Review ~ IELTS Language Practice

IELTS Language Practice

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System taken by many students who need an English exam in order to study or work in English speaking countries. The IELTS Language Practice book is aimed at students of all levels preparing to take the IELTS exam.

IELTS Language Practice can be used as preparation for the IELTS exam. It is divided into sections covering grammar, units based on different vocabulary themes (e.g. on the natural world, the arts and attitude and opinion), and sections that focus on topic-linked words and phrases, including sections on academic essay writing.

The first 40 units deal with different aspects of grammar with three to four pages dedicated to each aspect such as the various tenses, articles, and modal verbs. Each section starts with an explanation and examples, followed by exercises. The explanations and examples relating to the grammar points are excellent and very easy to understand. The exercises are presented in a variety of ways and cover questions and negatives as well as positive statements, giving ample practice of all three.

Following the grammar sections there are 15 vocabulary units linked to various topics, with technology, the mind and history being just a few examples. These sections also have a variety of exercises to help increase the learners’ vocabulary. Sections 16, 17 and 18 cover academic writing, again with a number of exercises covering areas such as linking words and phrases. The final ten units cover “words and phrases” but again linked to different themes such as government, family, city life and other everyday topics. The book ends with an answer key to allow self correction.

There is good use of colour photographs and charts throughout the book, which add to the interest. The book is very simple to use and the layout means that it is very easy for the student and teacher to focus on areas that the learner may have problems with. Each unit has a slightly different look; some have cloze exercises while others have graphs or charts to add interest.

Even though the book covers all aspects of grammar I think anyone studying from this book would have to have some knowledge of English use in order to get the full benefit of what the book has to offer; e.g. even the exercises covering present simple use vocabulary which would be difficult for a beginner to understand. Apart from this one observation I really cannot think of anything that lets the book down. The topics are up-to-date and relevant to learning today and in the future. The exercises for each section are extremely varied and give plenty of practice in questions, statements and negatives.

I think this is a great book for anyone learning English, not just those preparing for an IELTS exam, that will see the student right through to advanced level.