I want to pursue higher studies from abroad and for this decide to apply for the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS. Will you provide list of some of the best books to prepare for IELTS Test and also tell details about the test structure to prepare well for exam?

[Vishal Kotkar]

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers.

Some highly valuable and important books according to their popularity are:

1) The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS
2) Cambridge IELTS Series 1 – 12
3) English Collocations in Use
4) English Vocabulary in Use Series
5) New Insight into IELTS with Answers
6) Official IELTS Practice Materials
7) “Improve your IELTS skills” Series

IELTS test structure

Modules

There are two modules of the IELTS:

Academic Module and
General Training Module

The IELTS test has four parts
Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time)[13]
Reading: 60 minutes
Writing: 60 minutes
Speaking: 11–14 minutes

The test total time is: 2 hours and 55 minutes.


Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.

All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.