In this blog, we will list down the top books for IELTS preparation. While planning to study or work abroad, many things need to be taken into consideration, such as visas, accommodation, loans, and so on.
If you’re moving to an English-speaking country, clearing IELTS might be one of your topmost priorities. If you’re confused about where to start or how to start, don’t worry we’ve got you covered!
Here are the top 12 most important IELTS books available in the UAE:
- Barron’s IELTS Superpack
- Road to IELTS
- IELTS Trainer
- Check Your English Vocabulary for IELTS
- Focus on IELTS Foundation
- IELTS 5 in 1 Actual Tests eBook Combo
- English Vocabulary in Use
- The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS
- Target Band 7: IELTS Academic Module by Simone Braverman
- IELTS 17 General Training Student’s Book
- Mometrix IELTS Book for General Training and Academic (2023-24)
- Official IELTS Practice Materials 2
1. Barron’s IELTS Superpack
If you’re looking for a one-stop destination to help you prepare for IELTS, it’s Barron’s IELTS Superpack. As the name suggests it’s a combination of three books namely, IELTS Essential Words, Barron’s IELTS, and IELTS Practice Exams.
All three books are filled with top-notch content to help clear all four sections of the paper. It has additional audio content online as well as in CD form to help you learn on the go!
In short, the book is a must-have if you want to clear either the General or Academic IELTS exam.
Key features of this Superpack:
- You’ll get a total of 10 academic practice papers and 8 general practice papers with answer keys.
- Moreover, a comprehensive set of audio content will allow you to ace the listening section of the IELTS paper.
- Lastly, a bunch of 600 vocabulary words that appear regularly in IELTS papers are also offered to help you master vocabulary.
2. Road to IELTS
Heads up, this is not a book! Then why have we put it on our list? Because it deserves to and you’ll come to know why in a short while!
Road to IELTS is the British Council’s most popular and comprehensive course for IELTS aspirants. It has an exhaustive set of online materials for both General and Academic tests including sample videos and expert tutorials.
What’s more? You can get hands-on experience by solving mock tests (both on the computer as well as on paper) and keep a tab on your progress.
Key Features of Road to IELTS Course:
- It has a free version with 6 practice papers, 2 speaking tests, 92 interactive activities, and 9 tutorial videos from experts.
- The Speed, Success, and Premium versions come with comprehensive sets of practice papers, new and updated speaking tests, and activities along with 300+ interactive activities.
3. IELTS Trainer
This book is primarily for those willing to take Academic IELTS.
IELTS Trainer by Cambridge is your one-stop destination to get hands-on experience by solving 6 papers. It covers the dos and don’ts of paper solving from experts along with additional tips and tricks to ace the exams.
The first two test papers are fully guided by step-by-step explanations on how to do, what to do, and what not to do while solving the paper. The last four papers are for you to solve. They will give you additional practice for grammar, vocabulary, and academic writing in exams.
Key Features of this book:
- It has a bunch of audio materials to help you prepare for the listening section.
- It offers answer keys with explanations for all the papers.
- Moreover, additional model answer papers are also provided.
4. Check Your English Vocabulary for IELTS
Although this book will not directly help you in acing IELTS exam, it will equip you with the necessary vocabulary that can help leaps and bounds in understanding and writing your paper.
The Check your English Vocabulary for IELTS book is suitable for intermediate or above-level students. It extensively covers topic-related vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and the use of the English language in speaking and writing.
Key Features of this book:
- It has a bunch of exercises to test and improve your vocabulary.
- It offers Speaking and Writing tasks along with sample answers to help you prepare for the actual exams.
5. Focus on IELTS Foundation
Focus on IELTS Foundation is an amazing book with 20 units covering almost all the aspects of the IELTS exam. It has an abundance of practical tips, units dedicated to grammar and vocabulary, and exercises to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
The only downside of this book is that it neither comes with CD, online content, or audio scripts for Listening skills. However, on the whole, it is good for intermediate learners willing to brush up their English language proficiency.
Amazon Rating– 4.4/5
6. IELTS 5 in 1 Actual Tests eBook Combo
If you’re preparing for IELTS General, this is your go-to book!
