning every section prior to the start of overall testing.
Cambridge IELTS Practice Test Books
This test series is another popular one to prepare IELTS exam. These books will be of greatest help for students who wish to practise using IELTS test papers that are similar in style.
They include:
- Full-length practice tests
- Practice of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking
- Answer keys
- Sample answers and examiner guidance where provided
- Questions to clarify the test level and what it is like
These books are particularly helpful once you get the idea of the basic IELTS format. They can be used to practice under limited time.
IELTS Trainer
It is helpful for students who prefer to practice step-by-step and combines lessons, practice activities, strategies, and tests.
It covers:
- One-by-One IELTS practice
- Test taking tips
- Practice tests
- Common IELTS question types
- Tips for improving your answers
It is a good choice for students who want structured preparation instead of simply taking test after test.
Barron's IELTS Superpack
Provides several study resources in one package. For students needing additional practice in all 4 sections of IELTS, this can be helpful.
The material generally includes:
- Practice in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking
- Support in building vocabulary
- Test practice
- Multiple study resources in one package
- Material for improving overall IELTS skills
Students who need more practice material can consider this among their books for IELTS preparation.
Road to IELTS
In this book, IELTS preparation course is included that focuses on the IELTS test and help students on practising various sections of the test in an organized manner.
It can include:
- Section wise activities
- Exercises for practice
- Mock tests
- Progress tracking
- Guidance in improving weaker areas
It is helpful if you wish to learn one part of IELTS at a time, and to test yourself as you progress.
Check Out: IELTS Exam Syllabus
IELTS Preparation Books for Each Section
It is not necessary to use one book for each task. If you have a strong ability in reading but a weak ability in writing, then you can select out IELTS exam preparation books which focus more on writing.
There is no one single best book to study the section you're looking to work on.
Best Books for IELTS Listening Preparation
Listening practice is important as in the actual test the listener will only get to hear the recording once. You can get used to other accents and question types with the help of the right book.
Popular books:
- Collins Listening for IELTS
- Cambridge IELTS 15 to 19 Academic / General Training
- IELTS Advantage: Listening and Speaking Skills
Find books that offer practice in:
- Different English accents
- Different Listening question types
- Note and form completion
- Maps as well as diagrams
- Multiple choice questions
- Full Listening tests
Cambridge IELTS practice books are useful for this because they give you Listening tests along with answer keys. You can also use listening-focused resources to practise difficult question types again and again.
Top Books for IELTS Reading Preparation
The right Reading book should help you to read faster and without wasting time to get the answers you need.
Some best books:
- Collins Reading for IELTS
- IELTS Advantage: Reading Skills
- Get Ready for IELTS Reading
The practice on the following points should be included in good IELTS test preparation books for Reading:
- Skimming and scanning
- Finding key information
- True/False/Not Given questions
- Matching headings
- Sentence and summary completion
- Time management
Be sure to select the right type of material on which to test. Academic IELTS preparation books should be used for academic reading, and general training candidates should use general training reading.
The passages and questions are different so, wrong book can impact preparation.
Popular Books for IELTS Writing Preparation
Practice is necessary for writing as it requires you to put in your ideas clearly, apply proper grammar and vocabulary.
Few of the books are:
- IELTS Advantage: Writing Skills
- Barron's IELTS Writing
- Collins Writing for IELTS
When choosing IELTS academic preparation books, check that they cover:
- Academic Writing Task 1
- Academic Writing Task 2
- Essay structure and development
- Sample answers
- Grammar and vocabulary
- Writing tips
For General Training, your book should cover:
- General Training Writing Task 1
- General Training Writing Task 2
- Letter writing
- Essay writing
- Sample answers
- Grammar and vocabulary
Academic Writing Task 1 can not be used for the General Training Task 1. The preparation for the two tasks is different.
Best Books for IELTS Speaking Preparation
Speaking books can help you understand what happens in all three parts of the Speaking test.
