This blog is largely intended for candidates who are studying alone for the IELTS exam. The internet is good, but books are useful too, right? So here are some of my suggestions. There are of course other books out there, but here are some I know and can recommend.
This is one area where it pays to buy quality: the cheapest books may not be the best books.
Official Exam papers
These are a must have. There are lots of books with practice tests and most of them are very good, but these are the real deal. There is no substitute for practising real papers. I would only comment that you of course need a with answers edition.
Also, if you are smart, you will spend as much time going through the answers and understanding your mistakes as you do doing the tests in the first place.
Insight into IELTS
There are any amount of good course books out there, this happens to be my favourite for self-study. The reason for this is that it looks at each of the 4 modules (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in turn. When you are studying by yourself, this approach makes a lot of sense. I also like the way it deals with skills and not endless exam style practice: you will find a lot exercises that are designed to help you improve your skills. I believe in this approach.
I would also add that the workbook is as useful as the coursebook.
Vocabulary for IELTS
This is a really excellent book. One reason why I recommend this one is that it is truly an IELTS book. You will find vocabulary for all the likely IELTS topics, but the exercises are all in IELTS format. You learn the vocabulary, but you also get to practise your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills too. If you are looking for exam practice, this book will give you plenty.
It also does the intelligent thing of helping you with important vocabulary learning ideas such as collocation, pronunciation and spelling. Really no other IELTS vocabulary book comes near it.
Grammar for IELTS
This is the twin of the vocabulary book and is as every bit as good. Unlike the vocabulary book, however, it is probably not a book to work through but use as a reference for when you have a problem. You will find clear explanations of key grammar areas, but just as importantly you get real IELTS exercises where you can practise the grammar in context.
General IELTS
Good quality general IELTS books are hard to find. In my view, this is by far the best. Do not be worried that it only covers reading and writing – speaking and listening are the same as in Academic IELTS. This book gives you both training and practice in key skills.
Tips for IELTS
Are you looking for a handy book of tips. This one is excellent. It is neatly organised and contains summaries of each of the 4 modules with suggestions for how to prepare for them and how to deal with them in the exam. In my view, it is by a long way the best of its kind on the market. It helps that it is written by a hugely experienced author who sets out the key ideas in simple and clear language.
IELTS Target 4.5
Here is something new and a little different. It’s not a self-study book but is hot off the presses and fills a real gap in the market. There are more and more low level candidates who are focussing on IELTS. The problem is that they do not have good enough general language skills to cope with standard IELTS textbooks. This book is excellent at what it does: it gives these low level candidates experience in the IELTS format while teaching a little low level English at the same time. It works.
Other books
That is my very short top list, here are others you might consider.
Focus on Vocabulary: Mastering the Academic Wordlist
This is not an IELTS book, but if you have time it will certainly improve your vocabulary for IELTS,
IELTS Practice Tests with Explanatory Key by Peter May
The author gives excellent explanations of why some answers are right and some are wrong in the listening and reading modules.
These books are also a worthwhile investment as they do plenty of teaching as well as testing.
AAPress have a whole series of books 101/202/303/404 all of which come recommended.
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