IELTS 5 in 1 Actual Tests eBook Combo has an abundance of content to help you master each of the four parts of your IELTS paper. It comes with audio and transcripts, passages for reading comprehension, sample letters and essays for writing as well as a free 1:1 counselling session with an expert trainer.
That’s not it! It offers practice papers, study techniques, answer keys to check your progress, space for note-making, as well as industry-specific vocabulary to help you ace the exam.
Amazon Rating- 4.2/5
7. English Vocabulary in Use
If you’re a pre-intermediate or intermediate learner, Cambridge’s English Vocabulary In Use is your go-to book to enhance your vocabulary!
The book offers not just a bunch of vocabulary that you can use but attempts to make it stick to your mind through meanings, exercises, and activities where you can use the words you learned.
Again, although not directly helpful for IELTS, for early learners this book can be a stepping stone. With improved vocabulary, you can definitely score better in all four sections of your IELTS exam.
We have a blog that lists down the tips to increase your IELTS reading score. You can give it a read once you have completed reading this one.
Amazon Rating– 4.7/5
8. The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS
One of the top-rated books on Amazon for IELTS preparation, the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS is your one-stop destination to learn all you need to know for acing IELTS exam.
The book comes with four dedicated sections on reading, writing, listening, and speaking along with 8 official practice tests, a DVD-ROM with listening files, and speaking test videos. The updated versions do not contain the DVD however, you can access all the video content through Cambridge’s app by adding the number given in your book.
The guide also offers tips and techniques to ace the exams, answer keys, and writing activities to hone your writing skills.
Amazon Rating– 4.4/5
9. Target Band 7: IELTS Academic Module by Simone Braverman
If you’re a do-it-yourself person then the Target Band 7 book is for you!
Simone Braverman cleared IELTS and since then she has been on her mission to help anyone, be it working mothers, people with learning disabilities, etc. to clear IELTS and give wings to their career. She even mentions the mistakes she made while preparing for IELTS so that you don’t make them!
What’s more? The manageable chunks of information, her tips on time management, and her strategies for preparing for exams are exceptional, and that’s what makes the book the best of all.
Amazon Rating– 4.6/5
10. IELTS 17 General Training Student’s Book
Next up on our list is Cambridge’s IELTS 17 General Training Student’s Book. The book is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge or skills to tackle all four sections of the paper. It has an in-built QR code which will give you access to a plethora of audio clips and speaking test videos to help you ace these sections.
Moreover, it has practice papers, answer keys with explanations, and model answers along with tips, tricks, and techniques to ace the exam.
Amazon Rating– 4.3/5
11. Mometrix IELTS Book for General Training and Academic (2023-24)
Momemtrix’s IELTS book is another comprehensive guide for IELTS General preparation. It has comprehensive content for reading, writing, listening, and speaking sections of the paper.
For listening skills, it offers an abundance of online audio content. Moreover, a bunch of tips, tricks, and techniques along with test papers and answer keys are provided to prepare you for the actual exam!
Amazon Rating: 3.9/5
12. Official IELTS Practice Materials 2
If you’re a teacher preparing students for IELTS, this book is one of the must-haves!
The IELTS Practice Materials 2 book has been compiled by expert teachers and writers with years of experience in the field. It covers all four aspects of the IELTS paper (both general and academic) and comes with a DVD to help you in acing listening and speaking sections of the paper.
Also, it offers tips and strategies for preparation, practice papers with answer keys, and real-life test papers with examiner’s comments. This brings us to the end of our list!
Amazon Rating– 4.3/5
Final Thoughts
Although there is an abundance of content available on the internet for IELTS preparation, books are nevertheless one of the best. The 12 books mentioned in this blog will act as a guiding post in your journey to ace the IELTS exam. Also, if you have any confusion or queries related to the IELTS exam, check out our comprehensive guide on the IELTS test.
Moreover, if you’re not a do-it-yourself person, starting your IELTS preparation with books can get overwhelming. Thus, we suggest you check out our IELTS Course. Our course is custom-designed to suit every learner’s needs and help them level up their career by clearing IELTS with flying colours!
