Preparing for IELTS Exams

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an internationally recognised assessment system for testing English language skills. Pupils coming from countries whose main language is not English will usually be required to pass this test as part of the conditions of acceptance by a British university.

The conditions of a given university’s offer of a place of study will indicate whether the IELTS is also a condition of that offer. Some universities will waive the condition of passing the IELTS if your school leaving results (equivalents of A Level results) include English. Others will insist on the IELTS regardless of the school leaving results.

There are two types of IELTS tests: the General Training Module and the Academic Module. For university entrance purposes the Academic Module is the standard requirement. A typical condition for university entrance is 6.5 or higher on the Academic Module.

After you have submitted your application to UCAS for university entrance, you will get responses from the universities via UCAS. The conditional offers will include conditions which need to be satisfied before the offers convert into unconditional firm offers. If the conditions include passing the IELTS, then check with your local British Council for the nearest test places and dates and apply for a test. You are allowed to take the test as many times as you want, so plan for that option. But bear in mind you have to pay for each test.

Obviously, your level of English has to be good enough to attempt the test; otherwise you will be wasting your time and money. There are tens of thousands of books, videos, DVDs, CDs and other courses on learning English, but I will list some that I have used.

There are also hundreds of books which prepare you for taking the IELTS. Again I will list some that I have used.

If you study to a level of English roughly covered by the material given in the recommended books below, you should be able to do well on the IELTS.

Raymond Murphy. English Grammar in Use.

Martin Hewings. Advanced Grammar in Use.

Michael McCarthy & Felicity O'Dell. English Vocabulary in Use Advanced.

Michael McCarthy & Felicity O'Dell. English Phrasal Verbs in Use Intermediate.

Michael McCarthy & Felicity O'Dell. English Phrasal Verbs in Use Advanced.

The following are “classical” grammar books we used for reviewing grammar (and preparing for the IELTS):

John Eastwood. Oxford Guide to English Grammar.

Audrey Jean Thomson & A. V. Martinet. A Practical English Grammar.

Just either Eastwood or Thomson & Martinet will do. I’m not sure if Eastwood is still in print, but an older copy is good enough. With Thomson & Martinet, I would suggest getting the hardbound copy because it is very difficult to keep the paperback book open when it’s new.

A recent and very good reference grammar is:

Ronald Carter & Michael McCarthy. Cambridge Grammar of English.

You don’t really need Carter & McCarthy for the IELTS, but if you pass the test and get into university, this is the one grammar reference I would recommend having with you at university.

Books for preparing for the IELTS examination: the Cambridge series by Jakeman and McDowell are pretty good. They try to get you to think “outside the box”. They might be a bit confusing in the beginning, so a book like McCarter and Ash gives a better feel about what the IELTS is like.

Vanessa Jakeman & Clare McDowell. Action Plan for IELTS Self-study Student's Book Academic Module.

Vanessa Jakeman & Clare McDowell. Insight into IELTS Student's Book Updated Edition.

Vanessa Jakeman & Clare McDowell. Insight into IELTS Audio CD.

Vanessa Jakeman & Clare McDowell. Insight into IELTS Extra.

Vanessa Jakeman & Clare McDowell. Insight into IELTS Extra Audio CD.

Sam McCarter & Judith Ash. IELTS Testbuilder.

If you have no access to good (British) English speakers, then it would be highly recommended to get the audio CDs. Listening and speaking are two important parts of the IELTS examination.

Some other pointers. There is always a question about statistical data as represented by a graph, chart, table, diagram or map. So be sure you know how to read, interpret and write about this.

Prepare for your short IELTS talk by thinking about a few topics before the examination day and writing down a few short sentences (bullet points) for each topic. Typically the examiner will ask you to talk briefly (a couple of minutes) about one of these topics: travelling to school, experience of your last holiday / work, something about a national holiday and what it means, your family, your school, your study interests, hobbies, some political event in your country, some global issue like climatic change or economic events, why you want to study in Britain, what your future plans are and so on.

Make sure you get a good grounding in grammar and vocabulary. You will need these at university anyway.

Thomson & Martinet (or Eastwood, if you can find one) is an intermediate to advance level grammar. You should be fluent with all the topics there.

All these books are pretty expensive stuff. But English is a tool you will hopefully use for the rest of your life. It’s worth investing in it.

Kiley