Strengthen Your Foundation! (Best Pre-IELTS Resources)
Before diving into the specialized world of IELTS exam resources, make sure your general language knowledge is at a good level. Almost all successful participants in the survey agreed on three key sources for building a strong base.
- Book SeriesGrammar in Use:This book from Cambridge is known as the grammar bible. Regardless of your level, it’s the best starting point to strengthen your IELTS grammar resources.
- Series of books\u200bTop Notch:If you want to improve all four language skills consistently, the Top Notch books for IELTS are an excellent choice.To find out prices andpurchase Top Notch booksyou can visit online stores.Series of books
- \u200bandOxford Word Skills:This excellent set helps in building a broad vocabulary.Q&A: Which resource is suitable for which need?
Now, let’s focus on the main questions. The answers are a summary of the opinions of successful language learners.
What is the best book to start IELTS?
- About 85% of participants believed the best starting resource is The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS. The main reason is that it provides a comprehensive and realistic overview of both Academic and General tests, clear explanations of different question types, and targeted practice for each skill.
What is the best book for home preparation without classes?
- This is a common concern. Sarah, who scored 8 completely through self-study, emphasized the best self-study IELTS resources. She and others believed that combining Collins for IELTS (separate books for each skill) with the 18-volume Cambridge IELTS Practice Tests (actual past exam papers) is the best strategy for practicing IELTS at home. These self-study resources help improve skills and familiarize you with real exam conditions. This method is the best way to prepare for IELTS without classes and without a teacher.
What are the top resources for Academic and General IELTS books?
- Fortunately, many IELTS preparation resources are shared across both modules, especially for Listening and Speaking. The main differences are in the Reading and Writing sections.
Academic IELTS resources: Focus on books covering scientific texts and analytical charts, such as Collins Reading for IELTS and Makkar IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic.
- General IELTS resources: Books like Cambridge IELTS General Training and Makkar IELTS Writing Task 1 General sample letters.
- What resources are needed to score above 7?
- What are the necessary resources?Resources suitable for IELTS scores above 7 focus on techniques and details.IELTS Vocabulary Resources: Vocabulary for IELTS Advanced and 4000 Essential English Words.
IELTS Grammar Resources: Definitely Grammar in Use and Collins Grammar for IELTS.
- IELTS Writing Resources: IELTS Writing book by Makkar.
- IELTS Reading Resources: The latest editions of Cambridge IELTS reading books.
- What is the best book for IELTS exam preparation?
- If we have to choose only one book for IELTS preparation, without a doubt, The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS is one of the most comprehensive IELTS prep books.
- To get the required books for IELTS, visit
Buy English books onlineClick here.Which are the newest IELTS resources?The latest books are Cambridge IELTS 20 (some learners call this resource “gold”) and Barron’s IELTS Superpack from the 2025 editions.Highly recommended resources from Reddit users
Resource CategoriesSuggested Resources and Quotes
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User Recommendations
Official Group |
CambridgeCambridge Grammar for IELTS; |
Cambridge Common Mistakes; |
Cambridge IELTS Series;IELTS TrainerOfficial and comprehensive resourcesThe Official Cambridge Guide to IELTSFor review\u200c |
Detailed content compilation |
Barron’s IELTS Superpack |
For achieving a high score of7Target Band 7 |
Online or interactive resources |
Road to IELTS; |
YouTube: IELTS Liz |
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IELTS Advantage,IELTS SimonMany practice resourcesCollins Practice Tests;Open Forum |
; |
Longman Focus on VocabularyResources specifically for ListeningListeningFromCambridge books |
; |
Open ForumFor beginner guidance and visual learningIELTS Trainer – “They hold your hand”MapPath |
Final |
If we want to present a short, practical list of all-in-one IELTS resources, the path would be as follows. |
To view additional resources, learn about the price of each, andpurchase IELTS booksclick here.
Foundation (Pre-IELTS Level): Improving general knowledge with Grammar in Use and Oxford Word Skills books.Getting familiar with the exam: Fully study the Official Cambridge Guide. It is the best book for IELTS at this stage.
- Skill strengthening:\u200bUse good resources for each skill in parallel (like Collins or Makkar).Exam practice and analysis
- : Starting two months before the exam, take at least one full practice test weekly from Cambridge IELTS books and analyze carefully. This is the most important part of IELTS preparation.Top IELTS resources | Best IELTS preparation books
- Best IELTS resources (Survey of language learners)Top IELTS booksBest IELTS resources (Survey of language learners)