Top 7 Books for IELTS Prep

Striving to top the IELTS exam this year?

For better preparation, one would need good books to study. Scoring at least above 6 band score opens international opportunities for the candidate whether it is for higher studies or work possibilities.

This page contains a list of books that can help candidates in their endeavor to achieve the best results in IELTS.

List of the Best IELTS Prep Books

Book	Price	Parameters
IELTS Success Formula Academic	$29.24	Subject Review Tips and Strategies Cue Cards Practice Tests
IELTS Practice Test Plus 3	$42.98	Exam Information Tips and Strategies
The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS	$31.16	Practice Tests Exam Content Info Tips and Strategies
Barron’s IELTS Superpack-5th Edition	$29.49	Practice Tests Extensive Subject Review Answer Explanations Vocabulary Prep
Target Band 7: Academic Module 3rd Edition	$22.99	Practice Tests Exam Prep Methods Exam Strategies
Cambridge IELTS 11 General Training	$35.75	Module Introductions Exam Information Practice Tests Answers and Tapescripts
Ace the IELTS: IELTS General 3rd Edition	$19.69	Subject Review 21-day Study Plan Study Tips

1

IELTS Success Formula Academic

Cost: $29.24
This book has been formulated by Simone Braverman and contains tips and tricks to improve the overall score. Candidates will find good explanations on all the topics necessary for IELTS preparation. Though it was published in 2016, the relevance of this book has not diminished over time. This is partly because the exam pattern and format for IELTS have not changed drastically over time.

Pros

• Contains step-by-step guidance on achieving a high score.
• Does not meander over unnecessary topics. Is to the point.
• Teaches the difference between a lower score response and a higher score response.
• Contains cue cards similar to ones the examiner might ask during the exam.
• Has full practice test.
• It has over 70 techniques and 200 exercises in it.

Cons

• The book has been reviewed to be good for candidates who are aiming at a band score of 6. Candidates who are aiming for higher scores will have to purchase supplementary books to achieve the same.

2

IELTS Practice Test Plus 3

Cost: $42.98
This manual comes with a pack of CDs for developing the writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills needed for the IELTS exam. This guide contains the key to mastering the techniques required for writing the test and scoring remarkable grades for the same. The users have considered the best practice book so far and have also reviewed it favorably. They also contain more practice tests than any other books available in the market.

Pros

• Claims to be 100% in line with the current format.
• Has information regarding exam requirement.
• Includes 2020 exam overview and has detailed information about each section.
• Reasonable price

Cons

• The listening section of the book does not contain a transcript which makes it hard for beginners to understand and approach the questions in the section.
• Reviewers claim that only one test among those provided in the writing section of the book has detailed explanations of answers.

3

The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS

Cost: $31.16
This book can serve as a boon to the students who are preparing for the IELTS exam as this has been written and published by the makers of the IELTS exam. This book comes with a DVD-ROM in it and is a must-have for those who wish to achieve success in their IELTS exam. The main aim of this official guide is to prepare the students for the personal experience of the writers and the candidates who have already appeared for the exam. The book does NOT intend to teach the language to the candidate. On the contrary, it teaches a person who already knows the language about the format of the test and about what is to be expected in the test. It is also a book ideal for self-prep if the candidate does not want to rely on external courses and tutors to crack the exam. The students who have purchased this book have rated this book with a five-star and have reviewed that the book is highly informative.

Pros

• This book has been written after an analysis of the responses of the actual exam-takers.
• It is recommended for candidates who stand at a band score of 4 and above.
• The book contains 8 official practice tests and the first of these includes step-by-step guidance.
• It focuses more on the academic test than the general training test.
• The book provides content that is concise along with invaluable tips.
• The book contains effective tips with simple practice sets to enhance their practice for the exam.
• Comes with answer keys with comprehensive explanations to improve their preparation.

Cons

• The book is not for candidates who are new to learning the language. Since it is targeted at those who are fluent in the language, beginners will not be able to benefit from the book.
• The book does not include extra guidance for the writing section of the exam and mostly includes general training materials.
• Some reviewers claim that the content in the book can be confusing for learners.

4

Barron's IELTS Superpack- Fifth Edition

Cost: $29.49
This is a super-manual for the preparation for the IELTS exam. This pack is a three-book set along with online accessible audio tracks and practice exams. It also has practice tests that help candidates assess themselves during the preparation period. This guide gives students a complete overview of the test along with effective tips for its preparation. The users of this book have rated it at the top rank as it offers the best IELTS preparation advice and guidance to students. This book provides the essential reading, writing, listening, and writing sample practice and exercise sheets. It contains all the necessary study materials for the preparation for the IELTS exam. Obtaining the online audio requires opening an account on Barron’s website. Though the cost seems a little high it is due to the inclusion of three books instead of one.

