Top 9 Books for IELTS Prep

For better preparation, you would need good books to study. Scoring at least above 6 band score opens international opportunities for higher studies or work possibilities.

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

List of the Best IELTS Prep Books

Book	Price	Parameters
The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS	$32.99	Focuses more on the academic test
Barron’s IELTS Superpack-5th Edition	$64.49	Vocabulary Prep with over 600 words
Target Band 7: Academic Module 4th Edition	$21.98	Full-length test paper along with a 21-day study plan
Cambridge IELTS 11 General Training	$35.75	Authentic Exam papers
Ace the IELTS: IELTS General 4th Edition	$22.78	Tips for computer-delivered and paper-based IELTS
Test Prep Books' IELTS Academic and General Training Study Guide	$24.99	Gives a study schedule to follow
Mometrix IELTS Book for General Training and Academic 2023-2024	$19.99	Include links to online review videos
APEX Test Prep's IELTS General Training and Academic Exam Preparation	$12.99	Free study tips DVD
Kaplan's IELTS Prep Plus- 4th edition	$10.19	Interactive online center

1

The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS

Cost: $32.99
This book can serve as a boon to the students preparing for the IELTS exam as it has been written and published by the makers of the IELTS exam. This book comes with a DVD-ROM and is a must-have for those who wish to succeed 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 an ideal book for self-prep if the candidate does not want to rely on external courses and tutors to get a good grade. The students who purchased this book rated it five stars and reviewed it as 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 have 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 new to learning the language. Since it is targeted at those fluent in the language, beginners will not be able to benefit from the book.
• The book does not include extra guidance for the exam's writing section and mostly includes general training materials.
• Some reviewers claim that the content in the book can be confusing for learners.

2

Barron's IELTS Superpack- Fifth Edition

Cost: $64.49
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 preparation. This guide gives students a complete overview of the test and effective preparation tips. 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 to prepare 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 in 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 frequently asked words. 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.

3

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

Cost: $21.98
This book 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 approaching 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.

Pros

• This book is well-organized and structured, making it easy to navigate and comprehend. Each chapter includes thorough explanations and practical advice designed to enhance the IELTS performance of test-takers.
• The book guides readers on effective time management and introduces strategies such as identifying keywords, focusing on specific details, and minimizing distractions in audio content to enhance their ability to answer questions accurately.
• The book offers valuable guidelines for crafting an effective report and presents a clear framework for composing a well-structured essay on any subject.

Cons

• This book does not serve as an English manual and will not assist readers in learning the language.

4

Cambridge IELTS 11 General Training

Cost: $29.34
This prep book has an 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. However, they state that the audio materials are available on YouTube for no additional cost.

5

Ace the IELTS: IELTS General- How to Maximize Your Score- 4th edition

Cost: $22.78
This book 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 discusses tips for each of the four test sections. The section on Letter Writing and Essay Writing is extensive and useful to candidates who can only speak and read the language well but have yet to develop writing skills for 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 that candidates can use to practice before the examination.

Pros

• The practice tests were highly beneficial for readers. Their close resemblance to the actual exam allows individuals to understand what to anticipate on test day by completing all of them.
• The skills outlined in the book assist test takers in comprehending the intent of the questions and formulating appropriate responses.
• Certain readers appreciated the book's conversational tone, contributing to its accessibility.

Cons

• Readers have observed several editing mistakes, such as omitted words, significantly diminishing the author's credibility.

6

Test Prep Books' IELTS Academic and General Training Study Guide

Cost: $24.99
The IELTS Academic and General Training Study Guide by Test Prep Books includes three practice tests, a comprehensive exam preparation book, and audio links for the listening section, with a thorough review for each part of the test.

Pros-

• The study guide provides an overview of the test, detailing its purpose, administration procedures, format, and scoring criteria, along with a recommended study schedule to adhere to.
• It also provides access to free test-taking tips videos.

Cons-

• A few buyers have mentioned that the audio links in the listening section aren't functioning properly.

7

Mometrix Test Preparation's IELTS Book for General Training and Academic 2023-2024 - IELTS Secrets Study Guide

Cost: $19.99
The IELTS Book for General Training and Academic 2023-2024 by Mometrix Test Preparation, titled IELTS Secrets Study Guide, offers practice test questions accompanied by comprehensive answer explanations, step-by-step video tutorials, valuable tips and strategies, as well as a thorough review of all sections of the IELTS exam.

Pros-

• The book is concise and straightforward, making it perfect for a quick, last-minute review.
• The study guide is appreciated by readers for its clear organization and logical progression, providing helpful tips aimed at ensuring the test taker's success.

Cons-

• Readers have expressed dissatisfaction, noting that the book lacks the video and audio content promised in its description.
• Readers have expressed dissatisfaction, stating that this book contains general information about English but lacks sufficient details on how to successfully pass the IELTS exam.

8

APEX Test Prep's IELTS General Training and Academic Exam Preparation

Cost: $12.99
This book features audio links for preparation in the Listening Section, thorough coverage of the test outline, and effective test-taking strategies. It provides clear and concise instructions.

Pros-

• The book is well-structured, featuring clear and accessible questions alongside pertinent content. The questions are presented logically and straightforwardly.
• This book instructs students on building and utilizing new knowledge, presents precise examples, encourages the exploration of new questions, and supplies students with engaging and innovative content.
• This book is concise and easy to read.

Cons-

• The font size is somewhat small, making the content seem daunting initially.
• Certain purchasers have indicated that the book does not come with a DVD.

9

Kaplan's IELTS Prep Plus- 4th edition

Cost: $10.19
This book includes 6 Academic IELTS tests, 2 General IELTS tests, audio tracks designed to enhance students' listening abilities, videos of mock interviews to illustrate performance across various score bands, and tailored, data-driven score reports to assist students in concentrating their study efforts.

Pros

• This book provides a comprehensive overview of the IELTS exam, detailing the types of questions that may appear. It includes helpful tip boxes highlighting essential concepts and key points to focus on.
• Besides providing IELTS sample tests, this book offers exercises designed to enhance our foundational English skills rather than merely focusing on an extensive array of test samples.

Cons

• Customers expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of a CD that was supposed to accompany the book.