IELTS · Articles · October 20, 2026 · 4 min read
Best IELTS books: what to use and in what order
Two or three books are enough to prepare for IELTS. Here is what the exam’s publishers produce, how the books differ and what to choose for your target.
Start without buying anything
First understand the format and your starting band. You do not need books for that.
- Sample tasks on ielts.org. The preparation pages have free samples for Academic and General Training. They are the reference for the format: this is what the questions look like.
- A sample test from Cambridge English. It can be downloaded free from the IELTS preparation page of the Cambridge English website.
- Practice tasks in Nomto. Listening and Reading are checked against answer keys; Writing and Speaking are scored on the IELTS criteria. The band is a guide, not an official result.
Cambridge IELTS: real tests
The main material for Listening, Reading and full timed tests.
- What it is. A series from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, one of the three owners of the exam. The publisher calls the tests in it authentic practice tests.
- How many. As of October 2026 the latest is IELTS 21, published in Academic and General Training editions.
- What is inside. Four full tests, answer keys and sample Writing answers, plus online material: Listening audio, answer explanations and Speaking videos.
- Which ones to buy. Recent ones: the last three or four volumes are enough for all your preparation. In older volumes the Listening layout is different, with an example at the start of Part 1.
- How to use them. Against the clock with no pauses, as in the exam. After checking, review every mistake: which part of the recording or text gave the answer.
Coursebooks with explanations
A book of tests shows what is asked. A coursebook explains how to answer it.
| Book | Publisher | For whom | What is inside |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS | Cambridge | starting out, both versions | a guide to every section and eight full tests |
| Mindset for IELTS | Cambridge | study by level | a four-level course, print plus online material |
| Complete IELTS | Cambridge | band 4 to 7.5 | three levels: Bands 4–5, 5–6.5 and 6.5–7.5 |
| Ready for IELTS, 2nd Edition | Macmillan | from 5.0 towards 7.0 | a course covering all four sections |
Descriptions from the publishers’ websites, cambridgeenglish.org and macmillanenglish.com, checked in October 2026. The courses are designed for classes, but editions with answers work for self-study too.
Vocabulary, grammar and Speaking
Choose these for a specific weakness, not just in case.
- Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS. Two self-study books: the core book and Advanced for targets of 6.5 and above. Words by exam topic, with IELTS-style exercises, answers and audio. A free set of collocations is in IELTS vocabulary by topic.
- Cambridge Grammar for IELTS. Explanations and exercises with answers and audio. Useful if your Writing and Speaking scores are held back by errors rather than ideas.
- Collins Speaking for IELTS. For learners at 5–5.5 aiming for 6 and above. Topics, vocabulary and tasks for all three parts.
- This season’s Speaking topics. Books come out every few years, while Speaking questions change three times a year. The current list is in IELTS Speaking topics.
What to choose for your target
| Situation | What to use | What will still be missing |
|---|---|---|
| A month to go, close to your target | the free samples and two recent Cambridge IELTS volumes | feedback on Writing and Speaking |
| Starting at B1 with three months or more | a coursebook at your level and The Official Cambridge Guide, then a book of tests nearer the exam | speaking practice out loud |
| A target of 7.0 or higher | books of tests, Vocabulary for IELTS Advanced and Grammar for IELTS | regular review of your texts and answers against the criteria |
Books cover Listening and Reading well because they have answer keys. Writing and Speaking have no keys: you need someone, or something, to assess your answers against the criteria. A week-by-week plan is in how to prepare for IELTS at home.
About free downloads
Cambridge IELTS books and coursebooks are paid; there is no free official version. PDFs found online are pirated copies, usually without audio and without the code for the online material with answer explanations. The legal free options are the samples on ielts.org and the sample test from Cambridge English.
Common questions
Which is the best IELTS book? There is no single best: the books do different jobs. Cambridge IELTS volumes are for timed practice, The Official Cambridge Guide explains how to approach each section, and vocabulary and grammar books fix specific weaknesses.
What is the difference between the Academic and General Training editions? The Reading and Writing tests. Listening and Speaking are the same. Buy the edition for the version you are taking.