Pros

• Barron’s IELTS Contains 4 academic module practice exams and 2 general training module practice exams.
• Also contains an extensive subject review and access to audio tracks online.
• IELTS Practice Exams contain 6 academic module practice exams and 6 general training module practice exams.
• Also contains comprehensive answer explanations and online audio prep.
• IELTS Essential Words contains vocabulary prep with over 600 words that are frequently asked. It also contains access to online audio prep.

Cons

• The online component for audio has been reviewed to be inaccessible for most users.
• Some students have been unable to access the website content and some have not been able to log in to Barron’s online portal.

5

Target Band 7: IELTS Academic Module- How to Maximize Your Score - Third Edition

Cost: $22.99
This book is written by a former test-taker, Simone Braverman. She has composed this book to be easy to understand and easy-to-use manual for students who wish to excel in their IELTS exam. It contains solutions to the typical problems that are encountered by a scholar while taking the IELTS test.

There are useful tips and techniques provided out of self-experience and analysis. The users of this manual have had great success with it and have added a review stating that it is the best book for preparing for the IELTS test.

Pros

• Includes a full IELTS practice test.
• Contains information regarding methods to prepare for the exam.
• Mostly speaks about strategies to crack exams than practice materials.
• Helpful for beginners.

Cons

• The book is targeted at beginners and can seem too simple for learners who are fluent in the language.
• The book mainly contains information regarding the strategies and tips that one can use for the examination.
• While the book discusses the content and exam format, it does not include examples for the theory it provides which can make it hard for candidates to understand.

Target Band 7: IELTS Academic Module - How to Maximize Your Score (Fourth Edition)

Cost: $22.99
This book now has a 4th edition which is an upgrade to the 3rd edition and contains a full-length test paper along with a 21-day study plan that can help students prepare without a hitch. It contains links to the audio files required to prepare for the Listening section of the test and other links to let candidates find practice materials online. The book also provides extensive tips on how to approach the computer-based IELTS test. Though the book is mostly focused on the methods of preparation and therefore caters to an intermediate and advanced learner of the language, it can be of immense use to candidates in general for receiving a band score of 7 or above. Detailed review...

6

Cambridge IELTS 11 General Training

Cost: $35.75
This prep book comes with the answer series to help students know the correct answer for every query they have listed. This pack of self-study materials also contains samples of the previous year's exam pattern and questions to provide additional benefits of preparation to the students. The users of this book have a 5-star rated book as it has served as a complete package solution to their IELTS test-related queries.

Pros

• Begins with an introduction to the modules the book contains.
• Explains the assessment system used to grade IELTS officially.
• Contains four authentic IELTS exam papers.
• Has a comprehensive section of answers and tape-scripts at the back of the book.
• Contains audio CDs for listening tests.

Cons

• Some reviewers claim that the listening audio material is missing despite what the contents mentioned. But they state that the audio materials are available on YouTube for no additional cost.

7

Ace the IELTS: IELTS General- How to Maximize Your Score- 3rd edition

Cost: $19.69
This book contains the general overall view of the IELTS exam pattern and the type of questions that come in the exam. This is the third edition by the famous writer Simone Braverman who herself had formerly applied for the IELTS exam. Every student must have this book to fulfill their dreams of achieving the desired success in their IELTS exam. The users have highly rated this book and consider it to be very helpful as it is easy to understand and use by any prospective candidate.

Pros

• Covers the broad aspects of the subjects covered.
• Contains sample tests and questions.
• Includes a 21-day study plan to guide the candidate like a private tutor.
• Effective tips included from the University of Cambridge.
• Grammar and essay writing is extensively discussed in the book.
• Provides ways to improve language skills in a few weeks' time.

Cons

• Reviewers claim that most of the information provided is accessible through the official IELTS platform.
• The tips provided in the book have been stated to be obvious and available online through online blogs regarding the examination.

Ace the IELTS: IELTS General Module - How to Maximize Your Score (Fourth Edition)

Cost: $22.99
The author has published the 4th edition of this bestseller which is both cost-efficient and can be referred to as a crash course for IELTS. This book approaches the exam from a general perspective and deals with tips for each of the four sections of the examination. The section on Letter Writing and Essay Writing is extensive and can be of use to candidates who can only speak and read the language well but are yet to develop writing skills in the examination. Most importantly, there are tips to help the candidates become familiar with the computer-based IELTS test. The book also contains cue cards and extra topics which candidates can use to practice before the examination. Detailed review...