Do not read these books

This is the Secondary Title

by Kasra Sharifan | Jul 14, 2019 | Tips, Vocabulary

There are tons of books available on the market for IELTS preparation, but not all of them are worth reading. Here are a few books you shouldn’t read.

1- Don’t judge a book by its cover

Some books claim that they give a number of helpful hints for IELTS and that is all you need. Unfortunately, you only find a small number of helpful tips and sometimes even misleading advice in them. We suggest that you check if the authors of the books are well-known and reliable in the field of IELTS. Some reputable names are: Sam McCarter, Vanessa Jakeman, Claire McDowell and Peter May.

There are also vocabulary books with fixed numbers of words on their covers.These books want you to memorize, say more than 500, words because they are “absolutely” essential. Sadly, those books, do not necessarily contain the key English vocabulary, and many of the words are not useful for IELTS at all! So, you’d best buy vocabulary books that are based on the Oxford 3000, or the Academic Word List.

Visit our useful IELTS books section for recommended resources, and also find out how many English words you need to learn.

2- Out with the old; in with the new

Cambridge IELTS test books (1-9) that contain practice IELTS tests are very popular among IELTS candidates; however, Cambridge IELTS 1, 2, 3, 4, and even 5 are considered outdated because the format of the exam was revised after their release. In 2005, the IELTS exam went through several changes and the test format is much more different now. Even so, they are still a valuable source of reading material for extensive reading but NOT exam practice.

3- Avoid unsuitable dictionaries

Don’t use dictionaries published primarily for native speakers of English e.g. Webster’s dictionary, Collins dictionary or any dictionary that is not for learners’ use. Before buying one, make sure there is the word “learners” in the title and it is suitable for your level of English. Learn about four dictionaries every English learner needs.

Not sure about your level? Test yourself using this free online placement test (OPT).
Need advice before selecting books? Consult an IELTS Juice expert.

Your turn

What books are you reading for IELTS preparation? Leave a comment and share the name of your books with other English learners/teachers.

Kasra Sharifan

Co-founder and CFO

British Council certified English teacher, IDP-trained IELTS instructor, content writer, editor-in-chief, co-founder, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at IELTS Juice Online Academy.