Some popular books:
- Mat Clark’s IELTS Speaking
- IELTS Speaking Success
- Collins Speaking for IELTS
Look for top IELTS preparation books that provide practice for:
- Speaking Part 1
- Speaking Part 2
- Speaking Part 3
- Common Speaking topics
- Fluency and coherence
- Vocabulary
- Pronunciation
There are opportunities to practise voice responses to questions and record yourself. This can make it easier to identify pausing, repetition and difficulty with pronunciation.
Also Read: IELTS Exam Pattern
IELTS Books for Academic and General Training
There are two types of IELTS exams: Academic and General Training. Some IELTS exam preparation books are written for both types of the IELTS test, and some are dedicated to only one type of IELTS. Please check the book before ordering it.
IELTS Academic Preparation Books
Cambridge IELTS 19 Academic with Answers, IELTS Advantage: Writing Skills (Academic), and Improve Your IELTS Reading Skills are some kinds of preparation books are primarily for the students who are planning to enrol in a higher education institute, such as University or College.
They should cover:
- Academic Reading
- Academic Writing Task 1
- Academic Writing Task 2
- Academic vocabulary
- Academic-style questions
- University-related IELTS requirements
A good alternative to Cambridge is practice because they are in the IELTS test format.
IELTS General Training Preparation Books
General Training books such as Cambridge IELTS 19 General Training with Answers, Barron's IELTS Writing (General Training Focus), Collins Reading for IELTS (General Training Edition) are designed for people taking IELTS for work, migration, or other purposes.
They should cover:
- General Training Reading
- General Training Writing Task 1
- General Training Writing Task 2
- Everyday and work-related English contexts
- General Training practice tests
If you are studying for General Training IELTS, don't rely solely on IELTS Academic preparation books. Ensure that your practice exam is a similar to your actual test.
How to Choose the Right IELTS Preparation Book?
There are many books for IELTS preparation to choose from that can be confusing. The decision can be easier to make by checking some basic parameters.
Here are some pointers that may help you in IELTS preparation.
- Check Your Exam Type: Select which books to use depending on the type of IELTS you are taking (Academic or General Training). Both have different Reading and Writing.
- Check Your English Level: Select the appropriate book level and band. Beginners should get more basic lessons and Band 7+ students should have advanced practice.
- Identify Your Weak Section: If you have trouble with a particular area, select a book on that skill. If you need assistance on all parts, select an all-in-one book.
- Read Trusted Books: Read books that are trusted e.g. Cambridge, British Council, IDP. They are more likely to be in the same format as the actual IELTS.
- Look in Extra Resources: Books with Listening audio, answer keys, and practice questions are all found there, and there is online practice.
- Think about how to spend your study time: If your test is near, practice tests and your trouble spots. Use books to teach skills step by step with more time.
- Don't buy too many books: If you apply a good IELTS Prep book consistently, 1 or 2 preparations books are sufficient.
How to Use IELTS Test Preparation Books Effectively?
Using these books the right way can make your practice much better. Purchase of good books is only the first step. They, also, must be used correctly. These steps may help you out in using these books in a correct manner.
- Follow a Two Step Plan: Understand the format of the test, the types of questions, and some simple strategies. Then, use practice books to do full tests and get quicker.
- Practise Like the Real Test: Time yourself and work at the same pace that you would during the Real Test. Avoid stopping the Listening text or reading the text too slowly in Reading.
- Maintain a Mistake List: Record the errors that you make and learn why they were errors after each test. Make sure that you correct these inaccuracies before you take the next test.
- Learn From Sample Answers: Read good answers to Writing and Speaking prompts. Pay attention to their words, sentence formation, and their explanations of ideas.
- Listening Audio Again: After confirming your answers, listen to the audio again reading along with the script. This can be useful to learn other accents and to practice spelling.
- Practice Regularly: Avoid reading your IELTS test preparation books and practise English daily, review errors, solve questions and take mock tests.
Suggested Read: How to Register for the IELTS Exam in India
